so joyful!!!

Carmelites of The Child Jesus
(Contemplatives ,who have a small children's apostolate.)
Montpelier,France

The Carmelite Nuns of Dijon(n.France)
yes the same Carmel where St. Elizabeth of the Trinity lived (new buildings though)
The Friars are in the congregation behind ,attending the festivities of the Anniversary of death of Blessed Elizabeth of Trinity

Prioress of Dijon Carmel gives a conference on prayer and Elizabeth of The Trinity

Redemptoristine Nuns, Australia

The Contemplative Sisters of St John(white Veils), and Apostolic,grey,Praying Midday Prayer with the Brothers of ST John at thier Novitiate in France.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
a new apostolic Sister of St John, in her new habit , first vows..


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cistercians
------------------------------------------
Dominican Sisters in Canada

Actually those are moniales, nuns. Thanks for posting this photo of our nuns in Canada. They have trouble getting vocations because of the religious climate in Canada. Although they mostly speak French they are part of our Association of the Nuns of the Order of Preachers and come to our meeting every 4 years. They are always a joy to have with us, especially Sr. Julie and Sr. Micheline. Again, their "style" is more of that of the European monasteries than of the US, but in essentials we are all alike! It's wonderful; you can go to any OP monastery in the world and feel right at home immediately. I know because I've had this experience.

Thanks for this continuing "supply" of photos. It's so much fun!

Thank-you Sister...i usually dont put 'Moniales' (the french word for Nuns literally- female monks), because most folks wouldnt know French..and yes, i do liberally interchange Nuns and Sisters (incorrectly),too often. Yet, arent you a Nun? and we call you Sister.?
it does drive me nuts when people call Friars ,'monks' though.....
a Nun is also a sister, but a Sister isnt a Nun?...\pax!
Emile-James
i am trying to find pics of The Dominican Nuns next to me here in Langley

Sr. Mary Catherine,
What is the difference between European and American monasteries? I don't really have any experience with either, but I was just curious.
Thanks!

In Jesus and Mary,
Lauren

As I understand it, a nun is a religious sister that takes Solemn Vows and is enclosed, while a religious sister takes simple/perpetual vows and is not formally a nun, though generally speaking, she can be called nun, as we in the US interchange the two a lot.

It does confuse me though, because once when I was telling someone about the Sisters of Bethlehem they were saying to me, why don't you just become a nun. She kept asking me, but do they take Solemn Vows? Well, I guess not - they take Final Vows. But is it that big of a difference in the eyes of God?

As I understand it, Solemn Vows are something only nuns in an established Order (with a capitol "O") can take. But an order like the Sisters of Bethlehem does not have that status, so they take Final Vows. They are a Religious Institute of Pontifical Right though. I asked a sister at Livingston Manor about it, and she said it's the same thing - Solemn Vows / Final Vows. I also asked a great priest once, and he was saying he thinks it's more of a canonical thing. I think what matters in this is what the vows mean before God, and not man.

And now some pictures from Les Voirons. I love this sister! I met her when I was on retreat there!

From - Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother

Actually the difference between Solemn Vows and perpetual vows is more than canonical. According to the new code of canon law there is no difference unless stipulated in the constitutions. I recently learned that the OMI's make solemn vows.

Solemn Profession is more than just about poverty, ie. one don't only can't acquire goods one doesn't own anything, whereas with perpetual vows one actually continues to own but doesn't have the right to adminster one's goods.

According to natural law every person has the right to own goods. We give up this natural right by Solemn Profession.

With Solemn profession if one would run off and get married it would be invalid whereas with perpetual vows it's illicit.

OK. That sounds very dry and dull but it has deeper practical implications.

Only the Pope can dispense NOT from the vow in solemn profession but from the obligations. Solemn Profession is a total holocaust between the person and God and even the Pope can't undo this.

What one is saying with Solemn Profession is that one completely hands oneself over to God. Yes, essentially it's what matters is before God but we are creatures of body and soul and don't live in the mind although the modern world things so. So, we express this total self gift, total holocaust in a physical, created way. Let's face it; "that's mine" is something that seems to be ingrained in us from the day we were born! By Solemn Profession GOD consecrates and we in a new way we become His! The "stuff" of ownership and non-ownership is the expression of saying to God, "I belong to you; you must take care of me."

Our profession is an ecclesial act. It's accept and ratified by the Church, it's not just a thing between me and God.

It's really too bad the the new Code didn't continue this distinction because there is a difference. It doesn't make a person in solemn vows better than someone in perpetual vows but it's a real distinction. It's ABSOLUTELY a gift of God.

We tend to use "moniales" to talk about the OP nuns as Sisters means the apostolic congregations. And yes, it's confusing because we call ourselves Sisters. The first nuns of Prouilhe were called "ladies". Hmmm. I don't think that would go today! We were also called the Sister Preacheresses.

Lauren the European monasteries tend to be more broad about enclosure. Many don't have material separation and many have guest houses, hostels which means more interaction with the public. Many will have the public join them for the Liturgy. Their Offices also tend to have more musical instruments like zithers.

Many of them have an industry like cookie making.

And a lot of them wear those ugly kerchief style veils! They always fall off!

Hey, thanks for the reply Sr. Mary Catharine. That's very informative. I guess my only question remains, I know that if the Sisters of Bethlehem could have Solemn Vows, they would. They live the wholly contemplative life and completely abandon themselves to God in this same way. But the reason their vows aren't solemn is because they're a Religious Institute and not an Order. I would want to completely give my life over to God in Solemn Vows, and I'm sure all the Sisters of Bethlehem would feel the same way too, like the Carmelites or Poor Clares or Dominican Nuns. They definitely live the monastic life to the full, without compromise. I do wish the Church could grant religious institutes such as them the privilge of Solemn Vows. But for some reasons it's only for the nuns in Orders.

Sorry to hijack the thread though, with the discussion on nuns & sisters. Sr. MC's response was very informative though! Thank you!!

I just had a correspondence with a priest who said that according to the 83 Code there IS NO distinction between Final/perpetual and Solemn and that one could have the act of renounciation that we have with Solemn Vows with Simple vows if the it's in the Constitutions of the institute.

However, I was not taught it quite this way but he may be right. Believe it or not, now I'M confused!

Will do a little more research and get some advice and let you know.

Again, dont' mean to highjack. I'll do a separate thread.

God bless!
SMC

Carmelite


S.O.L.T. Sisters:


Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (AK)



Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus:

These Carmelites look like a wonderful community, with a beautiful apostolate!
And I think we have here a Srs of Bethlehem statue sighting! Our Lady of Aude :j

Congregation of the Mother of Carmel, India - Active/Contemplative Carmelite sisters,
affiliated with the Discalced Carmelite Order, (they have both brown & white Carmelite habits)




CMC Sisters Novitiate



Holy Founders: Blessed Kuriakose, "The Father of the Untouchables" founder of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, priests/brothers & CMC sisters - & Blessed Euphrasia, Mother Foundress

CMC Sister in Chicago greets Auxiliary Bishop Paprocki :j (she's a great sister!)

this one's beautiful.

This is one of my most favorite pictures. I really can't explain why.
Whenever we build our house I plan on modeling the guest rooms after this.
My husband thinks I'm kidding....I'm not.
After all what else do you need?
He married a minimalist.

If anyone's on facebook, check out the group "Dominican Sisters... Wild at Heart"--it has 100+ pictures of the Nashville Dominicans

Shortnun what is facebook? And how do I get it and where is it?
THANK YOU...

Facebook is a social networking site (like MySpace).

Wikipedia Entry
Facebook interface

My friend is a postulant there! (She's not in the picture.) And I recognize those two in that last picture. Sr Kelly (I think it's her name) and Sr Veronica. They are so sweet and funny!

OK sooooo..continuing with pictures that speak many words...

Little Poor(and we do mean poor) Sisters(and Brothers) of Jesus and Mary (Franciscan, with devotion to Our lady of Mt Carmel)-Italia
very new as far as Sisters go, only one fully professed, and a few Novices, and Postulants-observers.
see 'Brothers pic thread' for more info.
------------------------------------

Dominican Nuns here in B.C.
------------


----------
Benedictine Nuns at Jamberoo, Australia.

+

That is seriously old school. It appears as though one is looking in on Saint Francis and his followers themselves!

I would like to thank everyone who has posted pictures here.
The joy that you see in the Sister's faces is such a "pick-me-up."
I often come on this site to see the pictures when I've had a bad day.
Seeing all the smiles and beauty I can't help but feel better.

Please know that I appreciate what you are doing.

>>>>>>>>DITTO <<<<<<<<<<

the joyfull Sisters de l'Annonciade-order founded by St Jeanne de France in 1502 a.d.
if anyone knows what the ten knots on their cords means, i would be interested...thanks.
E-J.
---------





-
PAX!

Sisters from San Antonio i figure??!!

Awesome!- these are the Salesian Sisters of St John Bosco, the order Philosobrat and I will be entering this August 4th!! ( 1 month and 22 days to be exact!) These are the Sisters of the western province, the Sister furthest to the right is Sr Sandra Neaves, the Provincial of the Western US. This picture and story will in my Sunday paper as well!- the retired Sisters have taken to praying for one member of the Spurs basketball team each. The article says they're even in contact with the NBA from time to time. :-) GO FMA's!!

At recreation. I have no idea what Sr. Mary Ellen Timothy was saying that made Sr. Denise Marie laugh so hard!

Salve Procession. Yes, into the refectory!
Because we have Perpetual Adoration we aren't allowed to have the Salve Procession in the Choir but must process out and then back. So we go to our Lady's statue in the refectory.

Hmm, who COULD this be!?

Benedictine Nuns.:Kansas City (came out for Corpus Christi Feast)AWESOME!

What beautiful benedictines!!!!

Ok, Handmaid... what team are you rooting for because I want to get a headstart in my bugging our founder... haha... I have given up on the Cubs. So should we go with Eastern sports teams (for our province) or Western (for our formation house?!)

1 month and 21 days!! yeehaw!

I love the Sisters in the uniform with the cane... so great. Our older Sisters are so funny.

Sisters of Charity of our lady mother of the church

.............DITTO.............. Wonderful photgraphs.!!

more of...Sisters of Charity of our Lady, Mother of the Church
beautiful!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

S.America 'faithfulness'


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carmel, Dakota

Mother Assumpta

lets hope her Sisters are praying for George Bush conversion!

seriously. they just went midieval on us.

so where's the brothers picture thread?

thread is here
http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=68072

tis about the end of second page? i think
plus undrer 'vocations' thread main page, a thread is called 'Religious Brothers/men pics'..or sumthin similar.
Pax et bonum

here come The Sisters of Life,
Formation House ,NYC
photo credit Stan Honda/afp
------

Palm Sunday,Roma

-
Carmelite voting, in Ireland

--------



PAX E-J

nice Pics of the renowned,contemplative, healthy and thriving Faithful Sisters of St Benedict, St Bernard,S.O.G.Claire of Castelbajac- -The Cistercian Nuns at Abbaye of Our Lady of Boular(6 novices a year, has also caused them to open a new priory- http://www.boulaur.org/fp/images/Ri-aerien.jpg - a few years ago)(i am particular to them because on a long day visit ,i had a wonderful grace from God, and the Sisters.)

http://www.boulaur.org/fp/






PAX!!!

+

Hey! It's my friend Mary! How did you get in the convent, and when were you there?

The Spirit moves in Mysterious ways!!

no i haven't been there in ohh, 9 years?.....these pics were taken by an AP.professional photographer for a story..
pax!