# Mother superior

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Name of the head of some convents

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The Mother superior of a convent of the [Sisters of Charity](/source/Daughters_of_Charity_of_Saint_Vincent_de_Paul) in [Schwäbisch Gmünd](/source/Schw%C3%A4bisch_Gm%C3%BCnd) in 1870

In the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church), the head of a [religious institute](/source/Religious_institute) for women who is in charge of a [convent](/source/Convent), is sometimes referred to as **Mother superior**.[1] She could be the head of a [monastic](/source/Monasticism) community or a [religious congregation](/source/Religious_congregation). Superiors of independent monasteries can also be [abbesses](/source/Abbess) or [prioresses](/source/Prior_(ecclesiastical)).

The [religious sister](/source/Religious_sister) dedicates her life to [God](/source/God) and to the service of the church. She is bound to God, the church and her community by vows or promises and is subordinate to her superior.

Through the [vow of obedience](/source/Vow_of_obedience), [nuns](/source/Nun) and [religious sisters](/source/Religious_sister) follow the instructions of their legitimate superior in everything that concerns the life of the community, while respecting [canon law](/source/Canon_law) and the constitutions of their [religious institute](/source/Religious_institute). The superior is required to view her office as a service to the community, whose unity she must protect, and to encourage the sisters, by her example and the use of her authority, to lead an exemplary religious life. Canon law states that superiors "are to exercise their power, received from God through the ministry of the Church".[2]

The superiors of independent [monasteries](/source/Monastery) and [abbeys](/source/Abbey), like provincial and [superiors general](/source/Superior_general_(Christianity)) of some orders, are among the major religious superiors.

In order for members of the [consecrated life](/source/Consecrated_life) to be appointed or elected to the office of superior, a suitable time is required after perpetual profession or promises, to be determined by proper law, or if it concerns major superiors, by the constitutions.

Catholic [Canon law](/source/1983_Code_of_Canon_Law) mentions the superior of a nunnery with [papal enclosure](/source/Papal_enclosure) as the person who has to consent if the local bishop desires to enter the convent "and, for a grave cause and [...] of permitting others to be admitted to the cloister and the nuns to leave it for a truly necessary period of time".[3] However, religious sister Mary Kenny observes that since the [Second Vatican Council](/source/Second_Vatican_Council), "various styles of [leadership](/source/Leadership) in religious life have been tried with varying results over the years. There was a move all the way from a rather regimented, purely hierarchical style of leadership where 'Father or Mother knows best' to some communities choosing not to have an appointed leader".[4]

The address of a superior is often "Mother superior" or "Venerable mother", sometimes only "Mother", and for higher superiors also "Most venerable mother" or "Reverend mother". In contemporary usage, the address "Mother" or "Sister" is also used in conjunction with the [religious name](/source/Religious_name).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Merriam-Webster Dictionary, [Mother Superior](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mother%20Superior), accessed on 11 February 2026

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** CIC Can. 617

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** CIC Can. 667

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Kenny, M., [Renewal in Religious Life](https://www.jstor.org/stable/27664988), *[The Furrow](/source/The_Furrow)*, Volume 55, No. 7/8 (July-August 2004), p. 401, accessed on 12 February 2026

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mother superior](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_superior) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_superior?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.