Daughters of St. Isidore of Seville

[Cathy Curie]

Not sure where else to put this. It got removed from 'Off Topic'.

No vows.Catholic. An in-Second Life Order named for the patron saint of the internet, St. Isidore of Seville.We work within the virtual community serving through prayer, aide and good works. *The Isidorest modern habit is blue, the Blessed Mother's color, and also represents electricity. On her head is a large coif which is winged to symbolize the speed of exchange of knowledge online. Its' whiteness denotes purity.My hope is to just quietly work in sl and find other Catholic women of like mind.

St. Isidore of Seville

Patron Saint of: computers, computer users, computer programmers, Internet

Born: c.560 in Cartagena, Spain
Died: April 4, 636
Canonized: pre-Congregation
Feast Day: April 4

So, how does Saint Isidore of Seville become the patron saint for the Internet? The Observation Service for Internet, who drew it's mission from the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, researched the Internet and related technologies to select a patron saint that best reflects the concerns and ideals of computer designers, programmers and users. The saint chosen by the Observation Service for Internet was Saint Isidore. "The saint who wrote the well-known 'Etymologies' (a type of dictionary), gave his work a structure akin to that of the database. He began a system of thought known today as 'flashes;' it is very modern, notwithstanding the fact it was discovered in the sixth century. Saint Isidore accomplished his work with great coherence: it is complete and its features are complementary in themselves.

*Disregard any other members listed in group. There is only one for now. The others are friends who were just helping to flesh out the member list for stability but are not Isidorest nuns.

If you are a Catholic woman looking for a way to express vocation and service online, this may be for you. You are not required to be single in real life or take special vows.We are just simple sisters . Now, normally 'Sister'  refers to a consecrated woman with simple vows,(though this order is not a formally recognized one...these are first baby steps) most often one who works in an active apostolate ministering to people. ..religous women who want to devote their online life to an active non-contemplative life of prayer, meditation and service.

I see the order as an outlet for Catholic women in Second Life who want to be in SL in a serving,christian way that offers a little more vocation and dedicative feel.

What would be good to bring to this order? Devotion and love and a desire to serve, those are good. A way of being a light and reflection of the love of Christ in a subtle laid-back way, no heavy handedness, that's a great trait. A sense of humor, quiet life of action and knowing when to just be, quietly there...absolutely great. Not there to prosletize just ...around. livin it, showing it through action and character.

Pretty much, so far, mentoring and volunteering to help with virtual charities has been the outlet in SL. Other than that, just being IN Second Life as a present reminder of the Church as folks go about their virtual second lives,being low key but open, ready to help or just be seen.


[Ishtara Rothschild]

Like I asked in the other thread (I'm amazed that the mods would have deleted it, seeing that they usually move threads to the right subforum): Do aspiring sisters have to be female in both SL and RL, and if so, how would you go about ensuring that they really are?

And, SL being a role play platform, how do you even know that anyone is really a Catholic? People might just role play it. For all you know, one of my alts is a devout Catholic, while another alt is a Wiccan witch, and yet another one plays the role of a Gorean slave master and godless heathen. Do you think St. Isidore would mind that his convent is but a role play exercise in an online game?

PS: Did they really have computers and internet access back in 600 CE?

PPS: What happens to the Second Life Game Addiction Support Center? Will it be converted into a convent? So many questions...

[Cathy Curie]

Loved your post.

Yeah, I thought the missing post thing was odd, too. Took it in stride and just posted in a more apropriate area. No problem.

Nope, the Center is pretty low maintenance and not a lot of traffic or contact so nothing changing there.I just leave the lights on so to speak and the only thing the center does really is send a notecard with some information and links. No biggie. It's just a sign and notecard giver attached to my house in De Haro, after all. No convent is needed, anyway. It's not that type of order. :smileyhappy:

Nope, they did not have computers in 6th century Seville, just a holy man driven to gather and exchange the world's knowledge.

And Hey, you know, if someone were to join the order, after READING the group mission statement, for the most part I would hope that they are pretty much coming from the headspace described in my post. There will always be randomness and dishonest folks. I guess that will happen but I trust they will get bored or filtered out. St. Isidore will take it in stride and we will go on.

You know, if you are a dude in rl and maybe not even catholic...but then you find this odd catholic order thingy in sl and ..you feel compelled to serve in sl with us in that capacity, who am I to say it aint bone fide? Service and good acts are things anyone can do, without joining an order though. Why join it if it is not a good fit? Just go out and do good, avoid bad and say your prayers as my Priest once said in Mass.  Hey, pretty simple.

 

[Ishtara Rothschild]

Now, that reads like an SL-compatible approach, imho I wish you luck and success with your project.

[Cathy Curie]

Thanks, Ishtara. After 8 years in Second Life, you get to where you instictively know how to work within it a bit. This virtual world is a different reality with its own rules and subtleties and situations that are unique to it.