She was a 40 year old woman discerning a call to religious life. In answering her request for information, I explained our charism and shared some history. Then I suggested she look at our webpage.
The next day came her reply: “Thanks but I am limiting my search for an order that wears a habit.”
When I was in the 6th grade, girls looked at the different habits nuns wore and picked a group to join in the future. However this is 2010 and she is 40!
I pray she has got other criteria for her choice. I have known 3 women recently who entered “communities” in existence a year or two; they wore habits. In all these cases a Diocesan Vicar for Religious or a Bishop has had to step in and demand connection to a canonically recognized group.
(This is an aside but–when asked about my Benedictine Community wearing a habit my answer is we follow the Rule of St. Benedict written in the 5 century that says “the clothing of the monk should be something obtainable in the area, not expensive and fits properly” and again it states “when the monk gets new clothing, he is to give his old to the poor” This time-tested Rule for an Order over 1500 years old seems to imply that the monks must have been dressing like the poor of the day.)
Clothing doesn’t make the man or woman; a habit doesn’t make a nun. Religious will be recognized for their seeking of God in a life of prayer and service, in counter-cultural values like simplicity, sharing, caring, a balanced life of prayer/work, welcoming others, making peace, building community and having concern for the common good. These are the “habits” that discerning woman needs to seek in herself and in any group she might aspire to join. If these “habits” fit, then maybe she (or you) are hearing a call to enter a religious community and be-come a Sister.
Benedictine Sisters of Florida
http://www.floridabenedictines.com/
or call (352) 588-8320
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment