what is PCPA? Yes you should come and see when when I visit the monastery I think that would be grand. Where do you live that you would be able to do that? if you dont mind me asking.

Man o man is my mom mad about me wanting to drop out of college to enter at Corpus Christi Monastery!

AAAAWWWW poor thing

Now all we do is argue at a standstill about college... Sometimes in a loud voice... and she still thinks that I need to finish college and get my degree. She says I need to mature more, but in social ways... improve my people skills...
Thanks for the prayers though! I am sure that they are helping big time, and I am definatly telling my mom more about this than I have before. My mom also called Mother Mary Regina and told her that she thinks I need to mature more before I enter...
Sorry for venting on you all...

You know i just don't understand people! Last night I got into a discussion about the habit with a older lady whom thinks that religious should not wear it and to make things even worst at the Eucharistic exhibition I was at they explained why religious now a days are abandoning the habit for plan dress and even had a plain clothed sister there to explain why. I mean has the wool been pulled over peoples eyes or what!! I have met plain clothed and habited sisters and I must say the sisters whom still wore the habit had something different about them. Just something felt different about them, maybe one can see there love for Christ or something. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this as well or maybe I have just had a bad experience with plain clothed sisters. I mean from looking around at the religious in my area, to me it just seems like there are a bunch of ladies living together in a house. Maybe its just the way things are set up here or something. I mean a bride of christ is just a wonderful thing.....one is set apart or dead to this world, one should not be focusing on hair, makeup, clothes or accessories but on the bridegroom. (I am sorry if Iam off topic, venting, or if this didn't make any sense whatsoever!)

In Jesus, Our Blessed Mother and Joseph,

S. Brooks

PCPA= Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, in Alabama, Phoenix, and Ohio

I would love to come see you, although I don't know that it will be possible. I live north of Houston, only about 2 hours from Lufkin.

Hey, girls! I want to ask you all for some prayers. In just a few weeks, I will be staying at a Cistercian monastery for some days. I've been seriously discerning this community for some time, and I'm so excited to finally visit!!

[quote=ForHimAlone,Jun 8 2005, 08:28 PM]
Hey, girls! I want to ask you all for some prayers. In just a few weeks, I will be staying at a Cistercian monastery for some days. I've been seriously discerning this community for some time, and I'm so excited to finally visit!!
[right][snapback]607605[/snapback][/right]

Hey hon that is so awesome that your visiting the Nuns at the Cistercian monastery. I am just wondering are they the nuns up in Wisconsin? In the past, I had though about contacting them but they seemed really strict. I will keep you in my prayers hon.

In Jesus, Our Blessed Mother and Joseph,
S. Brooks

Please count on our prayers for your discernment with the Cistercians! I would LOVE to hear about the daily horarium and charism when you return, having seen it first-hand. Keep us posted

Yes, it is the Cistercian monastery in southern Wisconsin. It's only about three hours from my home, which is really nice.

Marieteresa, they are pretty strict, from what I've learned, but that kind of austerity is really attractive to me. It would certainly be hard getting up at 3:30 every morning, but it's just that much more sacrifice. They live such a beautiful life.

Totus Tuus, I'll certainly write about their daily life and charism. The Cistercian Order was founded in 1098 as a reform of the Benedictines. They're really strong with ora et labora, prayer and work. There is a deep Eucharistic, Marian, and Liturgy of the Hours devotion.

Check out the Cisterican nuns at http://www.nunocist.org

that sounds really cool. I like cistercians

Hey there everyone,
I'm new to the boards, and like you I'm trying to work out Gods will for my life. Although, I am from New Zealand.
At present, I am looking primarily at the Poor Clare nuns, Dominicans and Benedictines. I fell I am called to a cloistered life HOWEVER, if I am to be in an active apostolate, I think it would be teaching.
I also, love the idea of chanting the full Divine Office and daily Adoration.
I am 17, but have felt similarly called at 12, and at 14. But until now I haven't done anything about it.
I am in contact with a Sister from an American Poor Clare community, a Sister from a Poor Clare community in the Netherlands and a couple of Dominicans and a Benedictine!!! I am quite stuck in where God wants me. But my prayer life is growing stronger (slowly!) and I want to be at Mass more and I really want to get to Adoration....
Thank you,
Emily

Hi! Emily! The Dominican Nuns in Summit, NJ (www.op.org/nunsopsummit) have an aspirant comiing in August and she is from Australia but teaching English in China. The Sisters are really excited about her coming. Her family is against this (they aren't Christian or Catholic) but she really feels Jesus is calling her to contemplative life...so pray for her.
Susan

Hi Emily! It was wonderful to read about your discernment, and please be assured of my prayers! This August, I'll be entering the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, which is a teaching community. They chant the full Divine Office and have a Eucharistic Holy Hour every morning. God bless and Mary keep you in your discernment!!!

-Carly

Carly, congratulations!! The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist are wonderful! I had a friend who was discerning with them, so I was able to see their video and learn a lot about them. May the Lord grant you many blessings as you take this next step!

hey memrose,
welcome to the board . Have you looked at http://www.nashvilledominican.org/Main.htm ? I think they are a teaching order one of the semi active I dont really know that much about them because I dont feel called to them though my mother really wants me to be called to them anyways. One of my friends is looking into them. i dont know i have heard really awesome things about them. Prayers for your vocational search.

Love in Christ
Karin

Why do things seem impossiable now? My mother is being so difficult! I thank God that I visited my Youth Minister alone today! She is my spiritual director of sorts. I would like to crawl up in a ball and cry right now, but I just need to keep going on with my day and I just get on. I'm sorry this probably is not making much sense right now, but Satan has really been trying to persuade me out of this vocation I think, and things are getting rocky spiritually, so just prayers are asked. Thanks all.

If you feel called to contemplative life, like Poor Clares, and feel called to chant the Divine Office and participate in Adoration, you might want to check out Mother Angelica's Order, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration. PM me if you would like information. God bless!

This I think is a pretty regular occurence before entrance. Jesus won't give you any more than you can handle. Just rest your head against His Heart and be still for awhile. Don't be afraid to cry and just hang in there. We'll all be praying for you!! Many of the great saints had to go through sufferings as these. God bless you!

Thanks I always find someone who says the right things at the right time

my daddy can be so mean sometimes. he was talking to my mom the other day and my mom was like "isnt she pretty? She will make such a beautiful bride for Christ" and my dad was like "yeah what a waste" he also tells me i am a religious fanatic and he isnt a Christian any more because he gave up believeing in imaginary friends. He's basiclly calls me crazy. It is so hard for me. he hates my vocation so much. but gosh i dont know i guess i should expect it from him. he always attacks it. prayers for me. hey can i ask you a question that might be off topic? if your dad left your mom and he wanted you to hang out with him and his new girlfriend would you? I dont want to and he thinks i am being so unreasonable because her (his girlfriends) daughters dont mind him being around. Gosh I am so confused it doesnt make sense for me to want to hang around them together. his excuse for not coming to see us more is because we dont want to see his girlfriend... blah sorry this isnt on the topic of being a nun. just needed a little vent.

Karin

Many Saints had to fight their families for their vocations so you are in good company!!!
I am sorry your dad says those things to you-they must really hurt. I don't think it's a waste, why can't Jesus have a pretty bride?
About visiting your Dad with his girlfriend- I think if you are uncomfortable with it then he needs to respect that. You shouldn't be forced to do something that makes you feel awkward.

thanks i have been stressing out lately

Awwww... don't worry... we here for you and you can vent all you need to! Just remember there are those backing you up and rely on Him and pray to the Blessed Mother to help you! The greater the struggles in the beginning, the greater the reward in the end

If only I had a daughter like you.
I’m in the reverse situation as you. I am a father of three girls. It is my prayer that one of them becomes a religious. My older daughter (step-daughter since she was 4) who is twelve, tells me she doesn’t want to be Catholic because we make the sign of the Cross and “worship Mary”. She also doesn’t think that we have to worship God. I continually spend time with her reading the catechism in the hope that she will turn-around, but she has no interest. She spends more time in front of the mirror worshiping herself than anything else. She is interested in boys, clothes, makeup, and that’s it. I want one of my children to become a nun but at this point I can’t even get the older one to become Catholic.
I’m sorry your father is giving you a hard time. He doesn’t realize where happiness is truly found. If he understood, he would thank God for the grace of your vocation. If one of my children ever decides to become a nun, I will rejoice!
Hey, I have an idea; we can start a new T.V. show. Instead of “Changing Spouses” we can start, “Changing Kids”.
God Bless your Vocation!

That's so beautiful...

Monica loved and prayed Augustine into the Church and look what he became!

If she is meant to become a nun, her heart will change as she grows and matures. Most 12 year old girls are boy-crazy, so she's totally normal in that regard.

oh fast reply works .yay
anyway thank you Keharitomeni Theotokos I will pray for your daughters and for your strength as a father. You sound like such a great supportive dad if one of your daughters did have a religious vocation keep it up

Keharitomeni Theotokos- God bless you for being such a supportive dad for vocations! There's a lot of us who don't have that kind of parental support, and I'm sure that if one of your girls does enter the religious life, she will be very grateful for your enthusiasm! Just trust it God. If he has called one of your girls to be His bride, He will let them know! Just keep praying that they find the will of God in their lives and fulfill it in love!

Well, I just had my parents watch the video the Cistercian nuns sent me about their monastery. I wanted my parents to be able to see what exactly I would be visiting in a week. My dad feels that the cloistered life is pointless and unchristian because it takes a woman away from her family. He also says that the Church has a dire need for active vocations, and that the times have changed so that the cloistered life is not needed anymore. In response to my replies, he said that an active vocation is a much better sacrifice and more beneficial for the Church and the world.

My sisters in Christ, if you have any responses to these objections that you feel would help my father, please let me know. I need your help. I wish I could express what I feel and know of the contemplative life, but I'm having difficulties. I can just see the pain on my father's face when he thinks about it. He's up in his room right now, and I'm sure he's going to be thinking about it mournfully for some time.

Please say a prayer if you can. Peace to all of you. May God bless and preserve you on your vocation journeys.

What did Mary do? She pondered and considered God's words in her heart. She contemplated, she suffered, she loved...and still does. St Therese, a cloistered Carmelite is a special patron of the missions. The victory at Lepanto has been attributed to the praying of the Rosary. Even in the family, if the mother is at home, keeping the house warm, teaching the children and supporting her husband, her husband can be more confident and brave in the world.

I've just watched the latest Mother Theresa movie. When they had serious allegations of trafficking of children, she rang up someone in London - a volunteer too ill to work - and said she needed her to storm Heaven with prayers! She also said that more work was done when her sisters began to give up an hour to Adoration.

Christ spent 30 years 'cloistered' in Nazareth and then in the Desert before only three years of public ministry. St Dominic, a great apostle of the 1200's had a fairly 'cloistered' youth. His nuns were founded before his friars!

Our Lord told Mary and Martha that Mary had chosen the better part. Yes, Martha is needed, but there must needs be someone to concentrate all their time and effort on loving God and storming Heaven with prayers. Without contemplation, what is there to give but material wealth? We are concerned about the salvation of souls. If prayers are not efficacious, then what hope is there?

If you can get it, I strongly recommend G. K. Chesterton's 'What's Wrong with the World?' (the section on women and on education) for the defense of women's dignity in the home.

Finally, in the midst of this troubled means-oriented, purposeless world, we need to see the importance of being human. That money and great feats are little. We must grow small enough to enter the little gate to the Heart of Jesus that is Mary. We are all little children. There is a real danger of pride in the apostolic works. All those great active missionaries need our prayers to keep them and those to whom they minister on the narrow path to Heaven. The danger is to think that we can solve all of societies problems and forget about Heaven. The danger is sacrificing, however well-intended, the Truth that sets us free, for a lesser good. With no mothers at home and no nuns in convents, we are all doing and in grave danger of losing our 'why' and our way.

I hope some of this makes sense...

God bless

Thank you, avemarisstella! I'm so terrible with verbalizing my thoughts and feelings, so I sat down last night and wrote my father a 7 page letter discussing my thoughts on the importance of the monastic life and why I feel called to this life. Now all I have to do is muster up the courage to give it to him...

prayers. Don't let your dad get you down. Cloistered people are so awesome. Prayer .... hmm you don't need anything else

Definately prayers coming your way for that deary it must be so hard. I cant remember who gave this analogy but, here is one.
In a war well obviously you need the soldiers to do the fighting. But the soldiers would do no good if they didnt have their weapons supplied and cleaned and their food taken care of... you know all the background work. There is some one who does that. That's where the part of the cloistered nun comes in she prays and supplys the priest and active nuns and other regular lay people working for Christ with strength and *weapons*. By her prayers she does all the background work that you dont see. But with out the cloistered nun the church wouldn't function properly. Just like without some one to do the job of cleaning the guns and bringing in new supplys then things owuldnt work properly in a war.

Well the person who said that said it way better than me but does that make sense to you? I am sorry i cant explain very well but I tried lol. Like i said you have my prayers. i hope you have a great time at the monastery. Love yah sistah

Karin

Thanks so much! That is a great analogy, and it put a big smile on my face! Our contemplatives are so precious!

tee hee glad you liked it and that it made you smile. I think it was my priest who said that

Very wise, priest! Once a priest heard that I was discerning the contemplative life, and he looked shocked and said, "Well, that doesn't help us!" -Sigh- Peope just do not understand the meaning and importance of the cloister.

Seriously, ask them if they believe in the power of prayer... That is what the Cloistered life is centered around. If they don't believe in the power of prayer, it will be very hard to get them to see the importance and need of those in the cloister!

a priest said that? arrghgh that must have been frusterating. we should pray for him more. also could y'all pray for me? I dont know if you all heard about me coughing on sunday for 6 hours but i was then i didnt cough all day yesterday but today another three hours and nothing seems to help. I dont mind coughing its just i am worried that my mom wont let me go visit this monastery next week like i was planning on. God Bless and Mary Keep

Karin

Awww... that's too bad. Prayers for you for sure!! What monastery are you going to next week?

I am just visiting this : http://www.opsouth.org/opnunslufkin/ Monastery for three days. the vocation directress wrote me and asked me to come visit so i am . It is the one i grew up near I am super excited

Oh, they look awesome! I will surely pray that you are able to make your visit there next week, God-willing. What three days are you going to be visiting? Maybe I'll be on my 3-day monastery visit the same time!

22-24 a wednesday thru friday. oh you must be excited about your visit!

No way! Those are the days of my visit with the Cistercians!!! How cool!!! How providential!!!

oh wow thats so exciting!!!! hah I hope you have a good time. that is so cool we are going the same days tee hee!

Hello everyone,

I'm excited, because I got a reply from a Sister Prioress the other day!!! I was so thrilled I had to go for a little clumsy run outside (less than a block) before digesting the rest of the letter... I was even more jumpy and excited than when I found out about Pope Benedict XVI!

Anyway, they said I could and should go and visit before the loan is paid off

Now I just have to get into the right country

Happy discerning.

Hi. I am new to the group and I was wondering if anyone could answer this question is it wierd or just not right to be pretty sure of your vocation to be a nun at the age of 16? I will be a junior next year and I was just wandering if anyone could give me any advice. Thankyou very much and God Bless.

Hey futurenun! Welcome to the support group. I'm in exactly the same boat you are. I am also 16, and I have desired to be a nun since I was 8. I am almost positive that this is my calling, so hopefully it's not that strange.