My girlfriend broke up with me to discern religious life

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My girlfriend (well, now ex-girlfriend as much as it pains me to say) and I started dating about a year and a half ago. We were both really involved in the Catholic campus ministry at our college and we met towards the end of our junior year. That summer, we were both away from school but we would text and really started to get to know each other. We had discovered that we had a ton in common, and by the end of the summer, she told me that she had feelings for me. I told her I felt the same. But we knew we didn’t want to jump into a relationship right away, and we agreed we would pray about it and see what happened when we returned to school. When we got back, we hung out a few times and it just felt so natural and we both knew it was right. And so began our relationship.

I had never really had any serious girlfriends in the past. A lot of the time I would either be interested in a girl who wasn’t interested in me or vice versa. I also found it frustrating that not many of the girls I knew shared the same faith and values as me. So this was my first real experience being in a serious relationship.

I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. I was so thankful that God had finally given me the woman I had always dreamed of and prayed for. A great Catholic girl who was beautiful, smart, funny. The whole package. We went to mass together, retreats together, CCM functions together, studied together, exercised together, watched sports together, hung out with the same group of friends. We were just about inseparable. We were in love. She told me she was the luckiest girl in the world. We even talked about marriage and children and shared our dreams with each other. Everything was great.

Then graduation rolled around. We knew we were moving back to our respective home towns and that we would have to continue our relationship long distance. We knew it would be difficult, but we felt our love was strong enough to overcome it. We live about 2 and a half hours apart, so our plan was to visit each other every other weekend.

Things didn’t exactly go according to plan. She found a job right away while I struggled to find work. I had all this time on my hands while she was wrapped up in her new job and other commitments. Every other weekend turned into once every 3 or 4 weeks. I knew things weren’t the same, but I was holding onto hope that some day we would be able to get back to the love we had together just a short time ago. This went on for about 3 months.

One day I went up to visit her. As I was about to leave, she told me she wanted to talk. She told me she was breaking up with me. I immediately burst into tears. I was devastated. I was heartbroken. She went on to say that she didn’t have feelings for me anymore, but here is where the story gets interesting…she told me she was having thoughts of becoming a nun. She said she was really confused because she’s never felt that way before and she’s not sure why she’s feeling that way. I was really torn up about it. I kept asking God…WHY! Why, why, why? Why would you take from me the girl I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with?

The breakup affected me physically and mentally. I had to go to the doctor because I had a panic attack. I got prescribed anti-depressant medication. It was bad. I prayed and I prayed, but I was still feeling awful. I talked to friends, I talked to spiritual advisors. These things helped ease the pain a little bit but I was still feeling like part of me was missing. I was missing her like crazy.

Since the breakup we had remained in minor communication, but it just wasn’t the same. But then a few weeks later, I noticed a change in the way she was talking to me. She was almost flirtatious, as if she was getting feelings back for me. She told me she felt like she might be but she wasn’t sure, and still really confused. This made me extremely happy, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. She told me to come visit her and see how we feel around eachother. The chemistry was there as it was when we were dating in college. It felt so natural and great to be with eachother, so we ended up getting back together. Things were great again and we were both so happy.

A couple weeks went by, and I get a call from her. She tells me she is starting to have the same feelings again about the religious life. She told me not to freak out though, and that she wasn’t breaking up with me, she just wanted to let me know that she was feeling really confused. I wasn’t devastated like I was the first time, but I was worried. I continued to pray about it every day. A couple weeks went by and slowly I noticed she was starting to ignore me. I knew something was wrong. So I called her up, we talked on the phone for about 2 hours and she decided to break up with me. Again. She said she just isn’t feeling anything for me right now and she’s in a state of confusion about her vocation and she doesn’t think it’s fair to keep me on a string.

I realize that she has every right to discern but I can’t deny that I miss her and love her still. It’s hard for me to let her go. I haven’t talked to her in over a week but I still think about her constantly. I know I have to move on, but in the back of my mind I fantasize about her coming back to me some day. There’s a little seed of hope in my mind that she is just going through a stage in her life right now and she might come back because, well, you never know. Am I wrong for thinking this way? Have any of you gone through a situation like this? Anyone have any advice for me? I would appreciate if you would keep me in your prayers.
 
I was going to the priesthood ever since kindergarden. I had a friend from 7th grade named Lauren. In highschool we got closer the last couple years. We got to be best friends in our first year of college. I still wanted to be a priest, but she had a HUGE crush on me. I loved her very much but as a friend. I won’t bore you with the whole story…but long story short:

I visited the seminary to stay the night several times and taste seminary life. The last time I went, she helped me pick out a suit to go. THIS was one of the big moments that helped me see TRUE LOVE (something I didn’t know of in a relationship with a woman before). She loved me enough to support and uphold my freedom and willingess to wish the best for me.

This was a HUGE cross for her…she was madley in love with me. And it meant sooo much to me.

I ended up marrying her.

My point is…
I know you are in pain right now.
But if you are serious that you would marry this woman… you need (like anyone who marrys) to love her enough to wish the highest for her…which is heaven! That’s what marriage is about anyway…you are trying to get your spouse closer to God. Now, you may not know what is best for her…religious life/marriage that will help her get closest to God. So you need to support her and pray for her.

I’m sorry , I know it hurts! But if you have a HEALTHY love for her…you can do it.

Last bit of advice: If she is currently discerning this…you need to live for yourself. You should be dating, taking care of yourself and living your life and trying to get closer to God.

That was really one of the breaking points for me. … The religious life seemed a good fit for me (still does) , but I realized I couldin’t live without her when I seen her start dating others and living her life. I realized she wasin’t going to keep following me like a little puppy.
 
Thanks, Michael.

Yes, I am looking at it as an opportunity for growth. To become a better man spiritually, physically, and mentally. I am trusting God. I know He won’t let me down 🙂
 
There is no doubt this thread is a blessing… I have just begun the discernment process and need to learn to Trust in God more, it is a relief to know that God has a plan for all of us and that there are those out there that He has tested more than me, and that have grown from it. (sorry not that this helps)
 
Dude! In regard to My girlfriend broke up with me to discern religious life -that is Catholic code speak for “I’m dumping you.”

Sorry. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings.

We all have been there at one time or another…
 
Get spiritual direction from a priest.

Discerning matrimony is a delicate matter - and that’s what serious dating always mean for a Christian - and no creature deserves to wreck someone else. Also, from a similar experience myself, you may be giving her a kind of love reserved for God alone. I did it. It was a big mistake. A creature is but a creature, be it our brother, our wife, our parent. We love them as if we were one flesh, but we cannot let ourselves be distressed or broken down because of them. Even the Lord told us. No creature is worth it. In fact, we are called to love others in Christ, not for themselves. Otherwise, we could never love an enemy like a brother.

So my advice is simple: take it easy, realize that she is only another speck of dust like you and me, and that only God, and God alone, suffices. Realize it’s not a tragedy, it’s not the end of the world. Trust me, I know it feels like it is, I’ve been there, and it’s been bad. Just be strong, grow in the manhood as God wills it (remember that of the two, the man is supposed to be strong - after all, to him goes the authority of the husband and of the head of the family) and simply grow closer to Christ in the Eucharist (possibly daily) and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

But the best thing at this very moment would be: speak to a priest and tell him you truly need spiritual direction. You can’t handle this alone, or online.

May Christ the mystical Bridegroom always hold your soul in His Sacred Heart, where none may touch it.
 

I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. I was so thankful that God had finally given me the woman I had always dreamed of and prayed for. A great Catholic girl who was beautiful, smart, funny. The whole package. We went to mass together, retreats together, CCM functions together, studied together, exercised together, watched sports together, hung out with the same group of friends. We were just about inseparable. We were in love. She told me she was the luckiest girl in the world. We even talked about marriage and children and shared our dreams with each other. Everything was great.

Then graduation rolled around. We knew we were moving back to our respective home towns and that we would have to continue our relationship long distance. We knew it would be difficult, but we felt our love was strong enough to overcome it. We live about 2 and a half hours apart, so our plan was to visit each other every other weekend.

Things didn’t exactly go according to plan. She found a job right away while I struggled to find work. I had all this time on my hands while she was wrapped up in her new job and other commitments. Every other weekend turned into once every 3 or 4 weeks. I knew things weren’t the same, but I was holding onto hope that some day we would be able to get back to the love we had together just a short time ago. This went on for about 3 months.

One day I went up to visit her. As I was about to leave, she told me she wanted to talk. She told me she was breaking up with me. I immediately burst into tears. I was devastated. I was heartbroken. She went on to say that she didn’t have feelings for me anymore, but here is where the story gets interesting…she told me she was having thoughts of becoming a nun. She said she was really confused because she’s never felt that way before and she’s not sure why she’s feeling that way. I was really torn up about it. I kept asking God…WHY! Why, why, why? Why would you take from me the girl I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with?

The breakup affected me physically and mentally. I had to go to the doctor because I had a panic attack. I got prescribed anti-depressant medication. It was bad. I prayed and I prayed, but I was still feeling awful. I talked to friends, I talked to spiritual advisors. These things helped ease the pain a little bit but I was still feeling like part of me was missing. I was missing her like crazy.



A couple weeks went by, and I get a call from her. She tells me she is starting to have the same feelings again about the religious life. She told me not to freak out though, and that she wasn’t breaking up with me, she just wanted to let me know that she was feeling really confused. I wasn’t devastated like I was the first time, but I was worried. I continued to pray about it every day. A couple weeks went by and slowly I noticed she was starting to ignore me. I knew something was wrong. So I called her up, we talked on the phone for about 2 hours and she decided to break up with me. Again. She said she just isn’t feeling anything for me right now and she’s in a state of confusion about her vocation and she doesn’t think it’s fair to keep me on a string.

I realize that she has every right to discern but I can’t deny that I miss her and love her still. It’s hard for me to let her go. I haven’t talked to her in over a week but I still think about her constantly. I know I have to move on, but in the back of my mind I fantasize about her coming back to me some day. There’s a little seed of hope in my mind that she is just going through a stage in her life right now and she might come back because, well, you never know. Am I wrong for thinking this way? Have any of you gone through a situation like this? Anyone have any advice for me? I would appreciate if you would keep me in your prayers.
You don’t deserve to be treated this way.

Right now, you can’t trust her romantically. Break it off with her on your own terms. Tell her it is alright. Tell her you cannot consider dating again for at least a year or two. She must speak to her dioceses vocations director, speak with religious orders, etc.

Tell her she cannot flip-flop back and forth with your heart. She committed to discerning the religious life, and must follow through. Only if she has definitively discerned that marriage is her vocation should she contact you! You might not be available, but she will be free to ask…

**On your end, feel proud that you stood up for yourself, that you asked for the respect you deserve. **

Keep your friends and family in the loop, and your doctors too. It will still be painful, and you will need their help through the rough times. Have people on your side!

Then gradually, move on. Try Catholic dating websites. Stay active at your university’s parish if you live near by. Ask others to set you up with friends or family. Your previous girlfriend is not the only woman who can make you happy. You may go on many first dates, and very few second dates. That’s OK, your only looking for ONE spouse out of MANY candidates!

If God is calling you to marriage, then he will find someone who will love and respect you. Don’t accept anything less - this is God’s will!
 
Dude! In regard to My girlfriend broke up with me to discern religious life -that is Catholic code speak for “I’m dumping you.”
Gahhh! Nim…!!! :doh2:

No, it’s not ‘Catholic code speak’! Although there might be Catholics out there who use this unscrupulously, as an excuse or a crutch, that doesn’t mean that this is how anyone should understand it, in general. Look at Michael Howling’s story for a good counter-example.

It’s pretty irresponsible for you, who know neither Panda nor his ex, to tell him that she has ulterior motives when she says she’s discerning! :mad:
 
I am a little worried here, what kind of relationship was this? Biblically, you should only be with a woman when you are married, so what exactly was your relationship about?
 
This…a thousand times over. 👍
Agreed.

And the word that transpires the most is “confused”. You can’t do much with that.

You need to go on with your life and you need to get your stuff in order, counselling and therapy and all. Sometimes it can take months to sort out, sometimes years. Don’t despair when you can’t see the problems going away. Human feelings can be very stable sometimes and in some situations, for example, married people need to avoid seeing their college or highschool sweethearts and other former love interests. It’s a bit like with a physical illness or disability: one’s just got to learn to live with some dose of pain.

For the record, part of romance is that one’s partner has the unique power to end the relationship and inflict emotional misery by leaving. You give someone a lot of power when you vest his emotions in his or her hands. Accepting that is a hard challenge. I’ve never really been good at it. Always tried to argue it with life. But you can’t sue love out of anybody.
 
As you have both discovered, life outside the campus is very different. Graduating and moving into the world of work is a huge step and a lot of relationships are tested. That’s what courtship is all about - you are discerning whether your relationship is for life or not.

As you said, your ex’s life seemed to move on while yours didn’t and that in itself is a challenge. I bet she’d feeling just as rudderless as you are! First she’s in a safe, secure environment with a man she loves; then she’s out in the world of work and all that brings and then…she starts to wonder if she’s called to the religious life.

If I were you, I would focus on what drew you to her in the first place. You admired her faith and her character. You have to trust in those now. You also have to stop putting the poor girl on a pedestal because she’s a flawed human being just like the rest of us. She’s being honest as far as I can see, so respect her for that.

In a secure microcosm like a campus, everything is secure and safe and predictable. Outside and far away, life’s choices become more real. She’s realised she has choices: new faces and work and at home; new opportunities; or settle down and start heading towards married life…or religious life. Suddenly, she’s had a wake up call and realised that there is a whole world out there and she doesn’t ‘have’ to be with you. It is her choice.

My advice would be to sit down with her and explain that you intend to give her the space she needs and that you will be available on the phone to talk over anything she needs to talk about, but the courtship is off. You are there purely as a friend and will do all you can to help in this capacity.

For yourself, you need to throw yourself into finding a job and think about where your life is going. You probably have a lot more in common right now than you know. You are both out there, finding your feet in the real world and you need friends you can trust and respect.Like her, the world is now your oyster! Do you cling on to the past? Do you leg it to the nearest religious order? Do you get out there and explore what life has to offer?

If it’s not meant to be, what have you taken from it?

:thumbsup:She’s kept you on the straight and narrow through the Campus Years!
You have experienced a relationship based on mutual respect and trust, so you know there are good women out there.
You know relationships needn’t end in a fight and animosity

These are great gifts! Use them 😉
 
Be strong and allow Gods will to be done, because Gods will is the best…
 
Dude! In regard to My girlfriend broke up with me to discern religious life -that is Catholic code speak for “I’m dumping you.”

Sorry. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings.

We all have been there at one time or another…
I think it would take a sick person to lie about discerning a vocation as an excuse for wanting to dump somebody. I believe that she is being truthful, because I know she would never do something like that. She made it clear to me that she thinks I am a great guy, and that it has nothing to do with me, but rather she is trying to figure out what her calling is.
 
Get spiritual direction from a priest.

Discerning matrimony is a delicate matter - and that’s what serious dating always mean for a Christian - and no creature deserves to wreck someone else. Also, from a similar experience myself, you may be giving her a kind of love reserved for God alone. I did it. It was a big mistake. A creature is but a creature, be it our brother, our wife, our parent. We love them as if we were one flesh, but we cannot let ourselves be distressed or broken down because of them. Even the Lord told us. No creature is worth it. In fact, we are called to love others in Christ, not for themselves. Otherwise, we could never love an enemy like a brother.

So my advice is simple: take it easy, realize that she is only another speck of dust like you and me, and that only God, and God alone, suffices. Realize it’s not a tragedy, it’s not the end of the world. Trust me, I know it feels like it is, I’ve been there, and it’s been bad. Just be strong, grow in the manhood as God wills it (remember that of the two, the man is supposed to be strong - after all, to him goes the authority of the husband and of the head of the family) and simply grow closer to Christ in the Eucharist (possibly daily) and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

But the best thing at this very moment would be: speak to a priest and tell him you truly need spiritual direction. You can’t handle this alone, or online.

May Christ the mystical Bridegroom always hold your soul in His Sacred Heart, where none may touch it.
Thanks RC, this post really makes me feel better.
 
You don’t deserve to be treated this way.

Right now, you can’t trust her romantically. Break it off with her on your own terms. Tell her it is alright. Tell her you cannot consider dating again for at least a year or two. She must speak to her dioceses vocations director, speak with religious orders, etc.

Tell her she cannot flip-flop back and forth with your heart. She committed to discerning the religious life, and must follow through. Only if she has definitively discerned that marriage is her vocation should she contact you! You might not be available, but she will be free to ask…

**On your end, feel proud that you stood up for yourself, that you asked for the respect you deserve. **

Keep your friends and family in the loop, and your doctors too. It will still be painful, and you will need their help through the rough times. Have people on your side!

Then gradually, move on. Try Catholic dating websites. Stay active at your university’s parish if you live near by. Ask others to set you up with friends or family. Your previous girlfriend is not the only woman who can make you happy. You may go on many first dates, and very few second dates. **That’s OK, your only looking for ONE spouse out of MANY candidates!

If God is calling you to marriage, then he will find someone who will love and respect you. Don’t accept anything less - this is God’s will!**
Thank you Running Dude, great response 🙂
 
I am a little worried here, what kind of relationship was this? Biblically, you should only be with a woman when you are married, so what exactly was your relationship about?
I don’t really understand what you are asking here. If you’re asking if the relationship was sexual, the answer is no. The relationship was about a mutual attraction for eachother and sharing a love for God.
 
For the record, part of romance is that one’s partner has the unique power to end the relationship and inflict emotional misery by leaving. You give someone a lot of power when you vest his emotions in his or her hands. Accepting that is a hard challenge. I’ve never really been good at it. Always tried to argue it with life. But you can’t sue love out of anybody.
Right, when you enter into a relationship with someone you are basically trusting that they are not going to hurt you. Romance is a gamble.
 
As you have both discovered, life outside the campus is very different. Graduating and moving into the world of work is a huge step and a lot of relationships are tested. That’s what courtship is all about - you are discerning whether your relationship is for life or not.

As you said, your ex’s life seemed to move on while yours didn’t and that in itself is a challenge. I bet she’d feeling just as rudderless as you are! First she’s in a safe, secure environment with a man she loves; then she’s out in the world of work and all that brings and then…she starts to wonder if she’s called to the religious life.

If I were you, I would focus on what drew you to her in the first place. You admired her faith and her character. You have to trust in those now. You also have to stop putting the poor girl on a pedestal because she’s a flawed human being just like the rest of us. She’s being honest as far as I can see, so respect her for that.

In a secure microcosm like a campus, everything is secure and safe and predictable. Outside and far away, life’s choices become more real. She’s realised she has choices: new faces and work and at home; new opportunities; or settle down and start heading towards married life…or religious life. Suddenly, she’s had a wake up call and realised that there is a whole world out there and she doesn’t ‘have’ to be with you. It is her choice.

My advice would be to sit down with her and explain that you intend to give her the space she needs and that you will be available on the phone to talk over anything she needs to talk about, but the courtship is off. You are there purely as a friend and will do all you can to help in this capacity.

For yourself, you need to throw yourself into finding a job and think about where your life is going. You probably have a lot more in common right now than you know. You are both out there, finding your feet in the real world and you need friends you can trust and respect.Like her, the world is now your oyster! Do you cling on to the past? Do you leg it to the nearest religious order? Do you get out there and explore what life has to offer?

If it’s not meant to be, what have you taken from it?

:thumbsup:She’s kept you on the straight and narrow through the Campus Years!
You have experienced a relationship based on mutual respect and trust, so you know there are good women out there.
You know relationships needn’t end in a fight and animosity

These are great gifts! Use them 😉
Rose, this is beautiful response. Everything you said is 100% true and from the heart! Thank you 🙂
 
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