Nuns Outfits?

Question

I was watching Sister Act ealier today and one of the nuns, the younger one is wearing a different outfit to all the rest, what is the reason for this?

Answer 1

Maybe she's a novice, a nun in training.

Answer 2

The younger one (Sister Mary Robert) is a postulant.

When a woman decides to become a nun, there are several stages. The first is aspirancy, which is visiting the community to discern whether she wants to join and whether the community wants her to join. If she does, she enters the community and becomes a postulant (usually 6 months). After that she will become a novice (usually 2 years). Then she will take simple vows (first vows) that are renewed every year (usually for 3-5 years). Finally she will take solemn vows (perpetual vows), becoming a fully professed nun, that are for life.

The way you can tell Sister Mary Robert is a postulant is by the habits (the outfits) of the fully professed nuns. The nuns are wearing full habits, complete with a wimple (the white part that covers the neck and frames the face) and veil. In communities of nuns that wear full habits, the postulants wear modified habits, usually shorter dresses or a blouse and skirt with half veils and no wimples. The novices wear the full habit with the wimple and all, but the veil is white. Once they take first vows, the veil is exchanged for a black one.

If the fully professed nuns wore a modified habit, then Sister Mary Robert may have been a novice. In fact, in some communities the fully professed nuns wear what Sister Mary Robert wears in the movie. However, with communities that wear the full habit, novices wear white veils and postulants wear a modified habit.

Answer 3

It's a movie, they may have got it wrong or run out of habits in wardrobe! Other than that, she may be a postulant (meaning she's just trying the religious life, kind of on probation to see if she'll fit in). A postulant doesn't usually wear a full habit, just a normal-length dress and a short veil or no veil. Postulancy usually lasts about 6 mos. A postulant can be asked to leave if they see she doesn't have a real vocation or if she's not fitting in.
Otherwise she might be a novice...meaning she's just getting started. Novices often wear a white veil instead of black, and it may be a different shape. Novices usually don't wear wimples (the white face and neck covering) these days. The novitiate or "simple vows" usually lasts for 6 mos to a year.
A fully-professed nun used to be in for life. Nowadays they often sign a contract for 5 yrs at a time, which makes it easier all around if she decides to leave.

Answer 4

Movies are fiction.

Some orders of nuns have different clothing that they wear. Perhaps if she was not fully a nun, but more of a nun in training (NIT?) she might have a different uniform. Some orders of nuns can choose whatever they want to wear, as long as it meets certain dress-code requirements.

Answer 5

She still hasn't taken her vows. until She does she is still training, and not ready for the commitment. While training she can decide that she doesn't want to become a nun after all. in fact that's why this period is for; to give them an idea of what it is to be a nun. After she takes her Vows (Chasity, poverty Obedience, and another fourth sometimes according to order,) she can't leave the Nun-hood. BTW love vthat movie.

Answer 6

I think the nuns in training wear a different habit than the other ones. I think once they are ordained or something they wear a different one. Or maybe there's more than one habit to choose from. Like, some habits I've seen are white or cream-colored while others are black.

Answer 7

That one was probably a novice. They are just becoming nuns!

Answer 8

She's a novice, not a full nun yet.She hasn't taken her final vows

Answer 9

wardrobe hadn't enough 2 go round

Answer 10

She's got one in the wash.