JMJ+
~Betsy

Totus tuus Maria!

Despite my admiration of these wonderful sisters, I am also a staunch advocate for religious garb. As an Anglican Franciscan novice walking the streets of San Francisco a few years back, I had the opportunity to experience what it costs and how much one gains to be a visible sign. I, more often than not, was treated with respect and a great deal of curiosity. People felt quite comfortable stopping me and asking me a wide range of questions. I saw myself as a window through which God’s love could pass and through which those in need could catch a glimpse of something beyond me that could make their lives better. As long as I remembered that I was the window and not what was on the other side, encounters were quite powerful and I was always left humbled and grateful. I was always me in the habit. I didn’t behave any differently and I did what I normally did. I wanted people to know that God is present everywhere. I was sometimes insulted, called a pedophile, spit upon and cursed. But so was Christ.

I do not believe a habit makes the religious, but abandoning the habit has shuttered some windows between heaven and earth. Sensible religious garb witnesses to the lived vows. It demonstrates submission to a way of living that is counter-cultural. And we need people who point in very obvious ways to ways of being in but not of the world.

Religious garb to be an effective “window” should be obvious, simple, comfortable, practical, flexible and a matter of choice. Their are times to wear it and times not to wear it. It should not become a liturgical garment only worn around others wearing the same thing. I love what many African and Indian sisters have done in creating garb that is beautiful, simple, culturally appropriate and clearly a statement of commitment.

I highly value the contributions of religious women whether they wear a habit or not. We need more young women dedicated to this incredible way of life. If religious garb is part of what attracts them, isn’t it possible that God is saying we need to think about reinstating it in a manner that reflects a well-thought out combination of sensibility and spirituality? I hope so. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity to explore this topic. Blessings on all who have contributed and to the dedicated sisters who run the blog.

I am a social worker and work with victims of domestic violence, trafficking or various types of kidnappings. Rough job at times. I think if I wore a habit, my clients would run away as fast as the could.

However, when I go home to Costa Rica, I must wear the habit. I wear a modified habit, blue skirt (or black), white blouse and a blue (or black) veil. The Church is in a very different time in Central America. Historically there was a time in the 8O’s when we had fake nuns and Priests running around and stealing a lot of money. It was a hard lesson and hard to get rid of this corrupt ring. Today the wounds are still there.

I am very, very well known in my town. In dialogue with the people and the Pastor, we all agreed that to keep things in their respective places, it was best I wear the habit when I was home. It made sense and it fit the need and the history. So I have no problem going from one world/situation to another.

The lesson I have learned from this experience is certainly that what counts above all else is who I am deep down as a religious, it is THEN when the habit takes meaning.