What Orders wear which habit? I know that most Dominicans wear the white habit, but what about the other orders? What do ( or did pre vatican 2) the Franciscans wear? Please clue me in! Thanks !

I'm sure you'll get a whole bevy of answers, but I'll invite you to our religious habit yahoo group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thereligioushabit/

Blessings,
Gemma

Franciscans wear brown, black, grey and some new communities wear blue.

I've only ever seen brown and grey. (Note: I am referring to full habits.) I also thought the Dominicans wore brown...

BROWN!!??? Good heavens, no! Then people would think we were Franciscans!

The Dominicans wear white. That's why Fr. Philippe, founder of the Cty of St. John wears white, he's an OP

Haha. Heh... my bad.

Well, some of the major orders... Benedictines are black (and white), Franciscans are brown with the knotted cord cinture, Dominicans are white and black, and Carmelites are brown too...

Franciscans are grey as well. I've seen more than one order in grey.

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My absolute favorite way to look at different habits is at this website:

http://www.blessings-catalog.com/nundolls.html
http://www.blessings-catalog.com/doll-list.html



This company creates beautiful and authentically habited "nun dolls". Several hundred pre and post Vatican II habits.

SMME, PCPA, MC, etc... etc...

I heard that one of the early popes was a Dominican and he wouldnt take his habit off. That is why recent popes look like they are wearing something similar to the Dominican habit??? If it is true I think that is pretty cool! Woohoo Dominicans!!!

That was Pope St. Pius V. The subsequent popes have all worn the "simar."

Blessings,
Gemma

I LOVE the nuns dolls, I would buy them all if I had a place to put them. I always thought Franciscan nuns wore the 'peguin' black and white.

Nope... Maybe looking at old B & W photos would lead one to think that... hmmm...

Norbetines also wear a white habit as do Cistercians & a whole bevy of Trappists & Carthusians...But the Trappists have a black scapular too...

General themes.

Franciscans - Brown or Gray.
Dominicans, Norbetines - White
Augustinians - Black
Benedictines - Black, denim, or polyester. (sorry, PP, I couldn't resist)

Good one OLAM Dad I actually LOL.

Thanks!

He, He, He!
Actually, there is no color specified in the OSB rule for the habit. It's just supposed to be what the poor would wear. So, yes, you can have OSB wearing black, white, or....denim!
Could they wear green, purple, or red?????

Sister, that's news to me. Thanks for the info., I guess now you've proven that you add value to this forum and you must stick around.

Too bad you can't buy those dolls anymore...

(It's PP here - VA and I are at my parents' computer and she's the one who logged on last)

OLAM Dad - you are my brother in Christ and I love you.
OLAM Dad - you are my brother in Christ and I love you.
OLAM Dad - you are my brother in Christ and I love you.

Ok, I think I can overlook your SLIGHT on my beloved Regula now! Especially as Sr. Mary Catherine is right; as an example, the Ruedesheim Benedictines have a blue "work" habit. Don't think it's denim, though :P

I had heard from a Benny that the habit is "traditionally" black because the cheapest fabric around was the wool of black sheep.

However, there are, I grant you, some interesting "interpretations" of the chapter of the Regula about the habit in some communities *cough* But you know, prayer is the best method of persuasion for some of us, who would make a right pig's ear of actually trying to say something.

Right. I'll stop abusing VA's account now.

Love and prayers,

PP

....Arren't there female hermits up in Idaho that have denim habits? I think the Little Sisters of the Jesus used to wear denim too...I can also think of one Franciscan community that wears it too...I have tried & tried to get our Medical Imaging department to wear denim scrubs, but alas! to no avail...

PP, I was "raised" Benedictine! If anyone SHOULD have become a Benedictine it is I but the Lord had other plans and I became one of the snobby OP's that would come to the Benedictines to visit!
My "parish" was a Benedictine Abbey (my parents still go there), my first job was with Benedictine nuns who ran a bakery to become self supporting, my school was St. Benedict School. One of my favorite saints is St. Gertrude and I made solemn Profession on her feast day!
I even have a 1980 bronze jubilee medal on my side rosary.
However, I love being an OP and I love the Rule of St. Augustine. It's my home.