Before I left the Sisters, this "about me" page was very specific, almost as detailed as a resume. But now, after years of living in community, I realize you can't find out much by learning about one's hometown, alma mater, or even favorite author. Instead, I leave you with a list of thirty things that make me smile, thirty things that may teach you a bit more about me:
- puns, especially really clever ones
- my crazy family
- friends that truly listen
- writing
- discovering hidden parts of friends' lives
- a book you can't put down
- fellow word nerds
- unplanned adventures, both big and small
- concrete syntax tress
- a child's laugh
- someone remembering my name
- airports
- an insightful inspirational quote
- good advice at the perfect time
- an unexpected text from a friend
- a good laugh
- reconnecting with someone after a long time
- a genuine compliment
- blue crabs
- penguins
- laughs over board or card games
- ice cream in a mug
- Ocean City, Maryland and all its landmarks and traditions
- music that takes you to another place
- stories about martyrs
- waves in the ocean
- the uniqueness of each city
- Christmas lights
- iced coffee
- the Maryland flag
I'm confused. Why would a women's religious order refer to the initial period of formation as 'seminary' rather than 'novitiate'? Seminary usually refers to the period of training for men who are studying for the priesthood.
ReplyDeleteYou're correct, it does. We call it "Seminary" for historical reasons. When St. Vincent de Paul and St Louise de Marillac founded the DCs, canon law required that all Sisters be cloistered. In order to get around this rule, our founders used different vocabulary - we lived in houses, not convents; we studied in Seminary, not novitiate (in France, "Seminary" was another word for "boarding school"), etc.
ReplyDeleteObviously, that law no longer exists but we keep the word. Canonically, we are a Society of Apostolic Life, not a religious order. That means our "novitiate" is not the same as religious orders. For example, for us DCs, there is no canonical year, no apostolic year as you would find in religious orders. Our whole Seminary is spent in the Seminary.