Frequently Asked Questions
What color is your habit?
Brown. Franciscans also wear brown but they have a white cord instead of a belt.
Why are some of the Nuns wearing white veils and some black veils?
Novices and those in temporary vows wear white. The black veil is for those in solemn (permanent) vows.
Why is there a grille separating you from me?
To protect our life of prayer. Most homes have private areas just for the family. The grille is a more radical sign of the privacy that we need in order to pray. It has been compared to the rib cage that protects the heart. We are definitely not in jail! The lock is on our side! We do go out for medical appointments and necessary shopping, but hurry back to be with the Lord.
How many Nuns can you have?
Twenty-one, with few exceptions.
Why are you sometimes called Nuns and sometimes Sisters?
Simply put, Nuns live in a monastery and Sisters in a convent. There is a canonical difference, but the terms are used interchangeably. We address one another as Sister and you may do so, also.
Do you have a vow of silence?
Absolutely not! We keep silence in the monastery at most times, to facilitate our recollection – thinking about Jesus, the love of our life. However, when we get together for recreation, we can be very noisy! Silence, like other aspects of our life, is our servant, not our master.
“The lives of the Carmelite saints are proof that the contemplative and active life can be successfully combined and lead to sanctity.”