I have a friend in the Carmel of Alexandria, South Dakota. If you want I can give you the address so that you can write to them for information. They wear full habits and are very traditional, wonderful sisters.

See, like you, I'm partial to the Franciscans... But really any Order you are supposed to have a desire to sacrificially save souls... really...

Well, I did make a trip to the Shrine this summer, and I loved it. I could definitely see myself living there and feeling completely at home. My only concern is that I have this nagging feeling that keeps poking me and telling me "remember the Carmelites. remember the Carmelites." So I'm kind of wondering if that's not God's signal to me saying, "Well, you really want to join the PCPAs, but that's YOUR will. MY Will is the Carmelites. Use your free will carefully." But it's oh-so-hard to decide what's coming from me and what's coming from Him, you know? But I have only visited the PCPAs and the SSEWs (who are also awesome, but not for me). I still have yet to visit the Carmelites.

I'm still discerning, but I do feel a strong calling to the religious life. Specifically, the Benedictines. I think I'm called to live the active life, if I am being called.

Oh, and yes! That would be awesome! Full-habit and traditional is the only way to go in my book. Speaking of the habit, I kinda think it's too bad that the Carmelite habit doesn't have the white crown thingy at the top that the veil rests on like the Poor Clares do. (My favorite habit is the Poor Clare habit.) I know some types of Carmelites have them, but not all.

The Benedictines do seem cool, and from what I can tell, very traditional on the whole. I didn't know they do active work, too, though. I thought they were mainly contemplatives.

I believe there are many active orders (esp. for women) that follow the rule of St. Benedict. I don't know where I get this idea from, but it seems right to me.

These sisters can either be active or contemplative. They seem absolutely wonderful and they can be teachers and they will accept my student loans. This order seems great on the whole, but I'll see in October.

OK......question for all of us:

Would you enter a convent or monastery with out visiting it? why or why not? or would you only do that if you totally sure?

I'd do it if I was reasonably sure. Totalty certainty of anything is hard to come by.

I know a priest who joined his order without having ever visited or anything. He just believed Our Lady asked him to join that order. He did it with no questions asked. This is a rare thing though. I don't want to encourage imprudence or anything.

I had the same feeling about the Carmelites for a long time. But every time I studied their spirituality since I discovered Franciscan spirituality, it seemed like something was missing for me. I think Carmelites are awesome, and I would join Carmel if I wasn't going to join the PCPA's, but they're just not what God made me for. I hope your discernment goes well

Their address is:
Carmelite Monastery
P. O. Box 67
Alexandria SD 57311-0067
U. S. A.

I noticed that, too. Don't you love the PCPA habit? It's so beautiful! The Alhambra (Aljambra?) Carmelites wear that thing on their veil, but to me it looks kind of strange because it's really tall.... lol... anyway, yes I agree about that. Their wimple also seems to be different.

I don't think I'd be able to do that, simply because for me it was a matter of knowing I was called there because I felt at home when I visited. However, I certainly don't think everyone is like that. I have met nuns who never visited before joining.

Well I think the joining before visiting thing would depend on the person. i know people who have entered without ever visiting and others who might not have entered if they hadnt visited first. but it seems like it would depend on the person how God calls each on individually. I dont think i personally would have a problem it really just depnds on the situation.. like maybe you would if you lived far away from the place or something i really dont know lol.. i am thinking out loud

I would have to visit first. I just couldn't get an idea about the community without visiting.

I made a silent retreat this weekend and I am very sure that I am being called to a contemplative life through the results of this retreat even my spiritual director for the short amount of time I had her said that I hade that "aura" of a contemplative-ness about me... Now, on to finish my application!!

Good luck, FNJMJ!

As for me, I am teeming with excitement about my visit to the Benedictines. It's sooooo far away!!!! 2 months and 2 weeks. Ooh I need to change my siggy...

Oh well....thanks. I guess I just to need to PRAY PRAY PRAY...

Future nun +JMJ+
Thats so cool! I'd love to do a silent retreat! Glad to hear it went so well!!!!!

oh i am so glad for you angela and zabbazooey that is excited yeah i started a counting down the days for my aspirancy long ago i was so exciting i would tell people only 186 days till i visit lol. I am so excited for you and I am sending prayers your way God Bless and Mary Keep you all.

Karin

I'm thinking about going on a silent retreat sometime in the near future, but I don't really know what that means. Could someone tell me what a silent retreat entails?

A silent retreat is intense, fun and a lot of work. At least mine was.

With mine I met with a "spiritual director" two times a day. We talked about my life, things that were going on, where did I see God in all of it. Then I got "HOMEWORK" The priest gave me suggested bible verses to read and reflect on and journal about. Then we looked at what I wrote and talked about it.

Other than speaking to him, I kept to myself. There was minimum contact with the other retreatants. They were going thru the same thing as I was. As I understand it silent retreats are all pretty much the same.

I HOPE THIS HELPS.

I found that the first day was the hardest, but after I made a schedule for myself, things got so much better! I only met with a spiritual director once a day and it didn't seem like she was all that interested in following up with what she had asked me to reflect on... but I found the silence to me wonderful though! It just killed me that there was no sense of community, but that is understandable considering it is a silent individual retreat. Our last meal there we were able to speak, but I honestly preferred not to. I felt bad though because a young lady at the table I was at wanted to talk so badly... But there was Mass everyday and morning and evening prayer. I decided not to go to any of the morning prayer sessions considering they had some bizarre forms of prayer, such as tai chi (ummm... last time I checked, that wasn't a form of prayer, at least not Christian prayer) I just didn't like how these things sounded, so I spent time with Jesus instead. Evening prayer wasn't so bad because it was a more traditional type of prayer with the responses and some Scripture and some singing. But there was LOTS of time for prayer and the retreat house is beautiful and there is so many places to go. I prayed the stations of the cross, I did the Angelus everyday, prayed the Rosary everyday, read a book, went to bed at 9pm, and if I had a breviary or something, I would have prayed Liturgy of the Hours as well!! I found it to be very enriching and I'm not sure what graces I came away with or even the purpose of going, but I feel like a much better person and more peaceful than before.

I would definatly go to another silent retreat, and maybe bring someone along with me Something tells me that I should have said less...

I went on a retreat in April at Casa Maria, which wasn't a silent retreat but since I didn't know anyone there I made it silent for myself. It was very difficult for me, not because of the silence (I have made short silent retreats before that were very wonderful), but this time it was very hard because I had to face truths about myself that were so humbling, and the good God let me learn things that I think I had been hiding from myself. But it was so fruitful, which I realized after I "recovered" from the aches and pains of self-knowledge
So basically all I'm saying is that silent retreats can be extremely peaceful, and make you feel as if you know God better than you ever did before (I've had retreat experiences like that), or they can be very humbling- which is possible more fruitful than the other type.
These are just my experiences, though.

Hi everyone!
Praised be Jesus Christ!

I'm new here. I'm am trying to disern my vocation. I have felt that God has been calling me to the religious life for quite sometime. I have written to various religious orders, just to find out more information and have also visited a few. However, I'm still unsure where God wants me. I will be heading off to college in just a couple of weeks (I will be a freshman.) Anyway I'm so excited to find a group of people who are also discerning!

Welcome to Phatmass, All For Jesus!

I hope that you like it here!!!

Hmm, Yeah I think it depends on the person......me personally I think I wouldn't be able to do it. But thats just me or if God put up a big neon sign saying enter here well thats a different story.

I agree with Marieteresa. I probably would not enter without visiting.- Unless I was absolutely sure. I would rather get to know the place and the people where I was going by visiting-preferably more than once. It would help me get a better taste of what the community is actually like.

Hmm... probably only if I had some spectacular sign or premonition that this was what God wanted me to do.

Well! In a way I have!

A month or so ago, when I was thinking/praying/dreaming late at night. (I may or not have been awake.) And I could "see" myself entering the Monastery of the Heart of Jesus, on the Presentation of our Lord, next year.

Turns out later, that the 2nd of February was the birthday of the founder of the Monastery!!!

Not only that, but the present prioress was praying in mediatative Adoration for me at that time.

I don't go in for "dreams-visions" but what happened was pretty cool.

I still don't know "for sure" (and I doubt I'll know til final vows!) but that and a combination of other things (ie: the expense of coming to visit the US from NZ at first before entering.......etc)

Oh well........I should just keep praying..........thanks though!!!

That's wonderful! I really hope that it works out for you if that is what Jesus is calling you to. That would be such a beautiful thing to look back on after you entered.

That's so cool, Emily! I had a similar dream (kinda) where I was in a garden, kind of in a deep prayer state, and all of a sudden, a voice inside of me said, "Follow your true vocation." Like what I'm doing now isn't the right thing. And the next day, the Benedictines called me again to ask if I wanted to visit.

I totally understand where you're coming from. That's so awesome! When do you plan on visiting the SMME's?

Umm....I had only been looking at the SMME's (if

Umm....I had only been looking at the SMME's (if I'm the Emily you're talking about!) I'd be interested in attending one of their retreats....

However, the community I was talking about with the whole dream thingy....it was the Dominican Monastery of the Heart of Jesus, in Lockport, LA.
Sorry about any confusion!!!

oh I have a feeling you are called to the Monastery to the Heart of Jesus... i dont know why lol but I have been praying about it alot. I do hope that you are but of course i ewant God's will for you whatever that is

Awwwww!!! Thank you so much!!!! You are so sweet! I hope I am too! It would be soooooo awesome if we ended up there!!!!!!

Mutual prayers as always!

yup yup yup. i am sad you might not be able to make that trip and I am sending prayers to our furture spouse as we speak . i want you to be where God wants you to be and it makes me so exicted that you are following your vocation to the best of your ability

O my goodness yes!!! But it is so exciting that we are all trying to follow Gods will to the best of our ablities! You are a very positive sign for all the rest of us too Karin!!! With your surety in our Lord, and your strength from Him!!!!!

Love, your sister in Christ

OK girls, in two days I'm on my way to southern Wisconsin for a Solemn Profession at the Cistercian monastery!! I am so excited. Please keep me in your prayers, and pray especially for the nun who is in her very final days of preparation for her perpetual espousal to Jesus!

Who is making Solemn Profession? Sr. Alyedis?

I hope you have a GREAT time!!!!!!!

Yes! How did you know? Are you in contact with the Cistercians?

On their old website they had photos of when she got the habit. I think it was she, anyway.

For the first time since I started this process of figuring out Gods will in my life.....I have had a brand new obstacle. Boys.

Now, at first I realised what a huge sacrifice it is to live chastely and solely for God....which is fine. I want to be a nun, so that didn't matter too much. I could cope with the concept of never being a mother and wife. However, I met these amazing guys a couple of weeks...maybe even months now, ago. (OK, one in particular ) Its totally impossible and nothing is even going to come of it, coz he is going out with one of my friends, AND I don't need this sort of a distraction regarding my discerning! Any advice of how to stop letting yourself even briefly think about some one? lol....I say a Hail Mary and try to focus on the suffering billions in this world....but it doesn't always work!

Anyway...thanks...! Mutual prayers as always.

Yeah, I've had that problem to a degree... they seem to come out of the woodwork all of a sudden. I find it kind of amusing, actually. There are a few people who have told me "So and so really likes you and was shocked to find out you're going to be a nun." It's surprising to me. I wouldn't have thought! At first I'd think, "Wow, I would have been pretty darn interested to know that a while back..." but then I realize it's a really good thing that I didn't!

Anyway... I say a Hail Mary, petition a patron saint, and comfort myself by recalling that JESUS wants me. The best Spouse in eternity has picked me and loves me more than anyone else ever will or could. NO ONE can compare to him! There's no competition! And besides that, He's jelous! I don't want to let Him down. He wants me to get to know Him better.

I have a pretty notebook that I write things that comfort me like that in, and I pull it out when I'm feeling down.

Prayers! I hope it helps!

^ thats very good advice i was going to say something close along those lines

It's hard. I don't think I can add much to the advice that's been given, but really just pray, and if you're being idle, do something to get your mind off of it. It's a huge sacrifice, but sometimes when you do feel Divine Consolation in your life, you realize how infinitely worth it the sacrifice was.

Alright, I just got home from the Cistercian Solemn Profession of Sr. Aleydis. There are hardly words! It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. The Mass was all in Latin, and there were about 10 priests present. Also, there were the Cistercian monks, a Franciscan Friar, and a Minnesota Seminarian. Sr. Aleydis was radiant. She made her profession, knelt before each nun and asked for her prayers, prostrated herself before the altar, and received the black veil and choir robe. It was truly beautiful!

That is sooo beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I haven't made it to a profession Mass OR an ordination... *sigh* that'll change soon, though... next year! What a beautiful witness, though... :D

How Beautiful! Ahh, to be the bride of Christ! Praise God!

That sounds like bliss! What a blessing for you to be there!