Why is there an age limit on vocations?

[rayne100]

Simple question… Why is there an age limit on vocations?
I am speakin gmore toward older not younger limits (i.e. not over 55, ect…)

 

[Dale_M]

Simple question… Why is there an age limit on vocations?
I am speakin gmore toward older not younger limits (i.e. not over 55, ect…)

I have read that Benedictine monasteries do not like men over age 40 or 45 because they have a hard time adjusting to life in community after living on their own for a couple decades or more.

 

[Sr_Sally]

Part of it is probably because it would be difficult for someone who’d lived either alone or with a spouse for many years to adjust themselves to communal life. Also, a vocation should not be considered a retirement plan!

 

[debraran]

I think the less restrictive orders have less requirements on age…I saw this on an EWTN show on vocations. The ones like Mother Angelica’s are so strict that you probably would start to go crazy after a couple of weeks (that is somewhat what she said). Being told as a 40 year old what to do, where to go, when to speak,etc. might be okay for a while, but then your personality and stubborness would kick in. In another book I read from an older nun, she said being treated like a child as an adult is very hard, most older women leave…it’s a nice retreat, they enjoy certain things, but a day that “isn’t their own” from morning until night, is easier to adjust too as a younger woman. Men find the same thing…there are exceptions, but many times the same thing happens. Orders that are active, with prayer and meals together, but you do different things during the day, are easier, but you still have to deal with the obedience factor.

 

[johnnydigit]

Also, a vocation should not be considered a retirement plan!

hilarious! ya maybe you can look into a 2nd or 3rd religious order, where lay people are.

sometimes i wonder what it would be like if my young adult group at church were to have a community. we’re almost like family, and at retreats it’s like a heavenly community. of course the glitter wears off, but somehow i think God wanted us all to live like this…

 

[bilop]

Conversely,

I think the diocesan priesthood should more actively look for older vocations.

The NY Archdiocese just ordained 2 men in their 40’s who had careers before discovering their vocation.

Given that people in our society are maturing later, not making committments to marriage, career etc. until their 30’s (or later), it makes sense that many men might not be willing to commit to the priesthood until that time. I think there might be a rich source of vocations from men in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, even 60’s that the Dioceses are probably not used to tapping.

In the old days, I think dioceses might have worried that they wouldn’t get enough years of service out of older ordinations, relative to the cost of education. But with today’s improved life expectancy and health (I know of two active pastors in NY who are over 80), I think this should be less of an issue.

God Bless

 

[debraran]

In CT we had some older vocations too. Although I don’t at my age think of 30-40’s as “old” ; )

Diocesan priests are the easiest to get accepted by. There isn’t a group and strict regulations to get used too and although you don’t have the help you used to have, (many are alone) you are able to keep some things, have money, property, etc.

I also think you see more older priests because they encourage them to go to college first now and not enter out of high school like many years ago.