Pursuing the religious life

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How can I (being a 15 year old) better pursue becoming a monk/friar at my age? Surely there must be something I can do. So far I’ve given up some of my personal possessions like my laptop, my phone, and my ipad. And have been trying to grow in love for every one of my neighbors and enemies. Any advice?
 
That’s so awesome that you would think about religious life at your age! I am 17 and I want to be a nun, so you are not alone. First of all, you don’t have to completely give up your technology(although if you want to you can, and it is a good idea to limit your use!) Trying to grow in love is a really excellent thing to do. I have talked to some vocations directors and that helped. Maybe talk to your priest, he might be able to help. Keep praying! Feel free to message if you want to talk about anything.
 
That’s great! Do you have advice for keeping good values in public highschool? It’s really easy to casually engage in some type of gossip or agree to something against my beliefs. Carrying around a bible each day seems to help with it. As does doing what I like to call “going to the cross” which is where I basically withdraw myself from my surroundings and meditate on various faith related things.
 
If I may ask, how does 15 decades of the rosary work? I’ve been interested in it but I’m not sure if you meditate on a different set of mysteries each time.
 
Pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten you on this matter.

God bless! 😇😇😇
 
I don’t think extreme fasting is advisable for a growing boy! If you can, go to daily mass and frequent confessions. Do some dating before you decide!
 
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I myself go to a public high school and I try not to surround myself with people who swear or have very different beliefs than mine. In study hall, I spend my time watching videos about Catholicism and other wholesome things. Taking a Bible is a good idea, I should try that.
 
I have a daughter that entered religious life at 18, but her preparation for her entry happened over many years. She was careful to grow in virtue, practice charity (especially in the home and towards her parents) and was careful in performing her daily duty. (In study hall, spend your time studying your school subjects!) She did not date. She did not daydream about being a religious (meaning spending time reading brochures, web pages, blogs, or forums). She only did what was necessary to advance in that regard. She was busy all the time, praying, working or recreating with others. When she entered, she was ready. She shared that her last year in the world was harder than her first year in religious life. The adjustment was fairly easy for her.

Yeah, and training yourself to eat one meal a day? I don’t agree with that. Monasteries don’t do that. Rather, make sure you are temperate in your eating.
 
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If anything, I wish there was a community for people like you and me. To know that we aren’t the only ones and to overall be good companions.
 
Contact your pastor and diocesan vocations director. There may be many things to consider that we who haven’t walked those grounds won’t think of, and they’ll help you prepare in a reasonable way.
 
Chistian-ity said:
How can I (being a 15 year old) better pursue becoming a monk/friar at my age?
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Most monasteries won´t accept candidates until they reach 18 years. So for now, it´s most important that you try to grow in the spiritual life and strive for virtue and holiness. However, I´m very much pleased that you, in the difficulties of being a serious Catholic today, spend time to discern your vocation and God´s will for your life. I´m absolutely confident that God rejoices in seeing your beautiful love for Him and will to lay down your life for Him.

So for now, try to grow in holiness and do what´s right. When the time is right and you´ve had enough time to be ready (if you haven´t discerned out), you will become a monk one day 🙂

It´s so beautiful, inspirational and motivational to see that there are other young people desiring to follow God´s will & that are willing to live their lives for Him! May God always bless you and guard you!
 
One thing is to start doing the Liturgy of the Hours preferably 3 times per day. There are both online LoH which you can listen to and websites which you can read. If you buy the actual set of 4 books for LoH to read directly, you will need to learn how to use them because it is a bit tricky since you flip from section to section depending on the day and time of day.
 
You could attend Vespers in your nearby monastery if they allow, or in your nearby Church when they have it.
 
There is no nearby monastery :confused: but I do want to go on retreat to one at some point.
 
Chistian-ity said:
How can I (being a 15 year old) better pursue becoming a monk/friar at my age?
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What’s the difference between a friar & a monk? What is it about that life that attracts you?

Are you active in your parish’s youth group?

Have you thought about college?
 
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