Comments on: Stereotypes about Nuns http://anunslife.org/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/ 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: Lily http://anunslife.org/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/#comment-1325 Lily Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:10:28 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/#comment-1325 Thank you very much, I am accually going out today, so I'll get the book then. Thank you for your help. Thank you very much, I am accually going out today, so I’ll get the book then. Thank you for your help.

]]> By: donna http://anunslife.org/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/#comment-1324 donna Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:36:19 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/#comment-1324 Brother Dominic: Good post. Thank you. Lily: One of the best ways for you to see what I'm talking about is actually simply to read Mother Angelica's biography. Some examples of a less than faithful representation of the faith would be EWTN's subtle support of the war in Iraq (the Pope is clearly against it) and how certain topics are misrepresented, such as "centering prayer" being an Eastern form of prayer unacceptable in Roman Catholicism. Compemplative (i.e., centering) prayer began with the Desert Fathers of early Christianity. donna Brother Dominic:

Good post. Thank you.

Lily:

One of the best ways for you to see what I’m talking about is actually simply to read Mother Angelica’s biography. Some examples of a less than faithful representation of the faith would be EWTN’s subtle support of the war in Iraq (the Pope is clearly against it) and how certain topics are misrepresented, such as “centering prayer” being an Eastern form of prayer unacceptable in Roman Catholicism. Compemplative (i.e., centering) prayer began with the Desert Fathers of early Christianity.

donna

]]> By: Lily http://anunslife.org/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/#comment-1323 Lily Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:23:58 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/#comment-1323 Donna, Could you please give me some examples and resourses of Mothers unfaithfuless? Since I have friends at OLAM, I would like to look a little deeper into that. Donna,
Could you please give me some examples and resourses of Mothers unfaithfuless? Since I have friends at OLAM, I would like to look a little deeper into that.

]]> By: Br. Dominic-Michael OHS http://anunslife.org/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/#comment-1326 Br. Dominic-Michael OHS Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:41:13 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/#comment-1326 Yikes! I meant to say that "I would like to think that people would NOT ascribe liberal leanings to me" clarity. clarity. Yikes! I meant to say that “I would like to think that people would NOT ascribe liberal leanings to me”
clarity. clarity.

]]> By: Br. Dominic-Michael OHS http://anunslife.org/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/#comment-1329 Br. Dominic-Michael OHS Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:35:38 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/stereotypes-about-nuns/#comment-1329 I never knew any women Religious as a child, as I was brought up protestant. However my Dad went to a parochial school pre Vatican 2 staffed by nuns in "full battle gear". The stories he told were ghastly. So I suppose this influenced my thinking. We err if we ascribe 50 year old stereotypes to Religious today.... Those who remain faithful to the spirit of their founders and their Lord will flourish, as they have for 1500 odd years (in the case of the Benedictines). Religious are people, individuals like the rest of the world, and one cannot paint with too wide a brush without slopping tar on those who merit our praise and our prayers for their love and service. I wear a habit to Church, and from Church, I even wore it to the restaurant last Sun as I was invited out with the priest and the bishop and their families, but I do not wear it for work or at other times (it is too impractical - floor length white hooded alb, blue cincture, and full length blue scapular that blows wildly in the breeze - you try and work in THAT in the mud!) But I would hope that just because I do not wear my habit in public at all times, that some would ascribe liberal leanings to me. If my Order had a decent working habit I'd wear it, as it is they don't at present. The breaking of stereotypes is difficult, and can only happen one relationship at a time. I would encourage anyone to make a Retreat at a monastery or convent if they truly are curious as to what monks and nuns DO all day. I hope to make a Retreat this autumn, and our Chapter meeting is always a refreshing time when us scattered Oblates can reconnect and fellowship. One of the most notable Chapters in St. Benedict's Rule might be the last, LXXIII "Of This, that Not the Whole Observance of Righteousness Is Laid Down in this Rule"...it is a beginning. Grudging performance and adherence to Rules and regulations will not save us or make us particularly holy apart from a genuine vocation and a daily infusion of Divine sanctifying Grace into a humble heart. That principle applies to any Christian really... It's not just nuns who get stereotyped, it is all Christians who get poked fun at in various ways. May we all strive to break down these mental barriers in ourselves. I wish all the sisters who have commented here a very blessed Eastertide. Peace to all. Br. Dominic-Michael OHS I never knew any women Religious as a child, as I was brought up protestant. However my Dad went to a parochial school pre Vatican 2 staffed by nuns in “full battle gear”. The stories he told were ghastly. So I suppose this influenced my thinking. We err if we ascribe 50 year old stereotypes to Religious today…. Those who remain faithful to the spirit of their founders and their Lord will flourish, as they have for 1500 odd years (in the case of the Benedictines).
Religious are people, individuals like the rest of the world, and one cannot paint with too wide a brush without slopping tar on those who merit our praise and our prayers for their love and service. I wear a habit to Church, and from Church, I even wore it to the restaurant last Sun as I was invited out with the priest and the bishop and their families, but I do not wear it for work or at other times (it is too impractical – floor length white hooded alb, blue cincture, and full length blue scapular that blows wildly in the breeze – you try and work in THAT in the mud!) But I would hope that just because I do not wear my habit in public at all times, that some would ascribe liberal leanings to me. If my Order had a decent working habit I’d wear it, as it is they don’t at present.
The breaking of stereotypes is difficult, and can only happen one relationship at a time. I would encourage anyone to make a Retreat at a monastery or convent if they truly are curious as to what monks and nuns DO all day. I hope to make a Retreat this autumn, and our Chapter meeting is always a refreshing time when us scattered Oblates can reconnect and fellowship.
One of the most notable Chapters in St. Benedict’s Rule might be the last, LXXIII “Of This, that Not the Whole Observance of Righteousness Is Laid Down in this Rule”…it is a beginning. Grudging performance and adherence to Rules and regulations will not save us or make us particularly holy apart from a genuine vocation and a daily infusion of Divine sanctifying Grace into a humble heart. That principle applies to any Christian really… It’s not just nuns who get stereotyped, it is all Christians who get poked fun at in various ways. May we all strive to break down these mental barriers in ourselves. I wish all the sisters who have commented here a very blessed Eastertide. Peace to all.

Br. Dominic-Michael OHS

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