Angela mentioned something about starting a habit thread awhile ago, so I'll start it off since I have some free time.

Carmelites


The habit is understood as a sign of poverty, humility, separation from the world, dedication to God, and of a common fraternity. The scapular itself is viewed as the yoke of obedience.

It is important, too, to understand that for some one hundred fifty years the scapular was identified not with Mary but with the Christological theme of obedience. The first reference to the scapular is found in the Carmelite Constitutions of 1281: "The Brothers are to sleep in their tunic and scapular under the pain of severe penalty."

No mention is made at this point of the scapular vision to St. Simon Stock in any of the documents of the thirteenth century...more here

The Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Thanks for the info! It's hard to find information on that kind of stuff (or at least I haven't had much luck ) Anyway, I'm glad I read that because I'm rethinking my vocation now.

Dominicans







Origins of the Habit

With the formation of houses over Europe, the number of friars increased rapidly. Many were already scholarly, such as Reginald of Orleans who held the chair of canon law at the University of Paris. It was he, through the direction of the Blessed Virgin, who gave the white scapular as the most important part of the Dominican's habit.

http://mariannedorman.homestead.com/Dominic.html

Symbolism of the Habit

Dominicans are identified by their distinctive habits. The Dominican habit consists of a white woollen gown with a white belt around the waist. Over this is a white scapular (a long strip of cloth worn over the shoulders). Covering these is a black cloak with a hood. The white part of the habit denotes purity of life; the black denotes mortification and penance. Dominicans are also known as 'Blackfriars' after the black cloak and hood that is worn over the white habits.

http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/christ/west/domin.html

On the Habit...

The first thing that you will notice is that there is only one version of the habit. All our brothers in the Dominican Order wear the same habit - novices, cooperator brothers, priests, even the Master of the Order.
It is the same habit for all of us. cf. Mt 23:8

http://www.australia.op.org/voc/habit.php

Putting on the Habit

Tunic
Clothe me, O Lord, with the garments of salvation. By Your grace may I keep them pure and spotless, so that clothed in white, I may be worthy to walk with You in the kingdom of God. Amen.

Cincture & Rosary
Gird me, O Lord, with the cincture of justice and the cord of purity that I may unite the many affections of my heart in the love of You alone. Amen.

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by his life, death, and resurrection,
has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee,
that meditating upon the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise,
through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scapular
Show thyself a Mother; may the Word Divine, born for us an infant, hear my prayers through thine. Amen.

Capuce
Lord, You have set Your sign upon my head that I should admit no lover but You. Amen.

Cappa
We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God, do not despise our prayers in our necessity, but free us from all peril, O Blessed Virgin. Amen.

Black Capuce

Heavenly Father, Who were with your great servants Moses and Joshua and used them to bring your children out of bondage, fill us with that same grace that we may preach your word boldly and with authority for the deliverance of those under the bondages of sin. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

http://www.australia.op.org/voc/habit.php

Taking Off the Habit

Capuce
We give thanks to You, Almighty God, for to all creation You are the giver of all good things, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Scapular
We fly to be under your defense, O Holy Mother of God, for our prayers you do not despise in our necessity, but from all peril you continually free us, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen.

http://sap.opwest.org/habit.htm

This is some spin info!

Totus Tuus,
Andrew Joseph

(Are those Dominican's on top from DC?)

Hermits of Jesus the Eternal Priest (Maronite Rite)
http://www.hjep.org/


Color
Our habit’s color is wine and white proclaiming Christ’s Blood and Body with which we were clothed in baptism. The wine and the white color of our habit is a visual reminder to us and to all who see us, of who we are and into whom we are to be transformed - Jesus. Colored in the Sacramental Mystery, we unite our lives in the eternal sacrifice perpetuated in time by the holy order of priesthood established at the last supper.

Tunic
The freedom that this tunic gives is freedom from worldliness, the freedom to occupy our minds with heavenly things. The tunic reminds us that our bodies are holy and that they do not belong to us. Our bodies are consecrated to God and to Holy Mother Church. We are free to engage in the greatest of Mysteries, total immersion in the resurrected life of Jesus.

Scapular
Blessed Scapular, servant’s garb, witnesses to our devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Our wine colored scapular symbolizes the Blood of Jesus the Eternal Priest, who humbled Himself to wash the feet of His chosen ones. We humbly follow the example of Jesus in offering our lives for His Beloved priests.


Cincture
Our cincture reminds us of the life of chastity to which we are called. It is the symbol of our response to God’s initiative in first loving us. It is the reminder of the powerful bond of Holy Love gifted to us by Christ in His Church. It is a symbol of pure Virginal Love of God and of our celibate dedication to our priests and to all souls.

Monastic Hood
The sacred hood of recollection - blessed be its graces! This gift assists our human nature in the single-mindedness and conformity of our will to the Will of Christ in the Presence of the Father. Christ covers us in the revelation of Himself in Holy Mother Church. Let no thought pass into or out of our minds that is not blessed by Christ’s Holy Presence. It reminds us of the silence and peace of the blessed which embraces us in His kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven”.

Coif
The Word of God is to be ever in our minds. This is why we wear the “helmet of salvation”! (cf. Eph 6:17) Our Lord opens our minds to His Holy Word infusing us with the gift of His contemplation. Our coif is a reminder to us that we must allow God’s Word to displace the unruly use of our minds. He gifts us with the right use of our intellects to free us so that we might have the mind of Christ.

Profession Crucifix
The Profession Crucifix is presented at Perpetual Monastic Profession. Christ sets His seal upon our hearts so that the world knows we belong to Him. Sealed with His Love we carry the Priesthood and the Church in our hearts as we carry His Crucifix over them. This is a constant reminder of Christ’s immeasurable and unbounded Love for each of us each and everyday.

Bridal Crucifix Ring
The Bridal Crucifix Ring is also presented at Perpetual Monastic Profession. This is the visible expression of bridal love, the bond of fidelity to Christ and the Church, a seal of virginal love and union.

Jibbee
This is the garment given to us at our first vows and is a visible sign of our betrothal to Christ. It is a white garment and a white hood. We wear this garment at the Divine Liturgy and for the hours of Exposition of the Holy Sacrament and the hours of the communal chanting of the Prayer of the Faithful (the Divine Office). Gathering together for prayer is a sacred experience of Christ with our sisters. Our white Jibbees remind us of the robe of glory and our hoped-for participation in the great crowd of witnesses gathered before the throne of God. We live in the Presence of God who transcends time and place as we witness to belief in His Glory.

The Religious Habit

Habit – Habitus (Latin): having, possessing; condition, appearance; dress; character.

The habit is a distinctive garb of a man or woman religious dating back to the beginning of monasticism. Saint Pachomius (294-346) was the first to establish definite provisions regarding the habit. Early ascetics, such as Anthony of Egypt, imitated the garb of John the Baptist. Saint Basil, Saint Benedict, and even the widows and virgins in the first few centuries of the early Church were identified by their plain, common attire as signs of poverty and simplicity. This continued throughout the centuries until the Council of Trent (1545-1563), when it was indicated that the novitiate began with reception of the habit and gave uniform dress prominence in the renewal of religious life after the Reformation.

Added to this purpose and reasoning were the beautiful passages of “Bridal Imagery” presented throughout the scriptures. Referring to a sister as “Bride and Spouse” is central to the habit as a personal and ecclesial identity. The “habit” of the bride of Christ is fully expressed in the solemn promise to live the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Religious are to express this ecclesial reality, this mystery of consecration, through public witness. The external garb, the habit, functions as a concrete, tangible, visible symbol of an internal reality. The habit reminds consecrated religious of their “habit of being,” their mystery and mission. It proclaims to people; “I am set apart, I am here for you.” When they see us, they should see Christ.

The revised Code of Canon Law states: Religious are to wear the habit of the institute determined according to the norm of proper law as a sign of their consecration and as a testimony of poverty (Canon 669, 1).

The Decree of the Up-to-date Renewal of Religious Life, Perfectae caritatis contains the following statement:

The religious habit, as a symbol of consecration, must be simple and modest, at once poor and becoming. In addition, it must be in keeping with the requirements of health, and it must be suited to the times and place and to the needs of the apostolate. The habits, both of men and women, which are not in conformity with these norms, ought to be changed (17).

The Holy Father urges Religious to continue to be visible witnesses for Christ and His Church:

Rejoice to be witnesses to Christ in the modern world. Do not hesitate to be recognizable, identifiable, in the streets – as men and women who have consecrated their lives to God and who have given up everything worldly to follow Christ (Given to Religious in Ireland).

The Pope’s remarks have a parallel in the life of Saint Francis. He asked one of the brethren to accompany him into town where they would preach God’s word. The two walked from one end of town to the other and back. Finally, the brother asked, “But, Father Francis, when are we going to preach?” “We just did!” he replied.

Blessing of the Habit

This blessing of the habit may be used in a Franciscan Community. Prior to the Rite of Reception, the priest blesses the habits to be received by the Novices with the following prayer:

Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, You have deigned to put on the garb of our mortality, and to be wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger. You have graciously inspired Your glorious Confessor, our Father St. Francis, to institute three Orders, and the Supreme Pontiffs of the Church, Your Vicars, to approve them. We humbly ask You to bless + these garments, which our Father St. Francis asked his followers to wear as a badge of innocence and mortification, and as a strong armor against the world, the flesh, and the devil. May these, Your Sisters, devoutly receiving them, so clothe themselves with You that they may, in the spirit of humility, faithfully walk in the way of Your commandments until death. You live and reign, world without end. Amen.

The Religious Veil

Veil – Velum (Latin): covering

The veil as a source of identity points to the very heart of religious life: consecrated virginity for the sake of the kingdom. From the very beginning the veil was the distinctive sign of consecrated virgins.

In the early 3rd century, there was a veiling ceremony in which the virgin was veiled as a sign of her spiritual marriage with Christ. This marked her single-minded consecration, in total chastity, and in conformity with her life of poverty, charity, seclusion, mortification and fasting. It symbolizes fidelity to Christ and religious profession; it is the distinctive mark of a special consecration. It says that she is “spoken for,” as the bride of Christ. Her spiritual marriage is a reminder of the life of heaven where there will be no other marriages, because it will be the wedding feast of the Lamb—the final and definitive marriage of God and His People.

Blessing of the Veil

The blessing of the white veil before the Rite of Reception is a beautiful expectation of this espousal:

Let us pray: God our Savior, we ask You to bless + and sanctify + with Your right hand these veils that Your servants are about to put on their heads, for love of You and Your Mother, the ever Blessed Virgin Mary. May they, by Your protection, always with equal purity of body and mind, preserve that which is mystically signified thereby: that when, with the prudent virgins, they come to the everlasting recompense of the saints, they may also be worthy to enter, conducted by You, to the nuptials of endless felicity. You live and reign, world without end. Amen.

The blessing of the black veil takes place before the Rite of Religious Profession. During the Rite of Profession, after pronouncing her vows, the Novice receives the black veil. The prayer of blessing over the black veil is as follows:

Let us pray: Father, Giver of all good gifts and bountiful Bestower of all blessings, we humbly ask You in Your mercy to graciously bless + and sanctify + these veils, which Your servants desire to put on as signs by which the religious state is to be known, and that they may be recognized among the other virgins as dedicated to You. May these veils be the emblems of lowliness of heart and separation from the world, by which Your servants are visibly to be instructed of their holy purpose. May they, under Your protection, preserve the virtue of holy chastity that they have received through Your inspiration, and may they be clothed with happy immortality. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Totus Tuus,
Andrew Joseph

This really needs to be continued!!!!

This does have something to do with the topic. The seesaw is a symbol of "us against the world." We choose Jesus over the world.
I see the wearing of the habit giving the same message.

Dominican Nuns, of course!

THIS PICTURE IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE PICTURES IN THE WORLD. WHO DO I BEG OR WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET A COPY?

I have a roommate I am willing to trade for it. SSHHS don't tell. Go ahead tell, I'll just deny it. I WANT THAT PICTURE.

What happened to the picture? The one with the nun kneeling. Where did it go. SOMEBODY HELP.

Can anyone tell BESIDES ME that I don't know what I am doing (regarding techy stuff) on this site.
Oh well, at least I am having fun.

If you have a PC, right click>>view image(or show image)... It might show up after you come back here...

Why don't you email the nuns at vocations.summit@op.org. I'm sure they'll help. It was on their Blog

this pic is of the Handmaids of Nazareth. Their habits are of the handmaids..i think of Jesus time, not sure though!!!!! They are a religiosu community made up of widows!!!!! Each Sister has childrena dn live at home with their family!!!! they take 4 vows, poveryt, chaisty, obedience and joy!!!!! theya re great Sisters and very up beat community!!!! i know them quite well!!!! Actulyl i'm suppose ot help one of them out here in October and November!!!!!

WHO, WHAT, HOW,WHY, WHERE, EMAIL, WEBSITE ?
Thanks.

Yes, website please?

I believe I met one of them once, there are some in Stubenville right? And they are allowed to become a Sister even after marriage and having kids? If so, I was chatting with one of them at a Vocations Retreat last Feb.

My friend's mom is their foundress. They aren't all widows, but a lot of them are. Marea's mom (the foundress) was never married, but she adopted a ton of kids from all over the world. Sr. John Vianney (the one in the blue shirt) worked at my Newman Center in Normal up until May. She had a bunch of kids, but they were all her own (she was a widow). Their vow of poverty isn't the same since some of them live with kids, and they don't really live in community because of that, but I think they meet up in the summer as a community. Mother Yvonne lives in Rochester, NY, but I believe most of the Sisters live in the Peoria diocese.

Hey guys, they dont have awebsite, sorry. Yes this pic was taken at an evenet in Peroai. Sister michale whose hand is on my shoulder is from peroia. the ones from Stubenville is the one on the otehr side of my shoulder but behind me. SHe travels around selling books and such kidna like the Daughters fo St. paul. hte community is very up beat. motehr Yvonne is a very nice person and has alot of kids. i was told sicne she teaches in clloege, she cant were her viel because fo tehfac thats its a public college and not catholic and the churhc she attends doesnt know she is a sister. the priest and Bishoip knwos she is there but those around her doesnt know it. But i guess and sutdent gave a her a comment aht most teaches ask for at the end of the yr about thier teaching and I guess one student said that they didnt understand why she wore the same thing everyday!!!!!!! how sad is that??? Bot being able to show those aroudn that you're a religious!!!!!

no, there is only 1 sister who lives in epria, Sr mary Michale who is shown in the pic. i have another pic but I just have to get it developed. it is an updated pic from the pic shown but as soon as I get tht one i'll post it!!!!!!!!!! htere are 2 of them in Stubenville!!!!!!!!

They don't live in Peoria, but they're in the diocese (it's their homebase...they consider themselves under Bishop Jenky in the US and their founding bishop is in, I think, Tanzania). I think some live in or near Pontiac, and Sr. John Vianney lived around Eureka which is between Normal and Peoria (she might have left the community, though).

yes theya re in the Diocese of Peoria. Sr Mary Michael is the One In Pontiac!!!! Like I said they are great Sister and a very upbeat community!!!!

Okay the college thing I just don't get. Why do they care one way or another about the veil, especially if they know she is a nun?

And the last line about her not being able to show those around her she is a nun. Why do the people in her parish not know she is a nun? Is it that she is "not allowed to tell or choosing not to tell?" Honestly I do not understand either.

For whatever reason I am not comfortable with what is going on. Then again I don't know what is going on. HELP, WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON? I am confused why a nun can't say she is a nun and I am not and get mistaken for one.

I have something else I want to say but i need more opinions before I do.

It does seem strange that the college would forbid her from wearing her veil. My university is notoriously... secular(what else do you expect from the university that thought it would be wise to give Dr. Henry Morgentaler an honorary degree?), but if an Islamic woman was refused the right to wear her Hijab, I can only imagine the law suit! I imagine it would be the same for a religious sister.

I read the above answer and the MAGIC word popped out at me "lawsuit."

I am wondering if the ACLJ would think she had a case.
ACLJ American Center for Law and Justice. The Christian version of the
ACLU.

Their website is aclj.org

It can't hurt to ask.

I agree! That is absurd. I KNOW PLENTY of Sisters who go/teach at public colleges that wear the viel/habit. PLENTY of them, heck I even know sisters who TEACH at public High Schools and so on.

okay, to tell you the truth, i'm nto sure either. this is what i was told by one of her Sisters who knows her best. I dont know why she istn recognized for being a sister i her own parish and at her college, wait, i can see why teh college thing but not really why in her own church.

The college use to be a catholic college, but she some reason it went to public, but in order for her to keep her job at the college, she would have to take the veil off and kinda look likea normal person like you and i, but she wears the habit but not the viel!!!! I'm not 100% I'll get more info!!!!!!

The other version of "the separation of church state debate" I guess would be "the State can't tell you what to wear to work.or how to express your faith." I work in "public" schools, I have for nine years. I have ALWAYS worn some sort of Crucifix or Catholic medal. Right now I am wearing a 3 inch Crucifix.

When I first started comments were made some in fun, some not about "how long do you think "they" will let you wear that?" I had one answer "LAWSUIT" I have yet to have ANYONE tell me I couldn't wear Jesus.

What I didn't bring up before was an article I read in the Catholic Digest about a Brother who works as an ER nurse. He isn't "allowed" to tell anyone he is a brother. Why take a job where you know you are going to have to deny Jesus.

There was a situation where he felt the patient and their family would be comforted knowing he was a religious. HE HAD TO GET PERMISSION FROM HIS SUPERVISOR before he could say anything. HOW WRONG IS THAT?

What I find weird is that I am a "civilian" shouting Jesus from the rooftops (not really I am scared of heights). And the people that should be doing my job either can't or won't.

For the ones who have been told you C.A.N.' T. I would like to refer you to the A C L J. Look them up on the Internet. For those of you who W.O.N.'T.
IS JUDAS YOUR PATRON SAINT?