Get thee to a nunnery

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kleine_katerine

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Hey,

Before I start I’d like to point out that I’ve only just started the RCIA (two weeks in) so this is a long-term idea. If I could be received into full communion with the Church tomorrow I would, but I know that patience is a virtue and receiving Christ in the Eucharist will be well worth the intensly unbearable wait.

I have been feeling recently that I want to become a nun. I’m single with no kids and feel called more and more to the convent. When I pray I feel this deep sense of peace and joy that I have never felt before. I spend much time at work wishing I could get away to go and pray, read Sacred Scripture or attend weekday Mass. These feelings have been playing on my mind so much of late I’ve done some research into the subject but don’t know quite what to do. Because I have a debt to clear and a dog that would be completely heartbroken if I left I’ve set myself a target of five years to see if this is truly my calling. Part of me is scared that I’m “seeing signs” too early on and may make the wrong decision.

Should I wait the five years out and see how I go or go to someone else for advice? I’m hesitant to ask anyone else purely because I get a little…over enthusiastic and it startles people sometimes.

ttfn and God bless,

Katherine
 
Talk to your RCIA director about getting a spiritual advisor…this is a good way to get started on the path you’re thinking about.

Welcome Home!
 
Katherine:

You may very well be receiving a call to religious life. Many converts do. Or something else may be going on. You remember when Peter, James and John went with Jesus up the mountain of Transfiguration? Peter’s immediate response was (rough paraphrase to follow) let’s build three shrines and stay here forever. This is a natural and healthy response to entering into a spiritual mystic experience.

RCIA and the conversion process should be a spiritual mystic experience and the healthy response is to want to clutch it to your heart and keep experiencing it 24/7 forever. That healthy response could also be misinterpretted as a religious vocation. This is why a spiritual director is a good idea, but you probably have a little leisure to find a spiritual director who is a good fit for you, that is if you don’t find him between now and Easter, that is okay. Study your RCIA lessons. Spend time in prayer. Attend Mass often. Then see what the Holy Spirit sends into your heart.
 
I like your title:D
Just keep praying about it. I have the same feeling at school, I just want to go to adoration all the time. In the end, God can only do things through you if you’re willing, so just remain open to Him and listen intently for His Divine plan for your life. You definitely shouldn’t go straight from RCIA to a convent though. You need to give it some time. Just like the Pharisee said in Acts, if they are of God then they will prevail no matter what we do to them, and if not they will fizzle out. If you wait it out and the conviction strenghtens a thousand times, then maybe you’re meant to be a nun!!👍
 
A little off topic but what’s meant by ‘spiritual director?’ Is that another way of telling me talk talk to my parish priest/deacon or is it something entirely separate?
 
You may indeed be called to the convent, but you will only know at the oint when you are actually called.

In the meantime, slow down and enjoy the process as it unfolds. You need to complete RCIA and usually a spritual director/vocations director will ask you to wait 2 years or so after conversion before beginning the process of entering an order.

I would recommend that you do make the attempt to get to Mass as often as possible. Begin a reguar prayer life (Liturgy of the Hours–start with morning and evening prayer and the rosary). Make a plan to pay off your debt. Many things can happen in 5 years, but those steps will always be beneficial to you no matter which direction your life turns.

Also, check out the vocations forum. There are many people in various stages of discernment and some professed religious who post there.
 
You should probably pose this question in the vocations forum…But …anyway, welcome to the Church…I am a convert too. I did not have those feelings when I converted probably b/c I was close to marrying my husband. The feelings you are having may very well be “the calling” to be a nun…You should talk to some sisters and talk to a priest…God bless you…I hope you become a nun…I think nuns are wonderful…🙂
 
Katherine,

be as enthusiastic with me as you like. I’ve been there and I’m still kinda there. Some of the enthusiasm has left me, but its still there. I’m overjoyed that you feel a call to Consecrated Life. I do have tips to share, however, that should help you and also provide ample warning to help prevent discouragement.
  1. Rejections WILL come. Steel yourself for this part. It may even hammer you over and over. It certainly hammered me over and over, ugh. The rejections and frustration of trying to find and figure out which Order you’re called to will all take the largest toll on you.
  2. Read the various Rules of any Orders that interest you. When you run out, read the Rules of the Orders that don’t interest you. Should you run out of that and still not found one that made you “click”, then its time to consider making a new Order, which is called “laying the foundation” which would make you a foundress. You don’t need to already be a Religious to establish a new foundation, either. However, if you found a Rule that makes you “click”, then its time to compile a list of all the congregations/Orders that follow that Rule and consider writing to them.
  3. Not ALL use email! Some are nicely old-fashioned and insist on written correspondence. Some will have a website. If you’re fortunate, there’ll be a website AND a submission page where you submit your info and get a free packet of info in the postal mail.
  4. Some wear a habit, some do not, some are in-between. Figure out which one the Lord calls you to. If you got that figured out, then you now have a way to narrow down your choices.
  5. Your list may end up long but gradually they will narrow down. Pray and make yourself as regular (as in schedule) as possible, while you prepare. Take advantage of offered postulancies, or you might never know if one you might like will actually suit you. Above all, try not to overwhelm yourself! Its so easy to do this.
  6. I’m nervous about this suggestion, but it might be helpful. If you think you need to learn self-discipline and more reliance on God, then try out a Secular (3rd/whatever they call them nowadays; the name keeps changing! Argh!) Order to get a general feel for the Rule you’re gunning for. This additional education is optional but it might help you better prepare for Religious Life.
  7. Finally, keep in mind that they are all counter-cultural and need time to get used to. Some are self-sufficient whether contemplative or active or semi-something, some are not self-sufficient. These sub-points will take getting used to but should not frighten you…
a. one, two, three, or four, habits and all the related underwear and perhaps nothing else; depends on their definition of poverty

b. chastity/celibacy, willing to give up children for the sake of adopting countless spiritual children, and willing to rely on Jesus no matter what–even when lonely

c. obedience, being willing to obey your superiors and respond well to correction. How well will you handle others? Will you have the patience to deal with an annoying Sister? Do you have the humility to humble yourself and suffer for the world?

And so on. Some pointers you’ll pick up as you go. Always make a retreat that lasts long enough for you to gather realisations from the Lord and bask in the silence. Believe me, its a whole different world inside. Its not Heaven, but its not Hell either. Its a desert of purification for the good of the souls of the world and those in Purgatory.

I hope this helps, and please forgive me if any of this discouraged you. That wouldn’t be my intent at all! 😊
 
I think it’s great that you’re called to being a nun! However, you should find out what being a nun completely entails before you jump in headfirst. Ask about it in RCIA, and find a spiritual director that will be with you through your conversion and know you afterward, as well. They could be a great reference point for following this dream.

Good luck!

(Also, I just want to add, that I thought maybe you were joking at first because the phrase “Get thee to a nunnery” is found in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but the term nunnery at the time meant brothel. :o)
 
What Seremina states is correct, except for one thing–third orders will politely show you the door if you tell them you want to join for the sake of discerning or practice for a religious vocation.

Cloister Outreach will soon be publishing a website called “Discerner Practice” which will be like a third order, but without any vows/promises.

Seremina–lovely to hear from you! Don’t stay a stranger! Check in with us from time to time!

Blessings,
Cloisters
cloisters.tripod.com/
 
Cloisters said:
What Seremina states is correct, except for one thing–third orders will politely show you the door if you tell them you want to join for the sake of discerning or practice for a religious vocation.

Cloister Outreach will soon be publishing a website called “Discerner Practice” which will be like a third order, but without any vows/promises.

Seremina–lovely to hear from you! Don’t stay a stranger! Check in with us from time to time!

Blessings,
Cloisters
cloisters.tripod.com/
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I’m surprised to learn this. Kinda sad, though. Thank you for the correction. You’d think Third Orders would understand. Perhaps Lay orders are different? Your Discerner Practise sounds wonderful. smiles Its good to see you again; I’ve missed you and I will probably email you.
 
FONT=“Arial”]Hello, why would you like to join a nunnery? Have you tried visiting a nunnery or spending a weekend to understand the life. You refer to your dog etc. Remember the hymn, ‘follow me, leave your home and family …’ you leave everything behind.Being a spinster is not the only criteria.
Whilst you consider the above, actually, I too would have loved to join a nunnery.
I lead a spiritual life and will be establishing my own Order for lay people. Irrelevant of your age, financial circumstances. However the main criteria is vow of Chastity.
Perhaps this might be more suitable?
May Jesus inspire and guide you.:highprayer:
 
I know how you feel. Im in RCIA right now as well, and all my life I have wanted to be a Monk. I’ve already started talking with the local Monastery.

Nothing seems like a greater way to live than that of a Monk.
 
Third orders have an identity of their own as a member of whichever family (Dominican, Franciscan. . .) and really aren’t a place to “practice” for a different order. I have plenty to do to learn to live as a Secular Franciscan; it’s every bit as much a lifelong vocation as a first or second order. No offense taken 🙂 I think it might be like telling someone to go to nursing school to check out what it would be like to be a doctor. There are lots of similarities, but nursing is an absolutely legitimate and necessary profession on its own, and nurses wouldn’t really like the idea that they are just “practice” doctors.

That said, you can certainly show up at Secular gatherings as a way to meet others with a vocation and to meet friars and sisters in that sort of setting. In fact, there might be Seculars who know enough religious personally to recommend people for you to talk to. That might help if you don’t like the idea of calling someone out of the blue. I have a friend who is a Benedictine oblate, and while I don’t know if their meetings are open to visitors or not, they have close contact with a particular monastery and would have some insight for you.

You have lots of fun exploring to do. While many orders will ask you to be Catholic for a couple years before you do anything “official,” you are free to do lots and lots of research and reading and make retreats. You can read founders’ writings, read formation texts, look at the FAQ on websites. . .Please do take advantage of everything your local parish offers, too.

BTW, my spiritual director happens to be our local deacon. There is some special training involved, and not every priest or deacon or pastoral minister will have the interest or talent to do direction, but it never hurts to ask! :yup:
 
5 yrs is a realistic and prudent plan, but after two years of being a Catholic you should start talking to different congregations and begin discernment.
 
Father_Bill said:
5 yrs is a realistic and prudent plan, but after two years of being a Catholic you should start talking to different congregations and begin discernment.
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Fr. Bill:

Are or were you the vocations director for the Jesuit Chicago Province?
 
Father_Bill said:
No, I’m a diocesan pastor
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Well, it’s nice to meet you. A long time ago I knew a Jesuit, Fr. Bill Verbryck who was the Vocations Director for the Chicago province. I lost track of him, and considering the topic of this thread, it made sense to me that he might post on it if he came across it.

I hope that all is well with your parish and your diocese.
 
can i just say you are being harsh on your self in your title , nunnery is the polite tern for a brothal. nuns have never lived in nuneries they live in convents.

try spending a few weeks with your chosen order on a retreet this way you find out if you can do the lifestyle before you sign up as a novice .
 
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