Parents of religious?

[contemplative]

Twice I have been reduced to tears. A few years ago when my child (17 at the time) mentioned the posibility of religious life. I cried about week every time I was alone. That same child is in college now and I sense this question is still weighing heavy.

Today in church a woman I know sat up front. Her daughter left for religious life as a cloistered nun recently. The mother sat there so bravely…alone. Watching her and knowing how much she loved her child I just crumbled with a mix of love, compassion and sadness inside. The tears just started flowing out of my eyes.

My question is “What does a parent of a religious give up? How do you cope? Is it as difficult as I am imagining it to be?”

 

[KCT]

I can’t speak personally . . . I know several families who have kids who are living away while discerning vocations. It’s very hard. BUT, their kids are happy and the parents are happy because the kids are doing what God wants. They all say it’s a great grace for the family. —KCT

 

[armywife]

I have two brothers who are priests and although I am speaking for my mom here, I know she would say that a parent should never interfere with either pushing for a vocation or stearing a child away from one.

If your child really has leanings toward a vocation you should let him/her go and find out about it without letting your emotions get in the way. You would not want your child to feel any guilt about their decision.

It may be hard to do, but try to think about how happy your son/daughter might be devoting their life to God, if that is what God has planned. Any other vocation in life might not make them as happy.

 

[bogeyjlg]

My uncle is a priest and my grandmother is so happy that her son is a priest.

 

[kp1]

contemplative:

My question is “What does a parent of a religious give up? How do you cope? Is it as difficult as I am imagining it to be?”

Funny, today at Mass, our priest was giving a Homily on sacrifice for the greater good. How Abraham was so trusting of God, he was willing to sacrifice his own son. Now I do belong to a military parish, so sacrificing means something more to us. We must give up our spouses, parents, children all the time for the country.

Now, I am not trying to attack you, so understand that I mean this in the sincerest way, Is he/she your child or God’s Child? If God is calling him/her should you stand in the way of God’s will? Instead of what you have to loose, think of what you have to gain! Someone who is praying for you everyday! How many Catholic parents get that? And finally, it is not about you. I know this hurts, but we must scarifice all the time for our children.

A friend of mine’s son has decided to join the seminary, I was wondering the same thing as you. I asked her how she felt. Her response was “if God is calling him who am I to stand in his way!” I know this must be difficult, but to want to do God’s work, you must have raised him/her correctly in the faith!

 

[contemplative]

kp1:

Funny, today at Mass, our priest was giving a Homily on sacrifice for the greater good. How Abraham was so trusting of God, he was willing to sacrifice his own son. Now I do belong to a military parish, so sacrificing means something more to us. We must give up our spouses, parents, children all the time for the country.

Now, I am not trying to attack you, so understand that I mean this in the sincerest way,Understood Is he/she your child or God’s Child? Yes If God is calling him/her should you stand in the way of God’s will? Never Instead of what you have to loose, think of what you have to gain! Someone who is praying for you everyday! How many Catholic parents get that? Good question And finally, it is not about you. I know this hurts, but we must scarifice all the time for our children. After many - the final one - letting go

A friend of mine’s son has decided to join the seminary, I was wondering the same thing as you. I asked her how she felt. Her response was “if God is calling him who am I to stand in his way!” I know this must be difficult, but to want to do God’s work, you must have raised him/her correctly in the faith! **I have given my finest. Generations and years of **‘in your face Italian parenting and possesiveness’ is a difficult pattern to change. Love is not possesive. Love has no strings attached.

**Thanks to the few who shared good thoughts and advise in this thread. Thanks to God for sending to me the solitary brave mother in church. Thanks to the Most Blessed Mother who said ‘Yes’. **

 

[Blanka]

I see it as a great blessing if a child becomes a religious. What greater gift to offer God than to have raised your child to such a holy endeavor? :bowdown2:

I knew a young man years ago who was studying for the priesthood. It surprised me when he told me that his parents and high school friends were questioning him about the choice of his vocation. Thankfully, he persevered and was ordained a priest.

What has happened to the old days when it was such an honor for a family to have a child enter religious life?

God bless you and your child.

 

[_pro-life_teen]

My friend’s uncle told him (he’s going to become a priest) that the parents of the priest automatically go to heaven!

 

[Maranatha]

Blanka:

What has happened to the old days when it was such an honor for a family to have a child enter religious life?

I wonder if the number of children has anything to do with it. My parents and in-laws were extremely pleased to get grandkids and I can sympathize. In the past when Catholic families has four or more children parents became grandparents many times over. If one child became religious, everyone was happy. Now parents put all there eggs in one or two baskets. If things don’t work out just right they many never become grandparents at all.