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

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lainey63
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Cloisters said:
She sent some of her nuns from AL to AZ. It’s known as a foundation.

desertnuns.com/

Blessings,
Cloisters
Click to expand...
I noticed that the sisters, who have a lovely charism, state that one of the requirements to qualify is being between 18-35. Are they still open to older women ?
 
Desert Nuns…
From what I understand from their website they don’t take older vocation’s past thirty five. You can check with them if they make any exceptions, but they probably won’t go much past a year or two over that age. The Benedictine Monastery in Canyon TX takes women to the age of 60. I have been in contact with them, they are a self supporting comtemplative order, they support themselves with different things they make and do in there monastery. They seemed very nice. They do wear a habit.
Blessings
Sissy 😃
 
eremos: Are you discerning joining the SSVM?

I’ve noticed that lately, there has been an increasing number of CAF users in the US asking about the IVE or SSVM on this forum.
eremos said:
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
Click to expand...
 
ack:

The SSVM were recommended to me by a friend and I attended the Spiritual Exercises a few weeks ago. I attended primarily as a preparation for discerning in general. They are a very attractive group though and the retreat was very helpful. At this time, I am focusing on the Hermits of Bethlehem. I’m not closed to SSVM but so far the spiritual arrows point to Bethlehem.

God bless
 
Greetings to all!

I often have felt like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in that Christmas show that plays each year, “Why am I such a misfit?” No, I am not lamenting being “irregular”, but exactly the opposite. Much thanks goes to Fr. Jeffery Tigyer & Gemma, but now not only feel normal, but also renewed, refreshed, worthy and more in love with Jesus than ever before.

Father suggested that I put feelers out at every opportunity, along with praying to the Holy Spirit for like minded women or women who, for whatever their reasons, feel called but have strong ties at home., yet feel the call to consecration, send them (or yourself) in my direction. I am almost finished composing my rule. Many things I have already in place, but am open to all in other situations where they are called, but not sure of their acceptance for whatever reason. Anyway, if you know of anyone who might be interested, give them my address: irisfromohio@gmail.com. I am open to all forms of discussion here and would love to share my ideas & hear new ones

Since I have been following my rule, weaving it into my daily schedule, I also consecrate everything I do all day that is good to Jesus. I pray for the unborn, for the souls who do not accept Jesus into their hearts and for increased vocations for Mother Church. My daughters see a noticeable happy & calm look on my face. Most importantly, as I spoke with Father the other day, I smelled roses. I haven’t felt that in 10 years, but Our Lady always lets me know when I am pointed in the right direction. What a blessing to have her as an adviser!

Peace & prayers
Iris Marie <><,
irisfromohio.blogspot.com/
 
Sissysearching said:
Desert Nuns…
From what I understand from their website they don’t take older vocation’s past thirty five. You can check with them if they make any exceptions, but they probably won’t go much past a year or two over that age. The Benedictine Monastery in Canyon TX takes women to the age of 60. I have been in contact with them, they are a self supporting comtemplative order, they support themselves with different things they make and do in there monastery. They seemed very nice. They do wear a habit.
Blessings
Sissy 😃
Click to expand...
There is a Dominican order in Nashville, TN.that is quite large. What about them?
 
irisfromohio said:
Greetings to all!

I often have felt like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in that Christmas show that plays each year, “Why am I such a misfit?” No, I am not lamenting being “irregular”, but exactly the opposite. Much thanks goes to Fr. Jeffery Tigyer & Gemma, but now not only feel normal, but also renewed, refreshed, worthy and more in love with Jesus than ever before.

Father suggested that I put feelers out at every opportunity, along with praying to the Holy Spirit for like minded women or women who, for whatever their reasons, feel called but have strong ties at home., yet feel the call to consecration, send them (or yourself) in my direction. I am almost finished composing my rule. Many things I have already in place, but am open to all in other situations where they are called, but not sure of their acceptance for whatever reason. Anyway, if you know of anyone who might be interested, give them my address: irisfromohio@gmail.com. I am open to all forms of discussion here and would love to share my ideas & hear new ones

Since I have been following my rule, weaving it into my daily schedule, I also consecrate everything I do all day that is good to Jesus. I pray for the unborn, for the souls who do not accept Jesus into their hearts and for increased vocations for Mother Church. My daughters see a noticeable happy & calm look on my face. Most importantly, as I spoke with Father the other day, I smelled roses. I haven’t felt that in 10 years, but Our Lady always lets me know when I am pointed in the right direction. What a blessing to have her as an adviser!

Peace & prayers
Iris Marie <><,
irisfromohio.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...
There are secular orders of Franciscans and Dominicans in a lot of parishes. These are not priests or nuns but lay people who embrace the particular orders.
 
Thank you, but we do have Dominican and Carmelite Third Orders. There are also Franciscan Seculars here, but I am interested in a deeper, more permanent consecration than that offers. I had already checked into that. Father & I are thinking of doing something different. Like I said in previous posts, I will live the life of a Consecrated Hermit if I must, but I am inviting people to join me also. If it is God’s will, it will happen.
 
I have found my calling. I have finally figured out why things have happened to me and why I have obsessed on some things and not others. And it has led me to ‘fight islam’, or basically getting the word out what their agenda is. I won’t go into it here since you can take a look at some posts via my profile to find out about islam.

And 9/11 was the turning point that led me to obsessively read (koran, hadiths, history, etc) which has led me to the point where I now actively work to get the word out about islam - many times even to our government leaders, help in Act for America, and have even emailed the Pope (I don’t know who reads the posts or what, but at least I try).

I don’t want any child condemned to islam.

And this has all led me back to my Catholic roots too. In doing all of this I have become much stronger in my faith. And all the things that I thought were questionable, eg: guardian angels and what the heck are they about! and also pure evil and the face of evil and how fooled humans are by it.

When I was a young woman I wanted to be a nun, but something just wasn’t right about that decision. And it has always been in the back of my head. But, you know - time passes, things happen, life goes on and I have life experiences that has just led me to where I am now. And I do indeed believe that my angel has guided me to this point. Yes, I have not been perfect and I am sure I have been a disappointment to my angel quite often, but in the end - here I am.

I don’t think that all ‘callings’ are to the clergy, nor do I think that all callings are to the regular things that we think of - clergy, marriage, mother, father, etc. Some are called to do things that take time and make them not blend in with others so easily. but, I cannot go to bed at night unless I do what I have to do and I know that when I die and can say ‘yes, Lord, I have tried to make sure that no ones child is condemned to islam. I have tried to get people off their behinds and realize what danger we are in and what a unique time we are in to be able to do things that other generations have not been able to do without either dying, converting or being subjugated.’ It is NOT a sin to tell what islam is all about - it is the antithesis of what Jesus taught. Jesus is the Light, the Salvation, and islam is the night, the darkness (of the soul).

Don’t worry, I won’t post anymore on this thread if it bothers anyone. I don’t want to ‘steal’ it away. But, I was ‘called’ after 40 to do this and before I realized it I was basically just ‘walking along in life’ aimlessly and not very religious at all.
 
irisfromohio said:
Thank you, but we do have Dominican and Carmelite Third Orders. There are also Franciscan Seculars here, but I am interested in a deeper, more permanent consecration than that offers. I had already checked into that. Father & I are thinking of doing something different. Like I said in previous posts, I will live the life of a Consecrated Hermit if I must, but I am inviting people to join me also. If it is God’s will, it will happen.
Click to expand...
Two or more consecrated hermits living in one house constitutes a skete. If they’re on the same property, it’s a laura.

Would you plan for them to follow your rule, or their own? Each diocesan hermit is a charism.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
I want to thank everyone who reads my words. Our Lord knows how much I like being heard… but, I have finally finished a third blog. This one is personal and it took a lot to leap over the hurdle that is my lack of self confidence to compose. But it is there. If you feel the need, do read it at your convenience.

I am filled with zeal these days. I keep hearing Our Lady proclaim The Magnificat over and over again. That right there speaks to my state in life at the moment.

I pray you all are finding your peace this day!

Iris Marie <><

irisfromohio.blogspot.com/
 
Just one more thing… I do a lot of that… about my journey towards a deeper commitment & consecration. I have been in communication with a few other women, two in particular, who are attracted to my rule and my interpretation of consecration for women who are tied to living outside of a community. The Oblate Sisters of Mary Magdalene may be more than a dream or mere idea. They will be following the same rule. I have buried my nose in Canon Law for quite some time… 10 years to be exact. I am still not ruling out the life of a hermit, but I am committed to leaving it all in the hands of the Holy Spirit. My latest entry in my blog (sorry, not trying to toot my own horn) sheds some light on my line of thinking. :Like Mary Magdalene, I have been seeking the living among the dead… in so many ways. But at least I was right, that I am not alone in believing that there are other women out there, who never gave this way of life a thought.

Again, it’s up to the Holy Spirit. I am merely His handmaid and will go where He wants me.
 
Friends in Christ,

I am asking for your prayers.:gopray2:

It appears that a new group is forming, The Oblate Sisters of Mary Magdalene.
Now, baby steps and a lot of prayer & guidance from the Holy Spirit, I feel
movement. I am seeing more & more each day that if I allow Him to show me the
way, it’s like the field of dreams… build it, a mission to bring Christ to
all that is my world, and they will come.

Please pray for me!
 
irisfromohio said:
Friends in Christ,

I am asking for your prayers.:gopray2:

It appears that a new group is forming, The Oblate Sisters of Mary Magdalene.
Now, baby steps and a lot of prayer & guidance from the Holy Spirit, I feel
movement. I am seeing more & more each day that if I allow Him to show me the
way, it’s like the field of dreams… build it, a mission to bring Christ to
all that is my world, and they will come.

Please pray for me!
Click to expand...
Congratulations! I’ll be praying for you!
 
As Ronald Reagan might say, “…here I go again”. But this time for sure! Thanks to all of your prayers, the Holy Spirit is definitely in motion.

My parish priests are supporting my new group, Oblate Sisters of Mary Magdalene. They see the need, they love the charism and rule. Moreover, they have given me 100% support in approaching the bishop when the time is right. So, now I can actively ask the Holy Spirit to help me bring interested people to the fold. My target is people who have felt “misfit” for any reason. Disability, young children at home as a single mother, widows, divorced/annulled & Anglican and Orthodox sisters if they have permission from their church. They will have to pray the Apostles Creed daily though.

So there it is, if you are interested, just contact me here. If you know someone longing for that deeper commitment, but have been discouraged, I am the Statue of Liberty and my congregation will be the Ellis Island:D Seriously, always remember us. I have the rule available if anyone wants to see it.
 
I know it has been a long time since this last post but just in case someone takes a look, there are several communities that take late vocations.

I was at one in Missouri last fall. Here is the website:

www.marythefont.org/

You can email them for information about the Society of our Mother of Peace.

I 56 years old and have been discerning a vocation to the religious life. I desire so much of Jesus and want to serve him with everything that is in me. I also feel a calling on my life but not sure if it is to live in a community.

I did have a supernatural conversion where Jesus took me as his own. He works differently with each of us in a way that is tailored made for us according to where we are in life.

I find it interesting to hear and read how people are called to the Catholic Church and the religious life.

I am a convert (2005). We all have a story.

May God bless you and may you follow Jesus where ever you are needed.

Kathy
 
I will have to check out that website, Kathy, but I have an ulterior motive here. I have posted a new blog on irisfromohio.blogspot.com/. I invite you to check it out. AND I DEMAND
THAT YOU LOVE IT!!! Just kidding. But, thought I would let you know. just in case you are interested…

I am your humble (NOT) sister in Christ,
 
Hello,

I know of one women in her 50s who just became a novice with the Daughters of the Heart of Mary. Seems their age range is quite wide: 25 to 55.

Why not take a look at their web site. dhmna.org

Blessings!
🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top