You know you have a vocation for being a Nun if you love Jesus Christ more than anything or anyone in this world. You must love Him more than yourself, more than your family. You must love Him more than any attachment to this world, so much so, that you’d sacrifice all of the above: family, the world, your whole self to belong ONLY to Him.
To have a vocation, your non-interest in marriage stems not out of fear of sex or having children or motherhood, but ONLY because you have no interest in other men because your love of Jesus Christ eclipses everything. He is the Sun in your life and his light bleaches out the features of everyone and everything around you.
In other words, you are in love with Perfection Itself, and because of this no imperfect, sinful man of this world will satisfy you. Only Jesus Christ will satisfy. No man walking on this Earth can compete with His perfections, His love, so you become disinterested in men of this world because they can’t hold a candle next to Our Lord.
Entering a convent is a very serious decision, and if you aren’t 200 percent head-over-heels in love with Jesus Christ, a convent isn’t for you. A convent is a tough life, for the Bride must resemble her Bridegroom in the end, as He was on Calvary. (St. Faustina said this). It is a life of penance, prayer, suffering and sacrifice. Secondarily, our of love for Him, proceeds a great love of neighbor and related works. It’s a heroic life, not something to be entered into out of fear of sex, marriage, or motherhood. If you enter out of any reasons outside LOVE for God, you will fail.
Remember, also, that marriage is a sacred union, and there’s nothing wrong with having children and being a wife and mother. Marriage is holy, too. This might be a better option for you, but if not, there are other:
A third option would becoming a professed Third Order Sister of some order, like unto a Nun who lives and works within the world, but who is not part of it. Third Order Sisters don’t live in convents. Technically speaking, Nuns live in convents, while Sisters live in the world.
A fourth option would be becoming a non-professed Third Order Sister of some sisterhood or order of your choice. You could voluntarily practice poverty, celibacy and obedience, but this would not be required. In fact, Married women can be non-professed Sisters.
Also, each order lists requirements for daily Spiritual Works, depending on your level: Nun, professed Sister, non-professed Sister.
Professed means you take vows of poverty, chastity/celibacy and obedience.
And if I’m in error, please correct me. I wrote this off the cuff.
A fifth option would be not being officially entered into any order but volunarily practicing poverty, celibacy and obedience in the realm of the Single life. I practice this because of the reasons listed above. I am 34 and don’t date because no man can compete with my love for Jesus Christ. Earthy men are inconsistent, sinful, heartbreakers and, well, no offense intended fellows, they are not worth my time. They’re just not worth trifling with because they will never satisfy me. I know this. I am in love with Perfection. I have no interest in devoting my life to any other man besides Jesus Christ. I am heterosexual, too. Were I in better health, and were I younger, I’d consider a convent. I just entered the Church at a very old age, and by now, am probably too old. HA! I basically entered into this vocation by making private vows that I am only His and that if I could, I’d be one of his spotless Brides.
And that is, in a nutshell, how you know if you have a true vocation for being a nun.
Oh, also, you know you have a vocation for being a nun if people around you think you are NUTS for being head-over-heels in love with someone who walked this Earth 2000 years ago. LOL!!! If you’ve not yet been accused of insanity, you don’t have a true vocation. HA!
God Bless!