SPONSA REGIS - A Spiritual Review for Sisters - November 1964 - Volume 36 Number 3

Sep 29, 2026

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Sponsa Regis is a spiritual review issue dated November 1964, Volume 36, Number 3. The featured article, “Modernizing the Religious Habit,” discusses how clothing functions as symbolic communication of the inner self, shaping perception in social encounters and reflecting moods, identity, and belief. It contrasts everyday fashion symbolism with sacred ritual meaning, arguing that in Church rites symbolic actions can transform and permanently confer new identity through divine power.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages48

Reading Time2 h 1 min

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SPONSA REGIS

A Spiritual Review for Sisters (November 1964)

Modernizing the Religious Habit

How the Natural Loves Become Charity

Castles in Spain

Poem

Book Reviews

We Cannol be devoted children of the FJther I we are not affectionate brothers or sisters of all who share with us the life of the divine fsrily. 《 # SPONSA RECIS A SPIRITUAL REVIEW FOR SISTERS NOVEMBER 1964VOLUME 36NUMBER 3 Modernizing the Religious Habit 67SISTER MACARIA NEUSSENDORFER,O.S.B. # How the Natural Loves Become Charity 80 A.DURAND Castles in Spain 90SISTER MARY OF ST.JOSEPH,O.C.D. Poem 95DAVID PEARSON ETTER Book Reviews 96 NIHIL OBSTAT:Reinold Theisen,O.S.B.,Censor deput.IMPRIMATUR:凶Peter W.Bartholome,D.D.,Episc.Sancti Clodoaldi. Published monthly by monks of Saint John's Abbey,Collegeville,Minnesota.Rev.Ronald Roloff,O.S.B.,Editor;Rev.Myron Kasprick,O.S.B.,ManagingEditor;Rev.Raymond Roseliep,Poetry Editor.Advisory Board:Rev.KilianMcDonnell,O.S.B.,Sister Ritamary Bradley,C.H.M.,Sister M.Rose Emman-uella Brennan,S.N.J.M.,Sister M.Emmanuel Collins,O.S.F.,Mother MaryRobert Falls,O.S.U.,Sister M.Jean Frances Fiffe,O.P.,Sister M.JeremyHall,O.S.B.,Sister M.Jerome Keeler,O.S.B.,Sister M.Teresa Francis McDade, B.V.M.,Sister Mary Virginia Micka,C.S.J.,SisterM.Charles BorromeoMuckerhirn,C.S.C.,Sister Mary Emil Penet,I.H.M.,Sister Mary JamesWalsh,S.N.D.,Sister Annette Walters,C.S.J.,Mother Mary Florence Wolff,S.L.,Sister M.Francine Zeller,O.S.F. Address all correspondence except poetry to Sponsa Regis,Saint John's Abbey,Collegeville,Minnesota 56321(Checks payable to Sponsa Regis.)Poetryshould be sent to Rev.Raymond Roseliep,Loras College,Dubuque,Iowa 52003.1 year $2.50;2 years $4.00;single copy 25 cents.Sterling area(exceptAustralia):1 year 18s;2 years 29s;single copy 1s 11d.Australia:1 year 23s;2 years 37s;single copy 2s 3d.Agent for India:Asian Trading Corporation,Post Box No.1505,Bombay-1.Indexed in the Catholic Periodical Index.Printed by Sentinel Publishing Company,413 East Saint Germain Street,Saint Cloud,Minnesota.Second class postage paid at Saint Cloud,Minnesota.(Do not send mail to this address.) # Modernizing the Religious Habit SISTER MACARIA NEUSSENDORFER,O.S.B. O Lord God..:giver of all good gifts,we humbly beseech Thee,that Thou wouldst deign to bless and sanctify these garmentswith which Thy handmaids wish to clothe themselves .·.sothat,distinguished from other women,they may be recognizedas belonging to Thee. May the Lord take from you the old self and clothe you withthe new man who is created according to God in justice andholiness of truth With these prayers the bishop in the name of the Churchinvests young women with the habit that is to be their livery asspecially dedicated members of God's household.Like the sacra-ments and most of the sacred rites of holy mother Church,thisritual is based on a symbolism connatural to man.Even a verycursory glance at the phenomenology of human dress reveals thatclothing is symbolic of the inner self.Extreme fads or glaringcolors,for example,can be relevant in either a positive or negativeway;i.e.,they may reveal an aggressive,adventurous spirit,orthey may be an attempt at compensation by a person who is actual-ly shy and timorous.Our common experience indicates how muchwe take the symbolic value of clothes for granted.When we firstmeet a stranger we unconsciously advert to the style of his clothing—it helps us to categorize him temporarily,until closer acquaint-ance allows of additional criteria for measuring the kind of manhe is."Clothes do not make the man"is a proverb found in almostall languages,but even as we say it we realize that they do createthe image of the man.They are,in fact,one very effective meansof communicating the inner self to the outer world. There is a counter movement at work here also.Many awoman can testify to having been lifted out of a mood of depres-sion by the purchase of a new hat or dress.Moving into a widerperspective,we recognize anew the significance of the aborigine'sdonning the skin of a bear or a wolf or attaching to his belt therattle of a deadly snake.For the primitive,such actio

FAQs

What is the main theme of “Modernizing the Religious Habit”?

The article explains that clothing is symbolic of the inner self and examines how sacred rituals transform symbolic acts into a deeper, real spiritual effect.

How does the article describe the everyday symbolic meaning of clothes?

It argues that people unconsciously judge strangers by style, and that fashion choices can reflect attitudes or compensate for emotions, sometimes shifting mood through new garments.

Why does the article claim sacred rituals differ from ordinary symbolism?

It states that when religious rites adapt human customs, they do more than reference an inner reality; they can directly produce the thing signified, with effects that can be permanent in Church rites.

Sep 29, 2026

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