Has anyone (preferably women) experienced "the calling" after 40?

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Lainey63

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Could you please share your experience? Is a mystical experience? A longing, yearning to be completely united to God? How do you know? Were or are you torn between overwhelming longing and fear? Do you feel like Jesus is the only one for you? I have been going through all of the above-I have filled out info at vocations.com but all the responses I get are either nuns or sisters who don’t wear a habit–I feel more drawn to contemplative-cloistered…I think. Or the travel is too far-money and time off work is a major issue at this time. Also, I try to picture being a nun & quite frankly-I can’t. But at the same token I really don’t know anything about being a nun and the lifestyle. I have been going through this for the past year. I thought for awhile it was because I wanted to run away…but my life has improved dramatically within this year and I am relatively happy BUT the longing & yearning has not gone away. Everytime I start to pray it’s like my heart is literally on fire and Jesus is the love of my life that I have been waiting for all this time! Also can anyone explain to me what a hermit is and how they live? Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you
 
Lainey63 said:
Could you please share your experience? Is a mystical experience? A longing, yearning to be completely united to God? How do you know? Were or are you torn between overwhelming longing and fear? Do you feel like Jesus is the only one for you? I have been going through all of the above-I have filled out info at vocations.com but all the responses I get are either nuns or sisters who don’t wear a habit–I feel more drawn to contemplative-cloistered…I think. Or the travel is too far-money and time off work is a major issue at this time. Also, I try to picture being a nun & quite frankly-I can’t. But at the same token I really don’t know anything about being a nun and the lifestyle. I have been going through this for the past year. I thought for awhile it was because I wanted to run away…but my life has improved dramatically within this year and I am relatively happy BUT the longing & yearning has not gone away. Everytime I start to pray it’s like my heart is literally on fire and Jesus is the love of my life that I have been waiting for all this time! Also can anyone explain to me what a hermit is and how they live? Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you
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Delayed Vocations:

groups.yahoo.com/group/delayed_vocations/

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
Lainey63 said:
Could you please share your experience? Is a mystical experience? A longing, yearning to be completely united to God? How do you know? Were or are you torn between overwhelming longing and fear? Do you feel like Jesus is the only one for you? I have been going through all of the above-I have filled out info at vocations.com but all the responses I get are either nuns or sisters who don’t wear a habit–I feel more drawn to contemplative-cloistered…I think. Or the travel is too far-money and time off work is a major issue at this time. Also, I try to picture being a nun & quite frankly-I can’t. But at the same token I really don’t know anything about being a nun and the lifestyle. I have been going through this for the past year. I thought for awhile it was because I wanted to run away…but my life has improved dramatically within this year and I am relatively happy BUT the longing & yearning has not gone away. Everytime I start to pray it’s like my heart is literally on fire and Jesus is the love of my life that I have been waiting for all this time! Also can anyone explain to me what a hermit is and how they live? Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you
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I know exactly what you mean. Over the past year, I have had an unyielding pull towards religious life. I am in the process of conversion, with God’s grace I will be received at Easter vigil. While I am well aware that the fervor of conversion can be mistaken for a call to religious life, I feel it is something I must at least investigate. In their wisdom the church has put in the place the requirement that one must be Catholic for 2 years before entering religious life, so I have plenty of time to sort this out. But I know exactly the feeling you are talking about. Wanting to devote yourself completely to God & the Church. Wanting Jesus to be the absolute center of your life. As far as being torn, I know all about that. I am a mother of 2 boys in their late teens. So believe me I know about being torn. I can’t help feeling that God is calling me to serve him in religious life, once my children are out on their own. I am not yet 40, 39 to be exact; and I know what you are saying about the non-habited orders being more responsive to women our age, and especially women with children. However, I found several who are willing to begin talking with me, even at this early stage in my discernment. God Bless You, and don’t be afraid. God would never ask anything of us that we aren’t capable of giving. I wish you all the best.
 
Yes and no. Yes, I paid more attention to my possible calling (feeling strongly drawn) toward religious life after 40 (actually, after 50), however I first felt “the calling” when I was 9 and unbaptized. Due to health and age (along with an equally strong draw to my grandchildren) I have realized that it’s a “no go”. At some time in the future I wouldn’t be at all surprised to enter a third order or be an oblate.
 
Lainey63 said:
Could you please share your experience? Is a mystical experience? A longing, yearning to be completely united to God? How do you know? Were or are you torn between overwhelming longing and fear? Do you feel like Jesus is the only one for you? I have been going through all of the above-I have filled out info at vocations.com but all the responses I get are either nuns or sisters who don’t wear a habit–I feel more drawn to contemplative-cloistered…I think. Or the travel is too far-money and time off work is a major issue at this time. Also, I try to picture being a nun & quite frankly-I can’t. But at the same token I really don’t know anything about being a nun and the lifestyle. I have been going through this for the past year. I thought for awhile it was because I wanted to run away…but my life has improved dramatically within this year and I am relatively happy BUT the longing & yearning has not gone away. Everytime I start to pray it’s like my heart is literally on fire and Jesus is the love of my life that I have been waiting for all this time! Also can anyone explain to me what a hermit is and how they live? Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you
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Wow - your post asks so many questions and I don’t know where to start to be of any help to you. Yes, and yes. I have always been fascinated by nuns and at various times in my life I have wanted to be a nun, but I was raised in an agnostic family with no religion at all, so this was really a bit of a fantasy for me.

I worked with Mother Teresa’s nuns in 1975 and wanted to join them but they told me I had to be a Catholic first! 🙂 I was baptised in 1977 but life intervened and I didn’t enter their community after all.

Two years ago, at age 54, I attended a parish renewal and was filled with the Holy Spirit and again experienced a desire to become a nun. I started discerning and have spent a total of ten months living with Carmelites, two months with active communities and two months with hermits (in a laura). Each one of these experiences was valuable to me. I hope to enter Carmel again in May - this time for life. Please pray for me.

I recommend you ask God to send you a good spiritual director, spend time praying about your vocation and asking for guidance from the Holy Spirit, and then start doing some practical things like writing or visiting communities that interest you. It is never too late to answer God’s call.

And yes, the burning in your heart is a beautiful thing - being on fire with love for Jesus is what the human heart was created for! Enjoy this and ask Him to show you what He wants from you. This is a great gift, just to want to serve Him - no matter how you end up doing it. God’s blessings on you. :gopray2:
 
To know that God has called you to be his is truly a beautiful expience. I am not a religious yet, but I do know that the past 2 years have been time of discernment for me and at times I just can’t wait to find the right place, and then at other times I have turned my back on God, feeling that this is just a passing fancy and I will get over it, but the next thing I know that old feeling is coming back. I have been through the I can’t go because of my love for my grandchildren and then it was because I shouldn’t leave my daughter which I will do one day anyway one way or another until my Priest told me all these things were normal for some people and after all the struggles I know now that my discernment is close to over and I feel good about what I’m trying to do and all the road blocks have disappeared no family to care for no bills life is good here but it would be fantastic (for lack of a better to describe it)if I can find and order that would consider me and one I feel right with. And God will make that happen. Thats been my belief, that an older vocation can be very real, even if we don’t have as many years left, God is callling us for some reason so just pray all the time I am really happy that you have found some orders open to older vocations. I’m sure I will to, because I trust in him and he will put me where he wants me but until he says Yes Right Here I will do my part and keep looking.

God Bless
Does anyone know of any orders that will take older vocations? I have been searching for 2 years (55 yr.) and have only found 3 all are Benedictine. I feel more in tune with the Fransican or Carmelite orders probably active/contempletive. I am really interested in the west of the US because there are so few monastic orders their. 🙂 Thank you for listening.
 
Sissysearching said:
To know that God has called you to be his is truly a beautiful expience. I am not a religious yet, but I do know that the past 2 years have been time of discernment for me and at times I just can’t wait to find the right place, and then at other times I have turned my back on God, feeling that this is just a passing fancy and I will get over it, but the next thing I know that old feeling is coming back. I have been through the I can’t go because of my love for my grandchildren and then it was because I shouldn’t leave my daughter which I will do one day anyway one way or another until my Priest told me all these things were normal for some people and after all the struggles I know now that my discernment is close to over and I feel good about what I’m trying to do and all the road blocks have disappeared no family to care for no bills life is good here but it would be fantastic (for lack of a better to describe it)if I can find and order that would consider me and one I feel right with. And God will make that happen. Thats been my belief, that an older vocation can be very real, even if we don’t have as many years left, God is callling us for some reason so just pray all the time I am really happy that you have found some orders open to older vocations. I’m sure I will to, because I trust in him and he will put me where he wants me but until he says Yes Right Here I will do my part and keep looking.

God Bless
Does anyone know of any orders that will take older vocations? I have been searching for 2 years (55 yr.) and have only found 3 all are Benedictine. I feel more in tune with the Fransican or Carmelite orders probably active/contempletive. I am really interested in the west of the US because there are so few monastic orders their. 🙂 Thank you for listening.
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Reading your experience & thoughts are like reading my own-the grandchildren, my daughter, the bills. I have not caught up on all of them but I have made a big dent. I did do an online test on vocations.com and they do send an extensive list and the different orders email, write, call I got quite a few from the west but that is too far for me. I am looking more at the South and the North…East Coast.
 
I’m glad to have found this thread. I’m in my early 50s, feeling a very strong call, and am…Jewish! What on earth?!!

Refaela
 
nunsense said:
Wow - your post asks so many questions and I don’t know where to start to be of any help to you…

I recommend you ask God to send you a good spiritual director, spend time praying about your vocation and asking for guidance from the Holy Spirit, and then start doing some practical things like writing or visiting communities that interest you. It is never too late to answer God’s call.

And yes, the burning in your heart is a beautiful thing - being on fire with love for Jesus is what the human heart was created for! Enjoy this and ask Him to show you what He wants from you. This is a great gift, just to want to serve Him - no matter how you end up doing it. God’s blessings on you. :gopray2:
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I can only second this thought to anyone who is older who may be considering a vocation (or even if you are young) pray and get to a spiritual director for sure. There are orders or communities that accept later vocations but get to a good spiritual director right away… blessings on all who may be on this wonderful path!
 
Hi Lainey,

Oy veh indeed. I have made the decision to approach a parish that I visit about RCIA. I truly hope they don’t think I’m nuts.

Refaela
 
No, no one will think you’re nuts…The Jewish are our elder brothers…we celebrate the birth of a jewish baby every December 12th and Mary was very faithful to her Jewish Faith. So don’t even think that way…but I can identify with exactly how you feel though…because I am getting up the nerve to talk to a priest and look for a spiritual director as I have been advised and I’m thinking that they are going to think I’m crazy as well. And to be perfectly honest…I am.🤷 :cool:
 
Refaela said:
Hi Lainey,

Oy veh indeed. I have made the decision to approach a parish that I visit about RCIA. I truly hope they don’t think I’m nuts.

Refaela
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…as if being nuts disqualified you from becoming a Roman Catholic! You must be new to the CA forums. 🙂

A woman in her 50s from my parish recently joined Madre Antonia’s group, Eudite Servants of the Eleventh Hour, which is based in Tijuana, Mexico. See motherantonia.com/. Most of the women who have associated with Madre Antonia are “late vocations.” I’m sure that there are other religious communities who accept “late vocations” too.
 
Also check out the thread “Rosalind Moss’ New Community” – Rosalind is a convert from Judaism who is apparently starting a religious order that is accepting late vocations to do street evangelism. Not everyone’s ministry, but Rosalind is certainly a good person to contact about your call to a religious vocation.
 
I hope my son doesn’t use this as an excuse to stay at home with us until he is 40 years old! LOL “Dad, I waiting for my calling!”
 
Poor_Clare_tobe said:
I can only second this thought to anyone who is older who may be considering a vocation (or even if you are young) pray and get to a spiritual director for sure. There are orders or communities that accept later vocations but get to a good spiritual director right away… blessings on all who may be on this wonderful path!
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Ok! I finally got the nerve up to call and make an appointment with a priest today! I am looking forward to this!
 
Lainey63 said:
Ok! I finally got the nerve up to call and make an appointment with a priest today! I am looking forward to this!
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*Will be praying for you. One of the best ways to begin the discernment process is to contact your priest. Good luck on where ever the journey takes you!!! *
 
Refaela said:
I’m glad to have found this thread. I’m in my early 50s, feeling a very strong call, and am…Jewish! What on earth?!!

Refaela
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I recommend reading Roy Schoeman’s book “Salvation is from the Jews”.
He prefers not to call his entry into the Catholic Church a conversion, but a fulfilment.
Hiis book is an excellent read - it also gave me a deeper insight into the cardinal role of the Jewish people in my own Faith.

You may also enjoy EWTN’s audio files of interviews with Roy Schoeman and others.

I enjoyed Eugenio Zolli’s book “Before the Dawn” - he was previously Israel Zolli, the Chief Rabbi of Rome during WWII - he adopted Pope Pius’ first name when he entered the Faith.

I hope this helps.
 
All of my life, I have had a strong desire and yearning to become a nun. The intensity waxes and wanes, but it is always there. I am now 50 years old with 3 grown daughters that are not yet married. My husband passed away seven years ago and the past year has found me desperately wanting to go in that direction. I have also been researching possibilities and have ran into many roadblocks. I don’t know what to do for sure but I have to keep heading in that direction…if it is what I am supposed to do, I need to find a way to do it. Good luck on your journey and God bless you on your way!

I love reading everyone’s responses because I then know I am not alone in all of this.
 
I received my call at 20 but am still at it at 39. In my 20s I did try 2 communities. Last weekend I made a Spiritual Exercises retreat with IVE (ive.org) and SSVM (servidoras.org). I highly recommend attending one of these for its own sake but also to meet these religious if they interest you.

This institute has no age limit:

**Q. What is the cut-off age for acceptance into the IVE?

**A. There isn’t one, as such. Certainly most of our seminarians are on the young side, but the oldest man to become an IVE priest was Fr. Samuel Leonard, who was ordained at 70—he was a widowed father of 10 grown children! We make a determination on an individual basis of whether we think someone is called to the priesthood and would be a good fit with the charism of our Institute, and then give it a shot. Certainly older vocations need to have great humility to work on an equal footing with much younger men, and to embrace the challenging way of life that our seminarians and priests live, but all things are possible with God…

This 75 year old widowed priest gave some of the talks and all the sermons at the retreat I attended. This institute, both men and women, has no age limit. However, as the answer above says, it will take great humility and abandonment to God’s will.

My attraction is to monastic/eremitical forms of life but this community is very attractive for an active order. They also have a contemplative branch but all sisters receive the same novitiate formation.

God bless
 
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