Being called as a Nun? need help

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Hey my name is Cameron and I am 19years old! I was raised Methodist and now presbyterian. For the past year i’ve had the call or urge to join a convent to become a Nun. I’m in nursing school right now and I know my calling is to serve the Lord with nursing.
I’m not catholic, but I would convert to it if I did join a convent.
I have had this weird feeling of incomplete for about 2 or 3years now… I feel like i’m missing something in my life. I crave a simple life devoted to God. I’m a very conserative southern woman. I dress modestly,say and recite my prayers and always quoting bible verses.
My friends and family say I have a glow about me. Gods prestense has always felt extremely close to me. But I still feel like i’m missing something in my life.
I love strict traditions, reciting prayers and verses and doing good work to please my lord.
My family would have a stroke if they knew I was thinking about and praying about becoming a Nun. My mother doesn’t like the idea of me switching demoninations or giving up the hope she would have grandkids.
I can’t tell if I have the calling to be a Nun.
What are the requirements to be a Nun? How long is it? Could I still be a Nurse and a Nun at the same time?
I hope this makes any sense i’m horrible at grammar and writing.
Please ask me any questions and I will try to answer them. I just need some help and understanding…

Thanks,

Cameron
 
Cameron,

I applaud you taking the time to post and I will be praying for your discernment. This is never an easy road, but I think it is one that will yield much grace for you.

I only know one nun right now who could answer most of these questions. Her name is Rosalind Moss. Her email address is rosalindmoss@gmail.com. I am sure that she, or one the sisters there would happy to answer any of your questions.

I am sure that others here will be able to offer more insight.

God bless you!
 
I am not a convert but I have read on these threads that many converts to the faith experienced the same thing you are going through right now. The conversion is so profound that it is mistaken as a call to become a nun or a priest. With that being said, you still could have the calling…I do believe the Catholic Church recognizes this and I believe you may have to wait a couple of years after you completed RCIA to pursue a vocation…but I don’t know how accurate that info is.

Hopefully, other converts to the faith will share their experiences with you.

Just a little side note I am what they call a revert I guess-fallen away Catholic and I have been experiencing a profound conversion for the past couple of years myself and I’ve been experiencing the same longings you do.
 
As a convert, Easter Vigil 2007, I know I am truly Home in the Catholic Church.

Questions:Have you spoken with a priest? Have you considered RCIA? It is late to come into the Church at this Easter Vigil, but the information, and the opportunities to learn and ask questions could be helpful in your discernment. The priest could best advise you. Do you attend Mass? EWTN is a good place to get information, and to watch Mass. ‘The Journey Home’ is a great program for converts, by and about converts.

My suggestion would be to cross one bridge at a time. I would think you first need to come into the Church.

I will keep you in my prayers.
 
jet100 said:
Hey my name is Cameron and I am 19years old! I was raised Methodist and now presbyterian. For the past year i’ve had the call or urge to join a convent to become a Nun. I’m in nursing school right now and I know my calling is to serve the Lord with nursing.
I’m not catholic, but I would convert to it if I did join a convent.
I have had this weird feeling of incomplete for about 2 or 3years now… I feel like i’m missing something in my life. I crave a simple life devoted to God. I’m a very conserative southern woman. I dress modestly,say and recite my prayers and always quoting bible verses.
My friends and family say I have a glow about me. Gods prestense has always felt extremely close to me. But I still feel like i’m missing something in my life.
I love strict traditions, reciting prayers and verses and doing good work to please my lord.
My family would have a stroke if they knew I was thinking about and praying about becoming a Nun. My mother doesn’t like the idea of me switching demoninations or giving up the hope she would have grandkids.
I can’t tell if I have the calling to be a Nun.
What are the requirements to be a Nun? How long is it? Could I still be a Nurse and a Nun at the same time?
I hope this makes any sense i’m horrible at grammar and writing.
Please ask me any questions and I will try to answer them. I just need some help and understanding…

Thanks,

Cameron
Click to expand...
You write, “I’m not catholic, but I would convert to it if I did join a convent.” I think that, as you are not presently Catholic, the first step would be to become Catholic, and only afterwards consider the convent.

I believe that if you finish your studies of nursing, you can be of great help to a religious order involved in care of the sick and infirm.
 
Thank you all for your advice! I’m just a little lost with my calling for God. I’ve always loved and been fascinated by the roman catholic church. It’s pretty,grace,rules and how it’s run and how we choose to live by. I am planning on going to start to go to mass and talk to the Sisters in my town at my local catholic church. They are the sweetest and happiest ladies i’ve ever seen. They are so in love with God and Jesus.
I crave a more simple life outside this awful world. I want to be around women who love God and love serving him.
I will finish my nursing and be able to serve my lord with nursing.
But i’ve always had a deep feeling that I was called to care for the sickly and infirm and be a Nun. I can’t explain it.
I have my own personal relationship with God. He is like the father I never had. I tell him everything and talk to him like if he was sitting right next to me.
Do yall know any good prayers or bible verses I can read and pray on to help me with my journey?
Thank you so much!
 
Spiritual Communion: O my Jesus I firmly believe that Thou art truely present, Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity in the most Blessed Sacrament. I pray that since I cannot receive Thee sacramentally at this time, that Thou will come into my heart spiritually and enkindle within me the fire of Thy Divine Love. Come take Thy abode in my heart and dwell therein all the days of my life. I welcome Thee and embrace Thee as if Thou are already present.

O my Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary I offer myself to Thee entirely; let it be done unto me according to Thy Word

Of course you can always add your little extra touches to these prayers
 
jet100 said:
I will finish my nursing and be able to serve my lord with nursing.
Click to expand...
Speaking as an ex-nurse, I agree that its a great career in which to serve God. (Well, I would, wouldn’t I?). And there are many religious congregations that include nursing as one of their apostolates.
jet100 said:
But i’ve always had a deep feeling that I was called to care for the sickly and infirm and be a Nun. I can’t explain it.
Click to expand...
Vocational calls are very difficult to explain, but following them in company with God can bring great peace of mind; and I believe that’s true whatever the vocation - married or single life, religious or secular. It doesn’t mean that life is easy, but there is a deeper calmness that comes from being in the right place, even when at the surface level things may be very stressful.😉

Just in case you aren’t aware, the process of conversion to Catholic Christianity usually takes a year or two, and typically religious institutes do not accept candidates until they have been confirmed as Catholics for 3 years or more. That may sound like a long wait, but its small in comparson to a lifetime. It does mean that if you are considering setting out upon this particular journey, it would be a good idea to discuss things with a priest sooner rather than later. Just talking about it doesn’t commit you to anything, but it will help you to discern.

I made my own journey into the Catholic Church 18 years go and more recently entered religious life as a Carmelite friar. I wish you every blessing in discovering the right path to take and will pray for your intentions.
 
Dear Cameron,
I think that the first thing you need to think about is the Catholic faith. You have to find out the Church’s teaching. You have to believe the truth of the Catholic faith first before you can really consider becoming a Catholic nun.
You would need to be a practicing Catholic for a few years before becoming a sister.
The process for becoming a sister varies a bit from community to community. You can visit our website’s formation section to see how it is in our community if you like.
Yes, you can definitely be a sister and a nurse at the same time.
As one of the posters mentioned, it might be a good idea to look into RCIA classes to learn more about the Catholic faith.
God bless you.
 
Peace and Good Cameron !
Your sincerity in the search of Christ’s Will over you strikes me as coragaous.
I am an Austalian Friar who now lives in Italy a Catholic Comunity of Friars and Nuns (Sisters) who want to live ALL of the Gospel with the facts and in the Truth. We also live with out wanting, asking or touching money, not that it’s bad to touch it as also the desciples had a safe keeping, but our hearts have greatly desired to live also as Jesus says: “go with out bread, back pack, cane or money” (Cf. Mk 6, 7-8).
We in our community have a Sister who was not Catholic, but then, attracted to our life style, came to us, drawn by our desire to live the Gospel in a radical way. She then became Catholic. The advise of some of the other people who wrote to you ia also wise, that is, that one must search firstly to enter into the Full Truth through the Catholic Eucharist, yet together with that, it is not enough that it remains on our lips “Your will be done”… but one must swallow the reality of also living the Eucharist, by putting what the Lord asks of us into practice.

I recomend you to check out the website that our Groups of Prayer have opened for us:
www.poorfriars.net

On the first page, there are three choices.
In the the page to the far left: “Consacrated life” you will find in the index a botton called “Apolagetics” (with the icon of an angel). There you can find information on the importance of the Catholic Eucharist etc.

If you click on the lower central page: “Lord what do you want me to do ?”… you will find lots of interesting information in regards to vocational research and “How to hear Gods Call”.

I have also attached a short film that partly expresses our Charisma and partly replies your question over vocational discernment. We hope you enjoy it…

vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=61547007

Best wishes of Holiness and Beatific Immortality !
Friar Anthony.
 
If by ‘need help’ you mean: What is my first step? Then certainly make an appointment to see The Pastor at your Local Roam Catholic Church.

Not only are there the vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience - but through prayer, what devotions do you find yourself ‘drawn’ too? for there are many different Orders out there.
As Catholics, we universally believe the same doctrine. But as people we are also called or lead to God through different devotions and paths.

There are Franciscans, Dominicans, and my favorite The Servites.
I’ve always felt it is through our greatest sufferings that Good enters the world. i.e.: Christ’s Passion and Death - He was The Lamb of God who’s Death gave us Life. He didn’t have to go that route, God could have done anything… didn’t Need to become man, or to die at all… But simply snapped His fingers, blinked His eye - anything! But he choose to suffer and die and to Rise on the third day. Suffering as a His means to Great Glory… There are Orders with special devotion to The Child Jesus… Some who follow in the steps of His Mother as their constant role model in this life, for who would love The Son like The Mother? So many Orders are devoted to Mary, for Christ came to the world through her and many go To Him in the same way, Through The Prayers and guidance of Mary.

So if what you are saying is that you want to live a life with meaning - To follow The Truth with every conceivable step… If you feel drawn to Christ Jesus through full commitment and Love - Then Pray and Pray some more. Go visit The Nearest Priest, and if it feels right, allow him to recommend a good Order and/or Sister to speak with. There are books that list the different Orders and types of Sisters. And think about what you yourself can offer them as well as what they have to offer you. Some teach, some are nurses, and some pray for the world without being “in” the world. Other’s travel to another part of the world. Many choices, but don’t let them scare you or confuse you. Prayer will help lead you forward.
Make an appointment to speak to the Mother Superior of an Order that seems to ‘grab at you’ so to speak…

Also know you will not be asked to make life-time vows. No. Even when you do enter a specific Order it is still a time and period of discernment.
Discerning whether this is the life you are called to - if this specific Order is where you should be.

But do not let fear get in there. If this is where God wants you, follow Him. If it is not, you will know through prayer, as you pray for Truth, and to Love and Serve God in the way He most asks from you.
and you can not go wrong when it is Truth that you actively seek.

So take action
  • take the steps. Act upon what your prayers reveal.
    Knowing and Searching for your path in this life, must of course include action.
    Be not afraid to Follow His Call.
And May His Peace and His Grace be with you always.
 
Dear Cameron,

I am a 50 year old Consecrated Catholic Catechist who is also discerning to become a nun. I have learned much through this journey but am by no means an expert. Here’s what I would do if I were you:

Just as previous posters advised, make an appointment with a local Catholic priest and talk to him about this.

Contact the School Sisters of St. Francis for information about their order. I think you might enjoy learning about them.

Go to Mass daily.

Recite the rosary daily.

If you need a rosary, I am a rosary maker and I would be happy to make one for you free of charge. Just send me an email to paw4all@aol.com.

I can also teach you the prayers and the meditations and would love to do so.

You CAN be a nurse and a nun at the same time. Many orders would love this about you.

When you become a nun, you become the “Bride of Christ” and it is a lifetime commitment. If you are not prepared to make a lifetime commitment such as this, you can become an “Associate” to an order. An “Associate” experiences the rules of the order while remaining a lay person (i.e. you can be married, etc.)

Read this Apostle’s Creed which is said as the first prayer of the Rosary. It is the Creed that Catholic’s believe in. If you believe this Creed, then go ahead and start praying it!

The Nicene Creed is the Creed we say at Mass. Read that one, too.

I’ve also posted the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and Hail Holy Queen. These are the prayers used to say the rosary. The are also said independantly and are good basic Catholic prayers to know.

APOSTLE’S CREED (First Prayer of the Rosary)

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was concieved by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell, and on the third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty.

From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of the body and life everlasting, Amen.

NICENE CREED (the Catholic Creed said at Mass)
We believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of One being with the Father, through Him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation, He came down from Heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered died and was buried. On the third day, He rose again from the dead in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He ascended into Heaven and sits at the Right Hand of God, the Father, the Almighty. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His Kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the ressurection of the dead and the life of the world to come, Amen.

OUR FATHER

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temption, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

HAIL MARY

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

GLORY BE

Glory be the the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

OH MY JESUS

Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins and save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy mercy, Amen.

HAIL HOLY QUEEN

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our light, our sweetness and our hope. To Thee we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To Thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.

Hope this helps! 🙂

God bless you and keep you firmly in the palm of His hand,
Elizabeth
 
I want to thank you all so much for your help and advice. I am praying daily and reciting my Hail Marys and Apostles creed daily.
I am in a Presbyterian church and we say in every service the our father, Nicene Creed, Apostles creed, and glory be. I know all of them by heart and recite them to myself. I am able to recite many bible verses by heart.
I am a volunteer in my church. I help with alot of ministering and cooking meals. I do whatever I can in the church. I’m been active in bible study for 6years now.
I just joined a cares group in my church that cooks meals, ministers the sick,poor and the weak and prays for them.
I feel that i’ve been called to do church work my whole life.
I am going to trust god’s will for my life and let him lead my heart to the right path.
God Bless

Cameron
 
jet100 said:
But i’ve always had a deep feeling that I was called to care for the sickly and infirm and be a Nun. I can’t explain it.
I have my own personal relationship with God. He is like the father I never had. I tell him everything and talk to him like if he was sitting right next to me.
Do yall know any good prayers or bible verses I can read and pray on to help me with my journey?!
Click to expand...
Dear Cameron,
As the majority of the people on here have said, start to path to becoming a Catholic first. Once that’s started, look for a spiritual director, someone who is knowledgeable in the Catholic faith and you trust to help you on your journey. It may just me the priest at your nearby church or someone that a Catholic friend recommended. You may not feel the need for one since your relationship with God is already so strong, but you’d be surprised. God speaks in many ways, and someone who knows your feelings and reasons for wanting to enter religious life can tell you if it’s really religious life or if it is some other path. Sometimes just talking about it constantly with one person can help get it all sorted out.

About three months ago I was in your same situation, well except that I’m a cradle Catholic. I just turned 18 and I wanted to serve God in the way He wanted me too, but I realized that even though I was madly in love with him, He might want me to raise a good family. Talking to my spiritual director really helped me figure out what was my imagination and what were signs from God. I still continued to ask for signs and it was finally when I saw how God had prepared me for religious life throughout my entire life did I see how I was “created for it”. Reading the lives of the saints, especially Saint Teresa of Avila, really helped me too. I also “stumbled across” a couple of websites that really helped me.

This one has more of a general overview of various religious communities and a couple of helpful quizzes: www.vocation-network.org

And this one is mainly more traditional communities (typically ones who still wear some form of habit) but they do a lot of apostolate work (including nursing): religiouslife.com/VocationHome.html
They have a couple good reads on discerning whether or not your call is authentic.

Keep looking and praying. God will give you the strength and the perseverance if you really want it, so constantly ask for it. And if you are worried that you may not understand His divine plan for you, then just ask him to keep telling you. Ask Him to give you signs, hints or even just hit you over the head with a two by four. Once it “clicks” you’ll have found it, although it may take more time than you’d like.
Hopefully that helps some!!

Jessica
(sorry that was kind long 🤷 )
 
**Hi! I notice almost all the orders for sisters have age restrictions. Most want women who are under 30. I’m 56 and I feel like I’m not wanted. Why do the orders have such age restrictions and are there orders geared specifically for older women? Thank you very much. **🙂
 
MISSMOO said:
**Hi! I notice almost all the orders for sisters have age restrictions. Most want women who are under 30. I’m 56 and I feel like I’m not wanted. Why do the orders have such age restrictions and are there orders geared specifically for older women? Thank you very much. **🙂
Click to expand...
You may find this thread helpful:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=307646

In simple terms, older people are not always considered for religious life because it is thought that they may be too set in their ways to adjust to the changes required; and because the intent of religious institutes is the carrying out of an apostolate, whether prayerful or active. This being so, the resources invested in a member are given in the hope of a long and productive life within the institute, which becomes less likely the older the person is. This seems unfair, but religious institutes have to minister wisely and use their limited finances in ways that benefit the common good.

The better news is that some institutes do consider older vocations, and generally the age of entry is higher now than was the case 50 years ago. I was in my 40s when I joined my order, and this is no longer uncommon.

The thread I noted above specifically mentions some forms of religious life for older women. Blessings to you in your search.
 
I have some pretty serious heartbreak of my own right now about religious life, but I wanted to tell you about some beautiful sisters who have a charism of giving beautiful care to the elderly- the Little Sisters of the Poor. They are awesome! (And their foundress was just declared a saint!) It is important for you to enter the Church and receive the grace of the Eucharist! (And then in His Time God will lead you!) It might take a while to know your path!
 
After a couple years aways from this wonderful forum, I am now posting here again. I wonder how you are, Cameron, and hope you might see this note. My life circumstances took me away from posting here. I do not know why, but that is what happened. You all have been in my prayers and I know I have been in all of yours. Thank you for all of your prayers as I do believe that were it not for your prayers, I would not have been able write this post. Thank you.

Meantime, my calling to the Sisterhood has expanded since I last posted. I now feel that I am called to found a new order of sisters. I am still deep in prayer and research about this.

Anyone here know anything about how to start a new order?

Anyway, Cameron … I would love to here how you are doing. I have much to share with you about which previously I was unable to share.

Donna Nobis Pacem
Elizabeth
 
There is an order called the pink sisters in St Louis, Missouri take in sisters that are over 30. There are some other but I can’t remember them but if you google Roman catholic religious sister over age 40.

mountgraceconvent.org/

the pink sisters

Here is a website that I googled that might help:

vocationnetwork.org/articles/show/235

You are in my prayers

Janice
 
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