What's in a Wimple?

[Veritas]

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Hi All,

I've been searching without success for the religious significance (e.g. symbolism) of the wimple... Does anyone have more information?

Gratias Ago!

p.s. Is there a name for the often stiff band of white upon which the very traditional veils often rest?

[shortnun]

Well.... wimples came about in medieval times. They were used to cover the head (hair) and neck of a woman.

The coif is a hat that fits over the entire head (much like how a ski cap would fit us today). Then the wimple is encorporated over that to include the neck. I believe the stiff band above the forehead you are referring to is can be part of the wimple, and not a seperate piece. But if it is seperate I believe it'd be called a crown caplet (crown band). Then the guimpe would cover the neck and shoulders.

I wish google would give me a good picture, to help illustrate. But alas, I haven't found one.... yet!!


Oh, and religious significance.... haven't found any....

Edited April 2, 2006 by shortnun

[shortnun]

At times like this, I like to yell YAHTZEE!!!

[img]http://www.gothicgarments.net/menu3/NL12_Detail.jpg[/img]
[b]
[url="http://www.gothicgarments.net/menu3/index2.html"]Link to read more for yourself...[/url][/b]

[HisChild]

When Mother Angelica and her community went back to wearing the traditional habit, there was a show of them on Mother Angelica Live, I believe. This is how she explained it, as best as I can remember (I watched it on the video of a friend a couple of weeks ago.)

The wimple or cap covering the head and neck symbolizes interior discipline of the senses, or mortification of the senses. The white veil that is under the black veil of the professed symbolizes keeping close to your thoughts the things of heaven.

The band, is just the band. I don't know its symbolism.

However. . .I am seeing the sisters tomorrow so I will ask them during my visit. Hopefully there will be time to ask them. If so, when I return on Tuesday I will post that info here

God bless you!

[shortnun]

Speaking of wimples, it's a little hard to tell in this picture, but you'll notice that the sister on the left is wearing one, and Sally Field's character is not:

[img]http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tv/flying-nun-10034495.jpg[/img]

Just thought I'd totally hijack the thread and insert a little humor

[shortnun]

[quote name='PCPA2Be' date='Apr 2 2006, 02:49 PM']The band, is just the band.  I don't know its symbolism. 
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I keep reading that there is influence on the habit in general just based on where the sisters were founded. For example Missionaries of Charity do not have a band. The Sisters of Holy Cross have what we fondly referred to as the "pie plate":[img]http://www.blessings-catalog.com/images/SP_images/Sp128.jpg[/img]

So I'd guess that there isn't much religious symbolism behind the band specifically, but rather cultural and religious significance behind the whole habit, and particularly the veil/ headpiece.


[quote name='PCPA2Be' date='Apr 2 2006, 02:49 PM']However. . .I am seeing the sisters tomorrow so I will ask them during my visit.  Hopefully there will be time to ask them.  If so, when I return on Tuesday I will post that info here
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Oooooooh yes please do!!!!

[HisChild]

[quote name='shortnun' date='Apr 2 2006, 01:54 PM'] The Sisters of Holy Cross have what we fondly referred to as the "pie plate":[img]http://www.blessings-catalog.com/images/SP_images/Sp128.jpg[/img]

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how does one get into a car, much less drive in that thing! It is seriously a nice mortification against pride and vanity.

Edited April 2, 2006 by PCPA2Be

[passionheart]

[quote name='PCPA2Be' date='Apr 2 2006, 04:02 PM']  how does one get into a car, much less drive in that thing!   It is seriously a nice mortification against pride and vanity.
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We have Holy Cross sisters in town. Sr.Gertrude who is now with her beloved Spouse, used to drive a school bus. When she took her driving test, she had to prove to the examiner that the habit didn't obstruct her vision or view of the traffic or road.

[shortnun]

[quote name='passionheart' date='Apr 2 2006, 03:14 PM']We have Holy Cross sisters in town.  Sr.Gertrude who is now with her beloved Spouse, used to drive a school bus. When she took her driving test, she had to prove to the examiner that the habit didn't obstruct her vision or view of the traffic or road.
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I went to school where their Motherhouse is. I think there were only two sisters left who still wore the [u]full[/u] habit. Both were over 100--one still played the piano brilliantly!

EDIT: I should also say that the veil was influenced by the peasant dress of 19th century France, where they were founded by Blessed Basil A Moreau.

Edited April 2, 2006 by shortnun

[alicemary]

As to The Flying Nun...I do believe that she was either a novice or postulant, hence her habit was a little different. Have not seen that show in years!

[HisChild]

OK, my friend re-watched the tape and transcribed what Mother Angelica said:

Veil - Black - symbolizes the world that they leave behind with all its
temptations, things that attract, things that have a tendency to vere
us
away from Jesus; we set that aside. White - symbolizes consecration to
the
Lord and the coming of the kingdom.

Guimpe/wimple - symbolizes that we have disciplined our memory, intellect, and
our
will. To purify the imagination and reasoning. The most prize
possession
of a woman is her hair, and even that is given to Jesus.

Band - across the forehead, symbolizes unity that comes from realizing
the
soul is purified and one with God.

Habit - constant reminder of being transformed into Jesus.

White collar - symbolizes that we are a temple of the Holy Spirit, as
St.
Paul says. We have a dignity as a child of God. It is a reminder to
keep
this temple pure and clean.

Ring - symbolizes espousal to Jesus.

For those who can't recall what all those things are, on a PCPA, go to www.olamshrine.com , www.desertnuns.com and of course, www.stjosephmonastery.com



God bless you!

[MC Just]

a wimp with a pimple?

[LilyofSaintMaria]

Although the question was answered already I thought I would let you in on a great book all about the habit called, well, what else than [url="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385505884/sr=8-1/qid=1144025634/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7024672-2876843?%5Fencoding=UTF8"]The Habit[/url].

Bernadette

[Veritas]

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Many thanks to you for addressing my question regarding" THE SIGNIFICANCE/SYMBOLISM of the wimple." Thanks also to your friend for transcribing Mother's talk!

Realizing religious communities (especially their habits) are steeped in symbolism -I knew the wimple must mean something! I imagine different orders have varying symbolism... So, if anyone has anything to add, I'd love to read it.

PCPA, thanks for the beautiful information you provided. (Although, I must say the imagery of the black of the veil asf 'the world' doesn't make one particularly want to put it on! -perhaps there's more to it, which I am not understanding?! )

[HisChild]

Well, if you read it again, and if you're familiar with their habits, you know that the guimpe/wimple goes on first. That for the discipline of our senses. Then comes the white veil, which is like an underveil, closest to the wimple, symbolizing our consecration to the Lord and the coming of the Kingdom. Finally, put on last. . .furthest 'away' from us, is the black veil, symbolizing that we've given up the world. See how far away it is, in relation to the other two clothes/items we wear on our head?

[Veritas]

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Yes, I see what you mean, and I did realize that... However, it still seems odd to place anything on oneself (especially a consecrated religious) that is representative of sin and "the world" (although perhaps a strict equivocation of the two is part of the hindrance to my understanding). Especially when the amount of white and more importantly what it symbolizes, even though closer, is so relatively small!

Thanks again for your thougts!

[HisChild]

I asked the sisters yesterday, what the band was called. They laughed and said it was the 'headband' and it symbolizes that we are to keep our thoughts on Christ.

God bless you.

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

[quote name='LilyofSaintMaria' date='Apr 2 2006, 06:57 PM']Although the question was answered already I thought I would let you in on a great book all about the habit called, well, what else than [url="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385505884/sr=8-1/qid=1144025634/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7024672-2876843?%5Fencoding=UTF8"]The Habit[/url].

Bernadette
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Definitly an interesting read

[HisChild]

OK, here is the official description from the OLAM nuns. LOL Sister Fidelis pointed me to the particular area, even though I'd already scrambled this description together for you.

[quote]At the investiture ceremony (which immediately follows the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass), many exciting things take place!  It begins with a Scripture reading from Genesis then the nun is asked again what her heart desires.  To this she responds, "Reverend Mother, I desire to spend my life at the Feet of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament." 
A reading from Philippians follows this dialogue between the abbess and the nun.  Then, after the holy habit is blessed by the priest, the abbess proceeds to cut the nun's hair.  This symbolizes her total renunciation of the vanities of the world.

After the abbess does this, she then clothes the nun in the holy habit of our Order.  The habit is an exterior sign of our commitment and total consecration to Jesus Christ.  Each part of the holy habit, even its colors, has deep spiritual meaning.

Underneath the white veil, the nun wears a white head covering.  This is a symbol that her mind is not on "the world" but on the Kingdom that is to come. No part of her mind, intellect, memory, or will is to be  part of the world, part of darkness, or part of anything that is contrary to Jesus Christ.

The white collar is a symbol that the nun is surrounded with "community", the religious life lived in common.  She wishes to live in goodness, in love, and in poverty of mind and heart. She puts at the very top of her body, which is consecrated to God, something white as a constant reminder that she is a temple of the Holy Spirit.  That temple must be ever clean and pure. All the white parts of her habit are a symbol of her desire to exemplify the awesome purity of God Himself in the Most Holy Eucharist.

The earthly color of the brown Franciscan habit reminds the nun of the Scripture passage used on Ash Wednesday: "Remember thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return".  It also is a remembrance for her that - without Him - she is absolutely nothing.

The white Franciscan cord, with three knots in it, symbolizes the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience that this new novice hopes to make at her first holy profession.  Over the habit is placed a brown mantle, which is worn at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  It is a symbol of the nun's love for Our Lady and also of the Blessed Virgin Mary's maternal protection.

After the nun receives the holy habit, she chants Psalm 40 — Here I am, Lord, I come to do Your Will.  Then after the Holy Gospel is proclaimed, she receives a new name.  Each nun is privileged to have the Holy Name of Mary as part of her own religious name.  In addition to this, she is given a title (example: Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation).[/quote]

There is part of the explanation that I've already shared. . .but this is more eloquent than my own words. And when she is vowed? Here is the part that you were wondering about. . . and again, it's said so much better on the site:

[quote]The black outer part of the veil is a sign that the nun is dead to the world.  Inside the veil is white— this represents the glory of Heaven.  This white part is partially hidden by the black to symbolize that those who are "of the world" cannot see the reward that is to come.  Wearing this veil is the nun's witness to that reward. [/quote]

[url="http://www.olamshrine.com/olam/nun_progression.htm"]From Postulancy to Profession[/url]

Ok, there is all I've been able to transcribe for you.

God bless you.

[Veritas]

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Gratias Ago. cf. quote below: This definitely illustrates the importance of using primary sources! I understand "black" completely differently in this quote than how it had been paraphrased (my own shortcomings, I'm sure:). The words from OLAM make sense and don't seem to infer "cloaking oneself in sin".

Thanks!

QUOTE
The black outer part of the veil is a sign that the nun is dead to the world. Inside the veil is white— this represents the glory of Heaven. This white part is partially hidden by the black to symbolize that those who are "of the world" cannot see the reward that is to come. Wearing this veil is the nun's witness to that reward.