Dose Your Hair Have To Be Long To Be A Carmelite Nun?

[carmelite15]

i just wanted to know if my hair have to be long to be a carmelite nun? and if it dose have to be long how long dose it have to be?

[VeniteAdoremus]

I'm quite sure that the sisters will welcome you no matter what your hair length.

The cutting of the hair is a beautiful tradition, but it's not essential

[NisiTe]

[quote name='VeniteAdoremus' post='1915431' date='Jul 9 2009, 08:09 AM']The cutting of the hair is a beautiful tradition, but it's not essential [/quote]

This is one of my favorite traditions ...I remember talking to one of my future Sisters about it and she beautifully describe how on the day of the reception to the habit, the new novices leave the chapel to be clothed in the holy habit and that is when their Angel cuts their hair...it is beautiful, and it is exciting to think that soon I will be learning the name of my Angel!!

[VeniteAdoremus]

Dame Julian told me about when her hair was cut... it was after Great Silence started, so they couldn't talk, and she just sat and saw it fall all around her

I love how your Angel cuts your hair! (I probably wouldn't be made an Angel only for that reason. I'd cut your ears off.)

[puellapaschalis]

It would be so many levels of brilliance if my angel cut my hair. We'd be giggling all the way through it, she'd be apologising for cutting my ear off and I'd be apologising for moving so much (because of the giggles) that my ear got cut.

But I think it might be the Novice Mistress who does it....

Edited July 9, 2009 by puellapaschalis

[zunshynn]

The superior does it at OLAM. Rev. Mother hasn't been well enough to do an investiture for a couple years (actually the last ceremony she was able to go to was my entrance... ). But she loved it. She'd draw it out. Make sure everyone could see the sister's hair. There was one sister who had never cut her hair... I think it was down to her knees almost... she had fun with that one! Take her time. Chuckle a lot.

She did the same reading the scroll. Make it REAL suspenseful. haha.

Sr. Catherine was hysterical. She'd talk to you while she was doing it, making you laugh. (the mic was off so no one else could hear except the seamstress helping her) She kept tripping over me. She kept saying, "I'm going to give you a real nice cut, so you won't have to go back and fix it."

Of course it was still pretty funny looking and uneven... But I left it for a couple of months before I had someone fix it, because it made me chuckle in the morning. Of course the last time I cut it, I did it myself and I totally hacked it off. Looked terrible.

Edited July 9, 2009 by zunshynn

[VeniteAdoremus]

I don't think my congregation does anything about hair cutting... I'll probably ask to have my mum braid it before the veil goes on

[puellapaschalis]

[quote name='VeniteAdoremus' post='1915651' date='Jul 9 2009, 06:28 PM']I don't think my congregation does anything about hair cutting... I'll probably ask to have my mum braid it before the veil goes on [/quote]

I was told that they don't, no. Possibly the hair helps keep it on (along with the ears).

[zunshynn]

One thing that surprised me was how long it took me to get ready in the morning as a postulant, just because I had to figure out how to put my hair up. (How the sister who had hair down to her knees did it I can't even fathom.) Then when I got the habit, I was thinking with so many more pieces of clothes it would take me forever to get ready, but it actually only took about 7 minutes to get ready because I had very little hair to worry about! Who would have thought it would make such a difference!

Now I have to think about my hair again. Don't like that.

I the PCPA habit, by the way.

How long of a postulancy do Carmelites have these days? And do they recieve their name at entrance or investiture now?

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='zunshynn' post='1915744' date='Jul 9 2009, 01:36 PM']One thing that surprised me was how long it took me to get ready in the morning as a postulant, just because I had to figure out how to put my hair up. (How the sister who had hair down to her knees did it I can't even fathom.) Then when I got the habit, I was thinking with so many more pieces of clothes it would take me forever to get ready, but it actually only took about 7 minutes to get ready because I had very little hair to worry about! Who would have thought it would make such a difference!

Now I have to think about my hair again. Don't like that.

I the PCPA habit, by the way.

How long of a postulancy do Carmelites have these days? And do they recieve their name at entrance or investiture now?[/quote]

It depends on the order, but it's about 6 months to a year of postulancy.

Their religious name is always received when they receive the habit and become a novice.

Edited July 9, 2009 by InHisLove726

[Lilllabettt]

[quote name='InHisLove726' post='1915945' date='Jul 9 2009, 04:17 PM']Their religious name is always received when they receive the habit and become a novice. [/quote]


Are you sure? I thought Annie (nunsense) received her name in religion when she entered ...

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='Lilllabettt' post='1915964' date='Jul 9 2009, 03:34 PM']Are you sure? I thought Annie (nunsense) received her name in religion when she entered ...[/quote]

Annie's case was special because she's been in formation before with another Carmelite order.

[Thomist-in-Training]

[quote name='InHisLove726' post='1915984' date='Jul 9 2009, 03:49 PM']Annie's case was special because she's been in formation before with another Carmelite order. [/quote]

Are you sure? I thought too that it had been mentioned before that some Carmelite monasteries give names upon entrance even for first-timers. Definitely when I asked a nun how many in their Carmelite monastery, she told me "13" or whatever and I asked "Is that 13 professed, or altogether?" and she said "Definitely altogether!" and said something I forget exactly what stressing that especially among Carmelites, sisters in formation are still [i]very [/i]much considered to belong to the Order and to the monastery.

[puellapaschalis]

If I remember correctly, nunsense first entered at Wolverhampton, and also received her new name upon entrance there.

What about St. Theresa of the Andes? Of course the only things I know about her life was what I saw on the youtube videos, so I'm not going to claim real knowledge based on that

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='Thomist-in-Training' post='1916000' date='Jul 9 2009, 04:10 PM']Are you sure? I thought too that it had been mentioned before that some Carmelite monasteries give names upon entrance even for first-timers. Definitely when I asked a nun how many in their Carmelite monastery, she told me "13" or whatever and I asked "Is that 13 professed, or altogether?" and she said "Definitely altogether!" and said something I forget exactly what stressing that especially among Carmelites, sisters in formation are still [i]very [/i]much considered to belong to the Order and to the monastery.[/quote]

I don't believe I've seen a Carmelite order that gives out religious names except in special cases. I know some of them might call the new postulant "Sister" but they usually attach it to her birth name. This is usually only amongst the cloistered orders.

The Carmelite orders are very close knit by what I've witnessed. Any time a Sister has to leave because of illness or discernment, it creates disappointment amongst the community. They pray for each other and become family to one another, so I am sure that's why the Sister you are speaking of included everyone in her count--postulants, novices, and professed.

Edited July 9, 2009 by InHisLove726

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='puellapaschalis' post='1916013' date='Jul 9 2009, 04:22 PM']If I remember correctly, nunsense first entered at Wolverhampton, and also received her new name upon entrance there.

What about St. Theresa of the Andes? Of course the only things I know about her life was what I saw on the youtube videos, so I'm not going to claim real knowledge based on that [/quote]

I don't know about what happened at Wolverhampton, I'm afraid. But did St. Teresa of the Andes take her name right at entrance as a postulant? Her birthname is Juana Fernández Solar. Anyone know?? I'm searching for information.

Edited July 9, 2009 by InHisLove726

[Lilllabettt]

[b]This is what Annie said on March 16, 2009 in [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=91590&hl="]this thread[/url] "where are you in your religious discernment." As you can see, she is under the impression that Carmelites get their name when they enter[/b]:
[quote]In Carmel, one is given a name in religion upon entering. The only changes might be before Clothing or Profession - if one wants or needs to add or change something. St Therese scholars can correct me if I am wrong here, but I think she added "and the Holy Face" to her original title of Therese of the Child Jesus - either at her Clothing or her Profession - I am not sure which. The Prioress gives one their religious name, but they often ask for input such as favorite saints or affinities. I told Reverend Mother Sheffield that St Michael was a strong advocate for me and that Our Blessed Mother brought me to Jesus through the Rosary so would like both their names if possible. I did ask her if I could use "of the Cross" because St John is my mystical spiritual director, but she said that every sister who took this title had left! So she gave me "of God" instead. At Wolverhampton I was asked to take the name of Teresa of Jesus because they hadn't had a Teresa in awhile and Mother WV wanted me to have that name. I do love St Teresa, so I felt honored, but I always felt it was a bit too important a name for me.[/quote]

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='Lilllabettt' post='1916045' date='Jul 9 2009, 04:59 PM'][b]This is what Annie said on March 16, 2009 in [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=91590&hl="]this thread[/url] "where are you in your religious discernment." As you can see, she is under the impression that Carmelites get their name when they enter[/b]:[/quote]

It makes me wonder if it varies from country to country then? Here in America, the postulants keep their name until they become novices. I've only ever discerned with the Carmelites in the U.S. I thought it was the same in every Carmel. Hmmmm... I wish Margaret Clare was here to set us straight!

Edited July 9, 2009 by InHisLove726

[zunshynn]

[quote name='InHisLove726' post='1915945' date='Jul 9 2009, 01:17 PM']It depends on the order, but it's about 6 months to a year of postulancy.

Their religious name is always received when they receive the habit and become a novice. [/quote]

I don't think this is always the case. At least in the past I know they usually recieved their name at entrance. Like Elizabeth of the Trinity actually knew what her name was going to be before she even entered. Of course, she just was given a title, they kept her name.


[quote name='InHisLove726' post='1916017' date='Jul 9 2009, 02:28 PM']I don't believe I've seen a Carmelite order that gives out religious names except in special cases. I know some of them might call the new postulant "Sister" but they usually attach it to her birth name. This is usually only amongst the cloistered orders.[/quote]

do you mean at entrance or in general? Because I've always been under the impression that Carmelites almost always recieve religious names. Like they say, even God doesn't know how many Carmelites are named Teresa!

[quote]The Carmelite orders are very close knit by what I've witnessed. Any time a Sister has to leave because of illness or discernment, it creates disappointment amongst the community. They pray for each other and become family to one another, so I am sure that's why the Sister you are speaking of included everyone in her count--postulants, novices, and professed.[/quote]

I think that's probably true for most contemplative orders.

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='zunshynn' post='1916056' date='Jul 9 2009, 05:12 PM']I don't think this is always the case. At least in the past I know they usually recieved their name at entrance. Like Elizabeth of the Trinity actually knew what her name was going to be before she even entered. Of course, she just was given a title, they kept her name.




do you mean at entrance or in general? Because I've always been under the impression that Carmelites almost always recieve religious names. Like they say, even God doesn't know how many Carmelites are named Teresa!



I think that's probably true for most contemplative orders.[/quote]


I'll look into it a bit later. I'm getting ready for my first Latin Mass ever with my Young Adult group! Peace and all good!