Religious Orders For Those With Mental Disorders?

[Holly3278]

Hi everyone. Does anyone know of any contemplative religious orders that accept people with mental disorders that are well controlled by medication?

 

[Cloisters]

Hi everyone. Does anyone know of any contemplative religious orders that accept people with mental disorders that are well controlled by medication?

An order like that would have to be a charism in and of itself.

There’s nothing that says you can’t read through the religious rules and develop your own personal prayer rule according to your needs.

Any baptized Christian can wear the alb. Many are starting to do that. I would suggest at Mass and in the privacy of your own home, though.

Many women are returning to “covering” (headcovering) out of respect for the angels.

Do you have a spiritual director? They would be of great help to not only develop your spiritual life, but also get you focused on just what you’re being called to do.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[LilFranciscan25]

Hi everyone. Does anyone know of any contemplative religious orders that accept people with mental disorders that are well controlled by medication?

What about the Carmelite order I told you about? Did you ever hear from the Prioress?

They are the only ones that I know of that have said they will accept people with manageable illnesses with medication. Everyone else said I either had to get off the medication (which I have been off of for 10 months) or I wouldn’t be admitted. Two orders said they will NOT accept people that have histories of mental illnesses. :nope:

 

[anode]

Holly, if you didn’t hear from the Carmelite prioress, you can re-e-mail her or write a snail mail letter. i think that these days, people tend to pay more attention to snail mail anyway.

 

[LilFranciscan25]

Holly, if you didn’t hear from the Carmelite prioress, you can re-e-mail her or write a snail mail letter. i think that these days, people tend to pay more attention to snail mail anyway.

That’s probably a wise idea. Holly, I’ll PM you with their physical address.

 

[ThomasEugene]

Any baptized Christian can wear the alb. Many are starting to do that. I would suggest at Mass and in the privacy of your own home, though.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters

A priest told me:

Habits are worn as a sign of the vows taken by a community or the spirituality one adopts by their association with the community. Wearing the habit otherwise is a inauthentic.

Impersonation of a religious or of the priesthood is misleading and potentially scandalous.

 

[Cloisters]

A priest told me:

Any baptized Christian can wear the alb, which is the robe worn under the priest’s vestments. I saw one hanging up in a Catholic bookstore recently, and I said, “The alb–the habit of the laity.” The store manager said, “Yes,” with great joy and devotion.

I wouldn’t walk around town wearing it, unless I was engaged in apostolic work of some kind. We are free to wear them at Mass, and for prayer in our own homes, though.

“Covering” is done by women around the world. There is a huge difference between a St. Cecilia Dominican-style veil, and a tiechel (Hebrew for ‘scarf’).

As one hermit put it, “If you want me to look like a religious, put me in street clothes.” She wears a habit because it was written into her plan of life, and her bishop blesses it.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[anode]

If I had a mental disorder , and felt myself to be mentally stable with therapy and medication, I would not give religious personnel my medical history up front. I would establish an e-mail correspondence, with descriptions of my age, life, and vocation as a start; then determine if I were seriously interested in this order or house, and perhaps, if I could afford it, visit the place for a retreat, and meet the superior face-to-face. It may be that you’ll realize that, without giving a full health history, that particular order or house isn’t for you. But if you are attracted, and if you and the superior do have constructive conversations, you can then introduce the subject by referring to a possible ‘impediment’ and then describe your situation. By that time the superior (or novice or vocation director) feels more acquainted with you, and can factor in the new information with what she has already observed about you.

I think that many religious are unduly alarmed by diagnoses and treatments for mental disorders, but after they get to know individuals with mental disorders, can take that information in stride.

The answer may still be ‘No’. They may think you unsuited to the life for other unrelated reasons, which are more personal, but choose to say, “Our rule forbids us to accept…etc.” I think that probably a lot of orders do take this " easy" way out, particularly with older would-be applicants, by saying “We don’t accept people over —years”, when actually they don’t want that particular individual.

 

[MyGoodShepherd]

I read what you wrote and will be praying for you. I have a mental illness … a serious one… but it is completely controlled by medication. Even my psychiatrist says to me when she sees me that no one could ever guess that I had a mental illness because I’m so normal. I also feel that I have been called to the religious life and have been accepted into the Carmelites Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus (northern province) and will be entering Sept 8th of this year. If I’ve been accepted in to an order with my history, there’s hope for you. For if God truly wants you vowed to Him, it will happen. But let me suggest that you always be honest. My great and very wise friend once told me.
“If you hide the truth, you’re not giving God the chance to close the door or create a miracle for you.” I know it’s frustrating and heartbreaking with every no you get but if you feel that you have a vocation don’t give up. I also was accepted to the Benedictine Sisters of Florida but I felt called to Carmel. If religious orders all turn you down and you still feel called to a vowed life, then I can also suggest the " Franciscan Missionaries of Jesus Crucified". They are not considered to be religious but they take the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and are considered consecrated to the Lord. They specifically take women who have mental or physical illnesses and use their sufferings, unite it to Jesus’s sufferings on the Cross and use them for the Church and souls. The woman in charge is Bonnie Fagan, FMJC and the address is

11 Dahlem Blvd.
Niskayuna , New York 12309

telephone # 518-452-1696
email : bjffmjc@aol.com

If you’re a virgin you can also become a consecrated virgin and take the three vows. So don’t worry, have trust in Jesus to lead you and submit lovingly to whatever and wherever He places you.
Blessings and may God be with you,
MyGoodShepherd

 

[Holly3278]

Thank you everyone for your help and advice. I have not yet heard back from the one order or the prioress of the order. I am hoping to send her a snail mail sometime soon.