How about the OLDEST communities?

[sr.christinaosf]

So often, here and in other forums, people are sharing about this or that NEW community...

While this is exiting, I would like to start a thread about another exiting cluster of religious congregations; that is the OLDEST!  

You may call me biased, because my congregation is the oldest group of women of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis in continuous existence. 

Although they weren't 'Franciscan' from the very start,, they were founded back in 1241.

For more info, you can go to: https://ourfranciscanfiat.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/sauerkraut-days-in-north-dakota-or-dillingen-germany/

There's also an article on the IRL website about our 775th anniversary celebration.

Anyone else, please add details here about some of the OLDEST communities you know.

This could be fun...

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

We're old..810 years!

[sr.christinaosf]

Cool!  Can you share a little about your history?

Edited June 26, 2016 by sr.christinaosf

[NadaTeTurbe]

It's not that old, but I like very much the Daughters of Charity, founded in 1633. They are among the first group of religious women founded for apostolic work and serving the poors. It was revolutionnary from St Vincent to do that ! Their spirituality is amazin, and there's so much saints ! 

Congratulation on your congregation for living so long Sister Christina ! Did you ever go to Germany to visit the Motherhouse ? 

[sr.christinaosf]

Yes, we were over there in May for the anniversary celebration.

[Luigi]

In the US, "old" isn't nearly as old as it is in Europe, but the second-oldest Carmelite monastery is in the US is in St. Louis. The founding nuns came here during the Civil War - 1863, I think. They're in their second location now, but they've been going strong for over 150 years. On of the Phamily entered there on the Feast of St. Mark.

And they've founded I-don't-know-how-many daughter houses - Covington, Louisiana (originally in New Orleans); Springfield, Missouri (which is closed now); Sioux City, Iowa; Guam; I think one in California; and others as well, I believe.

It's an "old" of shorter duration, but it's still old.

[Sponsa-Christi]

@sr.christinaosf Very cool about your community's history!

As for the Ordo Virgium...the first written version that we have of the Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity is found in the eighth-century manuscripts of the Gelasian and Leonine Sacramentaries. However, St. Ambrose makes a reference to the Rite in one of his fourth-century writings.

However, if you count the "ever-virgins called widows" that St. Ignatius of Antioch greets in his epistles, then we have a second-century reference the Order of Virgins.  

4 hours ago, Sr Mary Catharine OP said:

We're old..810 years!

Ah...you don't look a day over 750!

[Sister Leticia]

The Society of the Sacred Heart isn't "old" - we're more middle-aged, as we were founded *only* 216 years ago! (Although, as St Madeleine Sophie liked to trace our foundation back to the moment when Jesus' Heart was pierced on the cross, maybe we could claim doyenne status?!)

But as Luigi says, age is relative in countries outside Europe. The Society came to the US in 1818, so almost 200 years ago. But we were by no means the first. When Philippine and her companions docked in New Orleans they were taken in by the Ursulines, who were already well established there. But I think we were the first religious women in Missouri (certainly the first ones to open a school)

Luigi - if you're from St Louis you'll know more than I do about the "oldest" in your area.

[Nunsuch]

Aw, none of you can hold a candle to the Benedictines.  Seriously, as an American I have to say that "old" in New World terms is relative (and there are Canadian congregations older than any established in the U.S.). But I think Sr. Christine is right to call attention to those that are well and long-established. I'm often surprised at how little attention they get in this phorum, except for some of the contemplatives.... 

[Nunsuch]

Sorry--I know better; it is Sr. ChristinA. My apologies.

[sr.christinaosf]

:)  

[Hemma]

The oldest monastery of nuns that I know is Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg, Austria, founded around the year 715. Yes. No I didn't forget the 1 before 715, it's really that old and still alive and existing without any interruption. It's an absolutely fascinating place.

If you're thinking about becoming a benedictine nun, go and visit them.

[vee]

3 hours ago, Senensis said:

The oldest monastery of nuns that I know is Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg, Austria, founded around the year 715. Yes. No I didn't forget the 1 before 715, it's really that old and still alive and existing without any interruption. It's an absolutely fascinating place.

If you're thinking about becoming a benedictine nun, go and visit them.

ah yes the one where a certain real life Maria von Trapp was a postulant for a time

[Hemma]

Yes! And, just to mention it: The real Nonnberg is much greater than the "Sound of Music" one.

[NadaTeTurbe]

I think the oldest monastery in France is the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Martin de Ligugé, founded my Saint Martin de Tours, in... 361. Yep. Not kidding. The fourth century. Its story is quite fascinating, since it was founded before St Benedict rule was written. The monastery have been destroyed, the monks deported to another countries many times, and it's still here ! It's part of the Solesmes congregation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligugé_Abbey

[Spem in alium]

My country (following British rule) is not very old, so the oldest religious order in my country was founded more or less recently: in 1857. It still exists now. My congregation has been here for 60 years and is one of the older orders here, but we're hidden in a way so many people don't know that. People are becoming more and more interested in congregations arriving or visiting here now: the Nashville Dominicans and Sisters of Life, to name a couple. I actually had people ask me why I wasn't considering the NDs. It's great that religious life is seen to still have value, but how to promote communities of women who are getting older and older with no new entrants? It's very difficult.

Edited June 27, 2016 by Spem in alium

[sr.christinaosf]

Yes, I agree.  It's almost like there's an infatuation with the NEW.  

People overlook the beauty and proven value of the OLD.

[Spem in alium]

8 hours ago, sr.christinaosf said:

Yes, I agree.  It's almost like there's an infatuation with the NEW.  

People overlook the beauty and proven value of the OLD.

And when the archdiocese itself promotes and supports newer communities almost exclusively, it makes it much harder. The majority of religious in my archdiocese are unhabited and elderly - qualities which seem largely unattractive to young people discerning. I learnt so much through my connection with an order of women who do not wear the habit and whose youngest sister is in her late 30s. This only happened because I really pushed myself to be open.  

[Sister Leticia]

I know this isn't the case for all new communities, but I'll share this anecdote anyway.

I knew someone who started discerning with a new community. She said she was excited by the idea of newness, and of being some kind of pioneer. They talked about how what their community was about was new and different, and not weighed down with the luggage of the past - that sort of thing.

But... she said when she started spending time with them she realised that there was nothing new or fresh or pioneering here. Their vision for the future, their prayer, lifestyle, everything, was just like the older, more established congregations she had also visited. The only difference she could see was that the established ones knew their identity, had a history, and of course, more members, whereas the new one was still tiny and creating its identity. The only other difference was the colour/type of habit they wore. When she asked them about this lack of difference and newness, they just said they had plans and ideas, but nothing specific.

And yes, the new community got lots of publicity and priests would refer enquirers there - but not to the orders which had been serving in their diocese for many years, maybe more than 100 (and in one or two cases have their motherhouse or novitiate there!)

[Gabriela]

Personally, I've had bad luck with new communities when it comes to the sanity and health of the group, and SDs have advised me never to discern only with new communities, but always to find older communities that are similar, so I can compare. Nowadays I wouldn't consider a newer community (i.e., established post-VII), just because I've seen that it often takes so long for them to work out who they are and what they're all about. They can be quite unstable for many, many years.

That being said, I do think the Sisters of Life are an example of a community that is both new and very, very healthy.