Old Habits Die Hard

[graciandelamadrededios]

Wearing an ornate and often uncomfortable habit could be a way to show devotion...or it could just as easily be a way to show off. ;) Only God can tell a person's true intentions. Remember that an elaborate traditional habit isn't automatically a sign of devotion, and not having one isn't automatically a sign that devotion is absent.

 

It's also worth remembering that most women wore hideously uncomfortable clothing in the time period from which most of these photographs come - corsets and giant petticoats, for example - so what the nuns were wearing wouldn't have been so strikingly unusual then as it seems today.

 

I beg to differ......

 

Showing off the habit is the last thing in the minds of the Founders and Foundresses when adopting the habit for the Sisters/Nuns.  Please read through the history of founding the institute, congregation and order on why they adopted such and such habit.  

 

The first habit of the Religious Sisters were adopted the the peasant clothing of women during that time, which were wimple, common veil and tunic.

 

This is the reason why Vatican II asked the Sisters to update their habit, and they did.

[beatitude]

I wasn't referring to the founders and foundresses. I was referring to reasons why people might choose to enter a community with a traditional habit. Some are attracted to such communities for the best of reasons; others aren't. As I wrote, an elaborate traditional habit isn't automatically a sign of devotion, and it is a problem when people look at a sister and assume she must be very devoted for no other reason than what she's wearing. The habit could be a means of showing devotion for her, or it might not - only the individual knows. We shouldn't judge by clothing.

 

I also said that the old habits were representative of typical dress for their day.

Edited March 1, 2014 by beatitude

[Polish Catholic]

You can find many pictures of old habits here:

http://zakony-na-swiecie.blogspot.com/

:)

translator: http://translate.google.com

 

[PhuturePriest]

Unknown order, US Civil war nurse Sister (habit looks very hot and heavy to wear)

 

I always absolutely adored habits like this one. I'm sure the headpiece was a pain, but it definitely looks very nice.

 

And she strikes me as Benedictine.

[BarbTherese]

I always absolutely adored habits like this one. I'm sure the headpiece was a pain, but it definitely looks very nice.

 

And she strikes me as Benedictine.

 

Sister of Mercy
 

[PhuturePriest]

Sister of Mercy
 

 

When a sister is stylin', it doesn't matter what Order/Community she's in. ;)

[BarbTherese]

When a sister is stylin', it doesn't matter what Order/Community she's in. ;)

 

:)
 

[Nunsuch]

Actually, to the SISTER, it really DOES matter what community it is.  For most, at least historically, the details of the habit were the last thing they cared about.... To equate a Sister of Mercy with a Benedictine? Or to say it doesn't matter?  Perhaps I'm confused, but neither the Benedictines nor the Mercys I know would understand this.

[brandelynmarie]

FP was paying a compliment, saying that he likes habits. :)

[PhuturePriest]

Actually, to the SISTER, it really DOES matter what community it is.  For most, at least historically, the details of the habit were the last thing they cared about.... To equate a Sister of Mercy with a Benedictine? Or to say it doesn't matter?  Perhaps I'm confused, but neither the Benedictines nor the Mercys I know would understand this.

 

I think you perhaps take things too seriously. The habit looks nice. I am not eligible to enter female communities, therefore I do not care which habit is worn by which community, just like I don't expect you to care which male habit belongs to which community. The sister is stylin', and that's all I really care about in this thread which is specifically about habits.

[Nunsuch]

I just find it interesting that people who seem to have so much reverence for the habit have very little reverence for those who may take the specifics of the habit seriously. The particulars of a habit are not mere incidentals, and most sisters do not regard it as compliment to be regarded merely as stylish figures, or people who are admired for what they wear.  I think that this has a tendency to objectify those who wear habits--to discuss them as if they are neither human nor individuals, and to regard them as mainly significant for what they look like, rather than who they are. If this marks me as someone who is taking things too seriously, so be it.

 

For the record, I am NOT someone who is particularly attracted to habits, and most of my friends who are religious do not wear them (though most of the older ones used to).  My point is, rather, that the essence of religious life is not visible, or reflected in attire or other externals. But, for those who do wear a habit, it is not merely an interchangeable piece of "holy garb." 

 

Edited March 2, 2014 by Nunsuch

[PhuturePriest]

I just find it interesting that people who seem to have so much reverence for the habit have very little reverence for those who may take the specifics of the habit seriously. The particulars of a habit are not mere incidentals, and most sisters do not regard it as compliment to be regarded merely as stylish figures, or people who are admired for what they wear.  I think that this has a tendency to objectify those who wear habits--to discuss them as if they are neither human nor individuals, and to regard them as mainly significant for what they look like, rather than who they are. If this marks me as someone who is taking things too seriously, so be it.

 

For the record, I am NOT someone who is particularly attracted to habits, and most of my friends who are religious do not wear them (though most of the older ones used to).  My point is, rather, that the essence of religious life is not visible, or reflected in attire or other externals. But, for those who do wear a habit, it is not merely an interchangeable piece of "holy garb." 

 

You don't have to love the habit. But for many people, the habit is their external sign of their vocation, like a wedding ring is to a married couple. There's no problem with having an attraction to a habit, or even not having one. There is a problem, however, with acting like there is a problem with either one.

 

And I don't see how mentioning your religious friends who don't wear habits is relevant. What is your point with mentioning them?

Edited March 2, 2014 by FuturePriest387

[PhuturePriest]

I just find it interesting that people who seem to have so much reverence for the habit have very little reverence for those who may take the specifics of the habit seriously. The particulars of a habit are not mere incidentals, and most sisters do not regard it as compliment to be regarded merely as stylish figures, or people who are admired for what they wear.  I think that this has a tendency to objectify those who wear habits--to discuss them as if they are neither human nor individuals, and to regard them as mainly significant for what they look like, rather than who they are. If this marks me as someone who is taking things too seriously, so be it.

 

For the record, I am NOT someone who is particularly attracted to habits, and most of my friends who are religious do not wear them (though most of the older ones used to).  My point is, rather, that the essence of religious life is not visible, or reflected in attire or other externals. But, for those who do wear a habit, it is not merely an interchangeable piece of "holy garb." 

 

And your continued disregard for the purpose of the habit is annoying me. If you don't like them, fine, but don't act like they're not important. Saint Dominic de Guzman absolutely insisted that his friars and nuns wore habits, and so did Saint Benedict. Wearing habits was important to both of them. Why would they do that if they were meaningless pieces of cloth?

 

This is a great article by Father David Mary of the Franciscan Brothers Minor on the importance or the habit and the impact it has on vocations: http://franciscanbrothersminor.com/FBM/Discernment_Part_XII_Making_a_%22Habit%22_out_of_it.html I don't agree with everything in it, but it does explain the importance of the habit.

Edited March 2, 2014 by FuturePriest387

[Deus te Amat]

And your continued disregard for the purpose of the habit is annoying me. If you don't like them, fine, but don't act like they're not important. Saint Dominic de Guzman absolutely insisted that his friars and nuns wore habits, and so did Saint Benedict. Wearing habits was important to both of them. Why would they do that if they were meaningless pieces of cloth?

This is a great article by Father David Mary of the Franciscan Brothers Minor on the importance or the habit and the impact it has on vocations: http://franciscanbrothersminor.com/FBM/Discernment_Part_XII_Making_a_%22Habit%22_out_of_it.html I don't agree with everything in it, but it does explain the importance of the habit.

I don't think you understood what Nunsuch said in the post you quoted. Edited March 2, 2014 by Deus_te_Amat

[PhuturePriest]

I don't think you understood what Nunsuch said in the post you quoted.

 

Quite possibly. I've been regularly falling asleep at the keyboard for two days.

[Nunsuch]

I certainly did not suggest disrespect for habits AT ALL. Please reread what I wrote. Enough....

[PhuturePriest]

I certainly did not suggest disrespect for habits AT ALL. Please reread what I wrote. Enough....

 

My sincerest apologies. As I said, I've been falling asleep at the keyboard for two days now. Lots of work and little sleep does fascinating things to the mind.

[cartermia]

FP! Go to sleep! :sleep:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:nun: :nun2: :nun3:

[PhuturePriest]

FP! Go to sleep! :sleep:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:nun: :nun2: :nun3:

 

[cartermia]

I command ye!!!