My grandaughter wants to become a nun--help!

[gourmet]

I consider myself to be a faithful Catholic then this hits. I am very disturbed to know my granddughter wants to become a nun. My reasons are: she is 21 and has only dated one boy in her entire life. I do not think she has the experience to make this decision. I know, of course, that God may be calling her but how can I resolve this with myself and with her. I beleive a young person needs mamy experiences to be able to make a decision let alone one of this magnatude. She is interested in the Marianist Community which would essentially be one of being cloistered.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Rest assured; religious communities only want people that God has called. There is a long period of discernment. Would that marriage had as long a discernment period. I was a novice master for eight years. Over and over I saw families’ reluctance over their child’s decision to enter religious life change to gratitude and elation at such a blessing once they learned what it was all about.

It is God who does the calling. Many saints were called at a very young age. Stop worrying and let God handle it. The first sign of a religious vocation is the desire to be a religious. But it is only the first sign. There are many others that must also be present. If God is calling her to be a religious sister, how honored and blessed your family will be!

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.