Domincan Nuns' Habit

[Tridenteen]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='08 April 2010 - 04:40 PM' timestamp='1270762828' post='2089518']
It's funny, this afternoon I spotted the thread about Dominican habits, so I clicked on the link. I found myself fascinated by the Web site and by all the pictures. I thoroughly enjoyed them, and wasn't "scandalized" in the least. In fact, I came away with a very positive feeling about the nuns of Summit NJ, and was thinking I would buy some of their soaps from their Web site.

I liked the openness. As someone who knows virtually NOTHING about nuns, I was grateful for the details of their daily life. To me, the pictures of the nuns made them seem HUMAN. For some, this might have seemed a disrespectful image, but for me, it was exactly the image that I needed to see. These nuns are real people, living a holy life, and they seemed HAPPY!

As a non-Catholic, the images of nuns I was given as a child, were of stern, dour, women with rulers. I couldn't imagine how a "normal" person could ever choose to be a nun.

But, the Summit nuns seem both holy AND normal. They seem to like being nuns and like each other, and the life suits them.

I can understand the negative reactions to the pictures of the relics. I was interested, not scandalized. But, I was also pleased to see that the young sisters in formation were allowed to have human reactions and emotions. The convent was helping them become closer to Christ, but wasn't trying to "wipe out" their personality in the process.

As for the picture of the nun who had died, I liked that they showed that, too. I thought the picture was respectful--it was taken from a distance and didn't show her face. The picture illustrated that, for these nuns, death is a natural part of life. This nun had apparently been living in a nursing home, but after her death, she was brought back to the place where she had likely lived most of her life and will be laid to rest in the garden where she walked every day. If I remember correctly, the site said that the nuns took turns keeping vigil with her all day. She remained part of the community, even in death.

I was trying to study the dates on the site, but it seemed possible that the nun who had died was lying in the chapel at the same time that the young novice was taking her simple vows. To me, the idea of a new life in Christ alongside another Sister who had passed to the next life was a fascinating juxtaposition.

One last thought--The novice mistress looked very young to me, and I was impressed. There are obviously much older Sisters than she in the community, but the Prioress apparently chose the one she felt was best qualified, not simply on the basis of seniority. The novice mistress must be very gifted if she was given such responsibility at such a young age. (To me, she didn't look more than 25, but she is likely older than that--but in her early thirties at the oldest.)

After looking at all the pictures, and wishing there were more, I came back to this thread to find that some posters had had negative reactions to the same pictures that had charmed me so much. And, the negative reactions were thoughtful ones--I could understand why some might have reacted differently to the pictures than I did.

This post has no point except to illustrate how all of us are very different. The Summit NJ Dominicans are doing their best, and for some people their Web site works, and for others it doesn't. I guess that is one reason why there are so many different communities of religious women. Women who are called to the religious life all have very different gifts, and have different needs in terms of the best community for them to join to best serve the Lord. But, after looking at the Dominican nuns' Web site, I came away feeling like I "knew" these women, and none of them fit my old sterotype of a dour, cranky Sister with a ruler, so for me, the Web site "worked" and this non-Catholic was not only not "scandalized" but came away with a very positive feeling about the these nuns.

BTW--I thought the "Mafia bunny" was funny.
[/quote]


JMJ
Amen. That was like a breath of fresh air. It really was getting to the point of crazy...as in no one can state their opinions without someone screaming "don't sit in judgement!!!!" There are really two sides to each coin, and sad as it is, you have to look at both :-)
How is the Queen doing? The royal bunchie appears ro be doing well.

[Tridenteen]

JMJ
Woops! Double post -blushes-
-slides away-

Edited April 8, 2010 by Tridenteen

[sistersintigo]

there's an echo in here

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='sistersintigo' date='08 April 2010 - 06:00 PM' timestamp='1270767635' post='2089567']
there's an echo in here
[/quote]

LOL Well, I guess, if it's worth saying once, it's worth saying twice.

I was just glad to see that I'm not the only one who sometimes has trouble using the site. I've double-posted, and I've lost posts. Oh well.

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='08 April 2010 - 08:13 PM' timestamp='1270768394' post='2089573']
LOL Well, I guess, if it's worth saying once, it's worth saying twice.

I was just glad to see that I'm not the only one who sometimes has trouble using the site. I've double-posted, and I've lost posts. Oh well.
[/quote]

I think those lost posts are wherever my missing socks are.



I recently lost one of my favorite neon green socks.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' date='08 April 2010 - 06:15 PM' timestamp='1270768535' post='2089575']
I think those lost posts are wherever my missing socks are. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/guitar.gif[/img]

[img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/sadwalk.gif[/img]

I recently lost one of my favorite neon green socks.

[img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/weep.gif[/img]
[/quote]

Sister Helen says that the same "beings" that stole your socks are the ones who always add a few extra steps when Sister Helen is trying to climb a flight of stairs. I don't think religious sisters lose socks--not Sister Helen anyway.

[vee]

The photo that is second from the top in the mafia bunny post is fantastic.

[vee]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' date='09 April 2010 - 09:15 AM' timestamp='1270768535' post='2089575']
I think those lost posts are wherever my missing socks are.



I recently lost one of my favorite neon green socks.


[/quote]

Well if its neon green it shouldnt be too hard to find!


I tend to favor the non sock wearing Orders but if I had to go with the sock wearing ones Id definitely knock on the Summit Dominicans door first. Id be worried that something might jump out at me when I did knock but thats part of the reason Id check them out first.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='vee8' date='08 April 2010 - 06:54 PM' timestamp='1270770880' post='2089603']
[img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif[/img] Well if its neon green it shouldnt be too hard to find!


I tend to favor the non sock wearing Orders but if I had to go with the sock wearing ones Id definitely knock on the Summit Dominicans door first. Id be worried that something might jump out at me when I did knock but thats part of the reason Id check them out first.
[/quote]

Personally, I'd go for a sock-wearing Order, because I HATE wearing pantyhose. (However, as one who wore stockings before pantyhose came into use, I would pick pantyhose any day over the old-fashioned stockings we wore.)

Actually, I probably should be a Poor Claire because really prefer to go barefoot, but I look terrible in brown.

Note: Anyone who takes this post seriously has misunderstood its purpose. I am being silly, because, I'm am definitely not called to religious life. I am currently under a vow of obedience to two cats, who determine my daily schedule, from waking to going to bed. No religious superior in her right mind would accept me into her community, even an Anglican community. I'd always be asking "Why?" and would demand a special dispensation to sleep until 9:00 am for health reasons.

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='vee8' date='08 April 2010 - 08:54 PM' timestamp='1270770880' post='2089603']
Well if its neon green it shouldnt be too hard to find!


I tend to favor the non sock wearing Orders but if I had to go with the sock wearing ones Id definitely knock on the Summit Dominicans door first. Id be worried that something might jump out at me when I did knock but thats part of the reason Id check them out first.
[/quote]

I remember asking a Dominican if they always wear socks with their sandals. They said it was literally part of the habit. White socks.

Though it may sound fickle, I must admit, having to wear socks for the rest of my life, especially with [url="http://img.wolverineworldwide.com/is/image/bulk/cat1/2009/3/26/CHZ2UN2WM-BLK.tif?op_usm=0.5,1&wid=374&hei=458&qlt=70&fmt=png-alpha"]my beloved sandals[/url]... that would definitely be considered a penance for me.

I, too, tend to favor non-sock wearing Orders. Especially sandal-wearing non-white-socked Orders.

I guess nothing in life is absolutely perfect.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Tridenteen' date='08 April 2010 - 05:56 PM' timestamp='1270767410' post='2089565']
JMJ
Woops! Double post -blushes-
-slides away-
[/quote]

Since your post said nice things about my post, feel free to triple post it! LOL

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='08 April 2010 - 09:30 PM' timestamp='1270773059' post='2089622']
Personally, I'd go for a sock-wearing Order, because I HATE wearing pantyhose. (However, as one who wore stockings before pantyhose came into use, I would pick pantyhose any day over the old-fashioned stockings we wore.)

[/quote]

Egads! Pantyhose!! The utter hor-ror.

The mere thought of having to wear pantyhose for the rest of my life makes me cry.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' date='08 April 2010 - 07:32 PM' timestamp='1270773177' post='2089625']
I remember asking a Dominican if they always wear socks with their sandals. They said it was literally part of the habit. White socks.

Though it may sound fickle, I must admit, having to wear socks for the rest of my life, especially with [url="http://img.wolverineworldwide.com/is/image/bulk/cat1/2009/3/26/CHZ2UN2WM-BLK.tif?op_usm=0.5,1&wid=374&hei=458&qlt=70&fmt=png-alpha"]my beloved sandals[/url]... that would definitely be considered a penance for me. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/sadder.gif[/img]

I, too, tend to favor non-sock wearing Orders. Especially sandal-wearing non-white-socked Orders. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif[/img]

I guess nothing in life is absolutely perfect. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/sweat.gif[/img] [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/saint.gif[/img]
[/quote]

WHITE socks with sandals? Oh dear. Painful to think about. Not only a fashion faux-pas, but white socks show the dirt. Darn--I like the rest of the Dominican habit so much. I guess the habits are so long that I never noticed their feet.

I know this is probably vain and sinful, but if you're going to be wearing a habit for the rest of your life, it should make you happy when you wear it.

Edited April 9, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[vee]

I`ll be fine with these if I [u]had to[/u] wear some sort of footwear

[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6MGMAV5lIiw/SXzQs6AzP1I/AAAAAAAADBE/Cj2Fd6FmRrE/s200/Alpargatas+%281%29.jpg[/img]

[Yaatee]

[quote name='DevotedtoHim' timestamp='1268983160' post='2075576']
Yes, Sister, I thought the garter thing was also sort of strange and disrespectful. Like someone else said I thought stuff that the foundresses had are relics. But I also thought the photos of the dead nun that they had on their blog was really gross!!!!
Katherine
[/quote]

It is possible that the younger nuns didn't know what garters were.

I think that the younger folks have a different and much more casual attitude to items of this sort.

I, myself, wouldn't want to touch these items. I carry body oils and my own germs which might contaminate the objects and they might do the same to me. I would never kiss them. So much handling could accelerate their deterioration, and they are objects of interest and potential veneration (not by me). But young people probably aren't going to think of these things.

[Catherine Therese]

One of the very important parts of Dominican tradition is the Nine Ways of Prayer of St Dominic. The 'discipline' corresponds to the third way of prayer. Therefore I concur with those whom have characterised the nuns' treatment of the disciplines as examining with interest (and perhaps some surprise, too!) rather than 'playing around'. No way would the Moniales mock something that St Dominic held to be of value.

I respect your right to an opinion, but I really must disagree with it as I understand it to have been expressed here, I don't believe it to be an accurate characterisation of what they were doing.

God bless!