Is There A Place For A Not So Saintly Nun?

[poor_clare]

Hi Jim

What you describe is definitely one of my challenges. Thanks for posting.

Clare

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

Read “The Man Who Got Even With God”, a pamphlet giving the short story is here: catholicpamphlets.net/pamphlets/The%20Man%20Who%20Got%20Even%20With%20God.pdf

It begins:

The actual book is also very uplifting… and quite humorous at times…and I might add what wonderful comments have been posted on this thread… blessings all.
Sr Debbie

 

[Pacos_Pete]

Clare, Sinners have a future, Saints have a past…

I’m still waiting for an answer to my question: Does “Oh My God or OMG,” violate the 3rd commandment? It doesn’t matter if you just lost a loved one or won the lottery or just want to make an exclamation point.

 

[TiggerS]

Clare, Sinners have a future, Saints have a past…

I’m still waiting for an answer to my question: Does “Oh My God or OMG,” violate the 3rd commandment? It doesn’t matter if you just lost a loved one or won the lottery or just want to make an exclamation point.

Probably best avoided, I would think. The Name of God should only be used in a most reverant manner and context, not as an exclamation to my mind.

Sinners have a future, Saints have a past

TS

 

[Pregustator]

My quandry is that I feel I have a dark side. I get annoyed and think terrible thoughts about people sometimes. Also when I pray for people who upset me I don’t feel it’s very effective because I still really don’t like them even though I’m asking God to help them. I don’t expect the person to be different with me. I just want them to feel better in themselves. At the same time, I’m thinking but this guy is such a jerk.

I’d like to go on retreat to possibly find some answers.I really want to conquer these negative thoughts.

I guess what I’m asking you is do you have any opinions on people who love and want to serve God but are less than “saintly” themselves?

Join the club, lady.

Was that jerky enough for you? Just teasing.

We’ve all got a bit of a dark side, don’t we, and, let’s face it, some people are jerks, aren’t they?

Don’t confuse being a saint with being an angel. We hope all to become saints, one day, but none of us is an angel. “Saintly” doesn’t equate to “impeccable”. I think you’ll find that religious are humans, too, with all the flaws you perceive within yourself.

This actually reminds me of a bit of an eye opener I experienced when I was in the seminary for a couple of years in my early twenties. When I entered the seminary, I was worried about my own worthiness as everyone there seemed so pious and “saintly”, as you say. It soon became clear to me, however, that such was not the case. As it turns out, they were just as human as I was…and some of them were quite a bit more so.

One summer I travelled with a few other seminarians to an academy operated by the order which I was studying to join. On campus was a convent of nuns of the same order, and one day I remarked to a fellow seminarian that the nuns were very impressive in their manifest piety. “James, James, James,” he responded, “when will you learn? Those pious nuns you’re so impressed by are just as krappy as we are behind closed doors.”

“Do you think?” I asked.

“I guarantee it.”

So try a vocation at whichever order you feel drawn to, because every convent of every religious order is populated by humans who are just as human as you are.

But if you ask me, I’d peg you as a Felician.

 

[Deb_H]

what order is Felician ?

 

[poor_clare]

Good Morning

Felicians are a contemplative order in Poland? I assume they’ve extended they’re reach since they were founded. Anyway, they’re part of the Franciscans.

God bless

Clare

 

[poor_clare]

Join the club, lady.

Was that jerky enough for you? Just teasing.

We’ve all got a bit of a dark side, don’t we, and, let’s face it, some people are jerks, aren’t they?

Don’t confuse being a saint with being an angel. We hope all to become saints, one day, but none of us is an angel. “Saintly” doesn’t equate to “impeccable”. I think you’ll find that religious are humans, too, with all the flaws you perceive within yourself.

This actually reminds me of a bit of an eye opener I experienced when I was in the seminary for a couple of years in my early twenties. When I entered the seminary, I was worried about my own worthiness as everyone there seemed so pious and “saintly”, as you say. It soon became clear to me, however, that such was not the case. As it turns out, they were just as human as I was…and some of them were quite a bit more so.

One summer I travelled with a few other seminarians to an academy operated by the order which I was studying to join. On campus was a convent of nuns of the same order, and one day I remarked to a fellow seminarian that the nuns were very impressive in their manifest piety. “James, James, James,” he responded, “when will you learn? Those pious nuns you’re so impressed by are just as krappy as we are behind closed doors.”

“Do you think?” I asked.

“I guarantee it.”

So try a vocation at whichever order you feel drawn to, because every convent of every religious order is populated by humans who are just as human as you are.

But if you ask me, I’d peg you as a Felician.

Good Morning

Thank you for taking the time to post.

So you were in the seminary? I won’t ask why you left because it’s none of my business but I am intrigued. You see I’m worred that I might join an order and after a short time miss the outside world and hang up my habit. Although I can’t imagine what there is to miss.

I chatted with a lovely priest the other day. I said, “I’m too selfish to be a religious.”

He said, “So is everybody.”

There you are. Your point of view is shared and confirmed.

It’s not that I want to be a saint. I just don’t want to be a hypocrite.

When I was 7, I found a book in the school library entitled St Therese and the Roses. I fell in love with her there and then. I was told off for reading the book in the math class and trying to hide it! My father had a biography of St Francis and St Clare featured in it quite prominently. The desire to be close to God through simplicity and poverty is such a straight forward approach.

I went “bad” in my mid to late twenties then lost my faith entirely for a short time in my late thirties/early forties. This was mainly to do with the scandals but also because I couldn’t understand how so much suffering could go on unaided. Here I am again after a very simple experience where I was sitting quietly and I asked God, “If you exist, please explain it to me because I don’t feel you.”

The reply was that God simply is. God exists in everyone and works through each of us. I now believe that there is no such thing as coincidence or random kindness. I’ve asked God to give me the opportunity to help others and each day I’ve found that I’ve been able do little things. Since then the feelings of vocation have been stronger. Do I want to be cloistered or do I want to work directly with people?

I just need to step up and speak to someone and stop worrying about being selfish and lazy and impatient with others. I’m sure that those faults will fall by the wayside. As all of you who have been kind enough to offer an opinion have said, “We’re all human.”

God bless

Clare

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

Good Morning

Thank you for taking the time to post.

So you were in the seminary? I won’t ask why you left because it’s none of my business but I am intrigued. You see I’m worred that I might join an order and after a short time miss the outside world and hang up my habit. Although I can’t imagine what there is to miss.
( Clare… if you get far enough in the vocation path to actually 'try" the relgious life… there is a long period of formation just so you can see if religious life is right for you… prior to final vows there is no formal obligation to stay… I wouldn’t let possible worries ( of maybe not staying) stop you from continuing your search…[cause maybe you will actually find you DO belong!])

I chatted with a lovely priest the other day. I said, “I’m too selfish to be a religious.”

He said, “So is everybody.”

There you are. Your point of view is shared and confirmed.

It’s not that I want to be a saint. I just don’t want to be a hypocrite.

I* would encourage you to begin the discernment process, and not worry overmuch at being hypocritical… if you do find that you may be called to relgious life, and find a community who accepts your application … trust me there are many people to help you and to help you to know if the choice is right for you…You are not alone … I hope you find a priest or spiritual director or sister who can help you discern … blessings *

When I was 7, I found a book in the school library entitled St Therese and the Roses. I fell in love with her there and then. I was told off for reading the book in the math class and trying to hide it! My father had a biography of St Francis and St Clare featured in it quite prominently. The desire to be close to God through simplicity and poverty is such a straight forward approach.

I went “bad” in my mid to late twenties then lost my faith entirely for a short time in my late thirties/early forties. This was mainly to do with the scandals but also because I couldn’t understand how so much suffering could go on unaided. Here I am again after a very simple experience where I was sitting quietly and I asked God, “If you exist, please explain it to me because I don’t feel you.”

The reply was that God simply is. God exists in everyone and works through each of us. I now believe that there is no such thing as coincidence or random kindness. I’ve asked God to give me the opportunity to help others and each day I’ve found that I’ve been able do little things. Since then the feelings of vocation have been stronger. Do I want to be cloistered or do I want to work directly with people?

I just need to step up and speak to someone and stop worrying about being selfish and lazy and impatient with others. I’m sure that those faults will fall by the wayside. As all of you who have been kind enough to offer an opinion have said, “We’re all human.”

God bless

Clare

 

[poor_clare]

I’m so sorry. I never thanked you for your message.

Thank you for answering some of my concerns. I’ve been in contact with the Carmelite Priory in west London. Waiting for a reply about an appointment now.

Thank you so much for your support.

God bless,

Clare

 

[jots]

hey p_c,

In Thomas Merton’s famous prayer, there are a few lines that read…

*But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. *

Perfection is not achieved in this world. We are all flawed and broken.

 

[poor_clare]

Hi Jots

I know I am - I need some heavy duty spiritual super glue.

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post.

God bless,
Clare

 

[Erich]

I’ve heard it said that God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

 

[HCC]

Hi Everyone

Since a very young age (about 7) I’ve wanted to enter the Carmel. I’ve gone through phases of really wanting to explore it.

I’m now 45 and have gone through three years of loss of faith - most because of the scandals in the Church - only to return with an even stronger faith. Again, I feel that all I want is to be as close to God as possible. I’ve had relationships. I have no children. I’m not lonely. I love my friends but I love my contemplative time more. I attend Mass each day and pray either morning or evening. Every day I make a point of helping someone. I live in London so not so hard to do as this city lacks compassion and it’s certainly Godless.

My quandry is that I feel I have a dark side. I get annoyed and think terrible thoughts about people sometimes. Also when I pray for people who upset me I don’t feel it’s very effective because I still really don’t like them even though I’m asking God to help them. I don’t expect the person to be different with me. I just want them to feel better in themselves. At the same time, I’m thinking but this guy is such a jerk.

I’d like to go on retreat to possibly find some answers.I really want to conquer these negative thoughts.

I guess what I’m asking you is do you have any opinions on people who love and want to serve God but are less than “saintly” themselves?

Thanks!

Clare

Oh Clare, you are not alone. I went through a serious spiritual crisis with the scandals in the Church. This conversation isn’t for this forum, but I will keep you in my heart as you seek God’s will in your life.

+May the Infant Jesus bless you!