The Nun's Dilemma: Habit And Law

The religious habit of nuns in Christian monastic orders of the Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican Churches typically consists of a tunic, a scapular, a veil, and a cincture. Canon 669 indicates that the proper law of an institute must address the habit to be worn by its members. This is because consecrated persons are expected to be identifiable as witnesses of the Evangelical counsels. While the specific style of the habit may vary across different orders, the practice of wearing habits is meant to signify nuns' consecration to God. However, in modern times, nuns may choose not to wear their habits or any identifiable symbols, which raises the question of whether a nun can be required by law to remove her habit in certain situations.

Nuns' habits have become less common in recent years

The religious habit of Catholic nuns typically consists of a tunic, scapular, cincture, and coif. The tunic is the central piece, a loose dress that drapes to the ground, sometimes pinned up for practicality. The scapular is a symbolic apron worn over the tunic, with the cincture, typically a belt, securing the habit around the waist. The coif is the headpiece, including a white cap, wimple, and guimpe to cover the neck, cheeks, and chest. The veil, worn over the coif, can be pinned up or down to cover or expose the face.

The habit is meant to be a visible sign of a nun's consecration to God and a reminder of her commitment to a "love relationship" with Jesus, as described by Sister Mara Rose McDonnell. It also serves as a witness to the Evangelical counsels and a symbol of the reality of heaven. However, over time, the habits and veils became shorter, and nuns transitioned to business suits or modest women's clothing. Some nuns, especially older ones, resisted these changes and continued to wear their traditional habits.

While the decline in nuns' habits can be attributed to various factors, it is worth noting that the Nashville Dominicans' adherence to traditional habits and a strict life of prayer, teaching, and silence has attracted young women. Their average age is 36, significantly younger than the national average for nuns. This suggests that a return to traditional habits and a more austere lifestyle may appeal to a new generation seeking a distinct and meaningful path.

Canon law requires nuns to be identifiable

Canon law, which comes from the Greek word 'kanon', meaning a 'straight rod' or 'rule', forms the legal system of the Catholic Church. This system, which is one of the oldest in the world, is based on the rules ("canons") said to have been adopted by the Apostles at the Council of Jerusalem in the first century. Over time, these rules have been added to and interpreted by bishops and the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), and have been influenced by Roman, Hebrew, Visigothic, Saxon, and Celtic legal traditions.

Canon law requires that nuns be identifiable by their mode of dress, which usually consists of a tunic, scapular, cincture, coif, and veil. Canon 669.1 sets out the basic norm that religious men and women are to wear the habit of their institute, in accord with proper law. The habit is a sign of their consecration to God and serves as a witness of the Evangelical counsels.

The specific style of the habit varies depending on the order. For example, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd wear a white habit with a black veil, while the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix wear a white habit with a blue veil. In some cases, novices may wear a different-coloured habit from professed members, such as a white veil instead of black.

While Canon law requires nuns to be identifiable, it does not necessarily require them to wear their habits at all times. In modern times, nuns may choose to wear more subtle forms of identification, such as a cross. However, the rationale for the religious habit, as articulated by Pope John Paul II in 1996, is that the Church's presence should be visible in everyday life, especially in secular culture.

Habits are a sign of consecration to God

Habits have historically been a sign of a woman's consecration to God. The habit is a distinctive set of clothing worn by members of a religious order. In Christian monastic orders of the Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican Churches, the habit often consists of a tunic, scapular, and cowl, with a hood for monks or friars and a veil for nuns. The habit is often adapted to the conditions of time and place.

The habit of Catholic nuns typically consists of a tunic, a scapular or apron, a cincture or belt, a coif or headpiece, and a veil. The tunic is the central piece of the habit and is a loose dress made of serge fabric pleated at the neck and draping to the ground. The scapular is a symbolic apron worn over the tunic, with the cincture or belt securing the habit around the waist. The coif is the headpiece and includes a white cotton cap, a wimple to cover the neck and cheeks, and a guimpe to cover the chest. The veil is worn over the coif and can be worn up or down to expose or cover the face.

The habit is a sign of consecration to God, poverty, and membership in a particular religious family. It is an outward sign of a religious person's consecration to God and their belonging to an order. The habit is also a way for religious persons to bear witness that they belong to Christ. The essence of the habit is to be simple yet distinctive, and it has changed over the years to conform to the attire of the culture they are working in or to discard it entirely.

In many cases, the difference between "sisters" and "nuns" is dramatic. Canon 669.1 gives the basic norm that religious men and women are to wear the habit of their institute, in accordance with proper law. Canon 669.2 adds that if an institute of clerical religious does not have its own habit, they are to wear clerical dress. The conclusion of postulancy and the beginning of the novitiate is often marked by a ceremony in which the new novice is clothed in the community's habit, which may be somewhat different from the customary habit. For example, novices may wear a white veil while professed members wear black, or if the order generally wears white, the novice wears a grey veil.

Habits are required by the Church

Canon 669.1 outlines the basic norm regarding the habit: "Religious—both men and women—are to wear the habit of their institute, in accord with proper law." The next paragraph, Canon 669.2, specifies that if an institute of clerical religious does not have its own habit, they are to wear clerical dress. The notion that consecrated persons should have an identifiable mode of dress has a theological basis. The habit serves as a sign of their consecration to God, easily recognized by those they come into contact with.

While habits are required by the Church, the specific style of dress varies across different orders and has changed over time. For example, in former times, the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul wore a cornette instead of a veil. Today, some congregations wear habits as a symbol of their commitment to God and their sisterhood, while others express their relationship with God through modern dress and common symbols such as a crucifix. These variations in customs are acceptable within the Church.

It is worth noting that the term "nun" is distinct from "sister," and the requirements for wearing habits may differ between these groups. While nuns typically wear habits, sisters' dress codes have become more relaxed in recent years, with some choosing to wear only a cross as identification.

Habits vary between different orders

In some cases, the novice's habit will be somewhat different from the customary habit. For instance, in certain orders of women that use the veil, it is common for novices to wear a white veil while professed members wear black, or if the order generally wears white, the novice wears a grey veil. Among some Franciscan communities of men, novices wear a sort of overshirt over their tunic; Carthusian novices wear a black cloak over their white habit.

The habits of nuns in the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor and Friars Minor Capuchin are usually brown or gray; the habit of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and Third Order Regular is black, although the Order of Friars Minor Conventual is returning to the grey habit worldwide. The religious habit of the Benedictines is black (the style varies depending upon the monastery), and the habit of the Carthusians is white. The Dominicans, founded by St. Dominic in the 6th century, are on the complete opposite side of the color spectrum. A Dominican nun’s tunic and scapular are completely white, and her veil is black, although accented with white trim.

In Lutheranism, various religious orders have habits of different colors. The Daughters of Mary wear a blue habit. The habits of monks and nuns are identical; additionally, nuns wear a scarf, called an apostolnik. The habit is bestowed in degrees as the monk or nun advances in spiritual life. The normal monastic color is black, symbolic of repentance and simplicity.

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