Claiming Sisterhood » nuns

Nuns by Shannon Taggart

Anastasia — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:30:55 +0000

I COULD STARE AT Shannon Taggart’s series of nun photographs for hours. What do you think?

No related posts.

Your Stories on Sisters Called Nuns

Anastasia — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:30:22 +0000

HERE ON ‘CLAIMING SISTERHOOD,’ I’VE BEEN gathering reader stories of the Sisters we call nuns for a few months now. It all started in February when I told a few tidbits about my experiences with (Catholic) nuns, including an admission that I’d once hoped to become one. The reader responses were delightful, and over the next few weeks I hope to resurface some of my favorite comments from that post. Starting with the following:

From Judy:

“Once, in second grade, in a fit of anger, Sister Lucita swooshed her white-trimmed black veil behind her back… and a tendril of hair popped out. At recess, we girls huddled together on our asphalt parking lot/playground and whispered, ‘They DO have hair.’ It would be years before we figured out they also got to keep their breasts. We thought they were chopped off so those large white collars of their habits could lay flat against their chests.

“On a more serious side, we lived in a Catholic neighborhood where the nuns were very much a part of our lives. They came over and visited us and we visited them at the convent. When my mother would make me a new dress, she’d tell me to go show the nuns. They’d gush and I’d bask in the glory of their praise. That’s how it was with them. It was all about the love.”

Do you have a nun story to share? Or a favorite nun? Do tell…

No related posts.

Sisters in the Outfield

Anastasia — Mon, 04 May 2009 05:39:00 +0000

NO, I’M NOT REFERRING TO MADONNA AND Rosie O’Donnell in pleated skirts. I’m talking about nuns! Above is a 1931 photo from the Minnesota Historical Society of a sisters-only baseball team in action. It’s recent addition to my Sisterhood in a Habit photo series (you’ll find the team photo there as well). Can you imagine the wind resistance in one of those babies? Whew.

No related posts.

Sisters on My Mind

Anastasia — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:08:07 +0000

THIS WEEK, I’M ON VACATION in Nicaragua, and I can’t seem to get this lovely photo of Nicaraguan nuns out of my mind. A friend took this picture while visiting an orphanage outside of Managua a few years ago. The smiling Sister on the right grew up as an orphan, and at the age of 16, had to decide whether to leave the orphanage or become a Sister. It’s a beautiful image, isn’t it? Have a peep at my full “Sisters in Habits” photo gallery for more nun goodness.

No related posts.

Nun’s the Word

Anastasia — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:13:48 +0000

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I posted a gallery of nun photos along with an invitation for readers to share their favorite sister stories (sisters as in nuns, that is). The response was delightful, with nun tales of all sorts. I recommend you revisit the post–now with new photos added–and partake in this ongoing discussion on sisters in and out of the habit. Why don’t you start here?

No related posts.

Sisterhood in a Habit

Anastasia — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:28:26 +0000

H ERE ARE SOME tidbits about my experiences with the sisters called nuns:
1. I used to want to be one.

2. My mother wouldn’t let me and T watch Sister Act for so long because there is a gun in it. So I had to listen to all my elementary-school friends talk about it for like four years before I watched it. When I finally saw it, I was in awe of Whoopi.

3. I also thought that an all-girls Catholic school run by nuns was the epitome of cool, especially after seeing The Trouble with Angels (deemed more P-G than Sister Act).

4. Nuns always remind me of Owen Meany (from John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany), who called them “penguins” and threw rocks at their statue of Mary Magdalene.

5. I once sat next to two nuns on an eight-hour train ride from Montelimar, France, to Barcelona. One of them gave me a mint.

In any case, a sisterhood of nuns fascinates me, especially in the habit. So I’ve gathered some of my favorite nun photos below for your viewing pleasure. Are there nuns that you’re particularly fond of? Please do share…

[Show as slideshow]

Additional photo credits from Flickr users:

•    “Aunt Rose’s AC Invacar” from Lawrence Peregrine-Trousers.
•    “Sisters at Home” and “Group Photo” are from Redbricktudor.
•    The image of two nuns bike riding is courtesy of Yanda.
•    “Smoking Nun” from Mark Berry (he’s here, as well)
•    “Kolkata” from Boris Earth
•    “Scout Truck” from Wisconsin Historical Society
•    Baseball photos are from The Minnesota Historical Society (via Hunter on Flickr)

Thanks to all!

No related posts.