Uppity Nuns

I remember hearing people complain when the nuns stopped wearing their habits.  The complainers thought it all so modern, and modern was not a good thing.  It meant change and movement away from tradition.  But history tells us that the nuns were not starting something new.  They were returning to their roots, something that preceded the religious habit clothing they wore.  The Ursuline nuns began in 1535 living in their own homes.  They were not limited in their apostolate.  They could respond to the needs of the world around them.  Vincent de Paul's Daughters of Charity were a secular congregation with no religious dress, cloister or veil.  The Mercy Sisters wore contemporary clothes.  Before we condemn what we think is change, we ought to read some solid history.