Sister Sarah discerns the religious habit

[NadaTeTurbe]

This video was interesting. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2kNunBQw5o

 

[Jennifer]

Thank you for sharing this lovely video . Sister Sarah looks so joyful as she continues her discernment.

[Gabriela]

That is interesting. I'm not entirely clear at the end whether she's saying she's going to take the habit or wait for the community to decide or not do it at all.

I also wonder to what degree this type of thing ought to be discerned individually versus by the entire community. I mean, I can see unhabited communities transitioning back into the habit one sister at a time, allowing each to decide for herself whether she wants that, until ultimately the whole community (or most of it) is habited again. We're in unusual times, I think, so maybe individual discernment is what is called for in such circumstances. But in more regular circumstances, I'm scratching my head over whether the individual ought to be making that choice, or the community as a whole.

I dunno...

[Sister Leticia]

Gabriela - I've never heard of any women's community (at least, not one over here) "transitioning back" eg from wearing ordinary clothes to wearing a distinctive "uniform" with veil. The transition has been in the opposite direction! That said, a congregation or province might have a ratio of 50/50 or 60/40 or 45/55 habit/non-habit, which in a way makes it easier to choose to dress in a particular way. BUT it always has to be a careful discernment, and although someone might be discerning as an individual it's in the context of her membership of a much larger, wider group. And if everyone/the majority is dressed in a particular way, then opting/wanting to look very different is a big thing.

I think that's what Sarah was saying (there were times when I couldn't understand everything she said, and the title of the video was probably provocative rather than descriptive): that she personally liked the idea of wearing a veil, but when she consulted and reflected with older, wiser sisters, they helped her to examine her motives, desires and her sense of consecration and membership.

[katherineH]

I discerned with a community where the habit/veil were optional and it ultimately put me off because I felt like it reflected disunity as a community.  It would have been easier for me if the community just flat out said no habit or veil.  At least there would have been a unified and cohesive outlook on the issue.

[Sponsa-Christi]

1 hour ago, Sister Leticia said:

I've never heard of any women's community (at least, not one over here) "transitioning back" eg from wearing ordinary clothes to wearing a distinctive "uniform" with veil.

I've actually heard of this happening, at least in the United States. The community that comes most readily to mind is the Glenmary Sisters, who went from wearing a habit pre-Vatican II, then to wearing modest secular clothes, and now back to wearing a modified habit. There are also a number of other communities---like the Marian Sisters in the Diocese of Lincoln, and the Franciscan Sisters in Peoria, IL---who have recently gone from a very "modern" habit to a habit in a more traditional style.

 

 

6 hours ago, Gabriela said:

That is interesting. I'm not entirely clear at the end whether she's saying she's going to take the habit or wait for the community to decide or not do it at all.

I was sort of confused by this video, too. As a comment on the video (and NOT as a comment on habits in general!), to me Sr. Sara didn't seem to be too convinced. When she was talking about wanting to wear a habit, it seemed like she was really speaking from her heart. But when she was talking about how she "discerned" not to wear one, to me it sounded like she was just repeating some stock phases her community used.

I can appreciate the need for respecting a community's policy on habits out of obedience, and obviously she knew her community didn't wear habits before she entered. But in the video it sounded like she was still trying to convince herself that she didn't want to wear a habit anymore. 

But, again, those are just my own personal impressions of the video. 

[Gabriela]

12 minutes ago, Sponsa-Christi said:

I was sort of confused by this video, too. As a comment on the video (and NOT as a comment on habits in general!), to me Sr. Sara didn't seem to be too convinced. When she was talking about wanting to wear a habit, it seemed like she was really speaking from her heart. But when she was talking about how she "discerned" not to wear one, to me it sounded like she was just repeating some stock phases her community used.

I can appreciate the need for respecting a community's policy on habits out of obedience, and obviously she knew her community didn't wear habits before she entered. But in the video it sounded like she was still trying to convince herself that she didn't want to wear a habit anymore. 

But, again, those are just my own personal impressions of the video. 

Those were my impressions exactly. When she talked about "examining her intentions" for wanting to wear a habit and whatnot, it sounded like she was reciting from a script, rather than disclosing the fruits of her own self-examination.

[Sponsa-Christi]

3 minutes ago, Gabriela said:

Those were my impressions exactly. When she talked about "examining her intentions" for wanting to wear a habit and whatnot, it sounded like she was reciting from a script, rather than disclosing the fruits of her own self-examination.

Glad to know I'm not the only one who thought this! (I.e., that I'm not crazy and just reading too much into things!)

I also thought the "examining her intentions" thing was sort of odd. Her intentions as she clearly expressed them in the first part of the video already seemed fairly straight-forward and very sensible. 

I could see a video about: "I wanted X in religious life, but the community I was called to does Y, and here's how I accepted that Y was actually God's will for me." But it sounded like her community was presenting it as Sr. Sara being truly free to discern whether or not to wear a habit, as long as her "free discernment" matched up with what the community already did. Like, if Sr. Sara was expected simply to follow her community's practice, that's totally reasonable. But don't present it as the fruit of a personal, individual discernment!

I also didn't feel like her "script" really answered any of her initial questions---which is a shame, because I think a video that actually did that could have been really interesting. 

And again, this is just a comment on the video. I don't really know anything about the community otherwise. 

[Gabriela]

Yeah. To me, it felt like a video made by a non-habited community to explain why it's okay that they don't wear a habit, using the "discernment" story of a sister who formerly wished she could wear a habit but who became "enlightened" by her community and is now happy not wearing one. Only the "discerning" sister didn't sell her "enlightenment" well at all, and so the whole thing failed miserably. I expect the goal was to appeal to young women who want a habit, to get them to consider a community that doesn't wear habits. But because Sr. Sarah was unconvincing, it all came off as manipulative and dishonest.

[katherineH]

16 hours ago, Gabriela said:

Yeah. To me, it felt like a video made by a non-habited community to explain why it's okay that they don't wear a habit, using the "discernment" story of a sister who formerly wished she could wear a habit but who became "enlightened" by her community and is now happy not wearing one. Only the "discerning" sister didn't sell her "enlightenment" well at all, and so the whole thing failed miserably. I expect the goal was to appeal to young women who want a habit, to get them to consider a community that doesn't wear habits. But because Sr. Sarah was unconvincing, it all came off as manipulative and dishonest.

Well put.  The use of the word "discern" is misleading.  It implies that she is in a decision-making process weighing both options, when in reality she is more explaining why she doesn't wear the habit. 

[vee]

I had to laugh because at the very end, after her whole speech, up on the screen pops "Modern lives.  Sacred traditions"   Obviously wearing a habit is a sacred tradition she feels keenly about but its not a part of their modern lives!

[Sponsa-Christi]

27 minutes ago, vee said:

I had to laugh because at the very end, after her whole speech, up on the screen pops "Modern lives.  Sacred traditions"   Obviously wearing a habit is a sacred tradition she feels keenly about but its not a part of their modern lives!

I literally laughed out loud at your observation here! I didn't notice this dissonant ending before, but you're right.

At the risk of further MST3K-ing this video...I also thought it was weird when Sr. Sarah recounted her conversations with the older Sisters about her desire to wear a habit, and the older Sisters responded (with what seemed to be shocked tones): "Where are these thoughts coming from?!?!" And I'm mentally answering with: "Ummm...the current Code of Canon Law, Vita Consecrata, the centuries-old custom of the Church, the custom of your own community a few decades ago..." It's not like Sr. Sarah said she wanted to discern living the rest of her life on top of a pillar, or to stop bathing, or to eat nothing but locusts and honey from now on!

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I agree with many of the comments made above. It doesn't feel to me as if Sister Sarah is truly convinced yet that the right thing for HER is to wear secular clothes.

Many (maybe even most) discerners on VS feel called to wear a habit--whether traditional or modified. Yet, we have Religious Sisters, nuns, and consecrated virgins on VS, some who are habited and some who are not, and even among those who are habited, the habits are very different (mostly because they represent different religious Orders, but not totally).

I'm not called to religious life and I have read wonderful posts from religious women who are habited and from those who are not. I hope that if Sister Sarah in the video truly feels called to wear a habit, that she recognizes this. It could be that she should try discerning with one or more habited Communities to see what God tells her. On the other hand, it could be that God is asking her to give up her initial desire for a habit, and join this particular Community.

Over the years I have read posts from Religious Sisters/nuns who have admitted that they would have liked to have worn a crown of flowers at their profession, or wear a wedding dress at their clothing, but that was not the custom of the Community they joined. In every case, I've gotten the feeling that this was a small thing, not a huge regret, in the face of many of the other things that a woman gives up when she consecrates herself to God.

Granted, wearing of a habit or not is a bigger issue (at least to me) than crowns or flowers or wedding dressings. Yet, from where I stand, on the outside of Religious Life, I can see a purpose and need for both habited and unhabited Religious Sisters/nuns. I didn't grow up with Religious Sisters at all. Although I live across the street from a convent of retired Religious Sisters, I still find the habit intimidating in person. It's harder for me to recognize that a habited Sister is someone who is still human and a sinner, but has been called to a different life than I have. Conversely, other people might be more inclined to approach or trust a Sister because she is habited, and that is just fine, too.

I assume that non-habited Sisters make the same vows and lead a life that is very similar to that of habited Sisters. Every Order is different and I'm not sure that the habit is the most important difference. For example, I heard about one (habited!) Community where the Sisters smoked cigarettes (sorry, this was years ago, and I can't remember the name of the Community, so don't even bother asking in a PM). I was shocked. Not only is smoking bad for you, but cigarettes are expensive and would seem to go against the vow of poverty. What that taught me was to make no assumptions about a Community based on whether they wear a habit. Every Community is different and deserves to be looked into individually (assuming a woman feels called to the Community in other ways).

I'm NOT saying that a discerner who feels called to a habited Community should ignore that calling. I'm saying that I can see a purpose for non-habited Communities, and they should not be dismissed on their face as "less religious" than habited Communities. There may be people (like me) who would be less intimidated by a non-habited Sister. Ironically, however, every Religious Sister/nun who I consider a "friend" from Phatmass, and whom I ask for prayers is habited. Maybe the fact that we're online and the habit is invisible makes it easier. I certainly have huge resprect and trust for the habited Religious Sisters/nuns I know. They are so much better people than I am!! I never promised that my actions and feelings would make sense. 

 

Edited July 2, 2016 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[katherineH]

The Franciscans of Perpetual Adoration in Indiana also transitioned to a more traditional habit.  The older sisters tend to wear skirts and suit jackets, with a veil that exposes their ears, whereas the younger sisters wear something like a tunic and large scapular with a veil to covers their ears. 

[vee]

Ive found it interesting that among my family and friends several people have made comments and asked questions all to do with habits.  Their basic assumption is that the nuns of the community Im entering wear habits!  Even people who are not Catholic, dont practice anything, and dont even know the word habit assume that nuns wear habits!   Ive been surprised by the curiosity, openness and favorable reception that they seem to have to habited religious. 

I even asked one non Catholic, non church attending family member to explain further her thoughts on this.  She said she liked the visibility of an obvious habit, that like a uniform it makes that person and what they do easily identifiable.