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Sister Romona Seidl is shown here with a doll dressed in a replica of the habit originally worn by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita. Sister Romona made the habit with help from Sisters Ann Cecile Gaume, Denise Severt and Margaret Ellen Isenbart. The doll was sent to Brother Francois Sainte-Marie of Lourdes, France, who is putting together an exposition of dolls dressed in every religious habit throughout the world. Along with a photo of the doll, a short history of the habit and of the congregation will become part of a book about the dolls. The exposition will take place in January 2008 at the Lourdes Museum. The exposition will be held in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Blessed Lady to Bernadette. |
Why we no longer wear habits
The habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph was the actual dress worn by poor widows in France in the 1650s, when the congregation was founded. We dressed very modestly, like the women of the day who were not looking for a husband. In keeping with our charism of unity and reconciliation, we were very much one with the people we served and not separated because of dress. As styles changed through the years, the Sisters of St. Joseph continued to wear the dress of the poor widow in France.
In the 1960s when Vatican II asked religious congregations to research their early foundations, we learned that our sisters still dressed like widow ladies in 17th century France. Because our mission is still unity and reconciliation, we felt it more appropriate to dress like the people with whom we live and minister. Each sister is free to dress in whatever manner she can best work for unity and reconciliation. |
The history of the Sisters of St. Joseph habit
Before Vatican II, when the sisters received the holy habit they were told never to change the style of any part of the religious dress. The habit was to be made and worn as it was given to the sisters at the time of their reception. If not conformed to custom, it was not the habit of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. The same applied to the headdress. Uniformity of appearance in the dress of the sisters was required as a sign of obedience.
Each part of the religious dress had a spiritual significance:
- The habit was regarded by a Sister of St. Joseph as her bridal robe. To the faithful religious, it was also her shroud.
- The headdress, linens and veil represented the cloister—the enclosure which the Sisters of St. Joseph observed in order that they might serve God in the person of their neighbor.
- The triangular portion of the band represented the Holy Trinity, to whom the congregation is dedicated.
- The coronet enclosed the head and reminded the sisters to direct their thoughts aright.
- The band represented the crown of thorns.
- The veil, as a helmet, was her protection against her enemies.
- The guimpe was her shield to remind her of her purity of intention.
- The three pleats in the sleeves of the habit were symbolic of the three theological virtues: faith, hope and charity.
- The ten pleats in the front of the habit represented the ten commandments of God.
- The cincture was a symbol of the virtue of chastity.
- The three knots in the cincture represented the three vows each sister made: poverty, chastity and obedience.
- The five twists in each knot of the cincture represented the five wounds of our savior.
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