Unusual Personal Hygiene Practices

[walburga]

I'm just saying that, if a person is very serious about entering a community, these types of things are probably not going to be 'deal breakers'. I agree that this particular 'sub-topic' is immodest and doesn't need to be hashed out in detail.

Edited April 29, 2009 by walburga

[the lords sheep]

[quote name='Beatus' post='1852345' date='Apr 29 2009, 09:29 PM']I'm sorry, ladies, but this is disgusting and not chaste. Women are not the only people on this board. If you all want to discuss your intimate bodily functions, please for the sake of modesty, do it privately.

I ask Saint Padre Pio to guard my eyes.

Beatus[/quote]

IMHO, the normal biological functions- and discussions of such functions- of the female (or the male) body are neither disgusting nor unchaste. It's something that every woman, by the gift of being fertile and able to carry children, deals with.
If it leads you to sin, I too pray for your purity and that Padre Pio guard your eyes, but more importantly, that he will your heart. However, if you are ever a priest, and if you study moral theology (which you must to be ordained), you will necessarily be exposed to many MANY questions that deal with sexuality- both male and female. As a priest, you may very well be asked these questions by the women of your parish and be required to speak explicitly (albeit politely) about these issues.
I will pray for your battle with living chastley.

God bless you,
Lauren

[puellapaschalis]

[quote name='angelofmary' post='1852371' date='Apr 29 2009, 10:22 PM']All I can say and recommend on this topic is do not be afraid to ask any questions, no question is stupid, but it is wise to direct the question in a private way with the superioir, you can only learn the truth by asking the community. hope it helps.[/quote]

Yup. There are some questions which shouldn't be brought up at recreation.

[puellapaschalis]

[quote name='Beatus' post='1852345' date='Apr 29 2009, 09:29 PM']I'm sorry, ladies, but this is disgusting and not chaste. Women are not the only people on this board. If you all want to discuss your intimate bodily functions, please for the sake of modesty, do it privately.

I ask Saint Padre Pio to guard my eyes.

Beatus[/quote]

I think others have replied to you much better than I could ever have. There is only one thing I'd like to add: menstruation is [b]not[/b] disgusting.

[Maria Faustina]

First of all-this is an ahmazing thread Props to InHisLove for having the courage to start it!!
I have always wondered about a ton of stuff like this!
But yeah, I have nothing to share about this topic, except that at my old school, we had sisters that taught there. My best friend always wanted to ask the sisters "the question": pads or tampons? Thankfully, we graduated before she ever got the chance to!!
But I've wondered that too lol.
so thanks for this great thread

[TradMom]

+Praise be Jesus Christ! Alleluia!

As a mother of boys (as well as my girls!), bodily functions can often seem mysterious and sadly, for a period of time, unappetizing (to put it mildly). I believe Beatus' reaction reflects his age and some of his concerns, which as long as I have seen him on this board, seem to center around purity and chastity. With maturity and gentle guidance (not to mention education and the practical experience of life!), boys do seem to grow out of their fears. They even grow to see the body as further proof of God's creative beauty! There is nothing about us that is not absolutely miraculous!

I hope none of us feel ashamed of our bodies or our natural functions.

Beatus, I understand your feelings and perhaps even your shock at seeing some of the most intimate (and foreign to you) details discussed. Perhaps you will be able to see the glory of God's creativity in how He designed our bodies, and the risks the posters took in asking questions that are difficult to talk about. I find it quite interesting that you choose St. Padre Pio to help you guard your eyes. He worked at a hospital at one point in his life, you no doubt know. I'm sure he saw many intimate moments and was able to remain holy. Perhaps he will serve as an inspiration to you!

Pax,
TradMom

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='Maria Faustina' post='1852492' date='Apr 29 2009, 07:26 PM']First of all-this is an ahmazing thread Props to InHisLove for having the courage to start it!!
I have always wondered about a ton of stuff like this!
But yeah, I have nothing to share about this topic, except that at my old school, we had sisters that taught there. My best friend always wanted to ask the sisters "the question": pads or tampons? Thankfully, we graduated before she ever got the chance to!!
But I've wondered that too lol.
so thanks for this great thread [/quote]

You're welcome, Maria Faustina. I have many questions that I still need to ask Sister Superior when I go in May pertaining to health insurance, doctors' visits (especially Ob/gyn), and personal hygiene issues. There are some things that I have trouble compromising on, and one of them includes health. Living without makeup is one thing, and I know I could do that (since I didn't wear makeup until I was 14), but health issues are uncompromisable.

[cmaD2006]

[quote name='InHisLove726' post='1852634' date='Apr 29 2009, 10:16 PM']You're welcome, Maria Faustina. I have many questions that I still need to ask Sister Superior when I go in May pertaining to health insurance, doctors' visits (especially Ob/gyn), and personal hygiene issues. There are some things that I have trouble compromising on, and one of them includes health. Living without makeup is one thing, and I know I could do that (since I didn't wear makeup until I was 14), but health issues are uncompromisable. [/quote]

Actually you'd be surprized how you can survive *without* health insurance. Some communities depend on benefactors who provide free services; other communities have insurance, other simply both.

I was with one community which depended on benefactors, and one community who didn't have insurance (but was in a foreign country, so it was possible to get free basic care, especially in a habit).

[johnnydigit]

[quote name='Beatus' post='1852345' date='Apr 29 2009, 01:29 PM']I'm sorry, ladies, but this is disgusting and not chaste. Women are not the only people on this board. If you all want to discuss your intimate bodily functions, please for the sake of modesty, do it privately.

I ask Saint Padre Pio to guard my eyes.

Beatus[/quote]

i understand your concern. my radar slightly jumped when i first read certain words also. not sure what would be the most prudent decision here, but i have pondered similar things, like why God chose to use a certain Jewish ritual that is painful to males, the natural cycles and things of the female and male, and discovered there are many connections between these things and God's bigger plan and salvation history. the womb, the blood, the seed, creation, man, woman.. it's all actually very beautiful how they relate to each other, genius even.

perhaps you can read up on Theology of the Body, [url="http://www.chastity.com"]www.chastity.com[/url], etc.. now talking about immodest acts and going into unnecessary details i can see as inappropriate, but there are basic things that i think are fundamental for the mature, adolescent Christian to know nowadays..

.02

[Nunsense]

I have found active communities to be much more flexible in this regard than the cloistered contemplatives, but even there, it is simply a matter of asking for what is needed.

In the Carmelite cloister there were no mirrors, no razors (so no shaving legs etc) and no tampons. We bathed once a week (whether we needed it or not ) but were provided with all personal items like shampoo, toothpaste and brush, deodorant, sanitary pads etc. ). During the week we washed in our cells, using a bucket of water. At Edmonton, they were a bit more modern, and allowed additional baths/showers during free time if that is how we wanted to spend our free time.

I did not find any of these austerities a problem. Mother Teresa's sisters used a bucket of water instead of a shower when I was working with them in Australia - they told me that since the poor don't have showers, they didn't have them either! If you have ever been on a camping trip or been really poor (like I have) then these things are not as important as they appear to be in our society. Cleanliness does not have to mean a hot shower twice a day! (although I do love my showers!). In England they had baths and no showers! In Canada, of course, they had both. Most of the things that we worry about, aren't what will cause us the real problems in religious life.

I don't necessarily consider any of these things to be "unusual practices" but rather, austerities and penances offered up to God in reparation for sin. I do know that not everyone is able to undertake some of these things though, so that is why it is so wonderful that there are so many different religious communities to choose from!

[johnnydigit]

back on topic. there are communities that..


..take 1 or 3 minute showers.

..don't take showers. they take a sort of a "bird-bath" in a bucket.

..cover the mirrors, leaving only enough room at the top to shave your face. the covered spaces have quotes from Scripture and other writings.


all in all, very minor issues. some charisms require the disciple to be more in the world and more up to date with these things, while others are more austere and find many things unnecessary. they'll know what's best for you.


"you wear your clothes more than once before washing?"

[johnnydigit]

[quote name='nunsense' post='1852901' date='Apr 29 2009, 10:48 PM']We bathed once a week (whether we needed it or not )[/quote]

woah, i've been wondering this in the back of my mind. i would have thought it would be on the border of every 3 days or something, but a week.. i don't think i've ever done a week in my life! that will really take some adjustment, but i'm sure they know what works best.

[xTrishaxLynnx]

[quote name='TradMom' post='1852511' date='Apr 29 2009, 05:53 PM']There is nothing about us that is not absolutely miraculous!

I hope none of us feel ashamed of our bodies or our natural functions.[/quote]

This is so true, and I'm very glad you said it. It's easy to take for granted, or even complain about some of the things that happen naturally with our bodies. Even the functions that may seem 'disgusting' to some are pretty amazing, because of the purpose they serve.

[Nunsense]

[quote name='johnnydigit' post='1852916' date='Apr 30 2009, 07:06 AM']woah, i've been wondering this in the back of my mind. i would have thought it would be on the border of every 3 days or something, but a week.. i don't think i've ever done a week in my life! that will really take some adjustment, but i'm sure they know what works best.[/quote]

Do you know what an APC is? No, it’s not an armoured personnel carrier. An APC is Australian slang for a very quick shower (arm pits and crotch).
“Come on, mate, we’re going to the pub.”
“ Just give me five minutes to have an APC”.

So the concept of a quick wash off is not unique to Carmel I used to take a bucket of hot water to our cell every evening after Compline, and give myself a really good wash all over using the water, our washbowl and a washcloth. Then I would stick my feet in the bowl and wash my feet - and boy did that feel good! Cleanliness is possible, even without running water!

[puellapaschalis]

[quote name='nunsense' post='1852929' date='Apr 30 2009, 07:19 AM']I used to take a bucket of hot water to our cell every evening after Compline....[/quote]



So cool to note that another place also uses the [i]plural[/i] form of the first person possessive Did it take you long to get used to it? I'm (probably needlessly as when you're the newbie slip-ups are expected) a bit worried I'll never remember things like that properly!

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='cmariadiaz' post='1852788' date='Apr 29 2009, 11:42 PM']Actually you'd be surprized how you can survive *without* health insurance. Some communities depend on benefactors who provide free services; other communities have insurance, other simply both.

I was with one community which depended on benefactors, and one community who didn't have insurance (but was in a foreign country, so it was possible to get free basic care, especially in a habit).[/quote]

LOL, you're telling it to someone (me) who has been without insurance for over 2 years. I still go to the doctor when necessary for antibiotics or other stuff, but I just pay out of pocket. That's why I am thankful for places like Solantic or Urgent Care because they have a set price.

My community has health insurance (thank goodness), and I've been told that I have to get medical, dental, and eye exams before I enter.

[CatherineM]

This topic has reminded me of my Uncle Jimmy. He entered a monastery in 1928. They asked him to leave because he wouldn't take showers.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Beatus' post='1852345' date='Apr 29 2009, 03:29 PM']I'm sorry, ladies, but this is disgusting and not chaste. Women are not the only people on this board. If you all want to discuss your intimate bodily functions, please for the sake of modesty, do it privately.

I ask Saint Padre Pio to guard my eyes.

Beatus[/quote]
Perhaps a thread titled "Unusual Personal Hygiene Practices" is one that you should avoid.

[DameAgnes]

I cannot imagine anyone actually being led into an occasion of sin, particularly a sin against chastity, by a discussion of menses and monthlies. If anything I should think the subject would lead a fellow far, far away from the sin of chastity and have him saying, "thank you, thank you, Lord, that I am a man and need not deal with that stuff! And bless all women for having to!"

[the lords sheep]

[quote name='DameAgnes' post='1853189' date='Apr 30 2009, 07:02 PM']I cannot imagine anyone actually being led into an occasion of sin, particularly a sin against chastity, by a discussion of menses and monthlies. If anything I should think the subject would lead a fellow far, far away from the sin of chastity and have him saying, "thank you, thank you, Lord, that I am a man and need not deal with that stuff! And bless all women for having to!"[/quote]


So true!