HuffPost Interview with a Young Woman Who Is Becoming a Discalced Carmelite Nun

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

And my opinion–this young woman is selecting an irrelevant and meaningless life in a world brimming with possibilities for young people. (It’s the cloistered part that makes this so very, very sad.) But, to be clear, it’s just my opinion. Obviously, I wish her well.

I think your “brimming with possibilities” is really, really odd.

No matter what I did or how long I lived with my background, my education, my ability to earn money, I never would have earned enough to travel extensively or do crazy things that are so often considered “possibility.”

Now that I have a family I give them everything. My “possibilities” include poopy diaper, poopy dog poo, and an overall chance of spit up, throw up or pee messes on a regular basis.

I chose this life and I dare anyone to pity me for it. I love being a mom. I even love my part-time job. My life isn’t easy, but it’s my choice…and I’m happy.

If you think that most people are anything more than irrelevent or meaningless to most of society, you must not get out much.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Xanthippe_Voorhees:

If you think that most people are anything more than irrelevent or meaningless to most of society, you must not get out much.

I meant that in the context of finding personal meaning and relevance in your own life. As you have with being a mom. If this young woman believes that she will feel fulfilled by doing this, than I wish her the best.

But you continue to talk in circles. You keep lamenting for her things she does not want for herself.

It’s bizarre.

Just because you don’t agree with her, you seem to find it easy to see everything else as really great…that she’s somehow throwing away opportunity.

But here’s the thing. She’s not.

You seem to be fixated on the idea of being able to pass this off as her cheating herself somehow.

Perhaps this is a case of “the lady doth protest too much?”

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

FJ20002m
I think you are misreading this person’s comments. He thinks she may someday regret her decision to enter a cloistered convent, but still wishes her well. Sort of like the father who may not like the unemployed, tattooed, 300 pound, long haired, biker-type that his daughter is marrying, but has the good sense to keep his mouth shut and still hope for the best!

But the poster doesn’t know the woman in the Huff Post article.

She’s making assumptions, mostly based on misinformation and her own prejudices.

She’s basically trying to indicate that the lifestyle that the woman is choosing has no valid place in society…except for maybe with some crazy wierdos.

That’s not the case at all. There is nothing that is odd about it.

Heck, there were Shakers 100 years ago. They were basically a “Secular” somewhat cloistered community that took up residence in faraway mountains, were celibate and dedicated themselves to a craft.

The notion of “going away to prayer” is only bizarre in the context of our modern society. In many others it’s to be admired to the point where protestants/secularists copied it!!!

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Well, I agree with you about the Shakers. They were/are (only a few left) a noble religious sect.

Well, they were just the most notable and successful “chastity and simplicity for the sake of…whatever” community. There were many smaller ones that tried.

But you have Tibetan monks and other sorts of isolationist “call to prayer for a higher power” things going on, too.

Basically, what I’m saying is that in the scope of humanity, a call in the heart or a draw towards total–or near total–isolation is not really that strange. At all.

 

[R_H_Benson]

A beautiful story. May God and Our Lady keep this young woman. I believe the graces that are won for our sick world by holy souls like hers are unfathomable. This is the total offering of a soul out of pure love solely for Christ. What consolation this must bring to Him Who is so often neglected and shown indifference.

Veni sponsa Christi accipe coronam quam tibi dominus praeparavit in aeternum.