Redemptoristine Nuns

[graciandelamadrededios]

Photos of Redemptoristine Nuns before Vatican II

 

 

 

 

Colored Photos of the Redemptoristine Nuns before Vatican II

 

 

 

 

 

[graciandelamadrededios]

More photos:

 

 

 

 

This short Article About the English Redemptoristines was written by Rev. Fr Wilfrid Lescher, O.P. in 1901

 

REDEMPTORISTINES OR NUNS OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER
CONTEMPLATIVE ENCLOSED STRICTLY
Founded 1731

 

MOTTO : Copiosa apud eum redemptio

The object of the Order [...] is to honour and imitate the Hidden Life of our Lord, and to assist the Church in all her wants, and the Redemptorist Fathers in their apostolic labours for the salvation of souls, by prayer and other exercises of the contemplative life. The interior spirit is one of self-sacrifice, atonement, and reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The nuns are required to cultivate a simple, humble, cheerful spirit, and to strive to advance in perfection by imitating as far as possible the virtues practised by our Divine Lord in His Hidden Life, joined to an ardent zeal for the salvation of the poor abandoned souls, to whom St. Alphonsus and his sons have consecrated their lives.

A full community consists of thirty-three professed nuns in honour of the thirty-three years of our Lord s life on earth, and seven lay-sisters. The Rule is based on that of St. Augustine ; it was approved and confirmed by Pope Benedict XIV., in June, 1750. The novitiate lasts two years, one of which is spent as a postulant, wearing a simple brown habit, and the other clothed in the habit of the Order without scapular or black veil. The entrance is a public ceremony. The postulant is conducted by the priest from the church to the door of enclosure, where she is received by the Reverend Mother and the community, who gives her the kiss of peace, and leads her away in procession singing the psalm, In exitu Israel de Aegypto. After this the postulant does not again leave the enclosure, the ceremonies of clothing and profession are performed at the choir-grating. The austerities prescribed by the Rule can be performed by any one with an ordinarily good constitution.

The habit of the choir-nuns is red, in memory of the Passion of our Lord, with an azure blue scapular, in memory of our Lady, to the front of which is attached a small oval picture of the Most Holy Redeemer. Over the habit is worn a blue mantle. The guimpe is of white linen finely plaited ; a white linen veil is worn under the black veil, part of the latter can be drawn down over the face; closed sandals of white leather cover the feet. At profession the nuns receive a gold ring representing two hands clasped in token of fidelity. A fifteen-decade rosary, with a large medal bearing the instruments of the Passion, hangs from the girdle. The lay-sisters habit is the same as that of the choir-nuns, except that they have no mantle or black veil.

The Divine Office is recited in choir, the Gregorian chant is used on festivals; daily Benediction and frequent Exposition are the custom in all their churches, which are open to the public; by these means the nuns try to increase the devotion of people living in the world to the Blessed Sacrament.

Each monastery of the Order is independent and under the Bishop of the diocese in which it is situated.

There is only one monastery of Redemptoristines in England, that at Clapham, which was founded in 1897 by Rev. Mother M. Gertrude O.SS.R. She came from Dublin with fourteen sisters in 1897 and started the community in Clapham London. The community moved to Chudleigh Devon in 1925.

 

From:

 

http://papastronsay.com/resources/redemptoristinetexts/redemptoristinetexts.blogspot.com/p/redemptoristine-convent-chudleigh.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

[graciandelamadrededios]

RULES AND CONSTITUTIONS OF THE ORDER OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER (1934)

 

 

THE RULE

 

CHAPTER XIII

 

 

 

 

 

ON THE HABIT OF THE SISTERS  

 

 

            The Choir Sisters will wear a habit of ordinary material, with scapular and mantle as has been customary in the convents up to the present. They will wear closed shoes, or monastic sandals of white leather with cork soles; these shall be thick, but without high heels.

 

            The veils will be ordinary linen cloth, neither starched nor ornamented. The black veil will be thick and not transparent. Finally, they will wear on their breast, attached to the scapular, a picture of the Most Holy Redeemer painted on copper, oval in shape, and about 51/2 inches long.

 

            The Novices will wear neither scapular nor picture until they are professed.

 

            The Educandes may wear a habit of brown serge. The Superior will be careful not to permit anything vain or superfluous in their manner of dressing.

 

            The Lay Sisters will wear a habit of the same shape and color as that of the Choir Sisters, except that they will not wear a mantle. Their habit and scapular will be shorter than that of the Choir Sisters. They will not receive veil when they are professed, but only the picture of Our Lord of brass.

 

            The Rosary with the Mysteries of the Passion which they will wear attached to the cincture, will be of plain wood, or at most, of “ Coco ” beads.

 

 

 

 

 THE CONSTITUIONS

 

 

CONSTITUTION 19

 

THE NUMBER OF THE NUNS AND THEIR HABIT

 

            145.   The number of Choir Sisters in each house of the Order is fixed at thirty-three, and the number of Lay - Sister at seven; however, in case of necessity or infirmity of the latter, another may be received as a supernumerary.

 

            146.   The Nuns will be clothed in ordinary plain cloth, according to the Rule. The habit will be dark red color as at present; it will not be more than thirteen feet in width; the sleeves will be about twenty-one inches broad, and will reach to the end of the fingers. The scapular and blue mantle will hang about five inches from the ground. Over the scapular they will wear on the breast a picture of the Most Holy Redeemer painted on copper, oval in shape, and about 5 ½ inches long, and with a border of the same stuff as the scapular. The cincture will be the same color and of the same material as the habit.

 

            147.   The sandals or slippers will be white and of the same shape as used hitherto, with white stockings. The Sisters will not seek to be distinguished for their clothing, but rather for their virtue.  The guimpes will not be starched, and will be about 31 inches long and about 27 inches wide; the veils will be 45 ½ inches long and 21 ½ inches wide; the veils will be the same size and not transparent.

 

            148.   At the time of their Profession they will receive a gold ring ornamented with two hands clasped, but without an emerald or any other precious stone. The Lay - Sisters will have a silver ring. They will wear sandals the same as the Choir Sisters.  The Novices will wear neither scapular nor veil. The Educandes will wear, like the Religious, the habit scapular with simple collar of linen or muslin.

 

            149.   The Choir Sisters, Novices, and Lay – Sisters will wear a Rosary at their cincture, with a bronze medal, on which are represented the instruments of the Passion of Jesus Christ.

 

 

Edited June 8, 2013 by graciandelamadrededios

[inperpetuity]

Ah..., Redemptoristines :love:   They were the 2nd order I looked into but again what I found was not what I was looking for nor what Our Lord was calling me to .  Thanks for posting this.

[photosynthesis]

Those are some gorgeous habits.  I think there is an order in Australia that still wears the full habit and it looks like a beautiful community.  Why nuns traded in their beautiful habits for frumpy getups, I'll never know

[photosynthesis]

Those are some gorgeous habits.  I think there is an order in Australia that still wears the full habit and it looks like a beautiful community.  Why nuns traded in their beautiful habits for frumpy getups, I'll never know

[graciandelamadrededios]

Those are some gorgeous habits.  I think there is an order in Australia that still wears the full habit and it looks like a beautiful community.  Why nuns traded in their beautiful habits for frumpy getups, I'll never know

 

The Redemptoristine Nuns in Australia still wears the red tunic - long and blue scapular.  However, they have modified the headdress; the guimpe was replaced with a white collar and the veil was modified.  Their community is struggling with vocations.

 

 

There is a very conservative community in Brazil that still wears the Traditional Habit of the Redemptoristine Nuns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[graciandelamadrededios]

I love the traditional Habit of the Redemptoristine Nuns and I am glad that Brazil still wears them!

 

The Documents of the Second Vatican Council stipulated that habits must be updated. 

 

Please see below:

 

DECREE ON
THE ADAPTATION AND RENEWAL OF RELIGIOUS LIFE
PERFECTAE CARITATIS
PROCLAIMED BY HIS HOLINESS
POPE PAUL VI
ON OCTOBER 28, 1965

 

17. The religious habit, an outward mark of consecration to God, should be simple and modest, poor and at the same becoming. In addition it must meet the requirements of health and be suited to the circumstances of time and place and to the needs of the ministry involved. The habits of both men and women religious which do not conform to these norms must be changed.

 

 

 

 

 

[truthfinder]

Those trad CSsr's have a crazy grill - it's just drilled holes in a steel plate. The blog that posted those photo's, though, said that the sisters are allowed during Mass to stand/kneel right at the grill so they can see. But it would still rather be looking through a peep-hole the entire time.  God bless them!

[graciandelamadrededios]

Those trad CSsr's have a crazy grill - it's just drilled holes in a steel plate. The blog that posted those photo's, though, said that the sisters are allowed during Mass to stand/kneel right at the grill so they can see. But it would still rather be looking through a peep-hole the entire time.  God bless them!

 

What CCsR? You mean OSsR? 

 

The community of Redemptoristine in Brazil is following what is prescribed in the Rule and Constitutions of the Nuns of the Ordeer of the Most Holy Redeemer approved in 1934.  That is the reason why the grille has perforated metal plates. 

[Chiquitunga]

The community of Redemptoristine in Brazil is following what is prescribed in the Rule and Constitutions of the Nuns of the Ordeer of the Most Holy Redeemer approved in 1934.  That is the reason why the grille has perforated metal plates. 

 

Oh wow, is that written specifically in their Rule and Constitutions? intense  :ninja: I'd prefer the double grilles, although... gracian do you know this? I heard before VII no cloistered nuns would ever see the Mass anyway. The curtain would be closed for instance if the choir was on the side.

 

But after VII (after some directive during that time) they could then view it, which meant opening the curtains for some places, and for others, many of them transformed what used to be a small sacristy area on the side of the sanctuary to another Nuns' Choir for Holy Mass, as their other Choir was behind the altar. So in many places today (many Carmels, all French in the US, Rockford & Cleveland PCCs for instance) they have two Choirs now like that.

 

I guess my question is, what particular directive was this? Had you heard of it before? I heard this from the nuns at Elysburg Carmel, which is what they currently have (two Choirs) although I would guess they will not do that in their new monastery, but have it like Valparaiso, NE .. just on the side.  

[graciandelamadrededios]

Oh wow, is that written specifically in their Rule and Constitutions? intense  :ninja: I'd prefer the double grilles, although... gracian do you know this? I heard before VII no cloistered nuns would ever see the Mass anyway. The curtain would be closed for instance if the choir was on the side.

 

But after VII (after some directive during that time) they could then view it, which meant opening the curtains for some places, and for others, many of them transformed what used to be a small sacristy area on the side of the sanctuary to another Nuns' Choir for Holy Mass, as their other Choir was behind the altar. So in many places today (many Carmels, all French in the US, Rockford & Cleveland PCCs for instance) they have two Choirs now like that.

 

I guess my question is, what particular directive was this? Had you heard of it before? I heard this from the nuns at Elysburg Carmel, which is what they currently have (two Choirs) although I would guess they will not do that in their new monastery, but have it like Valparaiso, NE .. just on the side.  

 

Yes, The Rule and Constitutions of the Nuns of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer mentioned them separately in the Rule and another one is stipulated on the Constitutions.

 

Cloistered Nuns can hardly see what is going on during the Mass; the choir is darkened and the curtains are pulled down, the Nuns wear the enclosure veil or great veil if the choir curtains are drawn apart.

 

After Vatican II, the Cloistered Nuns are encourage to participate actively in the mass on the cloistered side of the monastery and I forgot which directive it came. 

 

Probably, Sr. Mary Catherine, OP can help us with this.

[truthfinder]

What CCsR? You mean OSsR? 

 

The community of Redemptoristine in Brazil is following what is prescribed in the Rule and Constitutions of the Nuns of the Ordeer of the Most Holy Redeemer approved in 1934.  That is the reason why the grille has perforated metal plates. 

 

Oh dear, I knew it looked funny when I wrote it.  I knew it was written into their Rule and Constitutions, but it definitely looks to be unique to them. 

 

And about the Carmelites, even before Vat II, wasn't that French Carmels had the nuns behind the altar and the Spanish at a right angle to the altar (for a lack of a better term).  So some nuns would have seen something, even if they had their enclosure/communion veils on?

[dymphnamaria]

The Redemptoristine Nuns in Australia still wears the red tunic - long and blue scapular. However, they have modified the headdress; the guimpe was replaced with a white collar and the veil was modified. Their community is struggling with vocations.

I have heard from someone who have visited them that the Redemtoristines in Australia are under canonical prohibition because there are only three nuns in the community.

[graciandelamadrededios]

I have heard from someone who have visited them that the Redemtoristines in Australia are under canonical prohibition because there are only three nuns in the community.

 

What a sad news....

[graciandelamadrededios]

RULES

AND

CONSTITUTIONS

OF THE

ORDER OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER

 

SAINT ALPHONSUS CONVENT

SAINT ALPHONSUS ROAD, DRUMCONDRA, DUBLIN

1934

 

RULES

CHAPTER XXIII

 

ON THE FORM OF GRATING

 

            Two iron gratings will be placed in the parlour at the distance of a span of one from the other; moreover, on the inside there will be a metal screen pierced with little holes together, so that Nuns may not be seen by visitors.

            In the lower choir there will be a small door in the middle of the grating, which will be opened for ceremonies, as for example a Clothing.  In the middle of this door will be an opening, oval in shape, through which the priest can give Holy Communion.

            The grating through which the Sisters converse with strangers will be of the same form as those just described.  It will also have a small door, which can be opened when they receive distinguished visitors, or when contracts, writings, and other important documents have to be passed through and business discussed; it can also be opened when they talk with very near relatives, but in the latter case the auditrix will be present.

            The Nuns are advised, however, to live as much as possible detached from their parents and relations, and to receive them and talk with them very rarely.

 

 

CONSTITUTIONS

 

CONSTITUTIONS 15

 

ON THE FORM OF THE GRILLE, THE WICKET, AND THE TURN TO THE CHURCH

 

119. The Grilles of the Upper Choir and the Tribunes are to have small holes, so that lay people who come into the church cannot see the Nuns.           

120. The Grille of the Lower Choir will be of metal perforated with small holes, so that it will be possible to hear Holy Mass.  It will be about five feet long and about three and a half feet wide; in the middle there will be a small door a foot wide and twenty-one inches long, which will be used for ceremonies of Profession and Reception of the Hbit and other ceremonies.  This opening will be closed with a wooden door, and the Superior will keep the key.  In the middle of this little door there will be an oval opening for the administration of Holy Communion, and this also will be closed with a small door of brass and a small key.  All the grilles will be closed by a wooden door with a key, which, together with the key of the little metal door, will be kept by the Sacristan.

121. There will be a small turn between the lower sacristy and the sacristy of the church for the things used in the service of the altar.  This will be two feet three inches long, and one foot three inches wide, without any hoes, and placed where it can be seen.

 

CONSTITUTIONS 16

 

ON THE FORM OF THE GRILLE IN THE PARLOUR, THE TURN, AND THE MANNER OF DEALING WITH VISITORS

 

122. The Grille in the Parlour will be two feet seven inches wide, and two feet two inches high.  There will be two iron gratings, plainly made, with the space of a foot between them.  The holes in the gratings will be an inch and a half wide.  There will be a sheet of metal pierced with holes, which may be taken away when writings have to be passed through, contracts to be signed, or other business to be settled.  There will be a door in the grille, the key of which is to be kept by the Superior.

123. The Nuns will not go to the grille often, and only to see their relatives.  During Lent and Advent the grille will be opened only for necessity.

124. No Sister will go to the grille without permission nor without the Auditrix, and the Superior will also observe this with her relatives.  Whenever they go to the grille to speak to men, whoever they may be, the Sisters will lower their veils as far as the picture of the Most Holy Redeemer which they wear.  The only exception made is for the relatives to the third degree.

125. If a person of great dignity, such as a Bishop or other ecclesiastical dignitary, should come to the convent, the Superior may allow him to be received with the sheet of metal removed from the grille, and may allow the whole community to be present, provided he be unaccompanied.  If only the Superior receive him, she will go accompanied, not only for the purpose of propriety, but also to have a witness.  If matters in writing or account are dealt with, the Bursar must be present.

126. The Superior must be careful to see that the Nuns do not receive too frequent visits from their relatives; and the Nuns, on their part, will so detach themselves from the world, their country, their friends and relatives, as to regard this permission rather as a cross than a joy.  And if God should call anyone to an entire detachment she may decline this permission altogether, if those in authority approve; but she will not in that case omit to pray for the spiritual and temporal welfare of her friends and relations.

127. The Turn will be three feet three inches high and equally broad, without any holes.  There will be a door within, and there may be one outside also.  The inside door will have a key, which is kept by the Turn-Sister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

I don't know where the legislation comes from off-hand but yes, we are suppose to participate in Holy Mass. Enclosure isn't an absolute. The old rule of not being seen and not seeing came from the rules of St. Charles Borromeo and then extended to all cloisters. We could only see the elevation of the Host at Mass. And I don't even think we could see that because I sit directly in the back facing the altar and because of the woodwork, while I see the whole altar I never see the Elevation unless it is a priest who can't really raise the Host. I don't mind because I see the consecration while the people in the extern chapel need to see the Elevation!

 

Our constitutions say that the grille is to be opened for Mass. For years we couldn't do this but in the mid '90's we were able to replace the metal grille with a wood one that opens. We have the advantage that the choir is behind the altar so we see quite well. Unfortunately, the choir is lower than the altar and the sanctuary is down 3 steps so we can't see ceremonies out there unless we all come up to the grille.

 

In canon law a monastery can't be less than 3 nuns and I believe that it may have recently changed to 5 nuns. The Holy See is very concerned with the number of very small communities of nuns, many of them old, in many monasteries in Europe (especially Spain and Italy) and here in the US.

[graciandelamadrededios]

I don't know where the legislation comes from off-hand but yes, we are suppose to participate in Holy Mass. Enclosure isn't an absolute. The old rule of not being seen and not seeing came from the rules of St. Charles Borromeo and then extended to all cloisters. We could only see the elevation of the Host at Mass. And I don't even think we could see that because I sit directly in the back facing the altar and because of the woodwork, while I see the whole altar I never see the Elevation unless it is a priest who can't really raise the Host. I don't mind because I see the consecration while the people in the extern chapel need to see the Elevation!

 

Our constitutions say that the grille is to be opened for Mass. For years we couldn't do this but in the mid '90's we were able to replace the metal grille with a wood one that opens. We have the advantage that the choir is behind the altar so we see quite well. Unfortunately, the choir is lower than the altar and the sanctuary is down 3 steps so we can't see ceremonies out there unless we all come up to the grille.

 

In canon law a monastery can't be less than 3 nuns and I believe that it may have recently changed to 5 nuns. The Holy See is very concerned with the number of very small communities of nuns, many of them old, in many monasteries in Europe (especially Spain and Italy) and here in the US.

 

Thank you for your explanation Sr. Mary Catherine!

[bmb144]

As someone who knows the Australian Redemptoristine nuns, I can say that they will be a community of five within months, have people actively discerning the life with them and accept discerners  from outside of Australia.  They reason for the headdress modification is simply weather related.  The heat could cause sores and ear infections.  Even with those modifications the life is still lived very traditionally.

[graciandelamadrededios]

Friday, 15 June 2012

THE REDEMPTORISTINE ORDER TODAY AUTHOR: FR. EMILIO LAGE CSSR

The history of the Sisters of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer (O.Ss.R.) is intertwined closely with the birth, development and history of the Redemptorist Congregation (C.Ss.R.).

Both were born in Scala, Italy, The Nuns were founded on May 13, 1731 by Sr. Maria Celeste Crostarosa. The Redemptorists were founded on November 9, 1732 by St. Alphonsus. The two branches originally were called institutes of the "Most Holy Savior" – a name that was changed with pontifical approval to "Most Holy Redeemer" on February 25, 1749 for the male branch and on June 8, 1750 for the Nuns.
After the foundation of the monastery in Scala, Sr. Maria Celeste Crostarosa founded the monastery of the Most Holy Savior in Foggia, Italy, following the primitive rules. St. Alphonsus, on the high regard he held for the Nuns in Scala, called on them to found a monastery in St. Agatha of the Goths, Italy in 1766, while he was bishop there.
Father Joseph Passerat, Vicar General of the Transalpine Redemptorists, invited the Redemptoristines to found their first monastery outside of Italy in Vienna in 1831. From Austria the Order began to establish itself in Europe with monasteries in Belgium (1841), Holland (1848), Ireland (1859), France (1875) and England (1897).
In the twentieth century the Order spread throughout the world: Spain (1904), Canada (1905), Brazil (1921), Germany (1934), Argentina and Japan (1949), United States (1957), Burkina Faso (1963 ), Australia (1965), Venezuela and Peru (1976), Haiti (1976), Philippines (1980), Colombia (1988), Poland (1989), South Africa (1991) and Mexico (1993). In recent years there have been three new foundations: Kazakhstan (2001), Slovakia (2007) and Thailand (2011). And new foundations are being planned and prepared for in Vietnam and Ukraine.
A brief review of statistics shows that in 1931, two hundred years after its founding, the Order had 663 religious, 51 novices and 53 postulants in 26 monasteries, most with over 30 members. In 1947, after the Second World War, the number of nuns came to 690, while the novices and postulants were only 54. The number of monasteries continued to rise: in 1978 there were 39, but the number of nuns began to decrease, to 619. Today there are 422 nuns in 42 monasteries.

The current situation of the Order is a reflection of the general crisis of religious life throughout the world and particularly in Europe and North America. In the Order, as in our Congregation, communities are aging and there is a decline in vocations. Recently Redemptoristine monasteries have been closed in Fort Erie (Canada), Merrivale (South Africa) and Liverpool (England). In many monasteries, there are communities of only three or four sisters who are advanced in age. But there are a significant number (over 100) younger sisters who, although limited to a few monasteries, are a source of hope for the future of the Order.

http://ossr.eu/index.php/en/ossr-in-scala-news/item/the-redemptoristine-order-today?category_id=135