Women Religious Not Complying With Vatican Study

[Skinzo]

[quote name='jkaands' date='18 January 2010 - 03:52 PM' timestamp='1263844346' post='2039745']


I have no objection to a 'bridal' ceremony, but don't think that it was included in the original observances of the Benedictine and Dominican nuns, but is a much more recent addition. And I don't think that women religious today are denying their 'vows' as 'brides of Christ' as they didn't take them.
[/quote]

The Sisters of St. Joseph had ceremonies like that in past decades.
See: http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/23/nyregion/still-married-christ-never-happier-fewer-women-become-nuns-sisters-say-calling-s.html?pagewanted=1

Here is an account of a Benedictine sister from 1950:

"In 1950, I took another step to come further under Catholic authority by entering the Order of St. Benedict to become a sister. I had been working as a nurse's aide at a local hospital run by the Benedictine Sisters, and, as I was so impressed with their gracious service to the patients and staff, I decided that I, too, wanted to spend my life serving others.

My first year in the convent, as a postulant, was one of the happiest years of my life. Our postulant mistress was a kind, fair, and understanding woman. There were eighteen girls of various ages and backgrounds in our group. They were eager and excited to serve the Catholic Church and to live by the rule of St. Benedict. We shared many happy times together. There were more serious moments for me, too, when I prayed in the chapel and gazed up at the crucifix wondering why Jesus had to die on Calvary's Cross.

Before we became novices, we marched down the church aisle in bridal attire to become "brides of Christ". Nothing much was said about Jesus as we prepared for this event. Rather, our emotions were at high pitch over the changes in our names. I went from Miss Mary Ann to Sr. M. Laurian, O.S.B. I was a bride of Christ, and I knew little about Him other than He was the Son of God."

It isn't anything new. I heard the expression many times in grade school from the Sisters of Notre Dame.


S.

[jkaands]

[quote name='Skinzo' date='27 January 2010 - 07:14 PM' timestamp='1264641246' post='2046126']
The Sisters of St. Joseph had ceremonies like that in past decades.
See: http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/23/nyregion/still-married-christ-never-happier-fewer-women-become-nuns-sisters-say-calling-s.html?pagewanted=1

Here is an account of a Benedictine sister from 1950:

"In 1950, I took another step to come further under Catholic authority by entering the Order of St. Benedict to become a sister. I had been working as a nurse's aide at a local hospital run by the Benedictine Sisters, and, as I was so impressed with their gracious service to the patients and staff, I decided that I, too, wanted to spend my life serving others.

My first year in the convent, as a postulant, was one of the happiest years of my life. Our postulant mistress was a kind, fair, and understanding woman. There were eighteen girls of various ages and backgrounds in our group. They were eager and excited to serve the Catholic Church and to live by the rule of St. Benedict. We shared many happy times together. There were more serious moments for me, too, when I prayed in the chapel and gazed up at the crucifix wondering why Jesus had to die on Calvary's Cross.

Before we became novices, we marched down the church aisle in bridal attire to become "brides of Christ". Nothing much was said about Jesus as we prepared for this event. Rather, our emotions were at high pitch over the changes in our names. I went from Miss Mary Ann to Sr. M. Laurian, O.S.B. I was a bride of Christ, and I knew little about Him other than He was the Son of God."

It isn't anything new. I heard the expression many times in grade school from the Sisters of Notre Dame.

S.
[/quote]

"New" in religious life is anything after the 12th century, the century in which the last rule was written, as JR Education likes to remind us. My point is that the 'bridal' ceremony isn't [i]old[/i], and doesn't appear to have been practiced during the early centuries of the Benedictine, Dominican and Franciscan orders. They are a late addition. Nothing wrong with this, but many posters have felt that contemporary nuns are denying their 'vows' as 'brides of Christ'. Nuns don't take vows to be a bride of Christ (the [i]church [/i]is the bride of Christ), and most professed women religious haven't gone through this sort of ceremony. It is totally optional.

[Skinzo]

[quote name='jkaands' date='27 January 2010 - 11:19 PM' timestamp='1264648779' post='2046172']
"New" in religious life is anything after the 12th century, the century in which the last rule was written, as JR Education likes to remind us. My point is that the 'bridal' ceremony isn't [i]old[/i], and doesn't appear to have been practiced during the early centuries of the Benedictine, Dominican and Franciscan orders. They are a late addition. Nothing wrong with this, but many posters have felt that contemporary nuns are denying their 'vows' as 'brides of Christ'. Nuns don't take vows to be a bride of Christ (the [i]church [/i]is the bride of Christ), and most professed women religious haven't gone through this sort of ceremony. It is totally optional.
[/quote]
OK, but there is still the vow of obedience. And we all owe that to Rome whether we like it or not.

S.