Nuns and Monastic Institutes.

Abstract

A Community of Nuns, is an Association of Catholic Women, who, having no relish for the pleasures of the world, nor feeling themselves inclined to perform the duties of a married state; and actuated by motives of religion, freely, of their own accord, and after the most mature deliberation, and a long trial, engage themselves by solemn vows, to practise the Evangelical Counsels, under the obedience of one common Superior of their own choice, and according to certain rules and constitutions which they have adopted: some devoting themselves to the education of youth; others to the care of the sick in hospitals; and some few to a life of retirement and prayer. If the liberty of conscience of which we boast, as one of the most valuable consequences of our wise constitution, is not to be confined to books, certainly Catholics have a right of exercising, without molestation, that mode of religion which they tldnk best. And if, accordino- to the principles of their religion, it is an acceptable thing before God: to tend to perfection by the practice of the evangelical counsels-surely a small number of their daughters have an incontrovertible right to tend to that perfection. And if they imagine that they will correspond better to their holy vocation, by living in retirement with companions of their own sex, than by remaining amidst the busy scenes of the world, why should such a liberty be denied them? Is there any law divine or human compelling women to marry? Is there any obligation of conscience to live in the town rather than in the country? Is there more virtue in idling away our time in visits, balls, frequenting the theatre, &c. &c. than in living in the company of pious friends, who have the same inclinations, and make their happiness consist in the discharge of the useful occupations and religious duties which they have voluntarily imposed upon themselves? But as this concise, though sufficient defence of our nuns would not satisfy those who know them only from the falsehoods and satires of the day, let us enter into details respecting them...[Excerpt]