The Extern Vocation

[MissScripture]

[quote name='VeniteAdoremus' post='1897485' date='Jun 21 2009, 11:12 AM']That sounds like a plausible theory.

I can't tell the difference between left and right (especially under duress), so chances are I will never learn to drive (I can navigate when the instructor says "your side!" and "my side!" instead of "left" and "right", but traffic rules involving directions are problematic).

But, well, if walking worked for St. Dominic...

How did people generally react to seeing you "out and about"? And do the visitors at the Shrine know the difference between an extern and a cloistered sister? ([i][Fascinating/i] topic )[/quote]
I totally need to adopt a "your side" and "my side" policy when getting instructions while driving! (Or giving, for that matter) I have NEVER, depsite my best efforts, been able to keep left and right straight. Given time to think, I can tell you, but otherwise I default to left, which is odd, because I'm right handed.

[quote name='zunshynn' post='1897506' date='Jun 21 2009, 12:04 PM']Most of the time, surprisingly, pilgrims at the shrine seemed more shocked to see a nun than even people at the mall in Birmingham. Not that we went to the mall very often... but once we went trying to find a certain type of candle for a sister's solemn profession. Some guy called us "Chick Monks" though. That was weird. lol[/quote]
This reminds me of a story our priest told us. He went into a religion class at our parish one day (kindergartners, I think) and the teacher asked if anyone knew who he was. One little boy yelled out, "Isn't he the boy nun??"




Back on topic, I had always just assumed that the Externs were just told they were going to be the Externs and didn't have much say in the matter...but then, I haven't though about such things extensively, since I've only really been exposed to one cloistered order. This is really interesting to read about!

[VeniteAdoremus]

I actually tried to talk my community into letting me be an extern, for three great reasons (in random order):

1. the sisters' choir is perpendicular to the altar, and you sit in choir based on entrance date - the younger in religion, the nearer to the altar. This means they'd be looking at the back of someone a foot taller [i]for the rest of their lives[/i] unless they vote me prioress*.
2. I seem to have an uncanny knack for ribbons, missals and breviaries. Guests, as a rule, get mightily confused. Clearly it would help to be next to someone who can flip the right page up.
3. Sisters have pudding only on Sunday and Feasts**. Guests [i]always[/i] have pudding.

I think that, logically, everybody would agree I should be an extern.

Unfortunately we are apostolic which means there are no externs. And the sisters are remarkably stoic towards my pleas.

[quote]Back on topic, I had always just assumed that the Externs were just told they were going to be the Externs and didn't have much say in the matter...but then, I haven't though about such things extensively, since I've only really been exposed to one cloistered order. This is really interesting to read about![/quote]

This definitely differs from community to community and, moreover, changed in modern times. In many communities that still actually have them, externs take simple vows as opposed to solemn ones, and deciding whether that's your vocation goes beyond mere obedience, I would think.

I read a couple of books on the history of cloistered life, also mentioning the difference between choir nuns and... what's the term? Donate nuns? who also took simple vows as opposed to solemn. That was [i]definitely[/i] not always decided on basis of vocation. Rather unfair. Because of things like that, and things like girls entering because they don't want to marry some particular guy, I'm rather happy to become a sister in this day and age - where everybody in the community at the very least wants to [i]be[/i] there

I'm horribly off-topic again, sorry. Blame the 2AM. Eek, that means my history of science exam starts in 12 hours!

*
** to be fair, Sr. Prioress sometimes suddenly "remembers" it's a Feast. On some calendar at least