How many nuns have you seen in real life?

Question

I'm beginning to think they don't exist.

MysteriousDarkness · Accepted Answer

I see some people are thinking sisters are nuns.
Both nuns and sisters are women religious and constitute a most beautiful way of serving Jesus Christ and all souls in the Church. A nun takes solemn and public perpetual vows of chastity, poverty and obedience (evangelical counsels), and typically spends her life in prayer and work and silence in a cloistered convent. This is the contemplative life.

A nun will renounce all ownership of property so she can devote herself entirely to the service of God. A nun also wears a habit. Discalced Carmelites, Poor Clares and Passionists are just a few of these orders.

When you think of a nun, think of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a great saint who spent her life in prayer in the Carmel Convent of Lisieux.

A sister takes simple perpetual vows of chastity, poverty and obedience (evangelical counsels), and may or may not live in community, and lives an active life typically serving in health care or educational institutions. Sisters renounce all ownership to property except inheritances and trusts. They may retain ownership of those assets but are not allowed to use the income from those assets.

Sisters may or may not wear habits, according to the rules of their community and the spirit of their founder. When you think of a sister, think of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph and worked tirelessly as the founder of Catholic education in this country.

So far so good. But it can get confusing, because while a nun is not a sister, both are addressed as sister. And while this analogy may not be perfect, a nun is more like “Mary” while a sister is more like “Martha.”

Both fulfill essential tasks in the Church, but the first is focused on the contemplative life of prayer, while the other is dedicated to the active life of work sustained by prayer. Without prayer, no one can persevere in a good work.

Wraith_Cemetery · Accepted Answer

You'll barely ever see a contemplative nun because they remain inside their monastery. Especially the Carmelite ones who are very strict about leaving the monastery grounds. A lot of the contemplative orders of nuns wear the distinctive robes that people picture nuns wearing.

The ones you'll often out and about are the sisters from the Franciscans who wear a blue habit/robe. You'll also see the Dominicans who wear all white with a black headpiece. Dominicans are a teaching order so they run a lot of the schools in the USA, Canada, etc.

collie22 · Accepted Answer

could be they don't want to be seen. a couple years back i visited a Greek church and the place seemed empty i was just sitting in the front pew listening to my music then all of a sudden nuns are everywhere. they came right up to me telling me to stop playing my music (my ipod with my mini speaker) must of been four or five nuns. it seemed odd to me at the time where did they all come from i don't get it. i've told friends about this a few times how odd it was. I've been to lots of churches and i can't remember seeing a nun except that one time.

On_cloud_wine · Accepted Answer

When I was younger, my aunt used to take me to her church all the time and where she volunteered for youth group stuff so I can probably say about 10 nuns and 8 monks in my lifetime

Kabluie · Answer

Catholics have two designations for sister. Like you'll always find more catholic sisters in the wild because they are active outreach. Versus a sister nun which normally lives a monastery life. That's not to say they don't go out as much, they might be sent for a mission, to attend to the sick, etc.

OfDeath · Answer

Probably more than 5 nuns because I've seen groups of them and I vividly remember seeing one walking down the street in a distinctly incongruous place for a nun, which is why it stuck in my mind.

I think they're supposed to stay in their nunneries or whatever. Convents or something and they're meant to stay there for their entire lives after taking their vows. That's why it's rare to see them around.

MCheetah · Answer

One. Two! Three! Four! FIVE! Five Nuns! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Киттйлинк · Answer

maybe 1... hmmm I'm not sure haha  it's probably because they live in a convent and people don't go there.. they don't come out.. it's like prison.

MAC1983 · Answer

I had half a dozen aunts who were nuns, and they were sent all around the country... And I'd ocasionally visit, so...  More than I can count, definitely!

CountessSarah · Answer

Only 2. I used to work in a hospital, I was so surprised when they randomly walked passed me in the hall. I didn't think nuns were a thing, either, until that happened.

NamerOfStars · Answer

Quite a few, but then, I went to Catholic school. You may have seen more than you're aware of, though; bear in mind they don't wear those pre-Vatican II habits any more.

DesiUwU · Answer

When I finally reach high school, I might go to a catholic high school, which means more nuns in my life.

NorthAfrican · Answer

I lived in Paris for nearly 10 years so I've probably came across a non more than 10 times and less than 20 times.

exitseven · Answer

There was a convent where I go on vacation. The nuns would often come to the beach and hang out. Some were pretty nice from what I remembered. I was a little afraid of them at first.

ODC2112 · Answer

My great-aunt was a nun, I met dozens of them for that alone. The kindergarten where I went was run by the nuns, the hospital where my mother worked was owned by the nuns, I know women of my age who have become nuns.

AndrésC64 · Answer

I was raised Catholic and went to catechism, so I've seen more than a few. Fun fact, when I was little I told the following joke to one of the nuns:

What's black and white and red all over?
A nun falling down the stairs.

RawIronhide · Answer

They hide in the trees but ya can't see them cuz they're so good at it.

Hangry06 · Answer

Oh lots. Most of them were bitches who used the Lord's name to curse you The old ones know to mind their business

Bel88 · Answer

I've seen lotsa penguins! I grew up not far from a convent.

NathanDavis · Answer

well, I've lived in one of the most Catholic countries... lol

alice55 · Answer

Too many to count, I always see them when I'm grocery shopping

pleasestopthis · Answer

Maybe you missed them because they mostly stay in their convent... I've seen a lot of them but I have not seen any in a long time

Valso · Answer

None, fortunately! I do my best to stay as far as possible from religious people. That includes nuns as well.

zagor · Answer

I've seen a number of them, but now that I think about it it was all when I was a kid. I haven't seen one for years.

kellytheman · Answer

I think I saw one but she could of just be wearing a costume. She was kinda young and hot to be a nun I thought.

Subarugirl · Answer

I've seen a lot of them and I am not even Catholic. I see sisters at my work fairly regularly.

AdithyaR · Answer

The college I go to is a Christian run institution so I've seen quite a few of them.

annabananna · Answer

I’ve seen a few but where I grew up there were a lot of Catholics.

Anonymous · Answer

I've never seen. In a Muslim country this is almost impossible. 😃

shortster · Answer

None, but then I am not Catholic. I haven't seen any catholic priests, monks, or Cardinals either.

Reijen · Answer

Yeah, there was one when I attended catholic school.

TruthBringer · Answer

I've seen plenty in Italy

Cherry234 · Answer

Sorry I haven't seen any nuns irl.

BCRanger10 · Answer

I've seen a good handful of them.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

Shit tons of them. really common tbh.

InYourHead · Answer

Probably around 5 nuns

Dargil · Answer

I am Catholic and went to Catholic School. Many.

MountAverage · Answer

I see nuns on a daily basis in the city.

Ray123456 · Answer

lol "none" thanks for the nose exhale

888theGreat · Answer

more out of the suit than in

TheSpartan · Answer

I literally saw three yesterday.

strateguy632 · Answer

some

ninaneedshelp · Answer

Nun... lol

FýrdracaDócincel · Answer

I've seen nun.

moonpie89 · Answer

Maybe 5

Iron_Man · Answer

One at a church

devoygf · Answer

None.

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