How do I know if becoming a nun is a calling or a stage young Catholic women go through while figuring out their life?

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CheyenneK

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Hi! I am a 25 year old convert of about two years to the Catholic faith. My dad is Lutheran and my mom has always been Catholic. I started attending Mass with mom in my early college years. I would carefully listen to the priests words. He talked about being Christ-like in thought, word and deed. I was drawn to learning more. At this stage, it was inquiry. I had been praying about it, wrestling the idea around in my head. This continued until the Easter Vigil. I remember crying watching the confirmation of the RCIA class before me. There was so much beauty in it and I was drawn to make it my reality. I enrolled in RCIA and was confirmed. I loved the open discussion format with papers, Cathechism, breaking apart the Nicene Creed and Our Father, studying the Old Testament. We were encouraged to ask questions and my knowledge of my new Catholic faith was greatly expanded. The RCIA director had encouraged us to get involved in our parish, saying it was not only a great way to get know others, but find something that means a lot to you. A year or so later, I was led by I believe the Holy Spirit, to a video series by Bishop Barron. It was led by Legion of Mary. Since it was a potluck and I hadn’t signed up, I almost didn’t go. I was encouraged to go anyway. I talked to Legion of Mary members who invited me to come to the weekly meetings where we pray the Rosary. A few months later, I made my promise and became an active member of Legion of Mary. I love praying the Rosary and the hospital ministry. We visit patients weekly to pray and see how they are doing. Although I tend to be shy and anxious, I enjoy it.
My question is how do I know if becoming a nun is a calling or if it’s a stage that young, Catholic women tend to go through while figuring out their life? I currently work in a resturaunt. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in an unrelated field, but I’m sure I no longer want to pursue that path. Is this God saying maybe I should consider? I know nuns do work in the community like I do in the hospital ministry. That along with liking praying the Rosary is why I am trying to piece it together. I don’t think I’m seriously considering becoming a nun at this point, but thoughts and opinions shared would be greatly appreciated.
 
CheyenneK said:
My question is how do I know if becoming a nun is a calling or if it’s a stage that young, Catholic women tend to go through while figuring out their life?
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Go visit the local nuns or religious sisters!
 
Welcome to CAF, CheyenneK!

I would get a spiritual director, and contact the diocesan vocations director. Always look locally first. If your own diocese doesn’t have convents, look at those around you. I’ve worked with vocations for 30 years, and it’s almost unbelievable how many people have found their vocations in the diocese next door.

You won’t have to worry about the age limits. You’re well under the usual cutoff age of 35. Your Bachelor’s degree will be an additional plus. The Sisters of Life actually require their candidates to have their Bachelor’s.

Just work on being a good Christian. God will speak through events.

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
CheyenneK said:
Is this God saying maybe I should consider?
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Prayer is the first step. If this desire persists over time, I’d suggest you seriously consider whether or not you are being called to religious life.

I think we often times believe that this is a once and for all decision we make just for ourselves. It isn’t. This would be a decision you come to over a long period of time in consultation with others along the way.

Why not start by talking to your priest? You’ll need someone to advise you. You might eventually call the vocations office of your diocese. They’ll have someone who can assist you to figuring out your steps. If there is a particular community you are interested in, you may eventually contact them. Maybe even do a retreat weekend to see what it is all about. All of this could happen well before you’ve made a decision to enter religious life or not.

Take your time. Pray. Seek guidance from others.
 
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Thing is, discerning a religious vocation is a very gentle process.

First, become Catholic.

Next, talk to the Vocations Director at your Diocese or at the order to which you feel drawn. Go to a “come and see” weekend at a couple of places. Even try a novitiate year, there are steps before one makes final vows (the steps are not weeks long line in the movies, but, take years).
 
Speaking personally it was definitely a stage that I went through, but the call to motherhood ultimately won out as it does for most women.
 
Hello,
I went to a vocation retreat with the Dominican Nuns at Menlo Park, contacted the Sisters for Life, and discerned with the Norbertines to ask them about the “signs for knowing if one has a religious vocation” and this is what I received from them…

-The idea of becoming a nun just KEPT GROWING MORE AND MORE and wouldn’t go away
  • this “tug” within you kept growing and growing & THIS REALLY STRONG DESIRE to become a nun is still there.
  • you start researching, emailing, writing, and calling different cloistered religious orders
an idea of you becoming a religious is not a common thought of people in general but an inspiration from God
(especially if the thought continues to persist and/or increase as time goes by)

You have an
increasing desire within you you realize that is something you can live as and you feel satisfied with yourself if you begin to work towards getting into some type of religious community-----
(whether it’s finishing your schooling before entering, getting a job to get the things needed for entering the religious life, or already your own "come and see retreats with an order )

You become
determined that THIS IS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO

Nothing
in the “world” as St. John of the Cross would say about secular life fulfills you that is you realize I want to belong to God and only to Him, I need more than what “this world is offering me”, I want to be a bride of Christ…

Your willing to
deny yourself of “worldly comforts” /self gratifications and begin to do things JUST FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF SERVING,PLEASING, and PRAISING GOD IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO
(As ST. BENEDICT the founding father of religious life wrote in his rule “Pray and Work”)

You want to offer your
whole life on this earth to do everything out of Love for Him without counting the cost and you are willing to “take up your cross daily and follow Him”

You are willing
to change the way you live, acknowledge your faults and take criticism about what your future superiors might or will tell you about what you need to change about yourself

Doing several COME AND SEE RETREATS & DISCERNMENT to a particular order that your are interested in – You will get the sense that You were made for this lifestyle, This is what your meant to do in life, or This is all I ever want to do until the Lord calls me from this life…

You feel at peace, at ease, extremely comfortable, relieved, extremely joyful, Fully Satisfied, Unexplained content, and enthusiastic about living the religious life whether it’s active or cloistered.

May God Bless You
 
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