Called to be a Cloistered Nun..but only 14 yrs old

  • Thread starter Thread starter _ServusDomini
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
go to your vocations director at your Parish and tell your parents. Do not do anything that does not include them.
you are a minor, we are indebted to council you to seek the advice of your parents and your Priest

You should not be joining web sites, news groups, etc without your parents permission about what you are doing.

i pray for your vocation
 
I personally know two priests who entered the minor seminary at 13 years old. The oldest recently passed away, but he was able to celebrate 60 years in the priesthood and he was one of the most holy men I’ve ever known. I will pray for you, sweet girl. Talking to your priest and your parents too would be good for you. And I’m certain that any convent would be happy to have you for a weekend retreat.
 
Definitely ask about retreat opportunities.
My diocese offers Quo Vadis days for young men discerning a priestly vocation.
Your pastor may have the Vocations catalog. Many dioceses do offer special retreats specifically for teens and young adults discerning religious life.
There is much more information available now than when I was 14 and simply answering ads clipped from the Catholic Digest.
 
recentrevert said:
The advice of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church and founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is for those seeking to enter religion, such as you are, to avoid telling your parents. I believe it was him or St. Thomas Aquinas (Doctor of the Church) who said to seek counsel only from those who will support your vocation. The reason for this is that the natural affection that parents have for their children will often lead them to go to great lengths to persuade them not to enter because they dread losing them and even pious parents will try to keep their children from the service of God.
Click to expand...
This is absolutely correct. Saint upon saint say to avoid telling your parents.

Now, let me tell you the story of my daughter, who is 18 and entering the cloister on September 12. She has known about her vocation since she was about 7, so she has been doing a lot of waiting. However, during that time of waiting, she dedicated herself to becoming more virtuous and was always provided a cheerful, helpful hand around the house. She would sneak off at some point during the day for spiritual reading combined with meditation. In other words, she has been preparing herself for this life for a long time, and she does seem ready.

At 16 she began writing the one community she was interested in. About this time, she also asked a priest of holy repute to become her spiritual director. It took her a little while to get used to speaking with someone about her spiritual life, but when she did, she found great comfort in it. He helped her to understand what was drawing her to religious life and the community she was interested in, in particular. He did not try to dissuade but lead her to greater understanding. A spiritual director is often the one who will speak to the parents about a child’s vocation when the time is right. If you are in a parish with a good priest, you could speak to him in the confessional, and no one would know. But at 16, you may have the ability to schedule direction times.

Still, there was waiting to do. The community did not permit a visit until she was 18, and they felt that she seemed to have a vocation there. Then, things went very quickly. Her visit was in April, and now she is entering in September, so less than 6 months.

So, I guess the gist of what I’m saying is that, yes, you have a lot of waiting to do, but do not waste that time. The progress you make now can be very valuable once you enter religious life.
 
This is not a matter of disobeying parents but rather keeping her vocation from them until the time is ripe. They simply do not need to know, and it is better coming from a spiritual director. If you read any book of moral theology, it will tell you that parents have no business making this decision for their children, and many mortally sin by dissuading their children.

If you note, I encouraged a growth in virtue, and particularly being cheerful and helpful in the home. “Obedience is the sanctity of children.” Ven. Anne Guigne. Be obedient, yes certainly, but hold off telling them about your vocation.
 
JHFamily said:
This is not a matter of disobeying parents but rather keeping her vocation from them until the time is ripe. They simply do not need to know, and it is better coming from a spiritual director. If you read any book of moral theology, it will tell you that parents have no business making this decision for their children, and many mortally sin by dissuading their children.

If you note, I encouraged a growth in virtue, and particularly being cheerful and helpful in the home. “Obedience is the sanctity of children.” Ven. Anne Guigne. Be obedient, yes certainly, but hold off telling them about your vocation.
Click to expand...
I disagree. It’s wrong for her to be secretive and hide her feelings about something this important from her parents.
 
Last edited:
The church doesn’t allow young people of your age to commit to be a nun. You have to be a little bit older.

In the mean time, you can continue to pray, go on retreats if they are available for you and work on your education.

If, when you achieve your majority and become an adult, you are ready to enter a cloister, that will be the time to do that.

My mum told me she wanted to be a nun when she was a young girl. Sometimes plans change.
 
Write to the nuns and go visit them. Even if you go for just 2-3 days. You will have the chance too talk to the Vocation Director. She probably has a lot of experience and can give you the information you want and the advice you need.
You don’t have to tell your parents that you want to enter religious life. If you tell them chances are that they won’t take you serious and they probably get worried. If you visit the nuns tell them that you are just interested how cloistered nuns live or something like that.
Since you like the Nobertine priests you should talk about your feelings to one of them. Just tell him what you told us 😊 Be honest and open.
 
Do not give advice to a minor that opposes the instruction of a parent or legal guardian.
From the terms of service for CAF.
 
Last edited:
The parents need to wait and see if their child truly has a vocation.

And, if they do, it would be selfish if they would try to talk them out of it. In fact I remember a priest saying that parents should not push their children into a vocation, nor should they try and stop them if they are discerning a vocation.
 
_ServusDomini said:
I have for quite a while now been discerning a vocation to the consecrated life. I am now certain that God is calling me to enter into a cloistered community of nuns. My parish and former school (k-8) is run by Norbertine priests and I have great respect for them and a great love of their way of life. There is a community of cloistered Norbertine nuns that I know of and wish to join. I am only 14 years old right now, a freshman in high school. I would enter the community right now if I were able. However, I will probably have to wait until I am 18. I have told no one about this decision. I will try to speak to a priest about it, but any time I think about what I would say, my words sound fake and empty. How should I talk about this? Should I tell my parents? Should I tell anyone about this? And when? Is it better sooner than later? Please pray for me.
To find the nuns’ website (which explains their way of life), look up “Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph”. It will be the top choice.
Click to expand...
May Jesus Through Mary lead you to where He would have you be.

DO talk to a priest and try to pray the rosary before doing do; then be frank and upen your heart to him and THEN TAKE HIS ADVICE

God Bless you, pray very much,
Patrick
 
JHFamily said:
The saints disagree with you.
Click to expand...
have you read CAF rules

#11Do not offer or solicit medical, psychiatric, psychological, or legal advice. Do not give advice that is contrary to civil law. Do not give advice to a minor that opposes the instruction of a parent or legal guardian. All such discussions should be directed to the proper authorities: parents, guardians, therapists, parish priests, or primary care
 
Those saints lived in very different times and in very different cultures to the culture of today.
 
This doesn’t need to be hidden in the terms of service, it needs to be a banner headline on the forums’ homepage.
 
Roseeurekacross said:
Do not give advice to a minor that opposes the instruction of a parent or legal guardian.
Click to expand...
I didn’t notice that they gave instructions in this regard. I did direct her to a priest, preferably her parish priest if he is good and holy.
 
I just have to say that this post brought me to tears. It is so beautiful to see someone so open to religious life. God bless you on your journey. Perhaps the bible phrase ‘love is patient’ might help? From my experience when I am unsure who to tell or what to do, I just have to wait until the road becomes clear. God loves you, He will speak to you in a way that you understand, at a time that He chooses. It might be good to wait and see.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top