Comments on: Exuding Nunliness http://anunslife.org/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/ 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: Just Curious http://anunslife.org/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/#comment-1463 Just Curious Sun, 08 Jul 2007 13:53:00 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/#comment-1463 As I've just recently discovered this blog, I'm just now looking at "old" posts. This is an interesting question - what makes a holy person holy? I've often asked it myself (both of myself and others). Although I am a Catholic laywoman (albeit now discerning religious life), working in an institution founded by sisters, I've often had people ask if I'm a sister, or becoming one. Granted, my job gives me the title of minister, but does that automatically equal holy/religious/nun? I'm honored that people equate me with the nuns who founded the institution, and who continue to work there, but I also am glad that because they don't dress in a manner that obviously distinguishes them from laypeople, it forces others to look at ALL people as religious and judge them on their character. Although some of the nuns I know and love dearly are certainly in this category, there are others as well whom I highly respect as people who exemplify God's love and compassion. On a lighter note, if people spend enough time around nuns that aren't in a 16th century style habit, they'll figure out that orthopedic shoes are the dead giveaway as to who is a nun! As I’ve just recently discovered this blog, I’m just now looking at “old” posts. This is an interesting question – what makes a holy person holy? I’ve often asked it myself (both of myself and others). Although I am a Catholic laywoman (albeit now discerning religious life), working in an institution founded by sisters, I’ve often had people ask if I’m a sister, or becoming one. Granted, my job gives me the title of minister, but does that automatically equal holy/religious/nun? I’m honored that people equate me with the nuns who founded the institution, and who continue to work there, but I also am glad that because they don’t dress in a manner that obviously distinguishes them from laypeople, it forces others to look at ALL people as religious and judge them on their character. Although some of the nuns I know and love dearly are certainly in this category, there are others as well whom I highly respect as people who exemplify God’s love and compassion. On a lighter note, if people spend enough time around nuns that aren’t in a 16th century style habit, they’ll figure out that orthopedic shoes are the dead giveaway as to who is a nun!

]]> By: Br. Dominic-Michael OHS http://anunslife.org/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/#comment-1462 Br. Dominic-Michael OHS Wed, 02 May 2007 03:02:05 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/#comment-1462 I'm in the middle of a Hospice Palliative Care training course, and I'm finding that many of the ways we approach the specific areas of grief, dying and suffering from a secular and worldly perspective, tend to build walls rather than open channels of communication. I think that a major part of Jesus' ministry, His attractiveness, was simply being a listener and accepting the stories people told Him as valid expressions of their feelings/experiences. The woman weeping at His feet might have been shushed and escorted out unceremoniously, but instead He allowed her to finish what she was doing in silence. Perhaps the simple act of listening is the biggest step we can take to engaging those we encounter in life? Jesus could no doubt have waved His "magic wand" and presto, all problems solved in each case, but He didn't. And so we perhaps must seek to put ourselves across as not having all the answers, having needs of our own, being vulnerable...for all these are true of us. While we may possess moral certainty that a certain course of action or behaviour is contrary to both the letter and spirit of God's revealed law, and that consequences will inevitably follow; we cannot gain a hearing if there is no serious attempt to establish a relationship in which dialogue can take place. Friendship comes first. In a palliative care situation, there is really nothing one can do to help a patient/client from a medical standpoint, it is all a matter of being a caring presence, and a listening ear, an agreeable companion. I think this approach would work with much of life...we're all terminal patients or grieving a loss in some sense. We can save our verbal and literary lashings for the Pharisees; as Jesus did. ;) I’m in the middle of a Hospice Palliative Care training course, and I’m finding that many of the ways we approach the specific areas of grief, dying and suffering from a secular and worldly perspective, tend to build walls rather than open channels of communication. I think that a major part of Jesus’ ministry, His attractiveness, was simply being a listener and accepting the stories people told Him as valid expressions of their feelings/experiences. The woman weeping at His feet might have been shushed and escorted out unceremoniously, but instead He allowed her to finish what she was doing in silence. Perhaps the simple act of listening is the biggest step we can take to engaging those we encounter in life?
Jesus could no doubt have waved His “magic wand” and presto, all problems solved in each case, but He didn’t. And so we perhaps must seek to put ourselves across as not having all the answers, having needs of our own, being vulnerable…for all these are true of us. While we may possess moral certainty that a certain course of action or behaviour is contrary to both the letter and spirit of God’s revealed law, and that consequences will inevitably follow; we cannot gain a hearing if there is no serious attempt to establish a relationship in which dialogue can take place. Friendship comes first. In a palliative care situation, there is really nothing one can do to help a patient/client from a medical standpoint, it is all a matter of being a caring presence, and a listening ear, an agreeable companion. I think this approach would work with much of life…we’re all terminal patients or grieving a loss in some sense.
We can save our verbal and literary lashings for the Pharisees; as Jesus did. ;)

]]> By: Kerry http://anunslife.org/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/#comment-1450 Kerry Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:06:42 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/#comment-1450 Sister Julie--I've tagged you for a Thinking Blogger Award! Thanks for everything you do! http://subversivechristianity.blogspot.com/2007/04/thinking-blogger-award.html Sister Julie–I’ve tagged you for a Thinking Blogger Award! Thanks for everything you do!

http://subversivechristianity.blogspot.com/2007/04/thinking-blogger-award.html

]]> By: Lynne http://anunslife.org/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/#comment-1451 Lynne Sat, 28 Apr 2007 15:00:29 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/#comment-1451 What I've noticed about the nuns and priests I've been privileged to know is a deep and abiding concern for people, a warmth and compassion that all too few of us possess. The other qualities mentioned are there as well, but this is the one that has impressed me the most. What I’ve noticed about the nuns and priests I’ve been privileged to know is a deep and abiding concern for people, a warmth and compassion that all too few of us possess. The other qualities mentioned are there as well, but this is the one that has impressed me the most.

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/#comment-1452 Sister Julie Sat, 28 Apr 2007 11:23:10 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2007/04/26/exuding-nunliness/#comment-1452 I love it! I love it!

]]>