Can a divorced woman (outside of the church) become a nun?

  • Thread starter Thread starter SapphireRain
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SapphireRain

Guest
I was baptized into the Catholic church as an infant, but my parents divorced shortly after and I was not raised in the church. I did’t take the other sacraments until my 30’s after I had been married and divorced, but neither was within the church. A priest told me because my marriage was not recognized within the church to begin with that I was free to marry within the church. My question is would I be free to become a nun since my marriage and divorce was not within the church?
 
Potentially. I think you still may be required to get a decree of nullity just as a matter of form but ask your priest specifically about that. I may be wrong. It will differ from community to community. I’m assuming that you don’t have children that are dependents, of course.
 
Yes, as JHFamily has said. I would go ahead and start the process for annulment. Peace.
 
As JHFamily said, it’s going to differ from community to community. Some communities only take women below a certain age. Some will take older women, even those who have been widowed/divorced. It all depends on the community.
 
Have you talked with a religious community? They’ll be the best ones to know what they do and don’t accept.

I know that it’s not impossible for a divorced woman to become a religious since that’s the situation of a friend of mine. I can’t remember now what steps she had to go through regarding her marriage prior to entering.
 
You would have to check with the order you would want to joint.
 
VERY first thing is to speak with the Director of Women Religious at your Diocese or the Vocations Director at a specific order.

Thank you for listening to the voice of God in discerning the Religious life.
 
Yes. In fact, at least 4 foundresses of American religious communities of sisters were divorced–all prior to 1917. There may be others since, but that’s when the bulk of my research ends.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top