religious life

Last week I posted Interview with a Hermit – called by God, the first installment from an interview I did with Sister Laurel O’Neal of the blog Notes from Stillsong Hermitage. Sister Laurel is a hermit of the Camaldolese Benedictine tradition. Here’s the next installment. I always wondered if hermits feel lonely or if they miss being within a religious community of other nuns … and so I asked …

One of the first things I learned when I became attached to my nuns, the IHM Sisters, was that we are a dynamic group. We are always moving — scoping this ministry or prayer opportunity in one place; going by plane, train, automobile, bicycle, or one’s own two feet to attend to the needs of people and God’s creation in another place ...

Feeling lonely is something everyone feels at one time or another, nuns included. But do nuns feel it more acutely because they make a vow to be celibate, that is, nuns choose to not have 1) sex or 2) romantic or exclusive relationships?

Over the last year I’ve received requests from folks about how to make habits and where to find sewing patterns and fabric. I’m hoping that you might have some suggestions for me to pass along to these folks.

We aren’t nuns or monks just because we like to help others or wear religious gear or participate in rituals.