Eternally Cool Fashion?

What a sight! Does remind me of some habits of old though. Remember the coronet the Sisters of Charity wore? As to the attraction that seems to be growing toward religious gear,, it does seem to be increasing. I know I see rock stars/models/tv people wearing those large rosaries with huge crosses around their necks. And I am sure it has little to do with religious fervor. Young people feel that wearing a full habit means the congragation is solid and faith filled. They dont see past the ‘romance’ of wearing long flowing habits and veils. I have found, it matters little if one is wearing a guimpe and wimple or a two piece suit..it is what is in the heart of the woman which makes the person a true follower of Jesus.

Oh, there was vanity in our gift-wrapped days, too! A dear member of our province once told me that one way to show your were a cool and hip nun was to angle your band forward on your forehead (as opposed to straight up and down)!!! That sounds like some feat of engineering.

But to answer the original question, I get offended when a sacred article, like a crucifix/cross, a rosary or a habit is used in a profane manner, such as this ad, or (GAG!) at Halloween.

I got in all kinds of hot water when I wrote a letter of protest to the local paper about a performance of Nunsense done by an all-male cast. Horrid!

Alicemary hit the nail on the head for me. I find it much more of a challenge to witness in the alternative habit of skirt and blouse than I ever did in veil and scapular.

I’ve noticed among younger Catholics that religious aren’t “legit,” unless they wear a habit. I’m not sure where they’re getting this attitude, but it’s disconcerting, knowing the number of monks and nuns that I know, who’re wonderful people and a credit to their vocations, but don’t wear habits.

Personally I think that picture is atrocious. I can overlook people who don’t know better donning a nun’s or monk’s habit for a masque or Halloween,(or in films if they are depicted rightly) but blatant advertising by those who do know better is pure sacrilege.

On a related note: I’ve done a lot of searching on the net for images of religious habits over the last few years, and find it amazing the variety that exists. My Order has a formal habit that we wear for worship or other gatherings, but they’ve been talking about a “working habit’ for years…and have done nothing. I took it upon myself to create a few trial habits, suitable for active working people, non-cumbersome, and light. My present incarnation (the one I’m submitting for review and discussion next year at Chapter) is made of a black loose weave poly-cotton blend, a very soft and drapy fabric. It consists of an almost kneelength sleeveless tunic, fastened with a belt or cincture at the waist, with an attached hood (modelled after the Dominican hoods and nun’s veils with black outer shell and pure white lining fabric. Over this goes an elbow length capelet, again modelled on the Dominican’s and actually from a Simplicity pattern I had and modified. The tunic is a commercial pattern “Randwulfs Mandelion” sans arms pieces. Hard to describe, but it looks very “monastic” very traditional, and is very comfortable to wear. It cost about ten dollars for material, and fourteen hours to sew up the prototype.

Lutheran monks? yikes! It actually took me a bit longer than 14 hours to make the habit I described, once I sat down and tallied up the hours….more like 20 hours as the hemming took forever with both the tunic and capelet to do. Time flies when you’re having fun!

I think whoever designed our original habit must have had an eye to aesthetics, not practicality. It is a floor length white hooded alb, worn with a blue rope cincture, and a blue scapular worn over that, then our cross. The white and blue contrast dramatically, the alb drapes in a graceful A line from the waist down, and other than being somewhat hot in the torrid summertime is comfortable to walk in, basically similar to a ladies ankle length gown belted at the waist. It is unsuitable for most everything except going to church. Perhaps this is why some religious dislike the habit? impractical, hot, clumsy. At least ours is attractive.