First Profession, Cistercian Nun, Ma

[PrayerSupporter]

http://abbey.msmabbey.org/

Scroll down to lower right hand corner; click on "here" to see more photos. Lovely! Let's pray for her and everyone in the novitiate.

Edited May 19, 2010 by PrayerSupporter

[stlmom]

Great post, thanks!

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='PrayerSupporter' date='19 May 2010 - 07:16 AM' timestamp='1274271398' post='2113539']
[url="http://abbey.msmabbey.org/"]http://abbey.msmabbey.org/[/url]

Scroll down to lower right hand corner; click on "here" to see more photos. Lovely! Let's pray for her and everyone in the novitiate.
[/quote]

I enjoyed the photos, but there was one that was odd. It is titled "The Novitiate." You can see the three Sisters in the middle. But, on the right, there is a very tall woman in a workshirt and a skirt. (It's probably a habit of some sort, but it's kinda short to be a habit. On the far left is a young woman, who at first glance may an aspirant, except for the cigarette in her right hand.)

So, I thought, that's probably the family of the Sister making her first profession.

But, the next picture (or so) is the newly professed nun with her parents and sister. So if they are family, why aren't they in the family picture?

I'm sure you can come up with more creative explanations than mine!

(Sorry for having to use a link. My computer wouldn't post the picture.)

h[url="http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Francescas_1st_Profession.html#11"]ttp://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Francescas_1st_Profession.html#11[/url]

[Maggyie]

If I had to guess, the lady on the far left is not holding a cigarette, but one of those black and white "Bic" ball-point pens.

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='19 May 2010 - 11:04 AM' timestamp='1274281497' post='2113597']
I enjoyed the photos, but there was one that was odd. It is titled "The Novitiate." You can see the three Sisters in the middle. But, on the right, there is a very tall woman in a workshirt and a skirt. (It's probably a habit of some sort, but it's kinda short to be a habit. On the far left is a young woman, who at first glance may an aspirant, except for the cigarette in her right hand.)

So, I thought, that's probably the family of the Sister making her first profession.

But, the next picture (or so) is the newly professed nun with her parents and sister. So if they are family, why aren't they in the family picture?

I'm sure you can come up with more creative explanations than mine!

(Sorry for having to use a link. My computer wouldn't post the picture.)


h[url="http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Francescas_1st_Profession.html#11"]ttp://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Francescas_1st_Profession.html#11[/url]
[/quote]

Hmmm... now that you mention it, I was wondering about this photo as well. However, my source of wonder was the veils. Does a Cistercian receive the black veil only when she makes final vows? So, first comes the black scapular when she's Temporarily Professed, and then the black veil for final professed?

Also, my thoughts on the others in that picture:

- Far left = aspirant. The "cigarette" could be a bit of the newly Professed Sister's cape hanging over her arm. ?
- Far right = postulant. Has tunic like the other Sisters, but no veil.
- Two Sisters surrounding Professed Sister = novices.

<img src='http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/think_head.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':scratchhead:' />








Just a guess.

Edited February 10, 2011 by franciscanheart

[osapientia]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' date='19 May 2010 - 12:40 PM' timestamp='1274283651' post='2113620']
Hmmm... now that you mention it, I was wondering about this photo as well. However, my source of wonder was the veils. Does a Cistercian receive the black veil only when she makes final vows? So, first comes the black scapular when she's Temporarily Professed, and then the black veil for final professed?

Also, my thoughts on the others in that picture:

- Far left = aspirant. The "cigarette" could be a bit of the newly Professed Sister's cape hanging over her arm. ?
- Far right = postulant. Has tunic like the other Sisters, but no veil.
- Two Sisters surrounding Professed Sister = novices.










Just a guess.
[/quote]

For sure the cigarette is the "other" sister's cape...look closely. I can't explain the blue tunic over what looks to be like the "habit" tunic...but I can explain the cigarette.

[osapientia]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' date='19 May 2010 - 12:40 PM' timestamp='1274283651' post='2113620']
Hmmm... now that you mention it, I was wondering about this photo as well. However, my source of wonder was the veils. Does a Cistercian receive the black veil only when she makes final vows? So, first comes the black scapular when she's Temporarily Professed, and then the black veil for final professed?


[/quote]
Yes, the Cistercian Juniors get the black scapular but keep the white veil until solemn profession which is when they also receive the cuculla as others in the Benedictine family.

Actually I think this may only apply to the nuns...as I know that the Trappist monks at Spencer in MA go from novice white (scapulars) to junior off white.

Perhaps it just differs from house to house.

*edited because I forgot something.

Edited May 19, 2010 by osapientia

[DameAgnes]

The sister looks very happy.

Perhaps the postulant, or whatever, in the blue was simply feeling chilly?

Edited May 19, 2010 by DameAgnes

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I agree that the thing that looks like a cigarette in the hand of the woman on the far left is part of the veil of the Sister next to her.

Try to find one of Indwelling Trinity's posts. Her Avatar is of IT as a novice. Once again, you can see just a line of IT's white veil, and I swear she looks like she's smoking. I've teased her about it.

I also was confused by the habits/veils, but you came up with the same guesses I did.

[osapientia]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='19 May 2010 - 03:02 PM' timestamp='1274292157' post='2113703']
The reason her habit looks so short is because they probably didn't have any available habits that were long enough.

I also was confused by the habits/veils, but you came up with the same guesses I did.
[/quote]

A different day, better photo...

[url="http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Sofias_Clothing.html#28"]Better_Wrentham[/url]

[Thomist-in-Training]

My guess is she was just caught for a candid photo in a work habit. Those are often kind of wonky.

Somehow I was thinking it earlier, when someone expressed the [i]nice[/i] thought about a lovely picture from the Benedictine vows ceremony: "This would be a beautiful painting", that even though photos are neat in another way, I'm glad photos of me as a nun won't be posted namelessly ([i]or[/i] namefully) on the Internet, according to the customs of my future Order. As a part of 'enclosure,' they usually only allow photos either taken from behind, or through the grille, to be distributed publicly. I'm glad no one will be abstracting my moment of recollection into a painting, or publicly contemplating, for as long as the Internet archives last.

*PS... I posted this and realized my avatar is an old photo of two nuns at a Clothing... too ironic?

Edited February 10, 2011 by IcePrincessKRS

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I have some additonal information on the Cistercian nuns in Massachusetts. This information comes from krissylou, who is new, and is in the process of making her 10 posts so she can join us in Vocation Station. Krissylou has been on retreat at the monastery within the last 6 months, so she can clarify many of our observations and guesses. In the meantime, krissylou has given me permission to post her comments here.

[u]Postulants[/u]. Postulants at the Monastery do not wear habits or uniform clothing. In the picture of the postulants, the woman at the far left is probably a postulant. When krissylou was at the monastery in February, this woman was living in the monastery guest house, and joined the nuns in choir for the offices. So either the woman is on a very long live-in, or has entered as a postulant.

The monastery does not normally announce when a woman enters as a postulant. They want to give women privacy until the postulant is more established, since many postulants leave.

The woman on the far right is named Margaret and she is a postulant. Although her skirt seems shorter than average, krissylou said that the length of the nuns' habits tends to vary from mid-calf to ankle length, and Margaret's skirt length would not seem unusual when she was in choir.


The blue shirt that Margaret is wearing is worn by postulants in choir. Krissylou doesn't know if postulants wear it at other times as well, since she only saw the postulants in choir.

[u]Novices[/u]. Novices are dressed all in white, including white veils.

[u]First Profession[/u]. At first profession, the nun receives a black scapular and a black belt. (I might have called it a "cincture" but "black belt" was the terminology used on the Abbey's Web site.) However, the nun retains the white veil.

[u]Solemn Profession[/u]. At solemn profession, the nun receives the black veil as well as the cowl with the long sleeves. [i](I wasn't sure what to call the white garment with the very long, wide sleeves, but the Web site called it a "cowl.")
[/i]
[i]Note from me: One question I still have is whether solemnly professed nuns in this Order normally wear a ring. I didn't see the giving of a ring in the two solemn professions shown (and no ring was mentioned). However, in one of the pictures of the groundbreaking for a new candy-making facility, Mother Maureen appeared to be wearing a ring. I looked for rings on the hands of the other solemnly professed sisters, but didn't see one. However, my eyes aren't the best, and neither is my computer's ability to zoom. Krissylou probably knows the answer to this.
[/i]
Krissylou--Thanks so much for all the additional information. I hope I captured everything you told me correctly. This order looks like a wonderful group of women, and anyone who makes candy is okay in my book!

I hope you will join us in posting in Vocation Station very soon!

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='19 May 2010 - 07:11 PM' timestamp='1274310709' post='2113836']
I have some additonal information on the Cistercian nuns in Massachusetts. This information comes from krissylou, who is new, and is in the process of making her 10 posts so she can join us in Vocation Station. Krissylou has been on retreat at the monastery within the last 6 months, so she can clarify many of our observations and guesses. In the meantime, krissylou has given me permission to post her comments here.

[u]Postulants[/u]. Postulants at the Monastery do not wear habits or uniform clothing. In the picture of the postulants, the woman at the far left is probably a postulant. When krissylou was at the monastery in February, this woman was living in the monastery guest house, and joined the nuns in choir for the offices. So either the woman is on a very long live-in, or has entered as a postulant.

The monastery does not normally announce when a woman enters as a postulant. They want to give women privacy until the postulant is more established, since many postulants leave.

The woman on the far right is named Margaret and she is a postulant. Although her skirt seems shorter than average, krissylou said that the length of the nuns' habits tends to vary from mid-calf to ankle length, and Margaret's skirt length would not seem unusual when she was in choir.


The blue shirt that Margaret is wearing is worn by postulants in choir. Krissylou doesn't know if postulants wear it at other times as well, since she only saw the postulants in choir.

[u]Novices[/u]. Novices are dressed all in white, including white veils.

[u]First Profession[/u]. At first profession, the nun receives a black scapular and a black belt. (I might have called it a "cincture" but "black belt" was the terminology used on the Abbey's Web site.) However, the nun retains the white veil.

[u]Solemn Profession[/u]. At solemn profession, the nun receives the black veil as well as the cowl with the long sleeves. [i](I wasn't sure what to call the white garment with the very long, wide sleeves, but the Web site called it a "cowl.")
[/i]
[i]Note from me: One question I still have is whether solemnly professed nuns in this Order normally wear a ring. I didn't see the giving of a ring in the two solemn professions shown (and no ring was mentioned). However, in one of the pictures of the groundbreaking for a new candy-making facility, Mother Maureen appeared to be wearing a ring. I looked for rings on the hands of the other solemnly professed sisters, but didn't see one. However, my eyes aren't the best, and neither is my computer's ability to zoom. Krissylou probably knows the answer to this.
[/i]
Krissylou--Thanks so much for all the additional information. I hope I captured everything you told me correctly. This order looks like a wonderful group of women, and anyone who makes candy is okay in my book!

I hope you will join us in posting in Vocation Station very soon!
[/quote]

Thanks for posting this Ignatius! I found it very insightful, especially since I don't know very much about Cistercians.

And welcome to Phatmass, krissylou!

[elizabeth09]

How pretty. Thank you for posting.

[regina_coeli]

h[url="http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Francescas_1st_Profession.html#11"][color="#284b72"]ttp://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/ Photos/Pages/Sr._Francescas_1st_Profession. html#11[/color][/url] is dated May 1, 2010



[url="http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Sofias_Clothing.html#28"][color="#284b72"]Better_Wrentham[/color][/url] is dated July 2008


Was "Margaret" a postulant all that time? Isn't there a limit? maybe krissylou can help!

[krissylou]

[quote name='regina_coeli' date='21 May 2010 - 04:47 PM' timestamp='1274474838' post='2114835']
h[url="http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Francescas_1st_Profession.html#11"][color="#284b72"]ttp://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/ Photos/Pages/Sr._Francescas_1st_Profession. html#11[/color][/url] is dated May 1, 2010



[url="http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Sofias_Clothing.html#28"][color="#284b72"]Better_Wrentham[/color][/url] is dated July 2008


Was "Margaret" a postulant all that time? Isn't there a limit? maybe krissylou can help!
[/quote]

Ten posts! Yippee skippee!

(Brilliant idea to chug away on some of the prayer threads. I can type Hail Marys with the best of them.)

Hi everybody.

It's possible that she was an aspirant in July 2008, I don't know.

This past fall the Abbey's Facebook page -- Nuns on Facebook! Enclosure ain't what it used to be -- said something about being excited to welcome Meg back to the monastery after she'd been out for a while on medical leave. So I guess she got sick for a while and then came back once she recovered, which would throw a wrench in the early stages of formation.

I almost feel like I'm gossiping about private information but actually the only nun I've ever talked to is the guest sister (Sister Evelyn, who has the most marvelous Scottish brogue and is simply adorable) so I don't actually know the nuns other than by what they make publicly available, and if they put it on Facebook it can't be too secret ...

Now to get myself an avatar ...

[regina_coeli]

[quote name='krissylou' date='21 May 2010 - 11:10 PM' timestamp='1274494224' post='2115048']
Ten posts! Yippee skippee!

(Brilliant idea to chug away on some of the prayer threads. I can type Hail Marys with the best of them.)

Hi everybody.

It's possible that she was an aspirant in July 2008, I don't know.

This past fall the Abbey's Facebook page -- Nuns on Facebook! Enclosure ain't what it used to be -- said something about being excited to welcome Meg back to the monastery after she'd been out for a while on medical leave. So I guess she got sick for a while and then came back once she recovered, which would throw a wrench in the early stages of formation.

I almost feel like I'm gossiping about private information but actually the only nun I've ever talked to is the guest sister (Sister Evelyn, who has the most marvelous Scottish brogue and is simply adorable) so I don't actually know the nuns other than by what they make publicly available, and if they put it on Facebook it can't be too secret ...

Now to get myself an avatar ...
[/quote]

Thank you! I thought perhaps there was an interruption.

[Sarah147]

[img]http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Media/transparent.gif[/img][img]http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Media/transparent.gif[/img]What a beautiful order, I've never seen this one before. I'm learning about so many on this forum.


My eyes just about popped when I saw they start out the day at 3AM!! [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/bigshock.gif[/img] [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/shock.gif[/img] [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/shock.gif[/img] [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/covereyes.gif[/img] God bless those sisters.


What is their apostolate and are they cloistered?



[url="http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Francescas_1st_Profession.html#9"]http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Francescas_1st_Profession.html#9[/url]
Now that's joy. What a beautiful Sister.

Edited July 28, 2010 by JoyfulLife

[krissylou]

Ooh, this monastery is my retreat spot of choice.

Another one of the novices made her first profession last week.



http://www.mtstmarysabbey.org/MSMAbbey/Photos/Pages/Sr._Eve_Maries_Profession.html

By my math the third is due any time now, and the postulant will likely become a novice in a few months. There was someone who was staying in the guest room at the monastery when I was there in mid-February, and also shows up in the photos for Sr. Francesca's profession on May 1, but doesn't show up in Sr. Eve Marie's profession photos, so I'm guessing she was there as an aspirant (they call it "Observer") and may be entering soon.

Yes, they do get up crazy early, but they also go to bed at 8 pm. The ones that blow my mind are the ones that get up at midnight, so after you enter you never have an uninterrupted night of sleep again as long as you live. That I don't get.

They support themselves by making candy , but their apostolate is prayer. They are cloistered but not with grilles, etc. Trappists follow the Rule of Benedict, which precedes the stricter rules of cloister. They are restricted to the monastery grounds barring a very good reason but not to the cloistered area. Before each office (well, probably except for the 3:20 am one! The portress told me that the only guests that come to that one are discerners) they have a stack of prayer books ready for guests, with bookmarks in all the right places. They weren't put there by elves! And it's routine that when they see a new guest, a nun will come over to the public area and explain how to use the confusing things. So that's very different from communities where a grille separates the choir from the public chapel.

When I was there in February, a friend and I were there for a few days on retreat. There was another person in the guest house (not the Observer) who seems to come by a LOT and uses it as a waystation, not just a place to go and be especially pious. So she had a class one evening a week that was far from her home, so every Thursday night for a semester she'd stay at the abbey for the night. I think Benedict would highly approve of this.

I like them a lot.

[krissylou]

And the third novice will be making her first profession next Sunday.

Alleluia!