Comments on: What is a lay sister or lay nun? http://anunslife.org/2009/01/21/what-is-a-lay-sister-or-lay-nun/ Catholic Sisters and Nuns in Today's World Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:24:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lisa http://anunslife.org/2009/01/21/what-is-a-lay-sister-or-lay-nun/#comment-45799 Lisa Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:44:49 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=1192#comment-45799 Thank you, Sister Julie, for posting this. I am singing in the opera Suor Angelica by Puccini and I've been researching things to get a better understanding of the opera. Thank you, Sister Julie, for posting this. I am singing in the opera Suor Angelica by Puccini and I’ve been researching things to get a better understanding of the opera.

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2009/01/21/what-is-a-lay-sister-or-lay-nun/#comment-22567 Sister Julie Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:09:31 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=1192#comment-22567 Hi Valerie, It varies across communities as to what the age limit is. Typically it is 18-40, and a number of communities accept women up to their 50s, some even a bit older though these are on a case-by-case basis. If you are in the upper age range you may want to check out my post <a href="http://anunslife.org/2007/08/15/becoming-a-nun-after-40ish/" rel="nofollow">Becoming a Nun After 40ish</a> Blessings, Valerie. Sister Julie Hi Valerie, It varies across communities as to what the age limit is. Typically it is 18-40, and a number of communities accept women up to their 50s, some even a bit older though these are on a case-by-case basis. If you are in the upper age range you may want to check out my post Becoming a Nun After 40ish Blessings, Valerie.
Sister Julie

]]> By: Valerie http://anunslife.org/2009/01/21/what-is-a-lay-sister-or-lay-nun/#comment-22524 Valerie Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:55:15 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=1192#comment-22524 Dear Sister, Is there an age limit for becoming a nun? Dear Sister,
Is there an age limit for becoming a nun?

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2009/01/21/what-is-a-lay-sister-or-lay-nun/#comment-22005 Sister Julie Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:26:16 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=1192#comment-22005 Thanks, Dee. Always good to hear from you. :) That's a good point about how the questioner might have meant "lay sister". I'll have to write more about the other vocations you mentioned. Stay tuned! Thanks, Dee. Always good to hear from you. :) That’s a good point about how the questioner might have meant “lay sister”. I’ll have to write more about the other vocations you mentioned. Stay tuned!

]]> By: deerose http://anunslife.org/2009/01/21/what-is-a-lay-sister-or-lay-nun/#comment-21972 deerose Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:40:10 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=1192#comment-21972 I remember hearing about choir sisters and lay sisters. I believe most orders who immigrated to America abolished this distinction in their congregations from the start. It still continued in Europe for quite some time, though. I'm not sure till when or even if it still exists in some places. Sr. Hildegard may be able to shed more light on this subject, but I believe that traditionally monastic nuns in Europe, although they occassionally took on individual students on and off (example - Hildegard of Bingen being raised and educated by a nun or anchoress), never became anything other than contemplative nuns. They did not change over into teaching or nursing orders for example. The Benedictines in Europe are all contemplatives to this day as far as I understand whereas the Benedictines in this country do indeed have outside ministries such as teaching, nursing, journalism, administration, etc. The break within this tradition occurred because there was a need for these women to serve immigrant populations in the early years - especially German immigrants as far as the Benedictines were concerned. When I first read the question, I was wondering whether the initial poster was also asking about third orders, associates, oblates, etc. I guess if she was, she'll chime in and post again. dee I remember hearing about choir sisters and lay sisters. I believe most orders who immigrated to America abolished this distinction in their congregations from the start. It still continued in Europe for quite some time, though. I’m not sure till when or even if it still exists in some places.

Sr. Hildegard may be able to shed more light on this subject, but I believe that traditionally monastic nuns in Europe, although they occassionally took on individual students on and off (example – Hildegard of Bingen being raised and educated by a nun or anchoress), never became anything other than contemplative nuns. They did not change over into teaching or nursing orders for example. The Benedictines in Europe are all contemplatives to this day as far as I understand whereas the Benedictines in this country do indeed have outside ministries such as teaching, nursing, journalism, administration, etc. The break within this tradition occurred because there was a need for these women to serve immigrant populations in the early years – especially German immigrants as far as the Benedictines were concerned.

When I first read the question, I was wondering whether the initial poster was also asking about third orders, associates, oblates, etc. I guess if she was, she’ll chime in and post again.

dee

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2009/01/21/what-is-a-lay-sister-or-lay-nun/#comment-21947 Sister Julie Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:24:49 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=1192#comment-21947 Thanks, Sister Hildegard. I actually have another post coming soon on <a href="http://anunslife.org/2009/01/23/what-is-an-extern-sister/" rel="nofollow">Extern Sisters</a> but didn't want to get them confused with Lay Sisters. Thanks, Sister Hildegard. I actually have another post coming soon on Extern Sisters but didn’t want to get them confused with Lay Sisters.

]]> By: Sr. Hildegard, OSsR http://anunslife.org/2009/01/21/what-is-a-lay-sister-or-lay-nun/#comment-21941 Sr. Hildegard, OSsR Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:16:57 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=1192#comment-21941 Hope my previous comment got posted. My labor may have just been commited to cyberspace because of an incorrect key stroke. Anyway, back to nuns. Although the distinction is no longer made between choir and lay sisters, there still are provisions made in many contemplative orders for extern sisters. Extern sisters do those jobs which require dealing with the public and perhaps leaving the monastery on a more frequent basis - answering the door, seeing to workers, shopping, etc. Hope my previous comment got posted. My labor may have just been commited to cyberspace because of an incorrect key stroke.

Anyway, back to nuns. Although the distinction is no longer made between choir and lay sisters, there still are provisions made in many contemplative orders for extern sisters. Extern sisters do those jobs which require dealing with the public and perhaps leaving the monastery on a more frequent basis – answering the door, seeing to workers, shopping, etc.

]]> By: Sr. Hildegard, OSsR http://anunslife.org/2009/01/21/what-is-a-lay-sister-or-lay-nun/#comment-21940 Sr. Hildegard, OSsR Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:10:52 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=1192#comment-21940 Very good description of the difference between choir sisters and lay sisters - indeed, at times, the lay sisters were considered the 'servant class' of religious life. But I suspect that there were many places where the work of the lay sisters was considered in a favorable light as a particular type of vocation. I think this distinction is related to the distinction made between the vocations of priest or brother. Some cannot see why a man would not want to be a priest and really want to be a brother. The Redemptorists, the male congregation with which I am most familiar, has both priests and brothers. Brothers have chosen there role in response to a call to a particular vocation. And today, at least in the Redemptorists, brothers have a very wide scope of work and service. Some are even charged with being the rector (superior) of a house community which includes priests. Very good description of the difference between choir sisters and lay sisters – indeed, at times, the lay sisters were considered the ’servant class’ of religious life. But I suspect that there were many places where the work of the lay sisters was considered in a favorable light as a particular type of vocation. I think this distinction is related to the distinction made between the vocations of priest or brother. Some cannot see why a man would not want to be a priest and really want to be a brother. The Redemptorists, the male congregation with which I am most familiar, has both priests and brothers. Brothers have chosen there role in response to a call to a particular vocation. And today, at least in the Redemptorists, brothers have a very wide scope of work and service. Some are even charged with being the rector (superior) of a house community which includes priests.

]]>