We need more nuns!

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When one enters Religious Life there’s no telling where one will end up.
In the enclosed Order I wrote of earlier one of the elderly Brothers said when he entered (God knows how long ago!) he never thought he would end up working on the internet, it hadn’t been invented then!
Karen Armstrong writes of the struggle of one nun who at the request of the convent entered University to further her studies but her reading had been at the slow reflective pace of Lectio Divina, it caused a huge, almost breaking point struggle within the nun.
Then at University there’s all sorts of temptations one never dreamt of - and we’re not all saints strong enough to say no to temptation.
When the Religious Order says go and experience life what is a young person to do? Fr Louis O.C.S.O. (then Thomas Merton) had a son. How many other Religious vocations have been put on hold and lost?
 
KEVIN_WILCOX said:
When one enters Religious Life there’s no telling where one will end up.
In the enclosed Order I wrote of earlier one of the elderly Brothers said when he entered (God knows how long ago!) he never thought he would end up working on the internet, it hadn’t been invented then!
Karen Armstrong writes of the struggle of one nun who at the request of the convent entered University to further her studies but her reading had been Lectio Divina, it caused a huge, almost breaking point struggle within the nun.
Then at University there’s all sorts of temptations one never dreamt of - and we’re not all saints strong enough to say no to temptation.
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Oh very true. We do not know where any of us will end up. But in the misty past, when your farming brother entered the order, if he’d been found to be allergic to cows or not strong enough for the work, he may very easily have been asked to leave. There are many such instances.

In the same way, a woman who enters a teaching order will be expected to have the education required of a teacher. If she doesn’t already have it, or isn’t capable/willing to get it, she very reasonably may be asked to leave the order.

As someone keeps reminding us about priests–a vocation is the call of the bishop, or in this case, the call of the superior of that order.
 
Mrs Sally

How true.
But at the same time it seems a tragedy that as charisms (works done by the Order) change, those once denied access because they couldn’t do that work would now appear quite suitable.

Once again let’s look at the life of Thomas Merton, denied access to the Carthusians because his writing would draw too much attention to the Order (I have this from first-hand account, from the Novice Master he approached) should end his days living as a hermit in a hermitage at Gethsemane Abbey amongst his books.
The Novice Master told me that although people enter the Order and leave, it is very difficult for them to “re-enter” the world.
Seems that once God puts His Hand on you…
What God has joined together let no man separate. How many of us know of Religious who have left their Order/priesthood? There always seems to be something “different” about them.
 
And we have the example of St Teresa’s sister who entered and was asked to leave 3 different times before she was finally able to take her final profession. She did not enter Carmel, but a different order. Part of the reason why is that she wasn’t strong enough to handle the physical lifestyle of the nuns. It wasn’t until the rule was adjusted to be somewhat easier that she could handle it.

I can imagine that it is indeed very difficult for someone to leave an order (especially a contemplative one) if they have been living there for any length of time. However, being in the world doesn’t always mean having a rushed and extroverted life. Even when married with children–look at St Teresa’s family as an example again. Their quiet life can be replicated to a very large extent if you put your mind to it.
 
Or look at the example the Holy Family (or St Paul). Amongst the world but not of it.
If one is anchored in God, there is almost an ethical and moral division which forms between oneself and the rest of the community.
For the saints - even in Religious Life.

I seem to remember St Therese couldn’t understand why her sister hadn’t joined the same community as herself. Maybe I’m wrong.

I don’t know what you mean by “until the life had become somewhat easier”
If one doesn’t have a vocation the life is never easy.
But there again, I recall a saintly monk who was celebrating his 50th anniversary and I asked him what was the hardest part - and him answering “the first 50 years”
 
I remember Mother Angelica almost couldn’t stay in her order, trouble kneeling, etc. but she persevered and grew stronger from it. Could you imagine if they kicked her out? Well, she wouldn have raised cain elsewhere. : )

I wonder sometimes if clositered nuns stay always because they love it, you sure hope and pray that is the case, and many show it on their faces, but it would be very hard to leave. Some priests and nuns that have, wrote how hard it was to find work, (interesting resume) and acclimate in the rushed, noisy, secular world. There isn’t any half-way house to help you so you just have to do it. One nun stayed in a lot, finding stores and mega shopping centers too overwhelming, but like everything in life, time does help. You might not fit in one world, but you bring many graces with you into the new one.
 
I’m also hoping to become a Sister! I am discerning with the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word in Birmingham, AL. Fortunately, they were not affected by the recent tornadoes sweeping throughout the Midwest. I hope to get there this Fall. Please pray for me to find a job! They do retreat work and catechesis and are a semi-contemplative (not active/contemplative like most non-cloistered orders). They focus mostly on prayer. 🙂
 
debraran

You raise an interesting point, and not one lacking validity.
Religious who stay in Religious Life because there is nowhere else to go and by their ill feeling, objectionable attitude and anger make it a trial for those around them.
How much of this was the cause of abuse of children under their charge - debatable.

Maybe there is need for a “halfway house” for those coming out, just as there is need for those leaving prison. It may make their re-adjustment easier.
 
Are they near Mother Angelica’s nuns? I remember photos of nearby nuns visiting them and they were Franciscan/Dominican looking.

Many blessings on your search…I will think of you in my prayers.
 
I agree Kevin…when I was a bit younger, I read books (on purpose) by nuns who left and were still Catholic, nuns who left and drifted toward other relgions because of bad experiences, and books by priests in different scenerios. I found it facinating and it made me think how hard it would be,especially for a woman. One found herself influenced by another religion because this gentleman was her only close friend, others seemed to act like she had cancer (this was 20 years ago) They have a long discernment process but after a few years, it really is hard.

Many adults that were influenced by angry, unhappy nuns, think that many just weren’t suited for that life or at least teaching, but the shame and lack of experience was a real issue.
Now many nuns aren’t taken right from high school, some are educated and more mature, but to tell them to take their time to discern and then if they leave, leave them without any guidance, it’s difficult. They have no belongings, money, etc.

I remember when a nun with EWTN’s order left after about a year, she just had her hair cut, new habit, then she dispeared. When someone asked, they said she went home to discern some more. She said upon entering, it was hard with motherhood and becoming a nun so equally appealling and felt right. they even had an article in her home paper about her. I know that must have been very hard for her at that point, but she had a nice family to help her.
 
debraran said:
Are they near Mother Angelica’s nuns? I remember photos of nearby nuns visiting them and they were Franciscan/Dominican looking.

Many blessings on your search…I will think of you in my prayers.
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Yes, Mother Mary Gabriel of the Sister Servants started out as a Nashville Dominican. She is the blood sister of Mother Assumpta of the Ann Arbor Dominicans. She was sent, through obedience, to be an extern for Mother Angelica’s PCPA nuns before they had externs of their own. Mother Gabriel discerned that it was God’s will that she form a new order dedicated to retreat work and catechesis with more time in prayer. They are located in the same area as the PCPA nuns (Hanceville/Birmingham). However, even though they have “Eternal Word” in their name, they are no longer associated with Mother Angelica. It was not God’s will for them to continue together. 🙂

Thank you for your prayers!
 
I feel that age of applicant is only one thing to take into consideration.
I know of a man who wanted to become a doctor, but life took care of itself as it does and he didn’t become a doctor. He became very successful, good wife, good family but always considered himself a failure.
There are some whom I would consider ripe for harvesting for the Religious Life in their teenage years. Regardless of age a saint is a saint, it has to do with the Grace of God and one’s ability to respond.
There are people of the world who through death have taken on the running of the home and the upkeep of their family with great ability even though they are teenagers, or even children.

There are people who are much more mature than their years and older people who are quite childish.
Each person should be taken “on their own merits”
 
That is true, and certain orders would be very hard to acclimate too if you are more set in your ways.

I love reading stories of men and women that fit the mold of the perfect Catholic daughter or son but even more (although I hope this doesn’t come out wrong) I love reading about the ones that took the more winding road and found their vocation, their home, after some many, sometimes rocky paths. It gives hope to ones that think they just don’t “fit the mold” and I think the internet helps that a little because you can read so much and see that others are like you too.
 
debraran

There seems to be a “fashion” in writing a saint’s biography. A few years back saints were folk who floated above the ground never setting foot on it; now (thank God!) they are like the rest of us - and give us hope! I find it difficult relating to a saint who has never sinned. I’m left thinking “It’s alright for him/her they were a saint”
 
KEVIN_WILCOX said:
debraran

There seems to be a “fashion” in writing a saint’s biography. A few years back saints were folk who floated above the ground never setting foot on it; now (thank God!) they are like the rest of us - and give us hope! I find it difficult relating to a saint who has never sinned. I’m left thinking “It’s alright for him/her they were a saint”
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Absolutely agree. It is very inspiring to see how they struggled and still overcame that to become the holy person they were. Of course, just as we all have different personalities, some saints undoubtedly were just very sweet, even tempered people.
 
Mrs_Sally said:
Absolutely agree. It is very inspiring to see how they struggled and still overcame that to become the holy person they were. Of course, just as we all have different personalities, some saints undoubtedly were just very sweet, even tempered people.
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Apart from saints like St Francis de Sales - he was (in much his own words) An “S.O.B.” - bad tempered, impatient, never had a kindly word - And then God got him!
 
Seems some people need the manure of their personal character to make the potential roses bloom.
 
PENR said:
Ah, I did actually get my GED last year but when I say education I mean college (besides which, the GED is kind of a joke. It’s hardly what I’d call proof of education). Sorry for not being clearer. :\ I think I would be more inclined to work as a sister as opposed to being in a contemplative order.
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Don’t knock your GED. There’s nothing wrong with a GED. Getting it shows perseverance. My HS education was worthless, too, but I got into college anyway.

You can apply to apostolic communities (apparently your preference) with your GED.

Don’t sell yourself short.
 
KEVIN_WILCOX said:
Or look at the example the Holy Family (or St Paul). Amongst the world but not of it.
If one is anchored in God, there is almost an ethical and moral division which forms between oneself and the rest of the community.
For the saints - even in Religious Life.

I seem to remember St Therese couldn’t understand why her sister hadn’t joined the same community as herself. Maybe I’m wrong.

I don’t know what you mean by “until the life had become somewhat easier”
If one doesn’t have a vocation the life is never easy.
But there again, I recall a saintly monk who was celebrating his 50th anniversary and I asked him what was the hardest part - and him answering “the first 50 years”
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🙂 I read that one Trappist said, of Trappist life:

“It’s a great life if you can stand it.”
 
bigquests said:
🙂 I read that one Trappist said, of Trappist life:

“It’s a great life if you can stand it.”
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Sounds a lot like marriage!

One reason for the postulancy and novitiate; for minor vows before taking permanent vows. In saying this I’m not advocating living together before marriage, neither am I advocating sex outside of the sacrament of marriage.

I believe the Pallotines renew their vows every year - at the end of the year deciding whether or not they wish to continue.
(I don’t think this rescinds their vows to priesthood)

I wonder if people were allowed to take vows for a year if this would increase the numbers entering Religious Life.
I suppose it’s a bit like the military where one “signs up” for a brief period of commitment.
 
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