Regret to Please Parents to God's Providence

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I strongly dislike going to school. Yet here I am, a college senior with much debt, living with my overprotected parents who value possessions and following social norms more than quality time together & that seriously bothers me. Most of my older siblings did the same stuff: went to college, got a degree, got married, have a home, car, kids; everything that my parents have done to earn material and praiseworthy success (according to perhaps our consumeristic society), they too have done & expect the same for me. I have found that the only reason why I’m in college was to please my parents- win their approval of my life because they already didn’t approve of me wanting to be a missionary nor be a nun for the rest of my life by helping the poor and serving God entirely, so that too really bothers me. In fact, they have threatened to letting me live with them or borrow their car temporarily while working a job, if I don’t go to college- talk about loving parents! It’s no wonder why I have low self-esteem- it’s not welcome at home. I’m near the end of my college years (going on 6 or 7 years now) with no idea what to do with my major- this is because I never wanted to go to college because my true happiness was never to be found in furthering my education that I never wanted in the first place. God doesn’t expect us to please others, but instead to love one another as He loves us and to focus on pleasing God alone. He is what remains above all to me and the only One who is the most supportive of my possible decision idea to quit college to pursue what makes my soul soar deeply.

Last year, I started discerning religious life and have found what my soul has been yearning for. It is clear that all this time I have been called to religious life as a nun since age 10, but I tried erasing it from my thoughts because my family ignorantly doesn’t like religious nuns (because of my aunt who is a Franciscan sister- they don’t respect nor support her living a different life than them; but I see her goodness & beauty within the life she chose) and I’ve been afraid of confronting them for years about my interest in the matter. Well, the more schooling I’ve had, the more God has been moving my soul to dive deeper into religious life. I have experienced God providing for me when I continue this journey of pursuing religious life and that He loves me as who I am on the inside-out, rather than the other way around that my others expect me to be. My deep desires to live a simple life with less stuff and centering my life on God has become a routine now because to me living presently with quality experiences of authenticity and beauty are some key aspects that I value.

God certainly works in mysterious ways. At age 10, when I recognized the call to be a nun as a Vocation and at the time hated the idea because my family wouldn’t approve, it took me going to college to grow up into the person I’ve become spiritually. God used this heavy sacrifice which became a heavy cross for me of furthering my schooling that I already didn’t enjoy to help me explore religious life for what it truly and beautifully is that I will continue pursuing, not for myself but for His Will to be done. I wouldn’t have found my vocation to serve God thru interpreting in ASL the Catholic Mass to Deaf/deaf Catholics within the Church, if I didn’t change colleges and earned an AA in ASL to be of assistance. My point is that pleasing my parents by going to college wasn’t what helped me find my vocation and Vocation. God used those burdens that I chose to do selflessly to bring about what He had planned for me all along. So although I regret ever pleasing my parents by obeying them, instead of respecting my parents (the actual meaning of “Honoring your father & mother” from 1 of the 10 Commandments), I am thankful for Jesus and Our Lady for continuing to help me thru it all and showing me thru exploring this discernment journey (by visiting religious nuns & sisters, attending retreats, attending discernment evenings, talking to priests, etc) that it is God’s Will. It took me pleasing my parents for years and attending years of college to find my true purpose in life that still involves being a missionary, helping the poor, and someday becoming a religious nun. With God, anything is possible and there is nothing more important than pleasing Him alone because it is then that we truly find our worth and values that can be of use to helping others and loving one another as Christ loves us. We are all unique members of the Body & Blood of Christ meant to nurture our souls within rather than diminish our souls without.

I plan to quit college either by the end of this semester or this summer because the religious communities I care about possibly living at already don’t require a college degree, which means that I can work a full-time job, raise money, and do whatever it takes with God’s help to pay off that stupid debt and live the life I was and still am called to do (no matter what my parents & family think). In a dream that I experienced 3 years ago about what Vocation God is calling me to, Mary covered my hands as I was kneeling & praying in a chapel/church and said to me that, “Everything’s going to be okay” (Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Nov 2014). Jesus, I trust in you. Please pray for my parents & siblings that they learn to detach from anything that deters them from following God’s will for their lives, not their own. And for me as I decide to let go of living with my parents to provide for myself and make decisions according to God’s Will, not their will. Thankfully no matter what happens to me in this life, “everything’s going to be okay” (Our Lady, Nov 2014) and the same is true for anyone else. Any of you experiencing something similar to mine with college, expecting to please parents endlessly, etc. you’re not alone. His Will will remain.
 
Divine Mercy Chaplet

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
 
Don’t look at that education as a waste, you maybe can apply it in your religious life. If you are so close, please consider getting that degree.

Also, I was discouraged from a degree I wanted to pursue because one of my parents didn’t ‘approve’. I managed to avoid debt, because my parents generously let me live at home and they covered much of my living expenses while I attended school. Mostly because I was getting an "approved’ degree. Meh, it ended up being a good thing anyway. A degree can open doors. Even in religious life. God can use it!

You are still quite young, and now you have so much going for you and perhaps a religious order you might join can use that education. Especially if you join a ‘teaching’ order, or a ‘medical’ order.

Your debt maybe won’t be so terrible to pay off. Maybe you can ask for help from your older siblings if you let them know you want to go into religious life because you actually have a calling, or are discerning a vocation. I’ve seen Go-fund me pages, although they take a chunk of the funds. Maybe consider a different funding source like 'Continuetogive".

You’ll be in my prayers and I hope you can explore a couple of orders in your time off of school. One of the members here at CAF posts about different orders all the time, I think their name is Cloisters. (Sorry if my memory is failing!!) God Bless you!
 
I really don’t think that you should forego your college education. Even though the order you plan to join doesn’t require a college degree, it can come in handy in religious life. Also if for some reason, you OR they decide this life is not for you then you will have a degree which would open jobs for you.

After completing your degree you could look towards: Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations for assistance to pay off your student debt.

I will certainly keep you in prayer!

From their website: (www.fundforvocations.org)

The Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations is privileged to assist men and women to follow God’s call to service in the Church through a life of consecration. We operate the St. Joseph Student Debt Relief Grant Program for religious life. These grants eliminate the delay many young people encounter as they struggle to pay off their student debts before they can enter religious life. A grant pays candidates’ student loan payments while they are in formation for religious life
 
Praying the novena prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel for you. You might like to pray it, too.

+

*O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, who brought forth the Son of God still remaining a Virgin, assist us in this necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help us, and show us that you are our Mother.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, we humbly ask you from the depths of our heart to help us in this necessity. There are none who can withstand your power.
O show us that you are our Mother.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Sweet Mother, we place this cause in your hands. Amen.
*
Flos Carméli
 
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Amen.
 
egretps said:
Don’t look at that education as a waste, you maybe can apply it in your religious life. If you are so close, please consider getting that degree.

Also, I was discouraged from a degree I wanted to pursue because one of my parents didn’t ‘approve’. I managed to avoid debt, because my parents generously let me live at home and they covered much of my living expenses while I attended school. Mostly because I was getting an "approved’ degree. Meh, it ended up being a good thing anyway. A degree can open doors. Even in religious life. God can use it!

You are still quite young, and now you have so much going for you and perhaps a religious order you might join can use that education. Especially if you join a ‘teaching’ order, or a ‘medical’ order.

Your debt maybe won’t be so terrible to pay off. Maybe you can ask for help from your older siblings if you let them know you want to go into religious life because you actually have a calling, or are discerning a vocation. I’ve seen Go-fund me pages, although they take a chunk of the funds. Maybe consider a different funding source like 'Continuetogive".

You’ll be in my prayers and I hope you can explore a couple of orders in your time off of school. One of the members here at CAF posts about different orders all the time, I think their name is Cloisters. (Sorry if my memory is failing!!) God Bless you!
Click to expand...
It is difficult to motivate myself to keep going because after transferring colleges 3 times, to complete a BA degree in Communications (my Mom’s “approval” idea) at the current college I attend, there are more & more classes to take to eventually graduate (according to equivalency) which puts my goal plans to graduate soon on hold for the third time. Plus, I still live with my parents who are now pushing me to find a career job, move out of the house, buy a car, and live on my own when I’m not even done with school yet!..I’ve got all this pressure from family nonstop about what I should & shouldn’t do while trying to finish my degree that it definitely puts a detriment on my motivation to continue schooling at this time. It’s like riding on a nonstop roller coaster where I cannot just jump off the ridden & planned tracks, but have to keep going until the roller coaster stops & I’ve got a throbbing headache. My siblings are the least supportive of me discerning religious life. They always keep asking me ‘why’/‘why would you do that? (often with a frowning attitude)’ toward me & no matter how much I explain my interest in it, they clearly don’t listen because they keep asking me those same questions and talk behind my back and laugh (while I can hear them in the other room during family gatherings). Plus, since they all have kids & sometimes need someone to pickup or babysit their kids, they literally only call me when they need me to do something for them. I stopped being taken advantage of in this way during this semester by saying ‘no’ and focusing on my own commitments and they stopped contacting me. I pray the Rosary daily for my family & siblings because it truly hurts to have family & siblings who just don’t understand and would rather talk behind my back than support me in my passions. I’ve almost always been there for them & taken time to be with their kids, but all I can do now is pray for them. Although I will say that 1 of my siblings does keep in contact with me & makes the effort (as I do with her), but she’s not a good listener and usually gossips what I’ve asked her to keep private. So I don’t trust her nor any other siblings or my Mom, but I do trust my Dad to some extent. He doesn’t mind that I enter religious life, in fact, he does recall awhile back mentioning that he could see me being a nun and he likes to remind me that he said that to ensure that at least he was & still is supportive. That does help!

The plan (before posting this prayer intention) is to graduate by Dec 2017 if I take 3 summer classes & 6 fall classes… I’m already struggling to manage 5 classes this semester. And I haven’t told my parents of quitting until I have a backup plan- otherwise I already know how they will react. Although I thought about being a religious nun, I’m also interested in being a religious sister in an apostolic order because my degree, creative personality, mission work, and vocation with interpreting in ASL the Mass to deaf community are more centered on Apostolic life than Monastic. I will check out those websites that you suggested. So, we’ll see what happens.

Thanks for sharing your (name removed by moderator)ut & a bit of experiences. May God continue to bless you too.
 
Herculees said:
I really don’t think that you should forego your college education. Even though the order you plan to join doesn’t require a college degree, it can come in handy in religious life. Also if for some reason, you OR they decide this life is not for you then you will have a degree which would open jobs for you.

After completing your degree you could look towards: Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations for assistance to pay off your student debt.

I will certainly keep you in prayer!

From their website: (www.fundforvocations.org)

The Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations is privileged to assist men and women to follow God’s call to service in the Church through a life of consecration. We operate the St. Joseph Student Debt Relief Grant Program for religious life. These grants eliminate the delay many young people encounter as they struggle to pay off their student debts before they can enter religious life. A grant pays candidates’ student loan payments while they are in formation for religious life
Click to expand...
I will likely finish my degree, specifically because after researching & exploring many religious orders and finding that I’m most drawn to the Apostolic life, most expect at least a BA degree, while most Monastic orders don’t require it. I just checked your website for further info and might consider applying when I eventually find a religious order that I’m most drawn to, feel most at home with, & can use my gained abilities within the community of services. Here in Indiana, I have already made personal visits to Daughters of Charity in Evansville, Little Sisters of the Poor in Indianapolis (monthly discernment evenings & Indy NunRun retreats), Poor Clares in Kokomo, and Our Lady of Grace monastery in Beech Grove (the least interested in- continuously bad spiritual director experiences with them to the point of currently not having an official spiritual director). I strongly prefer finding a traditional and conservative Apostolic order (or Contemplative order with community time) who wear habits daily and stick to the Church’s teachings, rather than their own. Yesterday, I joined Vision Vocations Network website and answered questions to try finding a type of religious order that I’m looking for, in hopes of exploring whereabouts God may be calling me to, but there is a broad variety to choose from to explore. FYI- I really want to visit more religious orders to weed out which orders aren’t a fit & which are, but my parents said no more until I buy my own car (I visited Poor Clares when I knew my parents were out of town- otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to visit that monastery), since I’m borrowing 1 of their cars to drive places & they’re worried of the car breaking down if I’m travelling to these religious orders (yet if I drive to a sibling’s house that’s 1 & 1/2 hrs away, they’re fine with that even though it takes the same amount of distance & they don’t complain then). I think it’s just an excuse to prevent me from pursuing religious life, since my Mom still isn’t in favor of it. She says she supports me but her actions speak louder than her words. Previously, a religious sister from Daughters of Charity picked me up from my house to voluntarily drive me to a Michigan retreat she was going to attend and my parents couldn’t come up with an excuse to prevent me from going (since I wasn’t borrowing anything from them- like the car to attend the event) because it was out of their hands & in God’s provident hand. That retreat was a part of the climax of my discernment journey that I will never forget in recognizing just how much God desires to provide for everything we need, when we seek to follow His will, not one’s own will to achieve success.

Thank you for sharing your (name removed by moderator)ut and website info about the option of having student debt funds for discerners possible being provided for after the application process meets requirements. Plus, I have already looked into the St. Catherine Laboure society that can help men & women fundraise to pay back gradually those student debts- that’s another option for paying off debt.
 
detoutcoeur said:
Praying the novena prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel for you. You might like to pray it, too.

+

*O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, who brought forth the Son of God still remaining a Virgin, assist us in this necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help us, and show us that you are our Mother.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, we humbly ask you from the depths of our heart to help us in this necessity. There are none who can withstand your power.
O show us that you are our Mother.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Sweet Mother, we place this cause in your hands. Amen.
*
Flos Carméli
Click to expand...
Thank you! Please include anyone else who may also be in similar predicaments. I have discerner friends who are currently struggling with parents also not supporting or respecting their desire to discerning religious life and they too have limited people to go for support along this journey. Just finished a Lenten Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and pray the Rosary daily, but I might consider praying a Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel with you. Thank you for your prayers.
 
Katherine438 said:
Divine Mercy Chaplet

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your prayers.
 
lukegabello said:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Amen.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your prayers.
 
Praying for you for your discernment to a religious vocation and family support when a decision is made. God can use our education in ways to benefit others no matter what our vocation.

Mary.
 
MaryT777 said:
Praying for you for your discernment to a religious vocation and family support when a decision is made. God can use our education in ways to benefit others no matter what our vocation.

Mary.
Click to expand...
Thank you, Mary, for your prayers and advice.
 
Lord Jesus,
up until now you have been quietly
preparing me to be your disciple.
Now the time of preparation is ending.
I seem to hear you say to me, as once to Peter;
“Will you also go away?”

You were saddened then by friends who failed you.
But Peter did not fail.
“Lord,” he said, “to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.”

I stand with Peter.
Through prayer and counsel,
show me, Lord,
where it is in your vineyard
that you want me to serve.
Then give me strength to be faithful.

Mary, Mother and Model,
help me to respond in generous love
to the call of your Divine Son.

Amen.
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†

Prayer to Our Lady of Mental Peace

O Lady of Mental Peace,
Mother of Tranquility
and Mother of Hope,
look upon KiwiBliss in this time
of weakness and unrest.

Teach her searching heart
to know that God’s Love
for her is unchanging and
unchangeable, and, that
true human love can only
begin and grow by touching
His Love.

Let your gentle Peace -
which this world cannot give
  • be always with her.
    And, help her to bring this
    same Peace into the lives
    of others.
Our Lady of Mental Peace,
  • Pray for us!
    Amen.
Jesus, Help Me!

In every need let me come to You with humble trust,
saying:
Jesus, help me!
In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations:
Jesus, help me!
In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials:
Jesus, help me!
In the failure of my plans and hopes, in disappointments,
troubles and sorrows:
Jesus, help me!
When others fail me, and Your Grace alone can assist me:
Jesus, help me!
When I throw myself on Your tender Love as Savior:
Jesus, help me!
When my heart is cast down by failure, at seeing no good
come from my efforts:
Jesus, help me!
When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me:
Jesus, help me!
When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot work and
I am lonely:
Jesus, help me!

Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls and short-
comings of every kind:
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, help me and never forsake me!

Amen

†
 
kiwibliss you are in my prayers!

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come,
before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen

Here is one example from the forum member who writes up threads on religious communities and news. Good stuff!
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=1048958
 
KiwiBliss, I wanted to compliment you also for being brave in not only reaching out here to the CAF community, but for looking into Religious life.

I think, very soon you should ask the Holy Spirit to help you talk with your parents.

I wanted to also let you know, that my youngest daughter has been talking about becoming a nun, more than marriage. I am grateful for you Kiwibliss for posting this thread, because it will give me courage as her mother to encourage her!
🙂
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†

Prayer to Our Lady of Mental Peace

O Lady of Mental Peace,
Mother of Tranquility
and Mother of Hope,
look upon KiwiBliss in this time
of weakness and unrest.

Teach her searching heart
to know that God’s Love
for her is unchanging and
unchangeable, and, that
true human love can only
begin and grow by touching
His Love.

Let your gentle Peace -
which this world cannot give
  • be always with her.
    And, help her to bring this
    same Peace into the lives
    of others.
Our Lady of Mental Peace,
  • Pray for us!
    Amen.
Jesus, Help Me!

In every need let me come to You with humble trust,
saying:
Jesus, help me!
In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations:
Jesus, help me!
In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials:
Jesus, help me!
In the failure of my plans and hopes, in disappointments,
troubles and sorrows:
Jesus, help me!
When others fail me, and Your Grace alone can assist me:
Jesus, help me!
When I throw myself on Your tender Love as Savior:
Jesus, help me!
When my heart is cast down by failure, at seeing no good
come from my efforts:
Jesus, help me!
When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me:
Jesus, help me!
When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot work and
I am lonely:
Jesus, help me!

Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls and short-
comings of every kind:
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, help me and never forsake me!

Amen

†
 
egretps said:
KiwiBliss, I wanted to compliment you also for being brave in not only reaching out here to the CAF community, but for looking into Religious life.

I think, very soon you should ask the Holy Spirit to help you talk with your parents.

I wanted to also let you know, that my youngest daughter has been talking about becoming a nun, more than marriage. I am grateful for you Kiwibliss for posting this thread, because it will give me courage as her mother to encourage her!
🙂
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Thank you. It is currently more difficult than ever to stand up against my family (parents, siblings, relatives), professors (who care more about me impressing potential employers thru attire and the expectations of what to say & what not to say than just being myself with minor professional conduct and adapting to each situation authentically), and classmates. In college where you’re expected to have a plan set for after college, I let mine go and followed God’s plan thru the unexpected. Not many people can fathom such an idea of having no plans, but to me, I’m less stressed-out when I’m not in control of my life and able to adapt to whatever God has in mind for my life. He definitely has a better plan that I have ever thought of for myself & knows and loves us more than we know & love ourselves. Please pray for my parents… I’m having a hard time living with them since they continue to pressure me to just get a job (I don’t want just a job, but something I’d actually enjoy- otherwise I will hate the job until debt is paid), save for a car, all the material things one would supposedly need to survive on my own, while they are forgetting that I won’t need much of that stuff while discerning religious life and hopefully finding a compatible religious order before or after college. I’ve been told by religious sisters and nuns that if you have excess debt not related to schooling (debt payments: car, rent/home, insurance, etc) while considering a religious order will prevent my chances of ever entering a religious order, which means I could miss what Vocation God is already calling me to. That just makes the weight of this cross heavier to decipher what God thinks I should do in this predicament. I can’t figure out whether I should get a full-time job to get out of the house and away from my overprotective parents trying to control me, or get a full-time career job after college with my Communication major credentials. My professors are pressuring me to get a career job fitting to my major (makes sense) while my parents just want me to get a full-time job or career job to save money to eventually live on my own. Yet the jobs I’ve applied for that are not career-oriented but jobs that I’ve got some interest in, they complain that I’m selling myself short & that it should’ve related to jobs that involve my major. ~Since when should they try to dictate what job I pursue?!..It’s my life; not theirs! I’m getting sick of them playing games with me and taking what I say & holding it against me for their benefit.

It is good that you are aware of your daughter’s interest in religious life perhaps early and will develop the courage to support her no matter what. I highly recommend giving her some space to discern though, if she decides to do so, & practice patience along her discernment journey. My parents aren’t like that, but I wish positive results for anyone else. It is quite common for the discernment journey to religious life to have highs and lows (consolations & desolations) to determine where God is calling the discerner. I didn’t know this until I started the journey 1 year ago and had to ask someone about these up & down experiences. It is one thing to read books about religious orders & think about which one may be a fit, but it is another to actually go and visit religious orders & their way of life to see face-to-face where a discerner fits into the community and God’s call. Also recommended is that you pray for what she’s been telling you about her becoming a nun- pray for her discernment journey wherever God takes her- He & Our Lady will provide for her & protect her no matter what if she is striving to do the Will of God. Thank you for reading these posts, sharing your (name removed by moderator)ut, & sharing the news of your youngest daughter’s spiritual thoughts currently. May God continue to bless you & your family no matter what.
 
Update: Actually- I’ve researched almost every traditional and conservative religious community (“CMSWR”) and most don’t require a college degree, because they don’t need diverse specializations in each member when they’ve got traditional teachings of the Magisterium to follow and be submissive to God’s Will for each Catholic religious community, as it should remain. Most traditional orders serve people thru teaching, healthcare, social services (some do), and mission, depending on the order if they are monastic or apostolic orders. I would love to humble myself deeper and be part of a traditional religious order living in community together to serve Christ in everything we do, whether monastic or apostolic of an order. The religious communities I’m most attracted to within the range of CMSWR communities don’t require a college degree and I’m okay with that. I have found that the religious communities (“LCWR”) mostly require a college degree to likely use each member’s talents and skills to minister to those that they serve and ensure that equality is valued. I don’t support the LCWR communities that would rather stand up for abortion, homosexual rights, & feminist thinking than what God had in mind. I don’t care whether people think I should continue school or not- God is calling me to a traditional religious order & I will do whatever it takes to get there (whichever order He desires for me to belong) because He knows what’s best and in this way I can learn to die to self before discerning a particular religious order and be willing & ready to completely give of myself to Jesus selflessly within a community and in service of others. I love Him so much and cannot imagine a better lifestyle for me than committing someday to a traditional religious order in a community.

God has revealed to me the option of living with a trusted friend as I work, pay off debt (most of it to practice responsibility & obedience deeper) & fundraise (to some extent), and visit religious communities… an opportunity to practice poverty (of material possessions & living with needs) chastity (deeper), and obedience (to God & roommates) by living with less stuff, having no car but public transportation, and living in community with other women. Plus, God is calling me to a much simpler life than this ordinary life I’m living- I’m captivated by St. Francis of Assisi’s way of life and know a little bit about his order of Franciscans, but would like to explore that further sometime. At this time, the only thing that’s in my way of furthering my discernment journey of religious life is living with my parents and continuing college just to receive a title (BA in Comm.) with my name for my parents to be proud of. Plus, I have discovered that majoring in Communications is not for me- future career jobs with that major aren’t what I can see myself actually doing & enjoying to adapt to. What bothers me the most is that God is calling me to a simpler life and providing for me thru this discernment journey of religious life- I cannot let people get to me and ignore His Will for this simple soul any longer. He has revealed to me alternative ways of living away from my toxic family and provided more spiritual mentors and support for me along this difficult cross currently. Please pray for my family to appreciate quality time simply together while it lasts and that God helps me find a good priest as a spiritual director along this journey. It is time to take a leap of faith, abandon the world’s expectations, and cling to Jesus, Our Lady, & the Holy Spirit for everything & in anything. His Will will remain.
 
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