The terms Nun and Sister are two terms often used interchangeably to describe ‘women religious’ in the Catholic church. They are usually considered to have the same meaning.
Nun vs Sister
The difference between a Nun and a Sister is that a Nun primarily dedicates her life to prayer and work and lives in silence in a cloistered or semi-cloistered convent. On the other hand, a Sister usually lives an active life outside the community, serving in educational or health institutions.
A Nun is a Catholic woman who takes solemn, perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, committing their lives to prayer and work, living in silence in a closed or semi-cloistered monastery.
A Sister is a Catholic woman or ‘women religious’ in a Catholic church who takes simple/temporary or perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Nun | Sister |
|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle | Nuns live and pray in silence in a cloistered or semi-cloistered convent or monastery. | Sisters usually spend an active life praying and serving in health or educational institutions. |
| Vows | Nuns take solemn, perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. | Sisters take simple/temporary or perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. |
| Habit | Nuns choose to wear the habit. | Sisters may or may choose not to wear habits. |
| Ownership | Nuns choose to renounce all their ownership of the property to dedicate their entire life to serving God. | Sisters can retain their ownership over inheritance or trusts. However, they are not allowed to use the income from those assets. |
| Life | Live a contemplative life. | Live an active life. |
What is Nun?
A Nun is a Catholic woman or ‘women religious’ in a Catholic church who takes solemn, perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, committing their lives to prayer and work.
A Nun chooses to renounce the ownership of all their property to devote their lives to God. They do not live an active life and prefer to pray in the cloistered walls of a monastery or convent.
A Nun chooses to wear a habit. Hence, Nuns are women religious who profess vows and are a powerful and more extreme part of ‘women religious’ in the Catholic church.
What is Sister?
A Sister is a Catholic woman or ‘women religious’ in a Catholic church who takes simple/temporary or perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.
Sisters are usually known to spend an active life trying to serve in educational or health institutions. They work towards helping humankind.
Sisters may or may not choose to wear habits. Therefore, Sisters are the less extreme part of ‘women religious’ in a Catholic church.
Main Differences Between Nun and Sister
- Nuns choose to live a contemplative life, whereas, Sisters are known to live an active life.
- A Nun chooses to renounce the ownership of all their property to devote their lives to God. On the other hand, Sisters can retain their authority over inheritance or trusts. However, they are not allowed to use the income from those assets.
References
- https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2001-17232-009
- https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110596717-039/html
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