Do nuns sleep in the same room?

Answer 1

Although commonly interchanged by the public, there's a distinct difference between a 'Nun' and a 'Sister.' This is offered to the reader to assist with understanding better the answer regarding accommodation. Both have taken a vow of service to God. Their vows are similar in reference to Holy reverence, chastity, and service to God. However, whilst a Nun's vows 'typically' include a vow of poverty, it is possible that a Sister's vows may not include poverty as part of their Holy contract.

A 'Nun' is a religious woman who lives a cloistered and contemplative life of meditation and prayer for the salvation of others. A 'Sister,' however, is a woman who lives an active vocation of service to the homeless, the needy, the sick and poor, and those who suffer from their environments.

With this in mind, this servant of God may have different requirements. Each has taken a vow of poverty, chastity, and contemplation, A Nun's life of service 'to the glory of God' would be somewhat different than the Sister who remains in the 'outside' world, working among the public.

Consequently, their individual needs may be understandably different. Originating in Europe, most Nuns, living in a cloistered Abbey, would typically have their own 'cell' in which to sleep. The term cell alludes to the sparse nature of the accommodation, the continued seclusion at night that is followed during the day,

As an example, Nonnberg Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Salzburg, Austria, was built in the year 987. Despite the challenges of time, and a fire in 1423 which destroyed most of the primary building, each refurbishment maintained a strict tradition of creating tiny rooms, called cells, to accommodate each devout Nun. The cells consist of little more than a single wooden bed, a wooden chair and small writing desk, and a lamp. Also in the small cell is generally a prie-dieu - a type of prayer kneeler with a slanted board where you might either rest a Bible or your arms upon during prayer or reciting the rosary.

For a Sister, however, accommodation may be a communal home whereby other servants, (Sisters), share the common areas (kitchen, sitting rooms, etc.), but sleep in a traditional bedroom. Rather than the room being devoid of any world possessions, unlike the monastic Nun, the Sister may have an assortment of items, particularly those related to her work, i.e., schoolbooks (teacher), medical reference materials, (nurse), training manuals, (Care Homes, etc).

There has been and probably are, in some locations, where a certain Order (a group of Nuns in service), simply do not have the resources or space to provide private accommodation. In these instances, the Nuns, as a family of God, have slept in accommodation similar to a hospital ward, where many beds are lined along the walls, with only a small side table and chair between each bed. As the members of each Order (or Abbey) are accepted into the Order as a family member, these conditions would be no different than sharing a room with your own sister.

Accommodation scenarios for Monks would be similar within their vows of poverty and living a monastic life.

Answer 2

In many convents or monasteries, nuns may have individual cells or rooms for sleeping and personal space. However, in some communities, they may share rooms with one or more other nuns for practical reasons or due to communal living traditions.