Mother Knows Best

In the bedroom of a religious-relic-laden house in Sydney, a sister begins the closely guarded ritual of donning the nun’s habit. Over neatly pressed underwear, a voluminous black tunic with immense sleeves, is slipped into, leaving the body entirely covered, neck to floor. Over that, the scapular. With well-rehearsed flicks of the wrist the white wimple is tied at the back, leaving only the face and hands free of covering. In quick, graceful succession, the white starched circular bib or “guimpe” and the “bandeau” are added… A pause for reflection, and gentle adjustments… Finally, in crescendo, the black veil is drawn up and over, and pinned with large pins at the crown of the head … “To keep it neat”, is the smiling explanation.