In the days before AC and fans just how did religous with full habits or garb handle such heat?
I am blessed with a fan and cold running water.

Just wondering.

It's like near 100 today, they say it could go over 100 Wednesday here in CT.

They didn't have A/C, so they didn't know what they were missing. They were still hot, but offered it up. One reason why some died was due to the "austerity" of giving up water.

My argument, again, is now that we do have A/C, and different fabrics, why give up the habit?

Now, whenever a young lady enters the monastery, she has to get used to the heat and humidity.

One of the reasons why I had to leave my Toledo Visitation vocation retreat earlier than planned was due to having to sleep with the windows open. I caught what might have been pneumonia. The Novice Mistress was recovering from surgery, and I left so she wouldn't get sick.

Talk about hot days there--it was 98 degrees for a couple of days. I didn't have a lot of water, though a temp professed said drinking water was good and necessary for health.

My 2 cents.

Blessings,
Gemma

Well, you just endure. During my time in the military, I have experienced extreme heat in the Far East, but you just have to learn to adjust. I know it sounds weird, but just try not to think about it. Slow down....breath more slowly. If you do sweat profusely, just be thankful that you can. I have survived two heat strokes (I know....it is unheard of, but here I am) and since the last one, I have a hard time just being able to sweat, which, as I am sure you already know, is how our bodies were designed to cool themselves. The Visitation Sisters at Tyringham do not have AC (except in the infirmary I think), and for that I am profoundly grateful. It is not that I enjoy being miserable, but it does give me an opportunity to practise patience (which can run short when you're dying of the heat!) and humility. It is a small price to pay for the grace of worshipping Our Lord and giving Him thanks for all that He has done for us. Besides, I have a hard time with the idea that one wants to be vowed to poverty, but in comfort. AC is not a necessity (with the exception of certain medical conditions).

Also, in the middle east, people wear layers of clothing so that the body can both breath and cool itself. Bottom line, eventually you will get used to it!!

I've also wondered about this as well as how certain religious cope nowadays.

i had also wondered about that but if they didnt know of any oter way than i guess it wouldnt seem as bad.