What did nuns also do besides pray?

Answer 1

Nuns are still very much with us - they are not really 'in the past' as the question suggests! There are literally thousands of nuns worldwide in many different 'orders' or groups that obey certain rules. Most are Roman Catholic but there are nuns in other denominations such as the Church of England. Some orders are very strict - where the nuns enter a convent never again to re-emerge where they spend their life in prayer for those outside, and work for the convent community (on fairly mundane tasks like cooking, cleaning, gardening, and so on - after all most convents are self sufficient communities). However, most nuns live in the convent communities and work for the benefit of the community, but also work outside (unpaid - as nuns promise poverty within their vows). Work can be very varied - but the caring professions, nursing, teaching and so on are more usual. My mother went to a convent school as a young girl (although she was not a Catholic but was sent there because of the standard of education) and was taught by nuns and the nuns varied from very severe strict disciplinarians through to angelic, almost saintly teachers who were especialy loved by the girls in their care. Throughout the day, the nun leads an austere life; they rise in the early hours and spend much of each day in work, study and prayer. Meals are simple and often taken in silence. They have few possessions as they promise poverty. They are celibate (do not have relationships with men) as they promise chastity. They obey the head nun, the Mother Superior, without question, as they promise obedience. She is elected from the nuns every year or set number of years. They go to bed in their own rooms (called 'cells' as they are very sparse, just like a prison cell) very early as they will rise agan in the early hours of the next day ready for work. Although the life of a nun seems very bleak and austere, although I have known quite a few nuns in my spiritual life and all without question have been very happy, content and seem to have something special. Perhaps their spiritual lifestyle could teach us a thing or two.