Regina Magazine Featuring Dominican Nuns!

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

Enjoy!

http://issuu.com/champion13/docs/domincans_full_1501_v3?e=0/10986696

[Antigonos]

Very impressive, Sister!

[Makarioi]

AWESOME!!!

[4LoveofJMJ]

Lovely! I wish I had a hard copy of this!

[marigold]

106 pages, that is intense!  :flex2:  Love it!

[Jennifer]

Thank you Sister for sharing this very impressive magazine   with us.

Edited January 18, 2015 by Jennirom

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I loved this. Through the Community's blog, I feel like I have come to know a little bit about the Sisters, even though I live more than 750 miles away. I eagerly read anything new that is written about the Summit Dominicans.

 

I confess (and I am not proud of this), I sometimes find "vocation stories" a little dull, because they often repeat many of the same phrases--they don't seem "individual." In contrast, I LOVED the vocation stores here. I know that, in part, the vocation stories were of special interest to me  because I feel I "know" these particular Sisters a little bit. I remember when the Sisters were postulants, and I have followed their vocations over time. But also, I thought these were some of the best written vocation stories I have ever read. For perhaps the first time, these vocation stories helped me understand specifically what happened to bring these very diverse women to Summit, and why they have stayed.

 

The Summit nuns have a way of making you feel individually loved. Whenever I have written to the Community, I've felt that the nuns really listened--they took a personal interest in me. And, I am nobody. I'm not a discerner--I'm not even Catholic. But, the nuns still care.

 

Reading this piece made me realize that I am only one of hundreds (thousands?) of people whose lives are touched by the nuns. This surprised me a little (although rationally I knew this already). Mostly, I felt very humbled that the nuns have taken any time at all to talk to me. From what I read, the nuns make EVERYONE with whom they come in contact feel the way the nuns make me feel, namely, that the nuns genuinely care, and more importantly, that I am loved by God. What a wonderful gift!

 

I loved all the new pictures of the Monastery. Without making me feel like I was prying, the pictures gave me another "peek" at Rosary Shrine. It is so generous of these Sisters that they let us get to know a little more about their life.

 

For health reasons, it is sadly unlikely that I ever be able to visit the nuns and the chapel at Summit in person. But, I feel the effects of their life in Christ from 750 miles away.

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

Iggy, we love you! We truly do! WE feel so humbled and honored when you take time to write US!

So glad you enjoyed the magazine. I think that right now those of us who were working with the editors don't want to see it for a few months!

 

We're working on print copies. It may not be possible but we're looking into it.

 

[brandelynmarie]

What she said ^^^ :)

This is epic! I can't wait to read all of it!

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

I hope you'll indulge me in a somewhat off-topic post.

 

I realized after I made my post above that my comments could be read as less than positive about "vocation stories." That was not my intent at all, and if anyone read my comments that way, I apologize that my words weren't better chosen. Every vocation story I've read has been clearly heartfelt. And, I know that the Sister writing it has labored over her words to find a way to explain things that aren't always "rational" in the eyes of the world. Yet, both in religious life and in the world there are times we feel things, or we make decisions, that we "just know" are right or what God is calling us to do, but can be are hard to explain. 

 

When I read vocation stories, often the ones that move me the most are those written by a person who has been in religious life for awhile, or even for a lifetime. I know that in my own life, more often than not, I've found that while I understood my decisions and actions at some level at the time I made them, over time, I understood them more fully, and was able to better explain them to others. 

 

I don't envy any young woman who is asked to tell her vocation story at the time she enters a Community, especially if she is asked to write a short statement. A vocation story is something that is very helpful and meaningful, but I imagine has to be very difficult. At the time we embark on a new commitment we may know in our reason and our feelings that it is the right thing to do, but fuller and clearer understanding of all the reasons behind why it is/was the right thing it often doesn't come until later.

 

I hope this explanation makes some sense, and I apologize again if any readers felt hurt or dismissed by my earlier comments.

 

Thank-you for your patience. Back to the topic at hand. :)

[TheresaThoma]

Iggy I identified with your comment about the vocation stories, they sometimes sound very similar but these were wonderful.

 

Sister I hope to come and visit the shrine at some point. Maybe in the next couple years I will be able to head out NJ way...

[marigold]

Iggy don't worry, your comments were lovely and I agree that it must be difficult for people to write their story as they see it, especially when they're in the thick of it. Whenever I come across vocation stories I'm usually much more interested in what the really really old and venerable sisters, who have been through everything, have to say about their lives and God. This feature is an amazing effort, though, and it's a really good insight into the sisters' lives. :)

[Spem in alium]

What a wonderful magazine! I can't wait to read it more deeply. Thank you, Sister, for sharing it with us!

[Obonitas!]

I have a question I know Sister Mary Catharine can answer - in the older pictures, some of the nuns are wearing black "scapulars" - does this denote they are Externs? Also, do you have Externs now? Lastly, are Third Order Dominicans buried in the habit? Thanks in advance.

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

Those were lay nuns. Externs were not religious nor did they wear the habit of the Order until about the 50's. They were a sort of habit usually black.Nor were they ever allowed inside. Now they usually live inside but a monastery could decide they wouldn't.

 

The lay nuns allowed to change to the white scapular around the 30's. Not sure of the exact date. They retained the white veil but were in solemn vows. They prayed their own psalter or a number of hail Mary's, Our Father's, etc. They managed and did most of the manual work of the monastery and it was a huge transition when their category was dissolved.

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

Those were lay nuns. Externs were not religious nor did they wear the habit of the Order until about the 50's. They were a sort of habit usually black.Nor were they ever allowed inside. Now they usually live inside but a monastery could decide they wouldn't.

 

The lay nuns allowed to change to the white scapular around the 30's. Not sure of the exact date. They retained the white veil but were in solemn vows. They prayed their own psalter or a number of hail Mary's, Our Father's, etc. They managed and did most of the manual work of the monastery and it was a huge transition when their category was dissolved.

[Obonitas!]

Forgive my ignorance, so does lay nuns mean "Third Order" like Saint Catherine of Siena? And is it true that today Third Order Dominicans are buried in the habit? I don't know when the pictures from the magazine (showing your history) was taken, but I'm afraid from your answer, I'm a little confused. Thanks for your help. Great article!

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

Lay nun/sisters were not 3rd order. They were nuns with solemn vows but they did the more manual work of the house. They weren't bound to say the Divine Office but said their own psalter, prayers, etc. They were often not educated. Many orders/congregations had this 2 class system. They were really like the servants of the house. They had no vote at Chapter, etc. They had their own mistress of lay sisters who would read to them as they worked. At certain times Trappist monasteries had more lay brothers than choir monks. They knew their work, they were proud of it and many resented it when the lay category was removed,

Our friars have what was called "lay brother" but they are called cooperator brothers. They don't become priests. However, now they are fully members of the chapter, can vote, etc. It's a beautiful vocation for those who want to be Dominican friars but don't feel called to be priests or feel called to be especially academic although some lay brothers are extremely educated and tops in their particular field.

 

I believe that the Carthusians have retained some sort of lay brother/sister that they call converse nun.

Yes, 3rd Order Dominicans: Priest and Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic is the official name, may be buried in the habit. But the woman are not to wear the veil. It sometimes freaks the family out! The "3rd Order" are truly members of the Order of Preachers but not religious.

 

If you are confused get in line! These things were not so clearly spelled out 800 years ago as things are now and so it can cause confusion!

 

I hope I cleared it up a little!

[Nunsuch]

In the document on Religious Life that was promulgated by the Second Vatican Council, the following was said about lay sisters: "Unless conditions really suggest something else, care should be taken that there be only one class of Sisters in communities of women. Only that distinction of persons should be retained which corresponds to-the diversity of works for which the Sisters are destined, either by special vocation from God or by reason of special aptitude."  

 

As Sister Mary Catharine noted, lay sisters were traditionally less educated, and typically brought a smaller dowry to the community. They did not participate in the governance of the community, either by serving in office or by voting. They often wore a different habit.  This was particularly problematic for apostolic communities in the US, including active Dominican Sisters, who had a difficult time retaining lay sisters in the more democratic climate of the US.  Many communities, especially apostolic ones, abolished the status of lay sister (or never had it), long before Vatican II.  

 

The whole "class/rank" thing goes back to the medieval period, when "ladies" would be accompanied into the cloister by their servants. Obviously, this is no longer relevant. Also, I think the reason that Perfectae Caritatis discussed the lay status differently for women's and men's communities was because, for men, the matter of ordination also factored in. For women, this was of course not an issue.

 

I am giving a paper this spring at a scholarly conference on the abolition of the "lay sister" status at Vatican II, so this is something that interests me a lot. Hope this is informative.

[Obonitas!]

This is informative! The Carthusians have (in my case!) Nuns, Sisters and Donates. I guess for the male side it would be Priests (Monks), Brothers, and Donates. All are treated the same in terms of recreation and other things, the only difference being that of mandatory Choir, and of course voting. They do the walks, eat together, etcetera. But, as we all know, the Carthusians are definitely "different" and still retain much of the Eastern traditions as well as rites. I'm still learning!!! Thanks, everybody who answered.