The Nun's Story
Bill McGurn ·
Oct 27, 2010 at 11:09am
Here's a startling fact: there are more Catholic nuns over 90 in America today than there are nuns under 60. This factoid comes from an interview by Kathryn Jean Lopez in Our Sunday Visitor, in which she spoke to the nun who is now heading the apostolic visitation of American women religious.
Even for those who knew that vocations had dropped sharply, the comparison is still arresting.
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Jun '10
Re: The Nun's Story
Sounds like there is good reason for the visitation. Most head offices would send someone to check on why things went wrong.
Re: The Nun's Story
Gosh, I could go on about this for ages. I wanted to be a nun when I was in high school because of a video I watched on Jean Donovan (who wasn't a nun, but I related to her "calling" experience). I was serious about it, actually. I still can see the appeal to the vocation. I'm saddened that others don't.
I attended a crazy-strict Catholic high school run by nuns. The experience was surreal, on many levels, but on the whole, it deepened my faith and provided me a strong foundation (and some really nutty stories). Well, rather, I should say, it helped shore up what my parents had taught and modeled for me. However, I graduated high school in 1989. My teachers were virtually all nuns. They were all, also, well over 60. I just received, yesterday, an invitation to celebrate 75 years of service for two of those nuns. One was senile and taught health/sex ed when I was in high school (made for some great stories, lemme tell you). I can't imagine what she's been doing for the past 21 years. The other was the debate teacher. Notorious stickler.
Re: The Nun's Story
I guess the point is that my experience was very, very unique for my generation. Very few people my age had that kind of Catholic/nun experience. It was also, for all of my classmates, a horrible experience. I think I'm one of the very, *very* few graduates of that era who look upon the experience fondly. There were some forms of abuse. Lots of anger. Discipline administered in very negative ways. Yet something I saw my senior year really stuck with me -- pictures of the two meanest, cruelest nuns when they took their vows. They were 13. THIRTEEN! What a kind of life decision to make at that time. I thought I could then understand the bitterness they might have felt. Perhaps even jealousy at our high school experience. Still, I have to add, I saw the calling as a truly joyful one. I really, really wanted to do it! I hope that the nuns that are active now, the ones who are taking vows, are doing it joyfully and live well into their 90s and 100s (as my former teacher have) being appreciated. I know I'm all over the place here. Thanks for the post, Bill.
Re: The Nun's Story
In other nun news, the wires are reporting that some nuns in Maryland own a Honus Wagner baseball card -- very rare -- which they are auctioning off.
Re: The Nun's Story
This story about nuns was one of my favorites from the past few months. Some Gregorian-chanting nuns have been signed to the same recording company as Lady Gaga. Maybe this will increase numbers?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-10756050
Jun '10
Re: The Nun's Story
The comparison is arresting. The more arresting comparison is between new vocations to traditional orders versus those orders that are wacked out 'spirit of Vatican 2' orders.
Traditional orders such as the Nashville Dominicans and the Sisters of Life in New York are overflowing with new women dedicating themselves to the religious vocation.
People want authentic experiences - especially when it comes to dedicating one's life to Christ and His principles. That's why the most vibrant parishes have the most traditional priests and, conversely, why the orders that are into 'eco-justice' and not wearing habits are dying out.
Re: The Nun's Story
I'm with you on that. However, it is still a challenge even for the good orders.
My daughter attends a high school run by Filippini nuns http://www.filippiniusa.org/ -- an Italian order that came to America largely to educate the children of poor Italian immigrants. It's a wonderful school. Even more, I'm grateful my daughters will get to know women who make this kind of commitment, and give so much to children like my daughter. In contrast to so many of the caricatures, these sisters are good strong women whose school is their home -- and all the alums I know just adore them. So far from the modern caricature. And it's a comfort to think of my child in a place where she is loved and where they take the idea of a soul seriously.
May '10
Re: The Nun's Story
I've had very little interaction with nuns, despite being Catholic my entire life. I've only ever encountered one nun in my mostly Protestant area of Texas. Later, I attended a university in San Antonio founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence. Since I was a transfer student, I apparently skipped the handful of classes still taught by the old, liberal sisters who were not easily identified because they didn't wear habits.
So it was amusing to find myself surrounded by nuns of various orders, in full habits, while I stood on the steps of St. Patrick's as Pope Benedict XVI arrived. They were all very short... and very excited to see the Holy Father.
I have great admiration for saints like The Little Flower. I hope I'll have the honor of knowing some sisters eventually.