Comments on: Religious Life Is No Popularity Contest http://anunslife.org/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/ Catholic Sisters and Nuns in Today's World Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:32:01 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nuns: Perceptions and Assumptions « A Nun’s Life http://anunslife.org/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/#comment-539 Nuns: Perceptions and Assumptions « A Nun’s Life Tue, 29 May 2007 00:59:37 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/#comment-539 [...] 5. What evidence do you have that “of course, since many wear no habits, they no longer get any vocations”? That is one hefty statement that needs some serious backing up in order to make. The media has been throwing around similar statements and people seem to just assume that it’s true. Where is this information coming from? There are communities that do not wear a recognizable habit that are growing in number, and there are communities that do wear a recognizable habit that are not growing in number. Plus, why are numbers the measure of a religious community? (I’ve addressed this before, should you want to read my observations.) [...] [...] 5. What evidence do you have that “of course, since many wear no habits, they no longer get any vocations”? That is one hefty statement that needs some serious backing up in order to make. The media has been throwing around similar statements and people seem to just assume that it’s true. Where is this information coming from? There are communities that do not wear a recognizable habit that are growing in number, and there are communities that do wear a recognizable habit that are not growing in number. Plus, why are numbers the measure of a religious community? (I’ve addressed this before, should you want to read my observations.) [...]

]]> By: Brian Soul' Liven http://anunslife.org/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/#comment-538 Brian Soul' Liven Mon, 27 Nov 2006 14:12:59 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/#comment-538 im glad to hear from you Br. Philip. I just dont understand why bishops or vocations directors wouldnt want their seminarians in cassocks or clerical shirt. The only reason I can think of is if a seminarian conducts himself in such a way that brings embarassament to the diocese or religious order. Or maybe it could be related to the idealogical battles that took place post-Vatican II that people associate with Cassocks, habits, and clerics. Who knows!? I just feel that the "de-cassockfying" (haha if thats a word!) plays right into the hands who want all traces of God eradicated from society. im glad to hear from you Br. Philip. I just dont understand why bishops or vocations directors wouldnt want their seminarians in cassocks or clerical shirt. The only reason I can think of is if a seminarian conducts himself in such a way that brings embarassament to the diocese or religious order. Or maybe it could be related to the idealogical battles that took place post-Vatican II that people associate with Cassocks, habits, and clerics. Who knows!?

I just feel that the “de-cassockfying” (haha if thats a word!) plays right into the hands who want all traces of God eradicated from society.

]]> By: Br. Philip http://anunslife.org/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/#comment-536 Br. Philip Thu, 23 Nov 2006 21:49:57 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/#comment-536 I too wish that more religious and priests would wear their habits and cassocks. In my community, we all wear habits, but not when we go out shopping. Also, the seminarians in my diocese are told not to wear cassocks or clerical shirts. I've talked to a few about this and most of them wish it would be otherwise. I too wish that more religious and priests would wear their habits and cassocks. In my community, we all wear habits, but not when we go out shopping. Also, the seminarians in my diocese are told not to wear cassocks or clerical shirts. I’ve talked to a few about this and most of them wish it would be otherwise.

]]> By: Brian Soul' Liven http://anunslife.org/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/#comment-537 Brian Soul' Liven Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:09:23 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/#comment-537 Im probably going off topic here, but I wish more religious and priests would wear their habits and cassocks more often! The rational is quite simple for me without any of the so-called "Liberal vs. traditional" camps. As we all know, Western Civ, is radically secularizing itself from its Christian roots, removing any traces of the transcendent from public places. But when a priest or a sister walks in, say, a shopping mall with their habits/cassocks flowing in the wind, people take notice. And maybe for a brief moment they thought about something greater then the 20% off of the Gucci sunglasses. In other words, its a silent witness of Christ with an exclamation point! Now Im not trying to reduce the Christian life to mere clothing, but we humans are visual creatures and the externals do play an important role (Just look at the grand cathedrals of Europe). Countless of people think the Church is dying, old, and rigid, but when they see a young religious or priest in their habit/cassock, it crushes there stereotype. As a seminarian, I have had nothing but positive reactions when ive worn my cassock during youth conferences or clerics around my home parish which would not have happened if i was wearing my GAP sweatshirt. To end with a comment from a young women in Arizona after seeing a group of seminarians walking around in their cassocks, "it was so affirming in my faith to see you guys in your..uhh.. black robe thingys. Where im from, you dont see that anymore." God-willing, and I get ordained in 2011, I hope to be one of those priests that you rarely see in public without clerics or cassock, and yes, even when i make a quick run to my local Starbucks for a Caramel Macchiato w/ extra caramel... mmmmm. Duc in Altum!!! Im probably going off topic here, but I wish more religious and priests would wear their habits and cassocks more often! The rational is quite simple for me without any of the so-called “Liberal vs. traditional” camps. As we all know, Western Civ, is radically secularizing itself from its Christian roots, removing any traces of the transcendent from public places. But when a priest or a sister walks in, say, a shopping mall with their habits/cassocks flowing in the wind, people take notice.

And maybe for a brief moment they thought about something greater then the 20% off of the Gucci sunglasses. In other words, its a silent witness of Christ with an exclamation point! Now Im not trying to reduce the Christian life to mere clothing, but we humans are visual creatures and the externals do play an important role (Just look at the grand cathedrals of Europe).

Countless of people think the Church is dying, old, and rigid, but when they see a young religious or priest in their habit/cassock, it crushes there stereotype.

As a seminarian, I have had nothing but positive reactions when ive worn my cassock during youth conferences or clerics around my home parish which would not have happened if i was wearing my GAP sweatshirt. To end with a comment from a young women in Arizona after seeing a group of seminarians walking around in their cassocks, “it was so affirming in my faith to see you guys in your..uhh.. black robe thingys. Where im from, you dont see that anymore.”

God-willing, and I get ordained in 2011, I hope to be one of those priests that you rarely see in public without clerics or cassock, and yes, even when i make a quick run to my local Starbucks for a Caramel Macchiato w/ extra caramel… mmmmm.

Duc in Altum!!!

]]> By: Meribeth, SND http://anunslife.org/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/#comment-534 Meribeth, SND Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:46:32 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/religious-life-and-the-numbers-game/#comment-534 I always liked the titles of Van Zeller's "WE" books, "We Sing While There's Voice left", "We Die Standing up", "We Live With Our Eyes Open," "We Work While The Light Lasts," Religious life is about the "We". That is why I came to relgious life, and that is why I have stayed through the chaos of the 60's, and radical changes till now. The “we” is why I renew my vows daily and regularly examine my practice of those vows. I bring my mind and heart back to my initial reasons for choosing religious life, and refresh my resolve to be true to those reasons. For me it never was about a habit. I sought and found a community working for one goal-- to be a communal instrument in God’s hands, so He could transform the world. Yes, religious life is about the "WE." If young women today look deeply at their reasons for seeking religious life, they will realize that, Sisters old or young, in habit or not in habit, forge on.... "We Sing While there's Voice left", "We Die Standing up", "We Live With Our Eyes Open," "We Work While There's Light left,", There is plenty of mission for all of us to do. Our aim is to work our way out of a job! May the Kingdom come! I always liked the titles of Van Zeller’s “WE” books, “We Sing While There’s Voice left”, “We Die Standing up”, “We Live With Our Eyes Open,” “We Work While The Light Lasts,”

Religious life is about the “We”. That is why I came to relgious life, and that is why I have stayed through the chaos of the 60’s, and radical changes till now. The “we” is why I renew my vows daily and regularly examine my practice of those vows. I bring my mind and heart back to my initial reasons for choosing religious life, and refresh my resolve to be true to those reasons.

For me it never was about a habit. I sought and found a community working for one goal– to be a communal instrument in God’s hands, so He could transform the world. Yes, religious life is about the “WE.”

If young women today look deeply at their reasons for seeking religious life, they will realize that, Sisters old or young, in habit or not in habit, forge on…. “We Sing While there’s Voice left”, “We Die Standing up”, “We Live With Our Eyes Open,” “We Work While There’s Light left,”, There is plenty of mission for all of us to do. Our aim is to work our way out of a job! May the Kingdom come!

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