New Perspectives - Religious Life

[BarbTherese]

"Mothers, Grandmothers and Sisters"

Religious sisters, who are also mothers bring new perspectives to religious life: http://globalsistersreport.org/news/spirituality/sisters-who-are-also-mothers-bring-new-perspectives-religious-life-39641

[DominicanHeart]

That's a great article 

[BarbTherese]

[nikita92]

Are there any who are fully habited??

[AveMariaPurissima]

2 hours ago, nikita92 said:

Are there any who are fully habited??

I've met a Sister from the SSVM who is a widow and has kids and grandkids.   And I know another habited religious with a couple adult children (her marriage was annulled).

[Gabriela]

Interesting. I've heard of such sisters (including fully habited ones), but never interviewed one. I did meet one on a discernment visit. She was a lovely person, very demure. I understand the marriage was abusive. She entered very late in life, but the sisters said she adjusted to the life very quickly and naturally. I hate to say the thought crossed my mind that an abusive marriage may instill the kind of submission and obedience called for in religious life. Then again, maybe that's one way God brings good out of evil.  

Edited May 16, 2016 by Gabriela

[Era Might]

Didn't Mother Angelica's mother become a nun in her later life.

[Nunsuch]

Yes, Mother Angelica's mother did join her community. MANY such women did so in the 19th century, including a number of prominent founders. I can identify several widows in the US (beginning, of course, with Elizabeth Seton), as well as at least 3 unwed mothers and 4 divorcees. Not all the widows and divorcees were mothers, but many were. And this was particularly remarkable in the 19th century.

As for Gabriela's comment about submission, I think this would definitely NOT work in the many congregations today that emphasize psychological and social maturity as important attributes in candidates they accept. Most congregations I have dealt with want their new members to be able to exercise agency both personally and spiritually. If someone was in an abusive relationship--just as in cases of other problems (addiction, psychological issues, etc.)--the community would be particularly careful that the candidate had resolved the matters before accepting them.

One more thing: there used to be an organization called "Sister Moms" back in the 1990s. Here's an article about them from the National Catholic Register (1998): http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/sister_moms_balance_motherhood_and_religious_life/

 

[NadaTeTurbe]

When you read about the history of religious life, you see that since the beginning, widows have entered religious life. Sometimes with their children, like Madame Acarie. In the XVIIth century, she introduced teresian carmel in France, and at the death of her husband, she entered carmel, along with her daughter. Sainte Louise Marcillac was a widow, but not a sister since the Daughters of Charity made annual vows. Sainte Jeanne de Chantale was a widow too, and the Visitation still accept older women and widows. 

[BarbTherese]

Read all posts and acknowledging those who have posted - thank you.