Vocation around family?

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discerning_4

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Hello! I’ve been trying to discern for almost a year now, and although it hasn’t been long, I feel called to the religious life. So backstory is that neither of my parents are too religious, and almost no one on my dad’s side is, but my grandma on my moms side is very Catholic. My grandma (moms side) has been gladly helping me with my vocation, by taking me to a local monastery for daily Mass when we can, and praying together, etc. I am hesitant to tell family about things, but that’s another story. At my dad’s I’m what can be best referred to as “the local religious person” and all questions get sent to me. So sometimes when I talk with family there, religion comes up, and someone will say “Are you gonna be a nun?” With a look of dread/ fear in their eyes. I’m the oldest, so everyone expects the best, that I’m gonna be valedictorian no matter what school I go to, get every scholarship, etc. So reflexively, I’ll say “no,” and I don’t want to lie about it, but I don’t want to be alienated for it, so what should I do?

God Bless
 
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You could do both. One of my chemistry professors in college was a nun.
You sound younger, but your religious beliefs are not unknown in the family. Your discernment may change over time so perhaps a good answer is the thought has crossed my mind, or that’s interesting. I wouldn’t purposely deceive anyone, but truthfully you don’t know.
 
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“discerning_4 said:
Hello! I’ve been trying to discern for almost a year now, and although it hasn’t been long, I feel called to the religious life. So backstory is that neither of my parents are too religious, and almost no one on my dad’s side is, but my grandma on my moms side is very Catholic. My grandma (moms side) has been gladly helping me with my vocation, by taking me to a local monastery for daily Mass when we can, and praying together, etc. I am hesitant to tell family about things, but that’s another story. At my dad’s I’m what can be best referred to as “the local religious person” and all questions get sent to me. So sometimes when I talk with family there, religion comes up, and someone will say “Are you gonna be a nun?” With a look of dread/ fear in their eyes. I’m the oldest, so everyone expects the best, that I’m gonna be valedictorian no matter what school I go to, get every scholarship, etc. So reflexively, I’ll say “no,” and I don’t want to lie about it, but I don’t want to be alienated for it, so what should I do?

God Bless
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Smile sweetly and say gently: “When my Higher Power, whom I call God, reveals such a step for me, I will follow. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I am to stay there, though.”

I said something similar to my future in-laws when hubby and I were breaking the news of our engagement to them. My FIL was a very Christian atheist, and my MIL was Finnish Lutheran who didn’t have a church to attend locally.

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
!ay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
How about “I’m discerning” or “that’s not something I know right now”.

Being a religious and being a professional are not mutually exclusive. You can go to college, get a doctorate, be “smart” and still be holy 😉

Would it make your family feel better if they knew that becoming a religious isn’t a threat to becoming a professional?
 
The majority of sisters in the US today have at least a Masters degree; many have doctorates. Others are doctors or lawyers.
 
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