Norbertine Nuns Finally Move Into Monastery

[DameAgnes]

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/17-News-Special-report-Sisters-of-the-mountain/9qDq75DSMEuOX1ps8F_xdA.cspx

 

 

Looks very nice, although two to a room? I thought a cell should always be solitary. I think I'd hate that.

[Anselm]

Hurrah! Three of my friends from university are Norbertine Canons in England, so I've heard all about this community from them. It's so encouraging to see them doing so well.

[Anselm]

(Also, they started off living in caravans as dormitories, so I'm sure that two to a cell is a big step towards their ideal of solitude.)

[reminiscere]

Already posted here: http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/129075-norbertine-can/

 

By the way their technical term is canonesses

 

 

[maximillion]

When I first entered, we novices slept in a dormitory.

 

It was in my second year in the noviciate that hardwood boards were brought in and room dividers made.

[inperpetuity]

I can't see two in a room, there must be some explanation for those two beds being there.

[maximillion]

Maybe the two to a room is the guest quarters?

[inperpetuity]

I hope so, otherwise they would have no privacy at all ever.!

[Chiquitunga]

maybe one of the guestrooms was all they could show on camera since the cells would be in the enclosure. just a guess. I was also confused by the two beds..

Edited May 16, 2013 by Chiquitunga

[AnneLine]

It's actually not that uncommon in some communities, although not the ideal.  What might be in there (and yet not up yet) are curtains to divide the two 'half-cells' -- that was pretty common at one point.

 

Up until Vatican II, I believe most Trappist communities slept in dormatories with curtains.... I recall seeing some photos and wondering how they kept from driving each other MAD.....

[DameAgnes]

I'm pretty sure the postulants and novices in Nashville start out in a dorm with curtains, too.

[LLFrances]

My sister is a Novice there, and the pictures are of the Sister's cells, which are going to be two to a room. She told us why, but I can't remember the exact reason. My sister said that one of the things you sacrifice when you enter religious life is personal space, so... God bless 'em, 'cause I think I would go crazy.   :)

[inperpetuity]

Thank you for that clarification, LLFrances, I was thinking about visiting them, but now....

[LLFrances]

You still could! If that's where God wants you to be, He'll give you the graces to survive whatever living conditions that present themselves ;) I'm kinda half-way secretly discerning that maybe I'm possibly called there, but we shall see :)

[DameAgnes]

My sister is a Novice there, and the pictures are of the Sister's cells, which are going to be two to a room. She told us why, but I can't remember the exact reason. My sister said that one of the things you sacrifice when you enter religious life is personal space, so... God bless 'em, 'cause I think I would go crazy.   :)

 

God bless them, indeed. I really couldn't do it. Right now there is enough room for every sister to have a cell, at least the professed ones. Why not only double up novitiate and when it's absolutely needed. How does these women ever get to be "alone with the Alone." If I were discerning, the doubled-up rooms would be a deal-breaker for me.