Hey, I haven't mentioned this in awhile, but there are two or three whole other vowed ways of life beside marriage.
Here are some pretty pictures of obviously seraphic Singles seraphically becoming nuns. (Warning: music.)
I loved the photo with the scissors. If it had been me, the Cardinal would have needed pruning sheers.
H/T Orwell's Picnic.
Incidentally, two happening women's orders are the Nashville, Tennessee Dominicans and the Benedictines of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Interestingly, St. Cecilia is the patron of both these houses. Meanwhile, their novices are young. I heart young novices. There's nothing sweeter in the entire world than a 20-something novice, except maybe an 18 year old novice.
Everyone who knows a woman in, or thinking of entering, the Tennesee Dominicans or the Benedictines of St. Cecilia's Abbey, Ryde, report in the comm box!
19 comments:
My best friend from high school, a cousin, and a colleague who is also a good friend all joined the Nashville Dominicans. Over the years I've probably met over half the community (I met several in grad school, and they teach at the high school where I work, and I've helped them with some projects), and I can say that there are MANY holy women in this community.
I encourage anyone who hasn't seen it to find a way to watch "Beloved," a video project by Salt+Light TV (shout out to your native land, Seraphic!) on the Nashville Dominicans. For me it was like a visit to the Motherhouse - it successfully captures their spirit. I recently heard about a depressed man who saw this video on EWTN and was uplifted by the joy and love he witnessed in the sisters.
Two of my best friends have entered the Nashville Dominicans! One just entered this summer, so she's a postulant; and the other received the habit in July and is in her canonical novitiate year. Deo Gratias! I am dear friends with several of the Sisters - ones who I only met after they entered.
Other happening communities: Sister Servants of the Eternal Word, Sisters of Life, and the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist (the Ann Arbor Dominicans)!
And don't forget the cloistered nuns! Dominican Monastery of St. Jude would be my favorite! - Full disclosure - my older sister is in her Simple Vows there!
I have a friend with the Nashville Dominicans and another who just joined them as a postulant! I've also visited their motherhouse, it's very beautiful.
Does anyone know anything about the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, CT? I found their website the other day. They have a community theater on the grounds, an organic farm, pottery and leatherworking shops, and some cds of their chant that looked lovely.
@fifi
I've been to Regina Laudis!! It's pretty close to where I live. They are contemplative Benedictines, and while I don't know too much about them, I have visited for Mass several times and it seems lovely. I think they do farming and that sort of thing. I met a few of the Sisters and they were very sweet.
One of my former college R.A.'s (resident advisors) joined the Nashville Dominicans. She was really kind; I'm sure she still is!
St. Cecilia, incidentally, is the patron of musicians and of Church music. Just thought I'd throw that out there...
The daughter of my parents' friends is with Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbour...also a good community in Ottawa called the Servants of the Cross :)
That's my sister-in-law, in those pictures! She's the one with the very fluffy hair. ;) They had to wear their hair "down" so it could get cut, but Sarah's hair doesn't really go "down."
Sadly, I didn't get to go to the profession, because I had to stay home with the baby. My husband went and walked Sarah down the aisle, while I stayed home and wished myself in Italy. >sigh< Enjoy your singlehood while you can, Searching Singles! You'll never be so free to travel again.
I hear, though, that it was absolutely beautiful, as it looks in the pictures, and that Sarah is very happy and definitely fits in well as nun!
Goodness, Sheila! What a small world!
Sadly, the faithful have adopted the secular mantra: that only the youthful now matter in religious, as well as seular life. The faithful would do well to remember that the Bendedictines have a long and ancient tradition of accepti ng older women into their ranks. Who are we to dictate the movement of the Holy Spirit? Does the Spirit move only in the young? Is He demonstative only in those under 40, 35, 40. The aburdity of the argument in favor of youth seems evident when look at in this way..
I am not sure how to answer this one. The youth cult was invented by those born well before 1970, but by 1980 it was only the "Baby Boom" generation who seem to count counted, in church structures as well as secular. There seemed to be no place for someone like me, born between the Boom and the Mini-Boom for me to go when I was contemplating a religious vocation: the orders I was interested were little more than nursing homes run by social workers in prim suits.
But then new orders were founded and young women began to join them and such orders as had kept the old ways and now there seems to be a renaissance in religious life. The young girls are coming back, and this is little short of a miracle.
Of course God works in the lives of everyone, no matter how old. I wouldn't mind retiring to a convent in old age myself, but I seem to recall that, historically, this was a privilege of women with a lot of money. Meanwhile, I would not be surprised if there were some orders that would be pleased to have professional women in their 50s to join them, although this would probably have been unusual even 60 years ago.
Oh dear. This is a bit convoluted, I'm afraid. I'm very tired, and it didn't occur to me I'd ever have to defend a joy in young nuns. There was no insult to the Boomers implied in it.
No offense taken. Hooray for young nuns. You needn't defend the joy of young nuns; however, it is important to remember that many women, no longer young, have given their lives to God and ought noy be denigrated for their age...
Maria:
You make some good points, and the older nuns are wonderful, too!
"...on a Sunday afternoon during the conversation Teresita was having with one of her friends. At a certain point her friend confided, "As for me, as long as I am young I will roam all over the world and enjoy myself: when I grow old I will enter the convent to make sure of going to heaven!".
Teresita's reaction was prompt and revealing: "How mean and selfish of you! Do you think Jesus will accept you when you an old maid full of aches and pains after having given the world the best of your life? Surely Jesus has a better taste than that.... He wants the gift of youth, with all its joys and dreams!"
I think Ven. Maria Teresa says it best! Everybody should read about her, she really is a remarkable soul! http://www.moscati.it/English/En_Tere1.html#anni
How mean and selfish of you! Do you think Jesus will accept you when you an old maid full of aches and pains after having given the world the best of your life? Surely Jesus has a better taste than that.... He wants the gift of youth, with all its joys and dreams!"
Only God knows what those who love Him giv... Out Lords seeks an a heart without judgement of others...
To be fair, Maria, nobody was saying that to you. Apparently Venerable Maria Teresa was chastising a pal. Personally, I object to Ven. Maria Teresa's culturally-conditioned attitude towards old maids, but I suppose her pal was asking for a dose of fraternal correction.
And of course the girl in the story of Ven. Maria Teresa obviously had some of her priorities mixed up! :)
Most single people are living a worldly life, I know!
I do think it is a beautiful testament of faith to see the old nuns, still vibrant and IN LOVE!
Of course Jesus loves you no matter how old or tired. His Love never fails.
I just thought she had a beautiful little way of putting it here: He wants the gift of youth, with all its joys and dreams!" That's the part that struck me.
*aren't!
That grammar mistake made me sound like a terrible person. Sorry. :)
My biological sister is a novice with the Congregation of St. Joseph and LOVES it. She's 30 year old. It's a congregation that responds to the needs of the day instead of reverting to pre-vatican II practices that so many Sisters saw as oppressive and being led by the Holy Spirit changed those to respond to the needs of today's changing world. The Sisters in her community are on fire with love for God and for those they minister to on the margins. The 700+ Sisters in the congregation have so much wisdom to share. And it's such a gift to see the older Sisters who are there to be so full of life and humor, even at 80 and 90 years old. What a treasure and gift from our Creator! Peace and blessings.
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