If You Could Design A Habit...

[DevotedtoHim]

[quote name='vee8' date='03 May 2010 - 09:54 AM' timestamp='1272894860' post='2104154']
Count me in on that one too.
[/quote]


Me too, it is the prettiest.

[GraceUk]

[quote name='GraceUk' date='01 May 2010 - 05:48 PM' timestamp='1272750539' post='2103286']
There's a photograph on the EWTN site of a sister with a pale pink veil which was nice. But not sure which order she is in.
[/quote]

Here's a link to the photo of the Sister with the pink veil that I couldn't find before. I knew I hadn't dreamt it! It was Catholic radio and not EWTN.

http://www.kvss.com/apps/photos/default.asp?folderid=387375#noref

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='GraceUk' date='13 May 2010 - 03:14 PM' timestamp='1273781693' post='2110092']
Here's a link to the photo of the Sister with the pink veil that I couldn't find before. I knew I hadn't dreamt it! It was Catholic radio and not EWTN.

[url="http://www.kvss.com/apps/photos/default.asp?folderid=387375#noref"]http://www.kvss.com/...id=387375#noref[/url]
[/quote]

Very interesting. I thought at first the habit was the "Pink Sisters" but it isn't.

It looks a lot like the habit of the Nashville Dominicans, except with a pink cape. And, in the other pictures, one sister was shown with a white veil and the other with a pink veil.

I'm not an expert on Orders, so someone else is going to have to figure this out.

Or, maybe just call Catholic radio and ask.

BTW--I like this habit a lot. I look good in that color. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif[/img]

Edited May 13, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='GraceUk' date='13 May 2010 - 04:14 PM' timestamp='1273781693' post='2110092']
Here's a link to the photo of the Sister with the pink veil that I couldn't find before. I knew I hadn't dreamt it! It was Catholic radio and not EWTN.

http://www.kvss.com/apps/photos/default.asp?folderid=387375#noref
[/quote]



You know... I feel like I have seen those Sisters somewhere before! But I just can't remember [i]where[/i]!

Now I'm reeeeeally curious about who these Sisters are.

[Thomist-in-Training]

Someone put something earlier on the scapular topic about all the right-angle creases that some have in their scapulars (like Nashville, those are the ones I've seen like that). It just wandered through my head, could that be so that they can keep them folded in dressers and then don't need to have cells with closets?

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Thomist-in-Training' date='13 May 2010 - 04:28 PM' timestamp='1273786119' post='2110126']
Someone put something earlier on the scapular topic about all the right-angle creases that some have in their scapulars (like Nashville, those are the ones I've seen like that). It just wandered through my head, could that be so that they can keep them folded in dressers and then don't need to have cells with closets?
[/quote]

I never thought of cells having closets. I've always imagined them having hooks to hang the habit on each night.

The postulants at the Nashville Dominicans don't even have cells with walls. They live in a dormitory, with a dresser/desk next to their bed, and muslin curtains around it for privacy at night. (There's a picture on the Web site.) The Web site also said that the dormitories are used by Sisters visiting at Christmas. So, some Sisters/nuns don't even have cells with walls.

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='Thomist-in-Training' date='13 May 2010 - 05:28 PM' timestamp='1273786119' post='2110126']
Someone put something earlier on the scapular topic about all the right-angle creases that some have in their scapulars (like Nashville, those are the ones I've seen like that). It just wandered through my head, could that be so that they can keep them folded in dressers and then don't need to have cells with closets?
[/quote]

Oooooh! That makes sense! I guess I had never thought about it that way. I think it might make for faster ironing, too!

The Sisters of Life and Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist also have the same creases -- which also makes sense, as both communities were formed by former Nashville Dominicans. The Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph in England have the creases as well.

Hmmm... but then again, I wonder if the Hawthorne Dominicans also do the crease thing?

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' date='13 May 2010 - 06:09 PM' timestamp='1273788594' post='2110136']
Oooooh! That makes sense! I guess I had never thought about it that way. I think it might make for faster ironing, too!

The Sisters of Life and Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist also have the same creases -- which also makes sense, as both communities were formed by former Nashville Dominicans. The Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph in England have the creases as well.

Hmmm... but then again, I wonder if the Hawthorne Dominicans also do the crease thing?
[/quote]
Lol, now you have me wondering! I will have an interesting question for them when I go to visit.

[DameAgnes]

Re the pink scapular and veil, perhaps it was this woman?

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?p=5514764

(from the link) "In my area, we have a nun whom we affectionately call "The Pink Lady", who with permission has founded her own order. (As yet the order consists only of her and a novice.) She designed her own habit, with a pink veil and scapular, a belt, and the rest of the habit is white."

[Michele]

the funny thing is, the habit design issue actually is a stumbling block in my discernment wonderings. other than the factors of compatability with renunciations, distance, charism, asceticism, apostolate, friends in the order, etc... my vanity finds something disagreeable about some-thing in every habit i've seen - too short, too witchy, too high of a veil, where's the rosary go, why do the discalced wear close-toed shoes, yadda yadda. i can't decide which style that's already out there is the one i'd fit into and not get tired of wearing every day. so designing my own has crossed my mind, but i doubt it'd fly with the superiors. i don't have the energy to start a reform of the reform of the reform, hehe. i guess it's like picking a wedding dress. just find the one that's the most suitable for you.

Edited May 14, 2010 by Michele

[GraceUk]

[quote name='DameAgnes' date='14 May 2010 - 12:00 AM' timestamp='1273809638' post='2110372']
Re the pink scapular and veil, perhaps it was this woman?

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?p=5514764

(from the link) "In my area, we have a nun whom we affectionately call "The Pink Lady", who with permission has founded her own order. (As yet the order consists only of her and a novice.) She designed her own habit, with a pink veil and scapular, a belt, and the rest of the habit is white."
[/quote]

Thanks for the detective work. I'm sure that must be the same Sisters who are in the photo. It would explain why one is wearing pink veil and one a white if one sister is a novice. I wonder what their order is called. I hope they get more vocations. They look great. Isn't it strange what you can tell from a photograph. Well I think so anyway!!

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='Michele' date='14 May 2010 - 02:28 AM' timestamp='1273818484' post='2110477']
the funny thing is, the habit design issue actually is a stumbling block in my discernment wonderings. other than the factors of compatability with renunciations, distance, charism, asceticism, apostolate, friends in the order, etc... my vanity finds something disagreeable about some-thing in every habit i've seen - too short, too witchy, too high of a veil, where's the rosary go, why do the discalced wear close-toed shoes, yadda yadda. i can't decide which style that's already out there is the one i'd fit into and not get tired of wearing every day. so designing my own has crossed my mind, but i doubt it'd fly with the superiors. i don't have the energy to start a reform of the reform of the reform, hehe. i guess it's like picking a wedding dress. just find the one that's the most suitable for you.
[/quote]

Hi Michele!

I suppose the only "words of advice" I can offer in this regards is to try [i]not [/i]having the habit design issue be a stumbling block. Like the old saying goes, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." -- Don't let your discernment be only "skin/habit deep".

The thing is, I know it can be great fun looking at various habits and picturing oneself in them (I plead guilty); however, we must also remember that... the habit isn't the "be all, end all" of one's vocation. It's an [i]exterior [/i]"sign" and witness of one's [i]interior [/i]consecration -- the setting apart of oneself specifically for the Sacred, for God.

[quote name='Vita Consecrata']
The Church must always seek to make her presence visible in everyday life, especially in contemporary culture, which is often very secularized and yet sensitive to the language of signs. In this regard the Church has a right to expect a significant contribution from consecrated persons, called as they are in every situation to bear clear witness that they belong to Christ.

Since the habit is a sign of consecration, poverty and membership in a particular Religious family, I join the Fathers of the Synod in strongly recommending to men and women religious that they wear their proper habit, suitably adapted to the conditions of time and place.[/quote]

Granted, I know even for myself, I am guilty in pondering over the "little things" (yes, quite surface-level -- like the fact that I'd rather wear sandals over "practical socks and shoes" ANY day, or the preference for long-at-least-waist-length, single-pointed veils, etc.) about various habits. However, at least from personal experience, I can say that habits can "grow on you". There are some habits I've seen, that might fit my superficial "requirements"; yet, my initial reaction was, "Uh... nothankyou." This would happen when I would [i]only [/i]allow myself to see superficially... for once I really got to know the Sisters I could truly look past the habit -- so much so that I wouldn't even notice it. I saw "Sister Mary So-and-So" INSTEAD of "Sister-who-wears-the-unappealing-habit", if that makes sense.

Anyhoo -- I hope this post didn't come across as some kind of "lecture". This was not my intention.

To leave on some sort of positive note, I wanted to add that I have heard from a few Sisters speaking about their discernment that just seeing certain habits (or even parts of habits) they knew they weren't called there.

For example, one Sister just [i]knew[/i] she couldn't wear a certain pair of shoes for the rest of her life. Another [i]knew[/i] she just couldn't wear black the rest of her life -- like another PMer has said, black would just make this Sister too depressed. The Sister that had the little quibble about the shoes was told by that Order/Community's vocation director, "You know, maybe God is just using that as a very simple way of telling you you're not called to this Order/Community." (And she did so in a very charitable way!)

So I suppose I chalk this up to, "Grace builds on nature". God knows where we are and who we are. He knows everything about us, and He knows what it will take to get us to heaven (or out of Hell). I suppose God knows I couldn't wear pantyhose every day for the rest of my earthly life either. I'd be tempted to kill myself.

[laetitia crucis]

P.S. -- Michele, I also wanted to add that I'm sure you're not alone in these habit musings. I think many of us can easily get caught up in the beauty (or lack of) found in religious habits. Because like you said, it is kind of like picking out one's wedding dress -- a wedding dress we'll wear (God willing) every single day for the rest of our lives. However, it is good to remember that we're marrying the Eternal Bridegroom, not the dress.

[Cherie]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' date='13 May 2010 - 06:09 PM' timestamp='1273788594' post='2110136']
Oooooh! That makes sense! I guess I had never thought about it that way. I think it might make for faster ironing, too!

The Sisters of Life and Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist also have the same creases -- which also makes sense, as both communities were formed by former Nashville Dominicans. The Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph in England have the creases as well.

Hmmm... but then again, I wonder if the Hawthorne Dominicans also do the crease thing?
[/quote]

The Sister Servants of the Eternal Word have a similar-type habit (The Superior, Mother Mary Gabriel, is a former Nashville Dominican and also blood-sister of Mother Assumpta, foundress of the Ann Arbor Dominicans) -- but she specifically excluded the creases, because the look is distracting from the habit as a whole, and there is no real reason behind it (besides ease of ironing, I suppose). I remember the Ann Arbor Dominicans coming to visit once, and this topic came up. They lamented the fact that they have creases ... since it looks "strange".

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='CherieMadame' date='14 May 2010 - 11:41 AM' timestamp='1273851710' post='2110584']
The Sister Servants of the Eternal Word have a similar-type habit (The Superior, Mother Mary Gabriel, is a former Nashville Dominican and also blood-sister of Mother Assumpta, foundress of the Ann Arbor Dominicans) -- but she specifically excluded the creases, because the look is distracting from the habit as a whole, and there is no real reason behind it (besides ease of ironing, I suppose). I remember the Ann Arbor Dominicans coming to visit once, and this topic came up. They lamented the fact that they have creases ... since it looks "strange".
[/quote]

I lament that same "strangeness". Whenever I see Dominicans (or other Dominican-like habits), the creases always jump out at me.

I always think, "Oh man, I would LOOOOOOOVE to get my hands on those scapulars and iron out those creases!!" (I always found them oddly distracting. Hahaha! )

[DameAgnes]

The creases neither distract me or engage me. I think they show up better in a white scapular than a brown, though.

I think since the SSEW's wear the brown for Francis, it's appropriate that they don't iron in the creases. Francis was never so fussy!

[Cherie]

[quote name='DameAgnes' date='14 May 2010 - 02:34 PM' timestamp='1273862058' post='2110636']
I think since the SSEW's wear the brown for Francis, it's appropriate that they don't iron in the creases. Francis was never so fussy!
[/quote]

Part of why, as hard as I try for other spiritualities, I'm definitely a Franciscan at heart!!! I think that statement gives a lot of insight into Mother Gabriel's own thinking, too, and why God called her to unite the charism of Dominicans and Franciscans!

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' date='14 May 2010 - 10:58 AM' timestamp='1273852706' post='2110590']
I lament that same "strangeness". [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif[/img] Whenever I see Dominicans (or other Dominican-like habits), the creases always jump out at me. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/sweat.gif[/img]

I always think, "Oh man, I would LOOOOOOOVE to get my hands on those scapulars and iron out those creases!!" (I always found them oddly distracting. Hahaha! [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif[/img] )
[/quote]

Strangely, I never even noticed the "creases." I had to go look at the Nashville Dominican's Web site to see what all of you were talking about. They don't bother me at all.

In fact, the "big" creases would probably keep people from noticing that my habit had lots of other "spontaneous" creases, not to mention stains, marks--you name it. I love their white habit, but I think I'd have to pick a community with a darker blue habit. How's that for spirtuality--picking an order based on the color of their habit and the degree to which it shows stains!

It's a good thing I'm not in discernment.......

[Tridenteen]

JMJ
Or are you?

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Tridenteen' date='14 May 2010 - 09:51 PM' timestamp='1273891886' post='2110946']
JMJ
Or are you?
[/quote]

LOL. I could be except that (in no particular order):

--I'm too old for virtually all Orders.
--I have a chronic illness--right now I can't do much, including standing for any length of time.
--I have a sleep disorder that means I need 9-10 hours of sleep a night, plus probably a nap.
--I've made a "vow" to take care of my two chronically ill cats, and they would be very hard to place in a new home.
--I'm not Catholic (although there are Anglican Orders).
--My marriage has not been annulled. Under the circumstances, an annullment would be very likely to be granted, but it would take time.
--And, maybe most important, I don't think I could ever take a vow of obedience (just being realistic).

But, I have been fascinated by nuns since I was small. I didn't know any personally, but I read about them in books. Plus, the Catholic kids in my neighborhood liked to tell "mean nun stories" to the kids in public school.

Edited May 15, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola