What is a Nun?
A nun is a woman who has taken vows to dedicate her life to religious service and contemplation. Although many people associate the idea of nuns specifically with the Roman Catholic tradition, nuns can be found in a variety of Christian sects, and in other religions such as Taoism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. Many people have great respect for nuns and their religious dedication, as becoming a nun often involves extensive commitment and sacrifice.
There are a variety of different types of nuns, and many religions make a distinction between nuns and sisters. In religions which distinguish between the two, a nun is a woman who lives a cloistered life in the walls of a convent or monastery, dedicating herself to religious contemplation and prayer. A sister, on the other hand, lives an active life of service in the community, and some sisters have become very notable activists, famed for their commitment to social justice.
Sisters typically live within the walls of a convent, but they travel outside to work as doctors, teachers, farmers, or in a variety of other fields. Many sisters are actively encouraged to pursue higher education, using their skills to support the convent, and some convents become self-sustaining, thanks to the skills of their occupants. Others rely on donations from the community.
A nun's vows vary, depending on her religion and the rules of the order she joins. Commonly, the vows include commitments to community, poverty, service, and chastity, and many nuns also pledge obedience. Typically, nuns take vows after several years of trial service in a convent or cloister, being accepted first as postulants, and then as novices, before they are finally offered the opportunity to take vows. Once a nun has taken vows, it is very difficult for her to leave the convent, reflecting the fact that these vows are intended to be permanent.
Women have been serving in cloistered religious environments for centuries, and they have chosen to become nuns for a variety of reasons. In deeply religious cultures, for example, a family may commit to sending a child to the cloister to demonstrate its religious devotion and convictions. Women may also feel the call to become nuns, after being encouraged by religious officials, other nuns, or their own personal beliefs. In some cultures historically, women became nuns after being widowed, choosing a cloistered life for their final years of life.
The process involved in becoming a nun varies, depending on one's religious beliefs. As a general rule, the first step is to talk to one's religious officiant about the possibility of being a nun. He or she should be able to provide general information, along with a list of convents or cloisters which might be suitable. Most aspiring nuns take the time to research various convents closely, looking for a good fit, and convents often welcome visitors who are interested in pursuing lives as nuns.
Once a potential nun settles upon a convent of choice, she can apply for a position as a postulant or novice. Typically the application requires a series of interviews, along with a short stay in the convent, and the residents will vote collectively to decide whether she should be welcomed into the community. After acceptance, she may be asked to contribute a dowry to the convent.
Written by S.E. Smith
