Unsure about vocation

[DianaS]

Lately, I have been feeling that I may have a vocation to become a nun. I have started praying more and learning more about the Catholic church. However, I am very shy and not involved in any ministries in my parish. I also have trouble going to confession because of this shyness (although I do go). I don’t know if I could talk to someone about this and that is the only way I could discern if this is truly a vocation. I also feel called to a cloistered/contemplative order and I’m not sure if this is me running away from the world or a true calling. I do find it attractive to spend my life praying for the world and living in a close relationship with God in a cloistered community. I’m confused about what I should do. I am a junior in college and will be graduating next year.

 

[Cloisters]

Lately, I have been feeling that I may have a vocation to become a nun. I have started praying more and learning more about the Catholic church. However, I am very shy and not involved in any ministries in my parish. I also have trouble going to confession because of this shyness (although I do go). I don’t know if I could talk to someone about this and that is the only way I could discern if this is truly a vocation. I also feel called to a cloistered/contemplative order and I’m not sure if this is me running away from the world or a true calling. I do find it attractive to spend my life praying for the world and living in a close relationship with God in a cloistered community. I’m confused about what I should do. I am a junior in college and will be graduating next year.

If you’re feeling called to the cloister, Cloister Outreach is here specifically for vocational discerners like yourself, though we minister to other vocations as well.

cloisters.tripod.com/

Look for the link on the nav bar that says, “For Discerners”.

You can email me directly at foundress2003@yahoo.com and we can start your discernment process. I would advise asking your local Newman Center for a spiritual director, stating that you are feeling the call to the cloister.

Also, the Visitation nuns allow cloistered retreats, so even if you’re not called to the Visitation, you can still get a feel for cloistered life. There are links to their monasteries from the “Cloistered Retreats” link on the “For Discerners” page.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[Sister_Rose]

Dear Diana,
We all have some hurtles to jump in following our vocation. Perhaps your shyness will be your biggest one. Yes, you will have to speak to someone about this. It may be a hard conversation for you to start, but I bet that once you do, you’ll find it was not nearly as bad as you feared.
I’m not to sure, but you sound like you are very early in your discernment process. Keep praying. Perhaps it would be best to talk about this with your confessor or spiritual director. If there is a vocation retreat or a vocation fair you can go to that might be a good place to really start looking. You also may find it easier to speak about your vocation around others that are also discerning.
I’ll pray for you tonight.
God bless.

 

[DianaS]

Thank you for your replies. It is true that I’m early in the discernment process. I am just thinking about it. I didn’t talk to anyone about it yet. Is it weird for someone who is not involved in the parish at all to have a vocation like this? Also, talking to a confessor, etc. is hard because I don’t have a regular confessor or spiritual director. Thank you for your prayers.