How to Know if You Are Meant to Be a Nun

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Becoming a nun: Rules and facts you must know

Thinking of becoming a nun? Make sure you read this fact canvas offset. - by

When a woman decides to become a nun, she leaves the noncombatant globe behind and has to follow a whole new set of rules. From the vows they make, to what goes on in their daily life, this article volition deal with all of the interesting facts about nunhood.

WATCH: Patricia Bosworth & Audrey Hepburn in 1959 classic The Nun's Story

What is a nun? What do nuns exercise?

A nun is a fellow member of a religious community (usually a woman) who commits to a life of faith, poverty, and guiltlessness. Although nigh people associate nuns with the Christian or Catholic religion, other religions such as Buddhism, Judaism, and Taoism too have like communities of religious women.

Nuns join orders or congregations – these are usually 'sects' within a religion. Unlike orders bide by different rules and take different expectations for their members. Generally, a nun's daily duties could involve praying, maintaining their church's facilities, and committing charitable acts.

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How to become a nun

Becoming a nun is a difficult process that requires a lot of time and sacrifice. The process itself varies from order to order.

Some orders have very strict requirements nearly who can or cannot become a nun. For case, certain Christian and Buddhist congregations require their nuns to be unmarried, without children, and without debt.

One time you commit to an order, y'all'll undergo 'grooming' where y'all acquire more about the faith, live with the other nuns in the guild, and progress through different vows until you become a full-fledged nun. The whole procedure ordinarily takes years.

What is the difference between a nun and a sister?

A lot of people use the terms 'nun' and 'sis' interchangeably. This is because a lot of nuns go by 'Sis [Proper noun]'. But there'southward actually a major difference between the ii.

The term 'nun' is applied to women who have taken serious, solemn vows to live a simple life in a convent or monastery. Their lives are dedicated to prayer and religious study. Sisters, on the other hand, take vows which are much simpler. As well, sisters more often than not focus on 'works of mercy' like clemency, outreach, and evangelism.

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Are there dissimilar types of nuns?

Yes, in that location are several different kinds of nuns. Showtime, nuns are divided past religion – Christianity (specifically Catholicism), Buddhism, and other religions may have their own nun communities.

Second, nuns within a organized religion are farther divided into 'orders', such as the Order of Saint Bridegroom, Guild of Saint Clare, or the Sisters of Charity. While orders may share a general religion, each may approach the faith from a different perspective or with a different focus.

What do the different styles of nuns' habits mean?

Nuns typically vesture a religious 'habit' or wearable that distinguishes them as members of a specific society. These usually look like long robes or tunics, plus a headpiece to cover the hair.

Nuns' 'uniforms' can come in a multifariousness of colours – black and white attire is the nigh common, simply colourful habits likewise exist, like in the case of the aptly-named 'Pink Sisters' or Holy Spirit Admiration Sisters.

With a bit of knowledge and a close enough eye, you tin tell which order a nun belongs to (and, in some cases, if she'due south a novitiate or full nun) based on the habit they habiliment.

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What do nuns clothing under their habit?

Some nuns, peculiarly those that live in colder climates, may wear regular vesture nether their habits. Others may only wear a t-shirt and shorts. In hotter countries, nuns may fifty-fifty simply wear underwear.

Nun rules you lot must follow

Since orders can make up one's mind their own guidelines, in that location's no single ready of rules that all nuns must follow. Below are just a few of the virtually common restrictions nuns (especially inside the Christian tradition) have to follow:

• You lot must have a vow of chastity, which means you cannot get married or take sexual/romantic relationships.
• Yous must take a vow of poverty, which ways y'all must alive a simple life. In virtually cases, this means giving up your personal possessions (and any sense of 'ownership') and share what y'all have with your customs. Nuns practice non get paid, either; anything you earn (even from outside work) goes dorsum to your gild, unless otherwise permitted.
• You must have a vow of obedience, which means y'all commit to following the faith and your religious leaders.
• Yous may exist required to accept a vow of silence.
• Y'all must wearable modest clothing when not wearing your nun's addiction.
• Cosmic nuns, as decreed by Pope Francis, are not allowed to apply smartphones or social media.
• You cannot go a nun if yous have been previously married. Your marriage needs to be annulled (not 'divorced') first.

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Where do nuns live? Where practice they go after retirement?

Nuns who have taken solemn vows tend to live in cloistered communities, like in a convent or monastery. This fashion, they are separated from society and can commit to a religious life without distraction.

Nuns generally spend their unabridged lives in their convent. 'Retired' nuns may choose to stay in their guild (some orders have retirement lodging just for this purpose), or they may live in an exterior retirement abode or with their families.

What happens if a nun breaks her vows? Or gets pregnant?

Technically, a nun can break her vows and/or get out the society whenever she wants. There are also plenty of opportunities to 'drop out' of becoming a nun, such every bit when you're in the earlier stages and you've only taken your 'temporary vows'.

Unfortunately, the procedure of breaking your vows is a long and complicated i. If yous exercise non follow that process (which involves dispensation from a bishop or other leader), it's considered a sin or betrayal of the organized religion. Nuns who intermission the three primary vows (guiltlessness, obedience, poverty) may be dismissed from their community.

Lookout man: Jimmy Fallon talks nigh how his mum Gloria was a nun (Commodity continues subsequently video)

The nun life

Becoming a nun is a major life determination you shouldn't take lightly – after all, it involves giving up the earth y'all know for a lifetime of devotion, prayer, and celibacy.

It's definitely not for anybody, and merely a special kind of person would be able to make that commitment.

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Source: https://www.newidea.com.au/nun-rules-and-facts

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