This is a follow up of yesterday’s post ‘Why Do Young People Want Habits?’.
Again, because I think that this issue is an important one to young people who are considering a vocation to religious life, it’s probably a good idea to talk about it.
So, what about the pros and cons of wearing a habit? I’ll begin with the pros.
On the positive side, a habit contributes to simplicity. A person who wears a habit does not have to give much of her attention to clothing and can therefore give that energy to other pursuits (hopefully worthwhile ones). She doesn’t have to go shopping for clothes, and doesn’t have to concern herself with whether she has the right clothes for this or that occasion. (Being a person who really does not like shopping for clothes, or worrying over whether I have the right clothes for the right occasion, I have to admit that, for me, this is one attractive quality of the habit.)
Another positive is visibility. When Sisters wear habits, people know they are Sisters. It is an unmistakable symbol of someone’s commitment to the Church and to God. When Sisters are not visible in society, I think it makes it harder to attract new vocations.
Lastly, I think that a habit can be a reminder to the person who is wearing it. By this, I don’t mean to imply that those of us who are not wearing habits are forgetting who we are. What I mean is that I think that wearing clothing that is particular to a person’s identity can act as a subtle but concrete reminder throughout the day of the commitment she has made. There is something to be said for being clothed in the garb of one’s identity.
One of the possible drawbacks to the wearing of the habit is the tendency for others to forget that the person wearing it is just a human being like everyone else.
I was intrigued by an article that appeared on another blog called: “A Nun’s Life” authored by Sr. Julie Vieira, IHM. (www.anunslife.org) The article appeared in the Washington Post and was entitled:
“Buzzworthy Sisters in Habits Headed to Va. School”
It is about the Nashville Dominicans, a community of habited Sisters, opening a school in Northern Virginia. Here is what some of the parents said about the idea of having their children taught by Sisters in habits:
“I’d love my children to be taught by a nun! It’s just unheard of, especially in this day and age,” said DeRaymond, a 41-year-old mother of two, practically squealing. “They’re going to say ‘No’ to a nun? Not do their homework?” Meyer, 39, a mother of three, nodded in agreement: “To have them be taught by nuns in a habit — that alone will make a major difference.” (By Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, November 25, 2007; A01)
My question is why this mother thinks that a child will not say no to a Sister, and why this other mother thinks that the habit will make the difference. It’s as if they think that being a nun, and especially one in a habit, places the wearer on such a pedestal that no one would think to say no to her. To me, it feels as if they no longer view these Sisters as a mere humans, but as someone rather above it all.
(One danger in this scenario is that the person wearing the habit, in the face of such treatment,may also forget that she is human like everyone else and begin to act the part of the holier-than-thou.)
As a person who taught junior high school, with Sisters both in and out of habit, I can say that the habit may make a difference for a short time, but when the novelty wears off with the students, the habited Sister has to rely on her classroom management skills just like everyone else.
Another drawback is the whole nostalgia piece. Often when people see the habit, they are drawn to their memories, or what they have heard, of a simpler, purer, and more stable past. They may see women who are quiet, unassuming, quaint and kindly, and content to live in the shadows of a male dominated Church and society.
The problem with quaint, is that quaint is never relevant. A person who is quaint has an old-fashioned charm, is interesting, and pleasing, but is rarely a mover and a shaker.
I actually don’t think that this image is based in reality. I am troubled more because people seem to want to see Sisters in this way. The image of a Sister who will stand up to the Church hierarchy like St. Catherine of Siena, or who will fight for reform in society like Sr. Helen Prejean, or Bishop Oscar Romero, seems these days to be less attractive to people in general.
In all, however, I think that the habit has merit. Habited Sisters are in no way obligated to maintain an image that is not based in reality, and needn’t respond to attempts to put them on a pedestal. Habited Sisters have the advantage of visibility and are not burdened with having to maintain a wardrobe.
I would love to know people think. If you have any thoughts at all about this topic, please don’t hesitate to submit them in a comment.
In my next entry, I will discuss the difference between the habit and common dress. So, again, stay tuned…
Filed under: Reflections
What a great post, Sister! I found your site through Sister Julie’s – I tend to hang out there when I can get myself away from facebook
This article actually came out in the local newspaper here – I also found it hilarious that parents actually think that students will automatically “not say no” to a nun. It’s also interesting that the parents automatically assume that this is great – I mean, I know the Nashville Dominicans probably are pretty awesome (and their facebook group rocks) but I think it’s odd that parents are willing to assume all these things without even meeting the Sisters.
I agree that it’s a bad idea to see nuns as beyond human – that’s gotta be weird for nuns. I mean, if people saw me as being holier-than-thou, I think I’d feel really lonely.
Anyway, awesome post!
Hello Sr. Judy,
First a minor bit of detail. I have for the past semester been researching my thesis on “Why, after centuries of decline in young women entering Religious Orders is there an increase in young women’s vocations today, and what draws them to the orders that are more conservative and ritualistic in traditions?”
In the process of researching this paper i have interviewed roughly 30 woman religious to date, under the age of 33. Among learning their vocations stories and reasons for entering (among them how the habit fit it in) I have learned SO much more. As I’m sure you know when researching a thesis it becomes your life, young vocations and spending time with these sisters has become mine. At the start this paper was merely to analyze the increases to vocations, which it still is, but I realize now that it is more then that. It is away for whoever my read my paper to get a better grasp on the fact that these young women are normal and exciting and radical and diverse in their personalities. “Quaint” hardly ever being an adjective I would use to describe any of the sisters I have been blessed to spend time with. Some of them do fight against the constant battle of nostalgia, but not in the sense you present here but in the sense to be seen as normal. Most have preconceived negative notions about sisters joining religious orders today, that they must have no other options, or are uneducated, however this is NOT the case they almost all college graduates, and come from a diverse back ground of “normal” likings of music, sports, comedy, books, ect. Oh dear, I probably could type 50 pages on this, which I am in the process of doing but I guess here is not the place, interesting topic and I have enjoyed reading your thoughts and that of your readers.
Dear Lisa,
Hi and thanks so much for your post. What an interesting thesis! It sounds like you have met some very diverse and exciting people in your research.
I just want to clarify something that I wrote in my post here that was perhaps unclear. I don’t think that women who are in habited communities are quaint, but that others may see them this way. I also said that I don’t see this image as based in reality.
I know Sisters who are in habits, and was one myself for a time, and I agree with you wholeheartedly that they are as diverse as any other group.
Thank you again for your post and I wish you all the best with your thesis. I hope you will find a way to post your thesis when you finish it.
Peace to you,
Sr. Judy
yes yes, i was refering to those that thought that i believe you made it clear that wasnt your opinon.
i was just wondering where the word “habit” originated at and….well the history of it??? They say curiousity killed the cat but i’m just nosy all too…..well you know
I love the concept of the Habit and feel that it should remain a personal choice. I think it completes the identifcation of being a nun that one makes from the inside to the outside. It is not for the outside world to see but more for the personal identification of myself. I believe professionalism is lost in so many ways in our society today due to the lack of conduct of professional code of ethics regarding attire. For example, it is almost impossible now when you walk into a hospital to know who is a nurse, doctor, or lab technician. Go to a university and try to distinguish a professor from a student – good luck!! As a nun, I would like to see a “reflection” of myself and just be “reminded” that I am a child of God not only from the inside by also from the outside and that others can see it as well and call upon me if they need me at any time on any given day. I want it visible to all who need to know it – even if it should be me! Thank you.
Well this is a very old post and you may have gone way beyond this subject—but as it has been very much on MY mind here goes— I am a member of a Secular Institute perpetually vowed with public vows who is not to wear anything that looks like a habit so as not to be confused with those with the same vows who live in community. We have Bros. Frs. and several different types of Sisters in the same family.
I have no identity zero nadda nyet. I am just a lady with a husband and a bunch of grand kids. I live in a city where we are the only members of our religious family. We are to be hidden —we are so hidden that I fear some days we have gone into oblivion.
As a Catholic if I put one of those lace rags on my head it sends a message I am not certain I wish to send—I love Vatican 2 don’t want to go back. But truly I live so much of a hidden life that somedays I cannot find myself. I am a nurse. I can tell you the whole world changes when I don my lab coat! So okay I like being taken seriously and having a little edge in stressful situations.
Lately I have been drawn to the headcovering ladies. Strangest thing—I’m driving down the road to my next client and this Muslim lady is explaining why she wears a veil. I am lonely I am hidden and she has this wonderful experience of being alone with her god and a sense of being with him because they are together under her veil. What am I missing here? The ladies in my town who love submission and Latin and long skirts wear the dreaded lace rag. I cannot. My Founder was part of the Liturgical movement during the Council. But I ached each time I heard some one talk about headcovering. So I talked to my husband vowed in like manner, and he thought it was a great idea—I chose some pretty scrves with flowers and such and found a website that had tying ideas and I don’t look like anyone you’ve ever met. My friend with hair loss issues is thrilled because now she can wear her stuff and not be a stick out. My Catholic friends hardly notice and if I told them I wear for any reason other than hair issues they’d have a cow. What does it do for me? I dunno. Have I had the same experience as the Muslim lady? Not really. But heck I am who I am I am vowed I am different and I seem to have all the obligation and very little of the priviledge. So now I have a few well chosen wardrobe pieces in alimited color range that mimmcks the colors our sisters wear, and my scarves and my simple earings and not to forget the face paint— even little Audrey Hepburn wore lipstick in the Nun’s Story.
If I wear a uniform so you know who I am in stressful situations and stidies show that it is a benefit to both of us, ought not the same principle apply to religion? Ought not I have a look about me that says “yes I am the sister of the church”(CCCJP2 in decribing consecrateds) it is my job to come along side you and offer help and prayer, you’ve come to right place, lets pray.
I was driving down the road listening to a program on public radio that was asking Mulim ladies why they wear their veils in Michigan—no angelic visitation implied or intended! This post goes with the first post.
I counted 5 negative reasons:
1. People forget nuns are people: I just don’t buy this. I think most people believe habited nuns to be dedicated beyond the norm. But, isn’t that the truth? I agree they are viewed as different and maybe “apart” but vowing a life of poverty chastity and obedience IS different and apart from the rest of humanity. Why is this a problem? Somehow it wasn’t a problem – but was an advantage – for centuries. The difference and “apartness” did NOT begin with VII.
2.It places the nun on a pedestal: Well I guess it does. But shouldn’t we place someone who has dedicated their entire lives to God and service to humanity forsaking money, sex and independence on some sort of pedestal? Or do the vows mean nothing?
3. They might act or think they are “holier than thou”: Well, I would like to think they ARE holier than me. But they might think that outside a habit having taken vows anyway. In my experience the self-righteousness of nuns has not particularly diminished sine the 60s. I think it is a problem attached to the vowed life – and only secondarily, if at all, to the habit.
4. Nostalgia: If this were limited to the middle aged and up – sure, it might be an issue. But very few young folks have ever seen a real life nun in habit, me thinks. Of course, nostalgia is only an issue because nun wholesale doffed habits 40 years ago. Maybe the issue is not nostalgia, but an very real appreciation that a mistake was made when habits were trash canned?
5 Quaintness: Related to number 4. hard to believe this is brought up at all. Habited nuns were hardly quaint, meek and mild as a rule. Some clearly were. many were tough, opinionated, go-getters afraid of no -one but God. You mention Catherine of Sienna – she wore a habit. he 4 nuns who began the SSJ in Boston and grew it to 600 were NOT wilting flowers. The nuns who taught 50 kids in a class. bathed the sick before antibiotics, ran orphanages, etc., etc were not quaint. Sorry, this is really an argument that won’t wash with history.