Nun is a woman who belongs to a religious community and dedicates her life to carrying out its goals. Various major religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, and Taoism, have orders of nuns. The Roman Catholic Church has more of these orders than any other Christian denomination.
Most Roman Catholic orders of nuns have different requirements for permanent membership, but they all require years of preparation. When a woman enters an order, she begins a period of spiritual training called a novitiate. During this period, which in many orders lasts several years, she becomes thoroughly acquainted with the obligations of religious life (see Religious life ). After her novitiate, the woman takes her first vows, and after several more years, final vows. She promises to give up possession of worldly goods, obey her superiors in the order, and remain unmarried. These promises may be either simple vows or solemn vows. Solemn vows are more binding.
A woman who has taken simple vows is known as a sister. One who has taken solemn vows is properly called a nun. But the term sister is commonly used as a form of address for a nun.
The first convents for women were founded in the Egyptian desert during the early 300’s by Saint Pachomius. During the Middle Ages, nuns led strictly cloistered (secluded) lives in such convents. In 1633, Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac founded the Daughters of Charity (now often called the Sisters of Charity), an order devoted to charity work outside the convent. The members cared for orphans and the sick and taught children and adults.
The nun’s way of life was modernized by Vatican Council II, a worldwide council of the Roman Catholic Church held from 1962 to 1965. Many orders now permit their members to live in small informal groups rather than in a convent. Many nuns no longer must wear the traditional robe and veil. Nuns continue to work in charitable and educational fields. They now also counsel youths in juvenile courts and perform other services as well.
