Comments on: Novitiate – Overview http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/formation-novitiate-overview/ 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: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/formation-novitiate-overview/#comment-2064 Sister Julie Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:15:17 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/novitiate-%e2%80%93-part-i/#comment-2064 Hi Jana -- As a novice, you'd be following what all other Catholics would be doing. Catholics (age 14 and older) in the U.S. must refrain from eating meat from warm-blooded animals on Ash Wednesday (the beginning of the season of Lent) and on the Fridays of Lent. Under the current discipline, fish, eggs, milk products, and condiments or foods made using animal fat are permitted in the Western Rite of the Church, though not in the Eastern Rite. This year, the season of Lent ends on March 23. So if the wedding is anytime from now until March 23, 2008, I'd recommend skipping the meat dishes to remain true to character. Although if the wedding is during Lent, the bride and groom may have asked for a dispensation (temporary exemption from a Church law) which means the party might have been given permission to eat meat on a Friday of Lent just for the wedding meal. But as a novice, you could play up the scrupulosity of a young sister and stick to the tradition of not eating meat on Friday of Lent. Blessings, Jana! Sister J Hi Jana — As a novice, you’d be following what all other Catholics would be doing. Catholics (age 14 and older) in the U.S. must refrain from eating meat from warm-blooded animals on Ash Wednesday (the beginning of the season of Lent) and on the Fridays of Lent. Under the current discipline, fish, eggs, milk products, and condiments or foods made using animal fat are permitted in the Western Rite of the Church, though not in the Eastern Rite.

This year, the season of Lent ends on March 23. So if the wedding is anytime from now until March 23, 2008, I’d recommend skipping the meat dishes to remain true to character. Although if the wedding is during Lent, the bride and groom may have asked for a dispensation (temporary exemption from a Church law) which means the party might have been given permission to eat meat on a Friday of Lent just for the wedding meal. But as a novice, you could play up the scrupulosity of a young sister and stick to the tradition of not eating meat on Friday of Lent. Blessings, Jana! Sister J

]]> By: Jana http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/formation-novitiate-overview/#comment-2066 Jana Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:26:55 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/novitiate-%e2%80%93-part-i/#comment-2066 Hi Sister Julie, it's Jana again (from Tony 'n Tina's wedding). I don't know if you aware that a meal is included in the show that we, as actors, also have to eat. Since this show is performing all thru lent I am trying to figure out how it works. The meal includes meat balls and I am a little confused about things. There is so much material on the subject, it is hard to weed thru it and to apply it to someone who is suppose to be a novice. Is it only fridays that you cannot eat meat or is it the whole 40 days? Hi Sister Julie, it’s Jana again (from Tony ‘n Tina’s wedding). I don’t know if you aware that a meal is included in the show that we, as actors, also have to eat. Since this show is performing all thru lent I am trying to figure out how it works. The meal includes meat balls and I am a little confused about things. There is so much material on the subject, it is hard to weed thru it and to apply it to someone who is suppose to be a novice. Is it only fridays that you cannot eat meat or is it the whole 40 days?

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/formation-novitiate-overview/#comment-2065 Sister Julie Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:30:44 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/novitiate-%e2%80%93-part-i/#comment-2065 Hello, Sarah ... What you are saying makes a lot of sense. Sometimes I wondered about traditions that my congregation no longer observes and was saddened by them. For those of us who have never experienced those traditions (like shaving one's head, "grand silence", chapter of faults, etc.) there may be a certain novelty or even romanticism about such things. In reality, I know shaving one's hair was really hard and traumatic for some sisters. And sometimes an old custom appeals to us because we personally want a heightened sense of discipline, prayer, whatever. I know because I had some of those. The insight that I came to is that if some communal practices are no longer the custom of the congregation, then that's something I accept because I am a member. For example, it would be odd of me to want to wear a veil when the custom in my congregation is generally not to (unless you came to the congregation when wearing the veil was still the custom). It's more important to me to be of one mind and heart with my sisters than to do something that is edifying only to me. This is where we have to balance what is important to "me" with what is important to "us". It's a really tough call, Sarah. But I can tell you that you're not the only one who has felt this way. Hang in there and keep taking your desires to God. Your desire to want to grow in humility is a beautiful one. Trust me when I say that there will be ample opportunities in life for you to practice this! God will lead you through this and perhaps open a door where you didn't see one at first. My prayers are with you, Sarah. Sister J Hello, Sarah … What you are saying makes a lot of sense. Sometimes I wondered about traditions that my congregation no longer observes and was saddened by them. For those of us who have never experienced those traditions (like shaving one’s head, “grand silence”, chapter of faults, etc.) there may be a certain novelty or even romanticism about such things. In reality, I know shaving one’s hair was really hard and traumatic for some sisters. And sometimes an old custom appeals to us because we personally want a heightened sense of discipline, prayer, whatever. I know because I had some of those.

The insight that I came to is that if some communal practices are no longer the custom of the congregation, then that’s something I accept because I am a member. For example, it would be odd of me to want to wear a veil when the custom in my congregation is generally not to (unless you came to the congregation when wearing the veil was still the custom). It’s more important to me to be of one mind and heart with my sisters than to do something that is edifying only to me. This is where we have to balance what is important to “me” with what is important to “us”. It’s a really tough call, Sarah. But I can tell you that you’re not the only one who has felt this way. Hang in there and keep taking your desires to God. Your desire to want to grow in humility is a beautiful one. Trust me when I say that there will be ample opportunities in life for you to practice this! God will lead you through this and perhaps open a door where you didn’t see one at first. My prayers are with you, Sarah. Sister J

]]> By: Sarah http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/formation-novitiate-overview/#comment-2068 Sarah Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:23:06 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/novitiate-%e2%80%93-part-i/#comment-2068 Hi Julie. Me again! I'm approaching novitiate and am still feeling very positive about this journey and sure in the knowledge that God is here with me. My congregation is Benedictine and was formed to work in apostolic ministries (teaching, social work etc.) Most of the congregation gave up the habit after the second vatican council and there is no suggestion that I should, or would want to wear a habit (which I'm happy with). As I learn more about the traditions of the order I sometimes feel sad at all that was 'given up' and wonder about the traditions we have still and those we don't. Sorry, I'm rambling! As I'm preparing to enter novitiate I keep wondering is maybe I'd like to shave my head when I do that. In some ways that's very not-me but I think that I have a lot to learn about humility. I have shoulder length blond hair which I think is maybe a little too important to me... Anyway, I'm not sure why I think it might be part of making that step, it's just one of those ideas that seems to have stuck! Any thoughts on the matter? Thanks again for this wonderful resource! with love, Sarah Hi Julie. Me again! I’m approaching novitiate and am still feeling very positive about this journey and sure in the knowledge that God is here with me. My congregation is Benedictine and was formed to work in apostolic ministries (teaching, social work etc.) Most of the congregation gave up the habit after the second vatican council and there is no suggestion that I should, or would want to wear a habit (which I’m happy with).
As I learn more about the traditions of the order I sometimes feel sad at all that was ‘given up’ and wonder about the traditions we have still and those we don’t. Sorry, I’m rambling! As I’m preparing to enter novitiate I keep wondering is maybe I’d like to shave my head when I do that. In some ways that’s very not-me but I think that I have a lot to learn about humility. I have shoulder length blond hair which I think is maybe a little too important to me…
Anyway, I’m not sure why I think it might be part of making that step, it’s just one of those ideas that seems to have stuck! Any thoughts on the matter?
Thanks again for this wonderful resource!
with love, Sarah

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/formation-novitiate-overview/#comment-2067 Sister Julie Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:01:39 +0000 http://anunslife.org/2007/10/22/novitiate-%e2%80%93-part-i/#comment-2067 Wonderful, Sarah! Thank you for writing. Know that you are in my prayers as you prepare for novitiate. Sister J Wonderful, Sarah! Thank you for writing. Know that you are in my prayers as you prepare for novitiate. Sister J

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