Ruth Loza, my 20-year-old sister, decided a few months ago that she would rather be a nun than go to college, have a career, wear Flying Monkey jeans, put on lip gloss and have her own children. Instead, she wants to wed Jesus Christ — ring, wedding dress and all.
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The wedding bands on some nun’s fingers and habits (white cap, veil and long tunic) symbolize their devotion or marriage to Jesus.
“I know I want to (be a nun) now, but it’s not something that I’ve always wanted to do. There’s not going to be anything that I want to do more then to live with Him and for Him,” Ruth said.
More than 45,000 girls in the United States, and more than 705,000 girls worldwide, are Catholic nuns, according to research from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. Three strict vows sets them apart from the rest of the world: chastity, poverty and obedience to their superiors.
“I’m completely ready to obey. My desires will no longer be my desires. I’m dying to myself. It’s just whatever He (God) wants of me,” Ruth said.
There are a plethora of convents with differing nun lifestyles. From cloistered nuns — confined in their monastery praying 12 hours a day — to independent sisters — who live alone, attend college, pursue careers and don’t wear a habit. To enter the convent, you must first be a Catholic woman, single with no dependent children, debt-free, healthy and about 18–40 years old. A college degree and professional experience is highly encouraged in some convents.
“At first, I was overwhelmed with the amount of convents there are. I didn’t know which God was calling me to,” she said. Ruth knew she wanted to wear a habit though. “Oh yeah!” she said. “I was looking for an order that wears traditional habits, they make me so happy. It’s going to be an honor to wear the habits and what they symbolize, so I’m not really going to be sad that I’m not going to be able to wear the clothes that I used to wear."
Ruth’s desire for this life began when she went to a discernment retreat after being asked to sing and play music for them. Discernment retreats allow for prayer and meditation to be open to the will of God. There she spoke with a priest, Father Vogel, who explained Moses’ story. God asked Moses, through a burning bush, to take his people out of Egypt. Moses was the only one prepared by God to do it and despite his doubts, he accomplished the mission, as God knew he would. (Exodus 3:1-15)
“When I was younger it was always said, in my family, that my sister was going to be a nun, and I would have a family. So, I never really thought about becoming a nun,” she said. Ruth said Father Vogel asked her if she thought God wanted her to be a nun and a light bulb flashed because nobody had ever asked her.
“That day sparked my curiosity,” she said. Soon after, Ruth visited the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church, in Spokane, Washington for a weekend and fell in love. A couple weeks later, she stayed for a 10-day visit so she could get a better feel for the community, and the community could decide if she was a good fit for them. The Sisters and the Mother Superior, Mother Katherine Joseph, loved Ruth and can’t wait to have her join their community.
Now, she is filling out her 22-page application that requires a letter of recommendation, a psychological test, physical test, a dentist's checkup and answers to questions about life and discernment.
After she gets the official acceptance, Ruth will began her candidacy. As a candidate, she will immerse herself in the convent, assisting in formation classes, praying, doing daily work and recreation. When she’s ready, she will began her postulant year and finally get to wear a veil. Her novitiate phase will commence with a private ceremony, receiving a new religious name and habit in the presence of the community. After about two years, she professes her temporary vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. After at least four years, about ten years after she enters, she professes her final permanent vows and slips on a silver ring to symbolize the marriage to Jesus, becoming bride of Christ that loves Him as a wife loves her husband.
“It’s something so special ... when I have that ring on my finger. ‘Who are you married to? I’m married to God.’ It’s crazy that he’d even consider me to be his wife,” Ruth said with a smile slowly brightening her face. “I’m going to have the perfect spouse.”
