www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Byzantine Rite nuns

Some mentioned that the habit does not make the monk and that it was originally merely "modest" dress that regular people wore.

Well, both of those assertions are common and rather recent myths about monastic life.

As monks, we learn that distinctive religious garb can be traced to John the Baptist who donned the camel's hair coat to designate his unique calling from the Lord. In fact this is one reason why John has been held to be a special patron of monastic men and women in both East & West. He is viewed as a "proto-monastic" or archetypical monk.

Also, in earliest records of monasticism one became a monk/nun by simply taking up the habit. Our Holy Father Benedict did this, as did many other monastic saints. This is why the investiture ceremony is so central to monastic spirituality and praxis. It is unfortunate that so many monastic men & women have forshaken this ancient observance.

PAX

Br. Elias

Excellent post Brother Elias! The taking of the habit is more than just symbolic. It is the physical manifestation of the monk taking on a new life, radically different from that of the secular life he left. When the warrior prepares for battle, he puts on armor. Likewise those who are to take up the spiritual battle of the monastic life need to put on their "battle fatigues" as well.

Likewise in the Byzantine monastic tradition, the first formal step of monastic life is the clothing of the monk/nun in the habit (riassa and kamilavka).

GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
GLORY TO HIM FOREVER!

Tony wrote:"...If you are making reference to the good sisters at Sugarloaf, "traditional" here refers to the "traditional" brown (and white) Carmelite habit not the traditional Byzantine Orthodox habit..."

This is because the Carmelites already have a habit that was designed by their foundress.

mark

The real issue is this: what garb can help the professed person live out his/her vocation the best?

The central question is not: what did Saint X do in the 10th century, but rather: what will help Sister/Brother/Father Y accomplish his/her vocation NOW.

As a kid, I remember the (Western) nuns in my parish having to do the starched linen coif thing, as well as the veil and main habit thing. Sr. Mary Valentina told me that it took them about 45 minutes a day to care for their habits. The Sisters apparently decided that this time would be better spent doing their Christian and Apostolic tasks and not laundering and ironing.

So. Who is to decide what these wonderful women should do? The folks who tell them to spend time making up costume (like the hoidy-toidy lay folks who want to look 'fabulous' or 'religious') or the women themselves who have to do the work?

I remember as a Jesuit novice working with the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God (Hospitallers) who wore a habit that sometimes got in the way of their hospital/nursing-home duties of caring for the sick and the elderly. The cross around the neck was a wonderful symbol, but when putting in a line or a central catheter, the cross had to be shoved into a pocket or flipped behind the back and it impeded the actual work that the brothers had to do. Or when a line blew and blood started spewing and got on the habit, the brother had to return to the cloister to change vesture and thereby impeded the actual care of the patients. The brothers, rightfully, decided to go with standard medical ware with a small cross so that they could do their work most efficiently.

Lots of "you gotta do it this way" folks went bonkers.

The general response was: come and work with us for a week and then tell us what we should be doing. Of course, nobody would bother to show up. Symbolism is great. But apostolic and gospel endeavors mandate something else.

If one has a question, go and talk to ANY nurse or healthcare technician who serves the Gospel. THEY know what is the reality.

Personally, I love the distinctive garb. But the garb has got to be subordinated to the Gospelite actions and evangelical functions that the person has vowed to perform. Let's not make the vowed person's job more difficult because we want some feakin' costume to take priority over their ability to care for those in need.

It's OK if one is a cloistered person with a prayer and chapel duty. But let's leave the active ministry health-care and educational folks to their own mandates and let them make choices based upon their job-descriptions. They alone know what they need to do. Let's have enough Christian charity to give them the ability to make choices on their own and not start turning Fascist in mandating what they wear and what they do. Let's face it: they are vowed and committed adults with brains of their own. As baptized individuals, let's leave them to decide what is the best for them and allow them to determine what they need to do without superimposing what "WE" decide is best for them.

Blessings!

Dr. John,

It seems we're talking about different values. This thread was started to discuss Byzantine nuns' vesture - not the garb of active/apostolic women religious.

Haven't many on this board remarked how the authentic Eastern religious life is MONASTIC, not identical to the "functional/work-based" orders of the West? When I spoke of the sign value of the habit, I was referring to monastic tradition - not a pragmatism that merely says "let's go with what works."

If I may be so bold... I believe this attitude is of a peculiarly American mindset that says "why bother with traditon - we have work to do!" Just look at the thread on this board on Eucharistic ministers vs. minor orders. Sure it's easier and more expedient to go with volunteers that work here and now - but I ask you, don't we lose something in the process?

Like those in the Eastern churches, many in the Benedictine order (myself among them) believe that it is time to be more true to our roots. We must recover the charism of our founder St. Benedict and strengthen the observance of our rich and ancient monastic customs. Yes we've done great service to the church as educators, pastors, scholars, etc. But all that is not the essence of being a monk!

The habit is an essential element of monastic life. It is not a costume worn to impress visitors. I have told this to guests who come to our abbey - we are not some historical recreation like colonial Williamsburg! Our dress is an integral part of our lifestyle and a reminder of our consecration to God.

I know some will see this as stubborn antiquarianism, but it is not. It is a way of life I am talking about. Is it not the same with the Eastern churches?

PAX

Br. Elias

P.S. Just to let you know, we monks do & can change into work clothes when need arises.

I think that Brother Elias has spoken with a voice of wisdom. There is a very important sign value in the habit worn by monastics and when they are about their business it assists them in their ministry. I am sure that we would all agree with Dr. John that some of the habits worn by monastics (particularly in the Latin orders) were undesirable because they were so uncomfortable and hindered rather than helped the person in his or her ministry. I suspect that such habit never really were authentically monastic. But that is not what this thread is discussing. This thread is discussing the type of garb that is appropriate to monastics and, more specifically, the type of garb Byzantine Catholics should wear.

I agree with Fr. Mark�s points. The habit does not make the monastic but a monastic�s habit must be appropriate to one�s Church. Byzantine monastics should not have abandoned Byzantine monastic garb for Latin monastic garb. I am not one to state adamantly that monastic garb is forever fixed in any tradition. A valid change for valid purposes makes sense. Sandals make perfect sense in the Middle East and other places with warmer climates but not in Russia, Canada or the northern United States in winter. Heavy black woolen tunics make no sense for a monastic at the equator in Africa, the forests of Brazil or even the California desert.

I like Brother Elias� closing statement: �Our dress is an integral part of our lifestyle and a reminder of our consecration to God.� I think that world needs more reminders of the need to consecrate ourselves to God, not less. If I may be so bold to state it, Brother Elias has also gone right to the heart of the current discussions in our Church about monastic renewal. The primary call of a monastic is one to prayer. Being educators, pastors and scholars comes second.

Dear Brother Elias,

Having attended a Catholic high school taught by a teaching order of Basilian priests, what you say resonates with me loudly and clearly!

My Latin teacher, Fr. Neil, told me he often had little time to say an "Our Father" let alone the Office due to time constraints.

And he was both a priest AND a monastic!

When he was called to assist in parishes on Sundays, he would come back to class smiling and happy. "I worked as a Priest this weekend," he would tell us, face beaming.

I think it is definitely time for Monastics to return to the proper domain of their calling.

Leave secular teaching et alia to the secular teachers.

I had lunch with an Orthodox bishop one day a while ago.

He came into the Legislature where I work in his Episcopal robes, Panaghia etc.

He was so nonchalant about it. And as we walked down the hall, I was amazed at what I saw.

Our janitors, tourists, visitors, even legislators stopped to make the sign of the Cross at the sight of him. Catholics and what have you, stopped to smile and greet him. Many wanted to touch him, including a Buddist monk who happened to be there.

He smiled, gave his blessing to those who asked for it and acknowledged everyone.

There is also something about the black Benedictine habit that just sends goose pimples all over me!

The habit truly witnesses outwardly to Christ and the consecrated life.

It tells the world that Christ is so important that we should not fail to totally dedicate ourselves to His Glory and mission. It speaks to us of His Presence among us in a special way. Not the only way. Just a special way.

"Ora et Labora" - but if the first is to be jettisoned in favour of the latter, then perhaps the Monastic has lost his or her calling.

(Dr. John, we really have to talk . . . )

Alex

All of that's fine Alex if you have a source of income. I have to teach to pay for the mortgage on my kellion! I'd love to spend my whole life in prayer, but that wouldn't pay the bills!

Spasi Khristos -
Mark, monk and sinner.

Bless me a sinner, Father Mark!

I didn't say one shouldn't work at all as a Monastic!

Work is an integral part of the Eastern monastic Rules, including that of St Paissy Velichkovsky who himself crafted ornate wooden spoons.

But what was going on in my Catholic high school was simply exploitation of educated labour in the person of those monastics who taught until they dropped.

Western monastics seem to now work more than secular people!

Alex

Alex, you forgot to mention what the Buddist monk was wearing!!

Stefan

Father bless! I think the idea is not that monks should work (we know the desert fathers did handiwork for sustenance) but that in some Latin (and some Latinized Byzantine) paramonastic orders, especially after some modern reforms, there has been an overemphasis on the "active life" or on "ministry" rather than on the monastic life itself.

And wise words are also those from the Instruction for Applying the Liturgical Prescriptions of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches: "The liturgical offices of monastic clothing are meant to emphasize that to receive the habit signifies becoming one with the risen Lord such that the monk can say with Paul: 'I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me'".

The Nuns of the Holy Theophany Community in Olympia Wa. are in the traditional all black habits.

Dear Friends,

It is a fact that a number of monastic orders who work at various crafts etc. tend to develop standards of excellence that beat out their secular counterparts.

Monastic cheeses, jams and jellies, alcoholic beverages, beekeeping and even dog-breeding - no one can come close to the high quality of output and products that are to be had.

Monastics in Soviet Russia could exist but had to register their monasteries as industries with the monks as workers.

Then there are the Coptic monks of Egypt and all they do in the desert, turning it into a garden.

Monks in harvest season must reduce the amount of their Psalmody and can do so to make sure the harvest is brought in.

It is just that these balance their work-lives with a solid personal and liturgical prayer life.

St Basil the Great believed that the Christian should work night and day . . .

What would Europe be today without the Benedictines?

I remember my stint in a Trappist monastery where work was focused on cheese-making.

Chocolate and other products were also made.

The day was punctuated with the regular ringing of the bell for prayers in the monastic Church.

What was always a challenge was to stop what one was doing, clean up in a hurry and then get to Church in time for the final bell when the Hour began.

I left that monastery thinking that monastic life wasn't for me.

But I've never stopped thinking about that experience and keep a photograph of the monastic Church near me at all times.

Alex

Slava Jesu Kristu,

I feel the balance of work and prayer is important to keep a healthly approach of the two. Of course, subconsciencelessly praying while working is a goal only few have attained but all should aspire. Habits, too, are part of this calling. I look to the day when our Nuns (and monks) return to their roots in both praxis and dress. We are getting there..

Dmitri

Dear Dmitri,

It really is all a question of developing some solid habits - in more ways than one . . .

Alex