According to The Times of London, yes, indeed, an Italian priest (where else?) is holding an online beauty contest to find the best-looking nun.
Father Antonio Rungi, of Mondragone, near Naples, said he expected at least 1,000 nuns to enter the Sister Italia contest. It would run online at first, but he hoped that it would become a "real pageant" along the lines of the annual Miss Italy contest.Father Rungi, a moral theologian with his own blog, said that the nuns would not wear swimsuits or revealing outfits. What he valued most in a woman was "inner beauty". Asked for his feminine ideal, he replied: "Well, I would say Sophia Loren."
La Ciociara doesn't do too badly on the outer beauty, either. In any case...
The contestants must be aged between 18 and 40, and can be either full members of an order or novices. Father Rungi said that he expected many who applied to be young, attractive -- and non-Italian. He said: "Do you really think nuns are all wizened, funereal old ladies? Today it's not like that any more, thanks to an injection of youth and vitality brought to our country by foreign girls." He said there were nuns from Africa and Latin America who were "really very, very pretty. The Brazilian girls above all."
Okay, all in good fun, I suppose. Still...At best, beauty contests are one of the more absurd competitions--leaving aside a few of the recent Olympic events. And while nuns need not be someone's stereotype of an old crone, how would Mother Teresa fare? On the other hand, no reason nuns shouldn't be babes--be a fine example to the word. Check out Sophia herself in "White Sister" and of course Audrey Hepburn in "A Nun's Story."
Then again, you know what happened at the end of that film...Calling poor Saint Clare--legendary for her beauty--help me!
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Doesn't this sort of miss the point of what it means to be a nun? I would be interested in talking to participants in this beauty pageant and finding out what motivated them to compete.
Hmm, it's August 27th here, that's a long way from April 1st.
Actually, a report just went out today that this priest is cancelling the idea altogether, since it has been sensationalized and misunderstood...oh, and his religious superiors weren't looking on it too kindly, either.
Nuns are religious, not secular...meaning they do NOT live "in the world" and shouldn't be seeking the acclamations of the World, so I don't think Fr. Rungi thought this idea through before pitching it :).
One of the fruits of the spirit is - beauty. How can we not think that beauty surrounds the lives of our nuns. Should they never epxress their joys of life through song, and other talents/gifts that God has given them? I don't think the priest ever had any intention of exploiting the nuns. But I would love to see a two hour show with all of our beautiful sisters joined in song and modest dance. They are our sisters and it would be NICE to see their love and devotion to our Lord expressed through the gifts of the spirit. NOT EXPLOITED or sexualized. How wonderful would it be for young women to see such radiance in a modestly clad woman whos heart beams with love for the creator? Wouldn't it be a wonderful way for the Catholic Church to help contribute something wonderful to prime time instead of all the sexualized junk we now see. I would call the show Beauty-Sisters of the Spirit. I wouldn't make it a competition though, simply a 6 week show that "focuses" on one special nun each week while encompassing the fellowship of all her sisters. Not a bad idea. A good dose of beauty and spirit sponsored by our faithful Church. Wouldn't it be nice if we could do something special like this to help bring a joyful attitude towards our church. Perhaps help lessen some of the really icky stuff that has affected us? Yes, let the sisters be a glory to us!
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