Older women choosing religious life

[TiggerS]

In the Diocese of Portland, Maine two new communities were approved that were founded
precisely for older women:

• The Companions of Clare who accept women 62 & up (but also younger women if they
  apply) are a contemplative community founded by an ex-Poor Clare Nun;
• The Sisters of the Cure of Ars for women up to 72 yrs of age; a community of active
  Sisters working w/children & others. They have two kinds of members: one group lives
  in community; the other is composed of members who live in their own homes.

Both communities have an online presence: Google Companions of Clare
or Sisters of the Cure of Ars

I have emailed the Sisters of The Cure of Ars requesting more details via several questions posed. I will post the questions and their answers when I receive them.

 

[morningprayer]

I wrote a long email and then lost it. Sigh.
Will be visiting Brigittine Servitores in Tyler Texas, in December. They ae connected wtih FSSP, Latin mass.
Please pray for me to discern correctly.

 

[hwriggles4]

Thank you … we shall see.

Oh - .Daughers of mary mother of israel’s hope - they will consider older, but at the time i called/wrote the annulments have to be finalized totally. Plus, Modern mass. My annulments are now at the judging phase, that is almost done.

Let me tell you annulments are painful and expensive. I would rather have root canals. I am not kidding.

.

Morning Prayer:

I’m wondering if the reason for finalizing annulments is that a religious sister takes Christ as her spouse. It is similar to a priest taking Christ as his bride.

On the other hand, since religious sisters take vows, they are not being ordained. Therefore, it might be possible for say, a divorced woman without a decree of nullity who has not remarried and lived chastely to become a religious sister without an annulment. I say this because a woman in this state of life is welcome to receive the Eucharist, because she is not in the state of mortal sin. This question would have to go to a canon lawyer, which I am not.

Here’s another question: if a divorced woman without a decree of nullity who has not remarried and lived chastely, when her former spouse passes away, doesn’t her single status changes from “divorced civilly” to “widowed”?

I’m wondering if some religious orders for women look at this issue on a “case-by-case basis.”

For what it’s worth - I was a witness in an annulment case about four years ago. The annulment was granted. One thing that helped the case go through (it took about a year) was the responses from witnesses were received in a timely manner, and the case began not long after a civil divorce was obtained. I can see where the process would be much longer if witnesses were unavailable.

 

[TiggerS]

I think it might be that with divorce, there is no legal claim on the woman according to secular law; however, if The Church has not ruled (annulment) on whether the marriage was Sacramental or not, then insofar as the woman does not have an annulment, she is still married in the eyes of The Church and married Sacramentally and no matter the dispositions of her legally divorced husband.
Annulment is a ruling on the actual marriage at the actual time of the marriage and whether it was Sacramental or whether it was not.

 

[TiggerS]

Canon Law
vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P24.HTM

Can. 643 §1. The following are admitted to the novitiate invalidly:

1/ one who has not yet completed seventeen years of age;

2/ a spouse, while the marriage continues to exist;

3/ one who is currently bound by a sacred bond to some institute of consecrated life or is incorporated in some society of apostolic life, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 684;

4/ one who enters the institute induced by force, grave fear, or malice, or the one whom a superior, induced in the same way, has received;

5/ one who has concealed his or her incorporation in some institute of consecrated life or in some society of apostolic life.

§2. Proper law can establish other impediments even for validity of admission or can attach conditions.

 

[morningprayer]

I’m back from Texas. Beautiful visit. That was the Brigittines in Tyler Texas, attached to the FSSP. There is a future there for me if it is God’s will. And I am 67. More discernment to come. Still awaiting the 2nd annulment.

 

[TiggerS]

Blessings and may your hopes eventuate

 

[morningprayer]

Started a long-distance candidacy. When you have a fully lived life, cats, savings, a house, (grown) children, — and when you are “set in (many of) your ways” living a vocation is not just dropping out, packing up a painting of Mary and going into postulant-world. Seemingly little things, such as “do I get to keep my (aspirin, metamucil(!)) or do I have to ask for it” become fraught with meaning. Sister Margartia, as one who lived in the world with a career for many years, has been patient and understanding so far. I am learing that discernment is not just happy hours in prayer, but fear - what if at my age I am really making a terrible mistake; hope - I long for this life, every day, every hour - impatience - just how long will it take to sell a mobile home in Florida - but over all this is a sense, stronger every day, that no matter what His will will be done if I remain faithful in a few things.

It may turn out that I am best as an oblate or something else, but the point, the point is to not just speculate and surf the internet. If you are older with symptoms of vocation, the point is to get your hands and feet and heart and voice involved in real action with real nuns- really send the email. Really make the phone call. Really ask to visit adn then take the time off from work, spend the money and really visit. Whatever the outcome, my love for Our Lord and Mary deepens, as I learn who I really am at this stage of my life.