Monday, February 22, 2010

Traditional Nuns Habit

This photo was taken today in the Vatican City.

I went to high school with the sweet sister in the black habit.  Even while in high school everyone knew that this was her call.  Laus Deo!

23 comments:

  1. What is sister's religious name? I only knew her in the world.

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  2. Her religious name is Sr. Deanna Marie of the Divine Mercy.
    God Bless!

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  3. Up until recently (15 years ago), we had a community of nuns in our area which wore a rather traditional long habit (even though slightly modified), a veil covering the hair, and religious names of French origin. So that even if you were born in Brooklyn, you took at profession a religious name of French origine===
    Sister Marie Therese du Sainte Sacrament, or Sister Marie Francoise du Bon Pasteur, etc.
    The Order (which pulled out of the Archdiocese in 2000), was from France, and kept many French customs, including names.
    I looked them up in the Annuario Pontificio. There's less than 200 world wide, but they dress somewhat like the second sister in black.

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  4. Way to go Sisters..You will garner that wink, smile, or gesture on subways and in public places because we can realize who you are and the respect you have earned and deserve. Please spread the word we lay people like your habits and seminarians in Cassocks as well. We view you differently. In street clothes we can not tell you from the offensive rider on the subway this morning...GOD Bless

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  5. I'm pretty sure that the other nun (yes, she is a nun, cloistered) is Sr. Mary Catherine PCPA, the former vicar of OLAM. Unless she has a look-a-like running around.

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  6. She is the secretary of Mother Angelica of EWTN.

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  7. Both Srs. Mary Catherine and Margaret Mary were
    described in the Hanceville PCPA newsletter as
    being away from the monastery for "spiritual"
    and personal renewal. In fact, the entire com-
    munity is re-evaluating its organization--since
    M. Angelica has given up leadership. What is
    Sr. Catherine doing in the Vatican?

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  8. Yes, the newsletter from Hanceville stated they were on a sabatical. Will they return to Hanceville? Where is Sister Margaret Mary who was always at Mother Angelica's side/nurse/aide-like??

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  9. I have been trying to find out what is happening at OLAM regarding Sr. Mary Catherine and Sr Margaret Mary. Also, one might notice that the numbers has decreased seriously. There now appears to be half the nuns in residence there than once was the case. Other blogs have discussed this but in the end have pulled back and begun to think of this as gossip. But I feel that it's natural curiosity since this order, these nuns became so public via EWTN. Anyone have any news. It would be a horrible shame to lose someone like Sr Mary Catherine in the religious life...she always seems like such a holy and strong presence.

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  10. Sr Mary Catherine and Sr. Margaret Mary are no longer associated with Our Lady of the Angels. Many sisters from there have left due to Rome making changes and sending them new superiors.

    Many of the sisters who have left were Solemn Professed and First Professed.

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  11. I'm sorry, I just don't understand. If they leave a monastery/are no longer associated with it, where do they go? Especially if they were Solemn Professed. As a new Catholic, I don't understand these rules. Thought things were cut and dry...

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  12. Sister Catherine left the Poor Clares and started the Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will. She recently made her final vows in this new order with Sr. Mary Rose from Hanceville. The order follows a mystic Luisa Piccarreta whose writings are borderline heretical.

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  13. Is there any word on the whereabouts of any of the other sisters that have left OLAM? I've heard that somewhere in the area of 23 professed sisters left the order. Very sad actually...

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  14. I think the others just left. Sister Catherine was quite the personality, and there was something funny with the election. There were other problems, especially with forming the young Sisters, and very few of them were allowed to persevere past postulancy. They also had the problem with the Divine Will being promoted and encouraged among the Sisters and the faithful who attended the shrine. They are doing a lot better now, and they are becoming more of a cloistered community. The ones who are left are true gems, and we should continue to pray for them.

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  15. Sr. Mary Catherine is now Mother Gabrielle Marie. They seem to be very happy in their photos on YouTube. I pray for them...

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  16. What about Sr. Margaret Mary? Any word on her whereabouts? She was quite a prominent figure and was always at Mother Angelicas's side. Also, she had been elected Mother Vicar.

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    Replies
    1. She is living as a Carmelite hermitess and was given a new name.

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  17. If I may add to what Anonymous posted on Jan 28th at 7:10...I noticed that Sr.John-Mark PCPA from the Our lady of Solitude in Arizona was invested in Dec of 2009 and took her "first profession" of vows(receiving her black veil)Dec of 2011. The four investures at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery as of 2010..I'm still waiting for them..(one of them was a Novice in the rosary video)

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  18. There is now a statement on their website about the declining numbers. Some of what they say is true indeed in that a couple of sisters passed away and some left to begin other foundations. However, there are many that have left, which of course they neglected to address. And it is of course their right to not address it if they so choose. As has been said previously in this thread, when a community becomes as "public" and in the public eye as EWTN made them, it only creates human concern when there are such drastic changes. If religious orders, both comtemplative and active, were as they were 40 years ago, there would be no questions asked. There would have been no TV shows with them as "stars", as it were. Certainly no disrespect intended, just using a reference in retrospect.

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  19. Sometimes when there is a charismatic personality in a religious community it can be easy for the community to move away from it's original charism. This can cause great instability. It's also easy to become side tracked by certain religious teachings. This is what happened with the Intercessors of the Lamb.

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  20. I do not understand what is happening at the Hannesville Monastery, I tried to get a visit, and was denied that and I am only 28 years old. They never called me or met me just like a generic letter that did not make much sense on my email. I really have a religious vocation and I have a spiritual director, and an Archbishop that all told me I had a true vocation and to try that order. Its too bad, because I am very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament.

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  21. http://www.latinmassliturgicals.com/

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    Replies
    1. Dear heart, If you have a vocation, there are plenty of convents/orders who will allow you to come and test it. Don't be so set on that house. In fact, it may be a sign that you are not called to that house. Many orders have perpetual adoration, so look for one on that basis.

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