Vows: Passionist Nuns profess five vows. In addition to our distinctive "Passion Vow," we profess the Evangelical Counsels of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience, as well as a vow of Enclosure.
Habit: The Passionist Nuns wear the traditional habit of the Passionists: a long black tunic (symbolic of mourning and of penance) girded with a leather belt, a black veil, the Passion Sign over our heart, a large habit rosary worn on the belt, and sandals. Our Lady actually appeared to St. Paul of the Cross dressed in this habit and asked him to found a community dressed as she is, which would keep continual remembrance with her of her Son's sorrowful Passion.
Stages of Formation:
It takes a total of at least nine years before a nun makes her perpetual vows. The initial step in becoming a Passionist Nun is making contact, getting to know each other, discerning if a woman has the basic, objective qualifications. Depending on the distance and expense we like to have some personal contact, preferably by email, visits, and a live‑in experience of about a week.
Aspirancy lasts 1-2 years, during which the aspirant does not yet live at the monastery but comes for periodic visits and stays in regular contact with the formation directress. At the end of Aspirancy she typically has a longer visit (2-3 months) inside the cloister while she prepares to officially enter the monastery as a postulant.
Postulancy also lasts 1-2 years. A postulant wears a simple black jumper and veil while living in the Novitiate. She is gradually incorporated into our life and has a Directress that will help her to integrate into the community. She attends classes to help her grow in wholeness and holiness.
After the Postulancy follows the Novitiate which lasts 2 years. The Novice receives the habit of a Passionist Nun (but not the Passion Sign) and she wears a white veil instead of a black one. At this time she also receives her religious name. In our community, we always receive some form of "Mary" as a part of our new name, and we also take a devotional title (for example, a recently-vested novice received the name Sr. Miriam Esther of the Sacred Heart). During the Novitiate she continues with classes focusing primarily on the meaning of religious life and our five vows.
At the end of the Novitiate the novice makes her profession of the five Passionist vows and she renews them for a period of five years. This period is commonly called the time of Temporary Vows or Juniorate. The Junior Sister receives the Sign of our Congregation and the black veil and the wedding ring. She takes on more responsibilities in the community while continuing with some classes.
After these many years of preparation sister fulfills her heart’s desire by pronouncing her Perpetual Vows, consecrating herself to Jesus with all her heart and forever, to be His Bride. She is fully integrated into community life and responsibilities including becoming a voting member of the Chapter.
Our profession ceremony includes a number of beautiful symbols and traditions. At final profession, during the Litany of the Saints before she pronounces her vows, the nun lies prostrate before the altar and is covered with a black pall, symbolizing her death to the world. At both first and final professions, the nun is crowned with a crown of thorns and a large wooden cross is placed on her shoulder. This same crown of thorns is treasured by the nun all her life, and when the Divine Bridegroom finally comes to take His bride to heaven, it is placed in her coffin and intertwined with flowers, symbolic of the goal she has reached and her resurrection to come.
Silence and solitude are important parts of our monastery tradition, but that does not mean that we are never loud and never have any fun! In addition to our daily periods of recreation (during which we can talk freely), we also celebrate the Church's feast days with afternoons free for recreation, and a few times a year we celebrate a "Gaudeamus Day," which is free for talking, laughing, playing games, eating good food, etc., all day long! The customary Gaudeamus Days in our community are Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Superior's feast day, and the Vicar's feast day... and the superior can decree a Gaudeamus whenever she sees fit!