Joshua Bennett
The number of contemplative nuns in the United States is slowly increasing, even as the number of nuns in teaching, nursing, and missionary orders decreases. Contemplative nuns in the United States live in seclusion, often in monasteries, forests, or on islands, and devote their lives to prayer and worship. They are separated from the outside world to prevent distractions from prayer and religious life and to maintain an atmosphere of silence. This separation allows them to focus on their spiritual practices and connect intimately with God. Some orders that practice cloister include the Carmelite Nuns, Poor Clares, and Dominican Nuns. While contemplative nuns may be viewed as rebels or weak by secular society, they believe that their union with God through contemplation and prayer contributes to the salvation of all people and the needs of the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of contemplative nuns in the US | Slowly increasing |
| Contemplative nuns' living places | Islands, forests, behind churches, urban streets |
| Contemplative nuns' daily routine | Prayer, labour, rest |
| Contemplative nuns' orders | Carmelite Nuns, Poor Clares, Dominican Nuns, Visitandines, Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, Handmaids of the Precious Blood, Norbertine Canonesses, Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood, Benedictine Nuns, Cistercian/Trappistine Nuns, Sisters of Mary Morning Star, Sisters of St. Francis, Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, etc. |
| Contemplative nuns' beliefs | Their union with God contributes to the salvation of all people |
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What You'll Learn
The number of contemplative nuns is increasing
However, the mystery of the contemplative life is tightly woven with the mystery of the Incarnation. Contemplative nuns, who choose to spend their whole lives within the walls of a monastery, hidden from the world for the sake of intimacy with God, are often called first for prayer in times of personal or global tragedy. They are women seeking an ordered round of domestic routine and worship that many say provides the space they need to more deeply meet the world’s profound needs through prayer.
Some of the orders which traditionally practice papal cloister are:
- Carmelite Nuns
- Poor Clares
- Dominican Nuns
- Visitandines
- Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters
- Handmaids of the Precious Blood
Some of the religious orders which traditionally practice constitutional enclosure are:
- Passionist Nuns
- Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood
- Norbertine Canonesses
Some examples of contemplative nuns are:
- Benedictine Nuns, Virginia Dale, CO - Abbey of St. Walburga, a small community of contemplative Benedictine nuns
- Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Alexandria, SD - Those seeking entry should be persons of prayer, aspiring to Christian perfection, detached from worldly things, of sound character, health, and maturity
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Contemplative nuns seek intimacy with God
The life of a contemplative nun is one of mystery, woven tightly with the mystery of the Incarnation. Contemplative nuns seek to spend their lives within the walls of a monastery, hidden from the world, in pursuit of intimacy with God. This pursuit of God is a "permanent search for the face of God", as described by Cor Orans.
The nuns seek to widen their love for many, for the sake of God, who is love. This is achieved through piety, work, prayer, and sacrifice, with the ultimate goal of union with God. The Dominican nun, for example, is taught by the Spirit, formed by the Word of God, and shaped by the observances of Dominican monastic life. The nuns are to "seek, ponder and call upon him in solitude so that the word proceeding from the mouth of God may not return to Him empty". This is a life of faith, hope, and charity, anticipating the happiness of heaven.
The contemplative life is one of discipline, ordering the intellect and purifying the will, with the study of doctrine and sacred scripture. It is a life of prayer, labour, and rest, liberating nuns from the distractions of the world, and allowing them to devote themselves wholly to God. This is often achieved through enclosure, where nuns separate themselves from the external world, preventing distractions from prayer and religious life.
The Passionist nuns, founded by Saint Paul of the Cross, wear black habits to contemplate the Passion of Our Lord and meditate on his sorrows. This contemplation benefits the soul more than anything else, communicating God's love and spurring the soul towards spiritual progress.
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Contemplative nuns are often called on for prayer
Nuns are women who dedicate their lives to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent. In the Catholic Church, enclosure is regulated by the code of canon law, either the Latin code or the Oriental code, and also by the constitutions of the specific order. The purpose of such enclosure is to prevent distraction from prayer and the religious life and to keep an atmosphere of silence.
Contemplative nuns, in particular, are known for their dedication to prayer and contemplation. They live in various settings, from islands and forests to urban streets, and their discipline of prayer is almost as old as Christianity itself. While they may seldom interact with the outside world, they are often called upon for prayer during personal or global tragedies. Their seclusion allows them to focus solely on their spiritual practices and develop a deeper understanding of the world's profound needs.
One example of a contemplative nun order is the Passionist Nuns, founded in the 19th century by Saint Paul of the Cross. They wear black habits, symbolizing the contemplation of the Passion of Our Lord and His sorrows. Other contemplative nun orders include the Carmelite Nuns, Poor Clares, Dominican Nuns, Visitandines, Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, and Handmaids of the Precious Blood. These orders may practice different forms of cloister, such as papal cloister, constitutional cloister, or monastic cloister, each with varying levels of strictness and interaction with the outside world.
Contemplative nuns are often associated with prayer for specific intentions or supporting the missions of other religious orders. For instance, the Dominican nuns of Corpus Christi Monastery in the Bronx, New York, pray in support of the priests of the Archdiocese of New York. Additionally, some religious sisters, such as the Maryknoll Missionary Sisters, have contemplative communities that pray for the work of their congregation.
In conclusion, contemplative nuns play a vital role in the religious sphere, offering dedicated prayers and contemplation that contribute significantly to personal and global needs. Their secluded lives allow them to focus wholly on their spiritual practices and develop a profound understanding of the world's needs, making them a valuable resource for prayer and spiritual guidance.
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Contemplative nuns are viewed as rebels by secular society
In a secular society that values action over contemplation, contemplative nuns are often viewed as rebels. The world sees them as people with an unhealthy attraction to solitude, weak women who are not carrying their weight in the world. The notion of cloistered nuns is a shocking thing, scandalizing non-Christians and even Christians.
However, the reality is that these women are not wasting their time. They are liberated from worldly distractions, devoting themselves wholly to God alone, and believe that their union with God contributes to the salvation of all people. Their prayers for humanity touch the lives of the suffering everywhere.
The contemplative life is a mystery woven tightly with the mystery of the Incarnation. A cloistered nun spends her entire life within the walls of a monastery, hidden from the world for the sake of intimacy with God. The enclosure is intended to prevent distractions from prayer and the religious life, maintaining an atmosphere of silence. While some orders practice strict papal cloister, others follow a constitutional or monastic cloister, which allows for a wider range of hospitality and interaction with guests.
The number of cloistered nuns in the United States is slowly increasing, with some women still choosing to enter highly traditional orders, while others gravitate towards orders with a broader interpretation of the guidelines set by the Second Vatican Council. Despite the decline in active teaching, nursing, and missionary orders, contemplative nuns persist, seeking a deeper reality beyond the illusions and distractions of everyday life.
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Contemplative nuns are found in many different orders
The Catholic Church has many different orders of contemplative nuns. These nuns are enclosed religious orders, meaning they strictly separate themselves from the outside world. The purpose of this enclosure is to prevent distractions from prayer and religious life and to maintain an atmosphere of silence. The enclosure is regulated by the code of canon law, either the Latin code or the Oriental code, and also by the constitutions of the specific order.
Some of the religious orders that practice constitutional enclosure include the Passionist Nuns, Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood, and Norbertine Canonesses. The constitutional cloister is defined by the rules and constitutions of the individual order and is generally less strict than papal cloister. These orders often combine their contemplative life with apostolic or charitable work.
Monastic cloister is a form of constitutional cloister that allows for a wider range of hospitality and reception. Some of the religious orders that practice monastic cloister include Benedictine Nuns, Cistercian/Trappistine Nuns, and Sisters of Mary Morning Star.
Papal cloister is a more strict form of enclosure that separates nuns from the outside world. Some of the orders that practice papal cloister include Carmelite Nuns, Poor Clares, Dominican Nuns, and Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters. These orders are dedicated to a life of prayer and contemplation, often supporting the missions of another order through their prayers.
The distinction between "nun" and "sister" is important in the Catholic Church. The term "nun" is reserved for women who have taken solemn vows, while "sister" refers to women who have taken simple vows. However, the same religious order can include both "nuns" and "sisters", depending on the type of vows they have taken.
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Frequently asked questions
A contemplative nun is a woman who chooses to spend her life within the walls of a monastery, seeking intimacy with God. They devote their lives to the search for God through prayer and self-reflection.
Some examples of contemplative nun orders include the Sisters of Mary Morning Star, Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood, Norbertine Canonesses, and Passionist Nuns.
Yes, while the number of nuns in active teaching, nursing, and missionary orders is declining, the number of contemplative nuns in the United States is slowly increasing.
