Queen'sDaughter Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Are there still many orders that require dowries? I don't want to know how much, but I am curious to see how many orders still do this. And yes, the Benedictines of Mary do request a dowry, though they will accept an aspirant without it, and no, I am not telling how much it is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaberry Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 I know you wanted orders that do, but I only know of orders that don't! or orders that say a dowry is certainly encouraged but not required. I know Poor Clares often say that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 What on earth is a dowry? I've never crossed an Order that asks for one, whatever it is. Men must be given special treatment because the Orders are just so thankful that they are even thinking about it as opposed to marriage or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyAnn Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 I'm curious if St. C's do now. I don't know much about dowries for religious life. Is it used straight away or only once a sister takes perpetual vows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopefulBride Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 My future order does Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savvy Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 This is not about dowry, but what about paying for expenses during a live-in with a community? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Queen'sDaughter' timestamp='1338491804' post='2438824'] Are there still many orders that require dowries? I don't want to know how much, but I am curious to see how many orders still do this. And yes, the Benedictines of Mary do request a dowry, though they will accept an aspirant without it, and no, I am not telling how much it is! [/quote] The Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church in Baltic, CT ask for a dowry. Edited May 31, 2012 by MaterMisericordiae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPetiteSoeur Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Many times, dowries are used to pay for things like health insurance for the first few years and as "just-in-case" money if you leave. Men don't typically have to pay them for seminary (but maybe for religious orders? I am unsure), but I think if they leave seminary they may have to pay the diocese back. This was the practice in my former diocese around 20 years ago; it might have changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 [quote name='LaPetiteSoeur' timestamp='1338500331' post='2438927'] Many times, dowries are used to pay for things like health insurance for the first few years and as "just-in-case" money if you leave. Men don't typically have to pay them for seminary (but maybe for religious orders? I am unsure), but I think if they leave seminary they may have to pay the diocese back. This was the practice in my former diocese around 20 years ago; it might have changed. [/quote] It depends. The Vatican has given dioceses full permission to ask for all the money back if men leave seminary, but they don't have to. It's getting to where it's so expensive ($32,000 a year where I live) that dioceses are crazy if they don't ask for it back now, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantellata Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 A true dowry - where religious life is concerned is a fixed amount that the religious community [b]is not[/b] allowed to utilize until after the Sister's death. The point is so that if you leave the community or are asked to leave, you have something to get you started. My dowry was only $500 so I was grateful that my former community gave me a bit more to get started again, on top of my dowry when I left after 8.5 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pax_et bonum Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 The Passionist Nuns, at least the ones in Whitesville, KY do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Safia Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 The Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary in Summit, NJ, asks for $500, but will offer entrance to a postulant even if it's not financially feasible. Interestingly, this was the same dowry at the monastery's opening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherie Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 [quote name='mantellata' timestamp='1338503641' post='2438953'] A true dowry - where religious life is concerned is a fixed amount that the religious community [b]is not[/b] allowed to utilize until after the Sister's death. The point is so that if you leave the community or are asked to leave, you have something to get you started. My dowry was only $500 so I was grateful that my former community gave me a bit more to get started again, on top of my dowry when I left after 8.5 years. [/quote] This! I had a similar experience, as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I'm not sure if the order I am discerning with requests that an aspirant bring a fixed amount with her. I think I remember Sister Superior saying something but she also said that if I couldn't bring it, they would not deny my entrance on that basis alone. I've heard from a few convents and monasteries the same. My friend entered the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church and told me that the dowry was required. I would hope that they would waive it if someone wasn't able to raise the funds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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