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AS057 Ask Sister – legit baptisms, stuff and the vow of poverty, novitiate reception ceremonies, online faith – is it enough?
AS057 Ask Sister podcast recorded live on January 21, 2011. Sponsored by aNunsLife.org ministry. Topics include: legit baptisms, stuff and the vow of poverty, novitiate reception ceremonies, looking for faith on the Internet, commitment to God, and more!
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Ask Sister podcast is a live podcast where you have the opportunity to engage with us and ask questions about nuns, prayer, religious life, or pretty much anything in between!
Here are some of the topics we addressed in this Ask Sister podcast:
- Is baptism in other Christian traditions recognized by the Roman Catholic church?
- When a person enters the religious life, what becomes of the person’s stuff?
- What was your novitiate reception ceremony like? How did you plan it?
- What are you thoughts on Christian websites with lots of inspirational articles, podcasts, etc. Is this a trend for future generations? Should people also incorporate an outreach such as attending a church service?
- How do I as a layperson consistently dedicate my life to God?
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Is baptism in other Christian traditions recognized by the Roman Catholic church? Only if they use the Trinitarian formula: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” For example, Mormon baptisms are not recognized. If there are any questions of the validity of the original baptism, then the person is given a “conditional Baptism.”
When a person enters the religious life, what becomes of the person’s stuff, especially if entering later in life? That depends on the person entering and on the community s/he is entering. I know we had to list everything we brought with us just in case we left and someone said, “You can’t take that guitar with you.” Your “Declaration” document will show that it was yours when you brought it.
What was your novitiate reception ceremony like? How did you plan them? Our was the last of the secret ceremonies. Mother Provincial asked us questions in front of the other sisters and we answered them from the papers we held in our trembling hands (from excitement, not fear). Then our families were brought into Chapel for our Vespers service. The next morning before Mass, (and again with only the sisters) we were given (in a pile of folded clothes. We weren’t dressed at the altar like other orders.) the habit, the veil, the Franciscan Rule, the Felician Constitutions, a cross and a lit candle. As we held all this stuff, we were told our new name (We could pick our own name as long as we added some form of “Mary” to it). Then we went to our rooms to change while our families were let into Chapel for the Mass of Thanksgiving. Mother General happened to be there from Rome, and she gave us her blessing before we walked into Chapel. What a glorious day!
As far as planning that Mass, we got to select the hymns, and my classmate composed a hymn of thanksgiving. I think I made banners for the chapel, or was that for first profession?
What are you thoughts on Christian websites with lots of inspirational articles, podcasts, etc. Is this a trend for future generations? Absolutely! As I told Sr. Julie last night, “IHMs rock!” for providing this website, the podcasts, etc.
Should people also incorporate an outreach such as attending a church service? When I was caring for my mom before she died, I was very grateful for Mass on TV. It was the only church service we could attend at times.
Given that I teach online courses and participate in (KB says I’m addicted to ) an online community (NL), I do see the enormous potential for the Web connecting people and serving as a conduit for the propagation of the faith…ANY faith (or anti-faith, which is a “faith” in itself), for that matter. I use the Web constantly, both for my work and for pleasure and education. Still, I think that being a member of a real, human community, if that’s possible, is important even if you do have an online connection. For example, I think most of us in the Nun’s Life community would love to meet each other in person, to have a real person to connect with the online presence. And at the risk of a cliche, there’s that “Think globally, act locally” thing.
And it’s hard to receive communion over the Internet!
News today said the Pope has officially endorsed social networking – but he also cautioned, “It is important always to remember that virtual contact cannot and must not take the place of direct human contact.”
Hey its me… Clare Leigh!
Missing you guys but still in prayer with ya all.
Well I was recently at a novicate service for the SSVM in Italy! There were six girls recieving habits. Well I was staying in their house for the few days before the ceremony so I got all the details of the day and the days leading up to it. The morning of the investitor the sisters didn’t have the much to do. They were sorting their habits making sure each was ironed and the veil’s were all ready to go. The had an hour of adoration before they all packed into the buses and heading to the chapel. The all took their places in the front row with their families and sponsor sisters sitting behind them! So we just had a normal mass until after the homily. I really don’t know what the homily was about because it was in Italian but I heard comments that it was about the need for everyone to give their lives to God in some way. Then they each got called by there old names, and received their new names, eg. Clare Leigh before God and man you will now be called Sr. Mary, Queen of Ireland. (That is only an example.) The have to take a name with something to do with Our Lady. So then their veil’s are blessed and they call the sponsor’s to come forward to clothe the sisters with their veil’s. So then they are called again with their new names to the alter and the recite a paragraph that they were before God by their own free will to serve and love him etc… Then they kneed at the feet of their sponsors and their veil was put on them. Then a million photos were taken while this happened. But after the last sister was dressed. There was silence. The whole church fell on their knees. Then the choir made up of sisters and brothers for the congregation began to sing the most beautiful song to Our Lady. It was just such a Holy moment. After the mass there was photo’s and we had a massive feast with over 500 sisters, brothers, priests, family and guests. There was singing and eating for hours! Then the sisters returned home, with new names, clothes and a new mission to fulfill in the world!
Bring on December the 8th 2011. When I can do it all again, but this time it’ll be me!
• Is baptism in other Christian traditions recognized by the Roman Catholic church?
Yes. As long as it is Trinitarian in formula, administered using “the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” the Catholic Church recognizes the baptism as valid.
• When a person enters the religious life, what becomes of the person’s stuff, especially if entering later in life?
Depends on the community, what they’re permitted to bring. The community I am considering allows for some ‘unconventional’ things like ipods (for meditation) and an external hard drive (for papers and for school work), and musical instruments, but not cell phones or personal laptops. Some communities do not allow for many personal effects, so it really depends…
• What was your novitiate reception ceremony like? How did you plan them? If you are a religious sister or brother, please share your story using the comment box below
Nothing to share for this one – yet!
• What are you thoughts on Christian websites with lots of inspirational articles, podcasts, etc. Is this a trend for future generations? Should people also incorporate an outreach such as attending a church service?
I think that the Christian websites are good, especially ones that reach out to others like NL. The caution comes when dogma and theology are presented…at the risk of sounding cliché, it is “the you get what you pay for”…not all information that is presented is accurate or unbiased, so caution needs to be had when looking for information. Good advice is always to ‘check the sources’ to make sure they are valid. As for outreach, I think it is great that so many people can be connected via the web to share in their faith journeys with each other…
Sister Julie/Sister Maxine
I wanted to say thank you first for answering my question on Ask Sister (this is typically the time when I can listen to AskSister since I work during the week and miss it live).
Secondly – I do appreciate all your helpful and knowledgeable angles on the questions I had concerning websites, online sources, and the importance to also be a part of a community outside of the online world. I have continued to look deeper into legit websites and find that your insight is very wise because I also found the same findings as you did with clicking on the link I provided and continuing to be led to yet another website, etc. (definitely does not provide a secure sense that things are legit). Now I am more aware through your insights as well as continued searching and looking for links that are concrete and accurate.
I also wanted to send a sincere thank you to all who have provided opinions concerning this topic. Although I am not a huge online kat now (since I work on a PC 8 hours a day and last thing I want to do is stay online on my down time), I do channel online sources from time to time and have been very interested in spiritual and religious websites to learn more of vocation life as well as community (returning back to the Catholic church a few months ago after years of taking huge steps away). I think it is important to just search and find ‘real’ information that holds water vs. information with lots of holes and insights that do not hold any ground and appreciate all your thoughts.