Should Postulant's Outfits Be More Aesthetically Pleasing?

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

[quote name='puellapaschalis' post='1065223' date='Sep 17 2006, 05:14 PM']
I actually have a jumper[US-term]-related question that is thus slightly off topic, but it's been burning away in my head for a while. The thing is that I feel it's slightly ridiculous and probably not for the eyes of gentlemen to read. So, um, what do I do? Should I PM Sr. Mary Catherine and ask her? (Sr., please forgive me talking about you in the third person...)



Love and prayers,

PP
[/quote]


Sure, why not?! :

[puellapaschalis]

Thank you! There's a PM in your inbox even as I type

Love and prayers,

PP

[Gemma]

Frilly bonnet? I've never seen that! I've seen lots of other "veils" on postulants, though.

Blessings,
Gemma

[Andrea348]

[quote name='HisChild' post='1065012' date='Sep 17 2006, 09:56 AM']
I don't think they need to be necessarily more aesthetically pleasing, but I think wearing a veil, even a shorter one, such as the one that many of the cloistered orders wear, helps the postulant to feel more that she's a community member, even though she isn't 'officially' a member of the community until she's a novice. (see the PCPA websites for postulant pics, such as www.desertnuns.com or www.stjosephmonastery.com or the PCPA postulant pics above) The old DCJ outfits were awesome (I saw them in old photos.) They had a caplet and veil. And the cape was long enough to be able to tuck your hands under as you walked.

It's also such a penance to have to 'do' your hair every morning if you don't have something to tuck it under. It was difficult, at least for me, with curly hair, to try to make it look non-frizzy and neat (as in, not sloppy). I felt so fortunate, when I was able to wear a veil, because I could just hide my hair!
[/quote]

When I was looking to enter religious life, I like the idea of a small veil for a postulant because I too have unruly hair that would be so much easier to just hide under a veil. That way I would have to fight with it all day to keep it down.

[DAF]

Julie, a tonsure is the bald spot with the ring of hair that some monastic communities still do, like the Benedictines. That's what a zucchetto is for, to keep that bald spot warm.

[benedictaj]

I don't think it really matters.... after all, you are only going to be wearing it for up to one year! I do think that uniformity is important though, I think that it probably enhances a sense of belonging, helps develop one's community spirit?

I don't have a favourite postulant outfit, hehe! I like the thought of wearing a short veil, but my hair is long and slightly wavy so it's pretty easy to keep under control!

[Veritas]

[quote name='DAF' post='1065394' date='Sep 17 2006, 05:45 PM']
Julie, a tonsure is the bald spot with the ring of hair that some monastic communities still do, like the Benedictines. That's what a zucchetto is for, to keep that bald spot warm.
[/quote]

+

Thanks!

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

[quote name='Gemma' post='1065321' date='Sep 17 2006, 06:55 PM']
Frilly bonnet? I've never seen that! I've seen lots of other "veils" on postulants, though.

Blessings,
Gemma
[/quote]

Can you imagine! our postulants wore it til about the late 40's. From pictures I've seen from other monasteries this seems to have been the norm. Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity wore one with a veil. It looked like some sort of widow's weed type thing! Ours didn't have a veil, it was just a frilly bonnet. I wish I could find a picture.

I don't know where people got the idea that the postulant cape was a "practice garb" for the habit because I've yet to see a novice who didn't practically have her hands glued under her scapular from the 1st minute. In fact, you can always tell new novices because they are so good at it! :

I know several traditional communites and none wear a cape; most wear a jumper...oops. SLEEVELESS DRESS for our friendly Brits....the only group I know of is the CMRI's and they aren't in the Church.

I like the cape myself but as I look back on all the stuff I did as a postulant I think it would have been in the way most of the time. I probably would've gotten it stuck in the offset press!

God bless you!
SMC

[shortnun]

[quote name='Sr. Mary Catharine' post='1065812' date='Sep 18 2006, 08:52 AM']
I don't know where people got the idea that the postulant cape was a "practice garb" for the habit because I've yet to see a novice who didn't practically have her hands glued under her scapular from the 1st minute. In fact, you can always tell new novices because they are so good at it! :
[/quote]
A slightly off topic question for Sister.... is it just "sisterly culture" (ie the norm) for hands to be kept under the scapular? Or, is there some deep theological reasoning? I've often wondered why sisters' hands are always under their scapulars, and now I can finally ask why!

Thanks for humoring me!

[brandelynmarie]

Just make sure that I have a head covering of some sort! Gosh, I love bandanas!

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

[quote name='shortnun' post='1065836' date='Sep 18 2006, 11:00 AM']
A slightly off topic question for Sister.... is it just "sisterly culture" (ie the norm) for hands to be kept under the scapular? Or, is there some deep theological reasoning? I've often wondered why sisters' hands are always under their scapulars, and now I can finally ask why!

Thanks for humoring me!
[/quote]

Keeping hands under the scapular fosters a recollected way of being and acting especially during community exercises. It's also great to know what to do with your hands! On a practical note, keeping your hands under the scapular keeps the scapular from getting wrinkled. You can also fiddle your thumbs when you find a lecture or homily boring....and no one knows!

[ruso]

What is the matter with you?, My litte sister.

[the lords sheep]

To me it doesn't really matter. As long as it can be worked and prayed in and is appropriate, what difference does it make if it looks really pretty. If I ever become a postulant, I pray that I spend more time worrying about making my soul beautiful than my outfit
On a side note, I agree that a veil would be nice, just because then you don't have to fix your hair in the morning (and goodness knows, I can use any time I get in the morning... I'm not exactly what you'd call a morning person :

[Gemma]

[quote name='Sr. Mary Catharine' post='1066259' date='Sep 18 2006, 08:31 PM']
Keeping hands under the scapular fosters a recollected way of being and acting especially during community exercises. It's also great to know what to do with your hands! On a practical note, keeping your hands under the scapular keeps the scapular from getting wrinkled. You can also fiddle your thumbs when you find a lecture or homily boring....and no one knows!
[/quote]

And the mother superior in "Agnes of God" told the investigator "You could hide a machine gun under here!"

Blessings,
Gemma

[brandelynmarie]

[Laudate_Dominum]

at least most postulant outfits aren't as bad as the uniforms in star trek TOS.

oh, that reminds me of the star trek trivia game: [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=57612&hl="]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?s...c=57612&hl=[/url]

[magnificat]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' post='1068474' date='Sep 20 2006, 09:19 PM']
at least most postulant outfits aren't as bad as the uniforms in star trek TOS.

oh, that reminds me of the star trek trivia game: [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=57612&hl="]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?s...c=57612&hl=[/url]
[/quote]

[HeavenlyCalling]

Even if the postulents don't wear a veil, do they still wear wear one in the chapel? ( I just watched the Nashville Dominicans movie and they did, I was wondering if that was the norm) Also, if you are visiting an Order, should you wear one? ( I have one, so I was wondering if it was appropriate)Pax,
Lily

[brendan1104]

The Carmelite postulants in Valparaiso do.

[mod]Please do not link to apparition sites that are specifically condemned by the Church[/mod]

Scroll down. You'll see Sister Therese of Merciful Love, OCD as a postulant for her entrance picture.

[quote name='Sr. Mary Catharine' post='1065812' date='Sep 18 2006, 09:52 AM']I know several traditional communites and none wear a cape; most wear a jumper...oops. SLEEVELESS DRESS for our friendly Brits....the only group I know of is the CMRI's and they aren't in the Church.

I like the cape myself but as I look back on all the stuff I did as a postulant I think it would have been in the way most of the time. I probably would've gotten it stuck in the offset press!

God bless you!
SMC[/quote]

[zunshynn]

[quote name='HeavenlyCalling' post='1069336' date='Sep 21 2006, 12:13 PM']
Even if the postulents don't wear a veil, do they still wear wear one in the chapel? ( I just watched the Nashville Dominicans movie and they did, I was wondering if that was the norm) Also, if you are visiting an Order, should you wear one? ( I have one, so I was wondering if it was appropriate)Pax,
Lily
[/quote]

I'd say if you normally wear a veil, than wear it, other wise, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

I was a little worried that I would stick out like a sore thumb not wearing a veil at OLAM, and I almost bought one before I went just because of that, but then our local Catholic store didn't have any, and I decided against it. I decided I should just be myself. (I opted against wearing a chapel veil awhile ago because I didn't want to be attracting more attention to myself than I knew I already did. Although, I must say, I really love seeing women wear chapel veils, its such a beautiful sign.)

Of course, some places, especially that have the Tridentine Mass, may require a chapel veil... but I'm sure they'd let you know about that. And I know Lockport has a special veil for aspirants, and in cases like that, obviously it'd be taken care of!

As for orders that don't have a veil for postulants, I don't know what the norm for them in church is...