Being "Too Old" is Getting Old

[barb_finnegan]

Since Holy Thursday, April 2007, The Sisters of the Real Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ was started by myself and another Sister in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Our “Project” to form a religious community of consecrated Sisters is meant for the Church’s work of teaching the true Catholic faith, especially the Real Presence of Jeus in the Blessed Sacrament, to pray for Priests and to teach the traditions and truth of our faith by using Fine arts to teach the Sacred. We will provide events, presentations, fine dinners, pilgrimages, performances by using the Arts, writing, music, acting, architecture and even culinary arts. We will have no age limit and we are willing to take women who have health challenges as long as she can care for herself. We participate at the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite Mass and at the Novus Ordo. We pray and chant the entire Divine Office (so we are monastic), follow the Rule of St. Augustine and wear a long black tunic habit and veil. Please call or write to us today. 1-773-984-8725, 773-582-5282 or P.O. Box 587 Summit, IL 60501. God Bless You! —Sister Kathleen Marie

How nice to hear of this, Sister!

I’ll be 55 next month…but I’m not sure that, if I did have a vocation, I’d go into an ‘active’ one. I’m more on the contemplative side.

And I’m not at all ‘artistic’, in the creative sense! Can’t draw a straight line, either!

Yet this is a good idea that you have!

 

[jerseygene]

To Anode,
I am 55. I appreciate what you are saying. Unfortunately, there is only so much room to make a point. IOne of the thing s I was trying to say is that, one I was in public school. I did not have anyone at the the age of 8, 9, 10 years old or older come and say to me, hey go talk to this person or see the priest after mass one Sunday. That was then . Now If someone wants to know more and express their feelings, with all that is going on with the church, its like they ae afraid to be seen doing anything about this. And, if the want to talk to their friends about it, they can’t because they would get nothing but negative remarks and ridicule about their feelings (calling). I truly understand what you are saying, I do, but we are in a different world today, but as far as being a catholic and want to persue a vocation has not changed. Many priests have been accused of various things all ofthe time and sometimes its right in someones backyard. If they want to start asking about a vocation, it certainly puts a damper on it. These opinions and comments I am making are just from my own dealings when I was younger and what I have been seeing and dealing with when I hear a young person, and a few older say when the subject comes up. The past few years I sometimes get into this subject with a group of people. I look to see if there is something that has stopped them from going on with what they want.

As far as irritating priests and sponsors, that is not my intec=ntion at all. I was sin=mply saying this could be an avenue to get them started and let them know that they can do this and still have everything good in their life. Put then in the right direction so to speak. Not to walk them through this. Those great people would continue to do the great things that they do. THis is just a way of letting them see that they can talk, ask questions, and more importantly with their own peers and never worry about any backlash because of their callings or feelings. What I am trying to say is that we are losing people on a daily basis thar want a vocation. I am one. I regret I didn’t know what to do when I was that young to know what I was encountering, and there was something I could have done even at that age. That’s the main thing, losing so many priest and brothers. Nothing more and nothing less. There is so much I would like to say abouyt this but space is limited here. And what I am say is strictly my own encounters and personal feelings on this, and what I have heard from other people. As far as me, I still feel that calling and its stronger than its ever been in my entire life. But at my age, its not an easy thing to do. If I can find a way to bring more people toa life of God, then that would make me very happy. I think we all agree, this is something that should be going on 24/7. If you want to talk more to me about it, I would be more than happy to talk me here. Just ask. Thnx Gene

 

[TeresaAnn]

Gene, I think you have a wonderful idea. I agree with you, little ones just don’t know or have the confidence to seek out the answers they need. It would have impacted me when I was a child. Definitely worth looking into further. I hope you do.

God Bless,
Teresa

 

[jerseygene]

Dear Teresa. Thanks for your response. I am limited here to make my point in more detail . Basically, what I am trying to get across is to point someone in the right direction, give them the opportunity to ask what otherwise might seem like a ridiculous question, doing in a peeer environment so that after they are done talking to this Brother, they would not be afraid to continue to talk to ech other about their feelings. The intimindation fator both with their friends and family is eliminated., giving them the opportunity to go and talk to their priest or whoever they feel comfortable talking to. When there is someone beside you persuing the same thing encourages them to go on. This Brother that would come and see them would be of a special breed. He would put himself down to their level and their would be no one else present with the kids. He would to use use one of their terms, hang out with them for a day or two and let them see that he is not an authirity figure but someone to let them just be themselves and open up as much as they want.

I know now what I felt and I didnt know hat to do. I had no guidance. I have toalked to many people that would be priests or brothers now if they had someone to tell them yes you sound like you have a calling, now this is what you do and who to talk to and so on. And they key is having another friend alongside that id sldo going through this. If an order of this type could be started and this would be all they do and there is the right people in the order, this could turn out to be something great. This is something that I feel in my heart and soul. I sometimes bring up the subject when I am at a gathering just to see that this goes on. Yes, there are people, young and old that are very interested in doing this, but when they here the people arounnd then, be it parents, or friends, the become intimidated, and I am being kind here, and they lose the interest. One of the most common responses is “Not my son.” You all can figure out what I am talking about. I am puttung this here just to see the kind of reaponse, how many people will admit this. I would join the order tomorrow if this could come about. I feel very deeply about this. Another point is that the older person coming down to their level and allowing them to really say and ask wht it isthat they feel and the more they want to know and what direction to go. And the fact that this brother could later talk to the family and explain that this is what will make their child happy and what its all about, I can only see good coming from this. This order would cover the entire country and who knows, maybe across the world one day, but this country has alot of problems with children and even some older people going into a vocation. Go around and talk to them see if they open up to you. Its only a hurdle but its a very big one. I believe it can be taken down. Lets see. Thans again Teresa and anyone else that istakingthe time to read this.

 

[jerseygene]

Dear Teresa,

I just wanted to try to clarify my thinking a little more and also try to proof my typing. Sorry about not proofing last time. The point that I am trying to make about creating an order like the one I am talking about is not one that will work with the young people in persuing their vocation. Quite to the contrary. The brother that goes and hangs out with these young people is to let them, and with their peers, this is one of the keys, to open up with their feelings, talk and ask questions with their own peers. Put them intouch with people around their own age that now they feel they can work with their feelings and explore want they need to know together. They don’t have to worry about sneaking a book out to get an answer or who is looking t what they are reading, etc. Another important part of this is to get this whole idea away from a classroom environment, For the time the Brother is with them he puts himself dowm to their level, creating an atmosphere of ease and information and a beginning of exploring what they are thinking of doing. Someone who has a calling aches inside to want to fulfill this. To be afraid to ask or bring it up to their family is torturous to say the least. This unannounced session that I am talking about would only last 1-3 days depending on the circumstances. An environment ( a non-classroom type ) that will let them open completely with no teachers or anyone else but this special Brother to get the ball rolling. He would have to be like one of them.

I think you can get the picture I am talking about. The last day or evening that the Brother is around is mainly to explain what their children are going through. How painful, yet joyous this is for them. To support them as a family. The mission the Brother would have per visit would be short but very opening for so many priest and Brothers that the church is losing. I am 55 y/o and I know that my life a a brother or priest is passing me by but this is one that I would give my heart and soul to. I love St Francis of Assisi and all day long I look at pray at the Franciscan cross and ask the Lord if I am asking the impossible and all I get is more into what this would be like and hearing a few years later that the people entering the seminaries have grown beyond anyones’ expectations. Unfortunately, I don’t see some preist coming to me and saying, WoW!, lets do thius and do it now. I would have a robe on tomorrow if that would happen. I talk to St. Francis every evening and hope that I will hear something one day. Just thinkk about this little man what he did for the church. He wasn’t so little because of his love for the Lord. I cannot swallow that our love for who we are is going down. I will always do my part somehow to never let this happen. Plese feel free to contact me jerseygene958@hotmail.com. I welcome any discussion (pro or con) about this. God Bess. Gene