I just wanted to see whose parents supported their vocation. I'm having a hard time with this right now. I've been seriously discerning the cloistered life for awhile, and my dad is completely against it. He says he doesn't understand how Christ could break up a family like that with the limited visitations. He says he doesn't understand the purpose of that kind of life and thinks that it's ridiculous. I would never want to hurt him, but I feel within that this might be where I'm supposed to go.

What are your experiences or thoughts?

My parents are pretty supportive, but like you, I feel called to cloister. I spend time with the Carmelites a few times a year, and every time I go to visit I can see my mom struggling..it breaks her heart to see me go. My family is pretty tight, and my eventual entrance will be very, very difficult. I'm trusting good God to be my constant strength, because I can't do it on my own. A lot of cloistered Sisters I've talked to say they are closer to their families as nuns than they were still living at home.

I know my father would fully support me in whatever religious vocation i choose. He's all for God's will and orthodoxy. My mother is another story. She's got some beefs with the authority of the Church and the way that some Catholics conduct themselves. She is a parish nurse for both a Catholic parish and a Lutheran parish and sometimes i think she's more Lutheran than Catholic. She also wants a lot of grandchildren too. There was a while there that i believed that if i entered the seminary or monastic life, she would seriously rewrite her will and excommunicate me from the family. But lately i dont know. I think she's starting to think that the clergy could really be my vocation whether she likes it or not. We don't really talk about it but she's been reluctantly implying she's a lot more open to it lately. Blessed be God! I love her so much and wouldn't want to go against her. I certainly would if i felt the calling though. I have an amazing family that i think would ultimately be accepting of my vocation


el paz,

-Joe

I'm not sure exactly what my parents think. We don't talk about it at all. My family doesn't really talk about our feelings or anything deeper than surface level. I wish I knew what they thought.

My mom fully supports my vocation, I'm not completely sure about my dad yet though...

I'm not really sure what my parents think, i have had some interesting conversations with my mom about it... kinda hinting at it... My principal told my mom that i would make a good religious. So that led to some conversations. Lately i think that she is more open to what ever God will for me. I really wish that I could talk about it more openly, but I really don't know what God is calling me to do.

peace of Jesus
Jessica

My grandma does, but my mother kind of does... when I told her I wasn't considering preist hood as much, she was happy, I haven't told her, that I think that is the main option...

Heck 1/2 of the tuituon in College! Who'd complain!

My mom is very supportive, though she told me she doesn't see me as a priest but more as a family man... I think I agree, but I have to be sure before I can move on to whatever God is calling me to.

My parents do not support a Relgious Life vocation at all, but they are non-Catholic, so one cannot completely blame them. I love my parents with all my heart and soul, but I cannot go against what I believe God is calling me to do. God needs me to do a certain job in life and that is what my goal is to do. God must come first.

I have the support of parents and most of the extended family as well. I'm blessed in that we already have a priest in the family - my uncle is a T.O.R. - so the usual unknowns and family fears were not a factor.

A few cousins who've left the faith think i'm nuts, but hey whadda they know

My heart goes out to all who do not have family support. I admire the courage you show by continuing to discern.

My mother is pretty supportive of anything I feel God wants of me. She may not act like so at first, but she normally comes around, and now she is even practically encouraging me to become a sister! She really surprises me-- I don't know why though-- God always works things out. I firmly believe that if we have a true vocation, He will fix everything for us to obey Him; all we have to do is submit. It is so beautiful to watch Him work and see how He has ordered things for me. He is so amazing.

My parents do not support my vocation it seems... My mother is most against it... I've been told, mostly because she feels like she is losing me... But she won't! I feel torn between being His bride and my family...

I'm not too sure. I think my dad would be fine with it. My mom is who scares me. This is random because my mom is the one who helped organize adoration in my parish (FOR VOCATIONS!!!). She's the one who will generally not miss Mass (my dad misses it more often than my mom). She's the one who made us do the chaplet of Divine Mercy novena before Divine Mercy Sunday and who had our house enthroned to the Sacred Heart. It's kind of like the "Not in my backyard" syndrome. She'll pray for it to happen in other families, but when it's me, she says, "But I want grandchildren...Aren't you going to get your PhD?...You're going to be a successful author and professor...Why can't you marry a cute Catholic guy?"

I'm going to revisit a community with whom I am seriously discerning in a month. I'm going to have to tell my parents something when I get back (yay or nay), and if it's a yay, I pray that my mom will be open to it.

I am so blessed to have two of the greatest parents in the world. I know they will support me in whatever vocation God calls me to, even if it means a sacrifice. Praying for y'all whose parents don't understand.

I do swear my mother is against my vocation! I am trying to arrange a visit with these wonderful Dominican Nuns, and she won't let me just go...

Since my sister is a Sister my parents know how it is to "give up" their daughter. They, of course, have eventually accepted it, although we all do miss her a lot. My mom continually reminds me that she does not want another daughter to leave her. I don't think my dad would mind that much, although I'm much closer to my mom and it would mean a great deal to me if she would understand.

this is very old but i am gonna post anyways....

I put not sure. My dadd y thinks its awful and stupid and crazy and my mommy is like of course yes do it I am so happy you are gonna do it but..... just wait a while

I understand. I doubt my family will support me at all. My father is an athiest and does not uderstand my love of God or the Church. My 2 sisters arn't really Catholic anymore and me poor mom wants me to stay near her for the rest of her life (my parents are divorced so my mom is going to live a chaste single life the rest of her life---she's a true saint)

I am a convert to Catholicism from an Baptist/Church of Christ family. Any time I even mention being a priest, they are completely mortified.
Moreover, my background limits me a bit. Heck I haven't even got the Nicene Creed fully memorized yet. I have never been an altar server, I did not know a thing about Catholicism till fifteen. It's rough.

I have been very blessed that my parents are as supportive as they are. My dad told me that I have his blessing whenever I decide to enter. Mom took a little more time, and was mainly concerned about me making the right decision, as it currently involves leaving in the middle of college. As for my extended family, they're either lapsed Catholics or atheists and think that everything I do is rather odd.

I'm glad this thread has been resurected, I think it's good to bond about this stuff. My mom has been very supportive, but she wanted me to finish college first. I only have one more year so that's okay with me! Even she is suuprised about how accepting she is hehehe! Before he died this year, my Dad was supportive as well. He told me that I had to do what would make me happy. I am so glad that I got his blessing before he died, it means the world to me.

Well, first of all, what comes to mind when I read the comment about Christ breaking up families is this:

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man 'against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household.' Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life wil lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:34-39

I guess that may not sound like one of the more encouraging passages, but I think we can see that it holds true even today.

No one in my family is real wild about the idea of me becoming a cloistered contemplative nun. They keep trying to give me reasons why I shouldn't, they tell me I need more world experience so I can (as my mom put it) "see what it is you're throwing away."

All I know is that it's more important to do what Our Lord wants me to do, not what would be the easiest thing to do for me or my family.

see what it is you are throwing away ... hmm.. where have i heard that before.. oh yeah from my dad and grandfather and one of my best friends.... I know how you feel sistah and you will definately be in my prayers

I haven't actually told my parents yet...I'll have to soon though because Ill be getting some info from a couple of monasteries over the next week or so.
I'm scared because dad was in the seminary before leaving to marry mum and I want to be SURE before I say anything. Also, what really makes it hard is that I think that I will need to leave the country...to enter the cloister.

Sometimes they never accept it; remember Saint Francis.. His choice alienated hs father... and there are others...many others... As Jesus says, we are blessed if we leave father or mother for His sake. Not easy.... Blessings and prayers for all here.
http://www.iol.ie/~anchorhold/

My parents are very supportive. I can't say the same about everyone I know, but to have my immediate family approve is a bigger blessing than I could ask for.

i know that must be awesome for you ^

I am glad the apostles didn't feel that way.

My perspective is a little different I am 47 so my parents are not the issue. If I were younger and they were part of the process this is the only question I would need to answer.

Given a choice would I rather explain to my parents why I chose Jesus (religious life/seminary) over them or would I rather explain to Jesus why I chose my family and friends over Him?

When He calls you, there can be only one answer.

I don't really think my dad cares, but when I told my mom that I was considering the consicrated life for a while she told me I should get married, and now that I am heavily discerning the married life she says I should enter the consicrated life. I love my mom, and I think she'll support me in whatever I do, but I think she is becoming more and more open. I just think they don't want to think of "loosing" their only child to more than college right now.

God bless-
LGLG

I wish my mom would let me drop outta college to enter the convent I know dad wouldn't care too much... he's the one who said at least a year...

I know that some of you are torn between the religious life and your parents. I have to tell you though God has called you and has put a dream in your hearts. He did the same for your parents. They got to choose their life, now it is your turn.

While you of course you should be sensitive to what they are feeling you have to remember to whom your primary allegiance belongs to.

I told this story on another topic, can't remember which one.
I met a sister who came from a LARGE family all together there were 28 of them. She was told if she left to become a sister she would be dead to them. The day she left she placed a sympathy card on her bed for them. Since that time some have changed their minds, some have not.
This was some 22 years ago.

YOU NEED TO FOLLOW JESUS. There is a scripture that you don't usually see conncected to this topic but I think it still applies. IF YOU WOULD DENY ME IN FRONT OF MAN I WILL DENY YOU IN FRONT OF MY FATHER (I think I just paraphrased).

i dont know what to answer.. my parents are really indifferent. so does that qualify as a yes, or no, or not sure?

i havn't talked to my parents about it. They still think it's weird that i go to church and they think i'm crazy b/c i go to mass on wednesday. and don't even get me started on how they act and the looks i get when i go to adoration randomly. haha *sigh* it's scarry and i don't think they'd like it AT all.
i think if i ever decide to enter then it'll just drop in on them like a bomb or something...it just scares me to think about it.

It's kind of hard for me to answer as well. For the past couple of years, I have been trying to discern my vocation. My parents seemed to be supportive. They allowed me to go on retreats at different convents.- But now, they don't seem to understand. My mother has decided that no one should decide to enter the convent until age 29 (I'm 18) and I tend to think that my dad might agree with her, as far as waiting until I'm older. My mother also doesn't like the idea of a vocation to the cloister either. (Right now, I'm leaning more toward a more active apostalate, but I am open to both) I'm heading off to college this fall, but I don't want to tell Jesus no if He calls me somewhere before I'm 29.

Yes, I still haven't told my parents They have their hearts set on me becoming a human rights lawyer (which is what I used to want to do with my life.) If they do support me, it will only be after university, I feel. which I don't understand!!!! Mary didn't get a degree before having Jesus!!! She just said yes! So I would love to enter the cloister straight after high school (so, maybe next Janurary/February.)

The other problem is that where I feel I am called to enter, is on thje other side of the world!!!!

Ah well, mutual prayers as always....for everyone here!!!

my mom's excuse for not entering sooner: "Times have changed"

Okay I have a confession to make this one is going to be a little sarcastic. LITTLE ?

Diapers change. Light bulbs change. Your toothbrush change. Your friends change. My weight THANKFULLY huge change (pun intended).

But GOD calling us to the religious life (in this case) ain't changing. He has been doing this the same way since he started making peeples.

The struggle you are going thru today 5, 10 20, 50 years from now others will be going thru the same struggle you are. Parents will always have an opinion. Keep in mind though that is all it is.

The expression TIMES HAVE CHANGED is so absolutely correct. I agree 100%. Did I just confuse someone? When It comes to things that humans control, then yes they do change.

But where God is in control no they do not change. If that were true this little nifty thing we got going on UH I THINK WE CALL IT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH would not exist today.

I am a parent I have a daughter she is 23. She has made decisions some good some bad some stupid. I have expressed my opinion when I have been asked and of course when I haven't been asked.

But there comes a point when I have to shut up back off and trust her no matter what I feel. It is her life not mine. She has to live it. I know this because she told me. It made me angry when she said it, it hurt having to hear it. But it was the truth and something I needed to hear. I got over it. She is right if I don't agree with what she is doing then WHATEVER, it is her life.

Please pay attention to this I am saying it as an "old person."

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS YOU WON'T BE HAPPY UNLESS YOU DO.

Should you honor and respect your parents? YES YES YES
However honoring and respecting does not mean living your life for them. God did not make you for that.

Your parents have chosen their lives you should have the right to do the same. I can not stress this enough.

Well, my folks support me but they still don't understand everything I'm going through. They keep trying to get me to move back home and live with them until I enter an order. I have to explain to them every other time it's brought up that more and more communities would prefer that I live on my own before entering! Keep that in mind all of you, life experience is a great plus because you demonstrate that you have made an informed decision!

Pretty much my whole family supports my Vocational Discernment to the Priesthood, and I'm the only Catholic

whoa! how did that happen? I'm really happy for you

Wow! You are so very blessed! Praised be Jesus Christ!

Wow! I wish my parents were that supportive! Good for you!

my mom's most recent excuse to keep me from entering early:
"Everyone is more mature at 21. Its legal to get married when you are 16, but would you be ready?"