Vow from times BC

[newcalling]

The title of this thread uses a double entendre in “BC.” It refers to “Before Christ” because the vow I took is based on the old testament nazarite vow, and “Before Catholic” because it is a vow I took many years ago; I’m still waiting for confirmation.

First, a summary of the vow, then some questions.

The vow:

I have always known that my life is dedicated fully to God. There is no separation between my spiritual life and my secular life, as there is only one life. A little more than two decades ago, I felt the call to make a vow to dedicate myself even more fully to God. I was taught about a Christian version of the old Nazarite vow, and it resonated strongly with me.

Like the old version, the choice was to do it for a set number of years, or, like Samson, for life. I was lead to take it for life. About the only differences with the old vow is that I am allowed grapes and alcohol, though not drunkenness, because they are part of communion. I also don’t have to keep kosher, because of the new covenant, but there are other dietary restrictions such as avoiding digestive organs and hearts. I am not allowed to cut the length of my hair, nor the length of my beard on my chin (I don’t have to keep it on my cheeks, nor a mustache, but I prefer to have a mustache as well. ) It is uncomfortable for me to have a beard because of psoriasis, but I gladly bear it. Vows aren’t supposed to be comfortable. I must avoid even giving the appearance of sin, and I must stay chaste (I have been lead to full celibacy. ) The above isn’t the entire vow, but it is the heart of it (there are also modesty rules and such.) I generally don’t talk about my vow, lest it be boastful, but it was necessary here because of a situation which arose; which leads to my questions.

My adult catechism teacher has repeatedly said that I, and especially my friend who has also taken the vow, should cut our hair and beards so that he can find a job more easily, and because we are Catholic now. We ended up explaining the vow to him, hoping that he would respect it and stop insisting that we cut our hair, but he has not stopped. It’s to the point where I am dreading my next catechism class. We like the guy a lot, but it is getting ridiculous. My friend feels like the guy might as well say to Samson, “Cut your hair, the Philistines will like you more and then you can settle down with Delilah and be happy.”

Are we supposed to renounce our previous vows to God because we are becoming Catholic? I feel that I am still bound to the vow, and so does my friend. I told my friend that I would not lose one iota of respect for him if he felt lead by God to shave his head and be released from the vow, but he feels very strongly that it is supposed to be a lifelong vow for himself to God.

I am incredibly dedicated to joining the church, and I am even in my Parish choir. However, this is becoming a big rock in our path, and we don’t know how to handle it. As I said, we really like the guy, and we respect him in many ways; this one issue is becoming a problem though. Do Catholics have to have short hair on men? Are we supposed to renounce this vow to God which means so much to us? I personally think that unless God sent an angel or appeared in a pillar of cloud to tell me that I am released from it, otherwise it is not negotiable.

I did break the vow for a few years back in the mid 1990s, and my life went terribly during that time. I no longer felt God, and I ended up leaving Christianity. It was as a pagan that I met God again and rededicated myself to the vow, and was lead back to Christianity.

I apologize for the extreme length of this post, but I hope that some of you have read it and can offer us some guidance.

 

[Bookcat]

I have not the time to read it all…but it does not matter.

One may simply approach ones pastor to be dispensed from any such vow.

 

[newcalling]

I have not the time to read it all…but it does not matter.

One may simply approach ones pastor to be dispensed from any such vow.

I don’t seek to be released from it, and neither does my friend. It wasn’t something done in the foolishness of youth, rather it was something done with much prayer and full knowledge and consideration; not done lightly. For me, it is as important as any vow I could take with the church. It disturbs me greatly if the church would handle such a vow so lightly or disdain it in any way. I fear that I will probably run into opposition again if I ever enter seminary if they have some sort of grooming code. I believe that the Roman Catholic church has the Apostolic Authority handed down from Jesus through Peter, and that it is God’s church, but the disrespect for this vow is really not sitting well with me.

 

[Jerusha]

He is asking you to violate your conscience. Tell him that your long hair is not, and should, not be his problem. It is your choice.

 

[Scears]

I believe that we worship the same god that Jews do so I don’t see a need to break the vow.

It’d be different to me if the vow was made in a non Abrahamic religion.

(IMHO)

 

[newcalling]

He is asking you to violate your conscience. Tell him that your long hair is not, and should, not be his problem. It is your choice.

That’s how I feel too. Now that my friend has a job, maybe the teacher will stop harping on it. Either way, we will forgive him (I will, and my friend is even more forgiving than I am.) I’m just glad to know that the church doesn’t require us to give up the vow and cut our hair. If it comes up in seminary (whenever that becomes available to me) then I will cross that bridge when I come to it, but I take my vow incredibly seriously. It is a vow before God, and there is purpose behind it.

 

[Bookcat]

but the disrespect for this vow is really not sitting well with me.

As I noted I did not read the long post- I did not have time…

Often persons will come here and ask how to get out of a private vow that they made - say on the spur of the moment without taking the needed time etc to think it over.

Hence my response.

As to your post - I would advise you to find a good Priest to talk with - perhaps an on going spiritual director. He can learn more about what you did in the past and can discuss it with you. To walk with you on your path ahead.