So thats why I havent see you online!! your in Ukraine!!! COOLNESS

Yep! Things have been wonderful here as well I had a chance for confession from a Dominican Friar out here. I don't want to go back to school though...

That's so cool that you're in Ukraine! What's it like?

When do you come back?

By the way, totally unrealted to Ukraine, but I think Emily (aka ThyHolyLove) is on her aspirancy at Summit. I think she said it started on the 5th. So pray for her!

She is! And she will be there until the 24th. Prayers for her

Hello everyone!

Well, now I've been back from my visit with the Daughters of Mary for a few days, and I'm still digesting my visit .
I was only there for 5 days, but I so wish it could have been longer. It was wonderful to be back, and I got such a warm welcome from both the sister in charge of the guest and from Mother Superior. I also had the chance to talk to the Novice Mistress a few times and she seemed positive towards me entering in a couple of years ( because of my university degree and financial reasons I can't enter for another 2 years ). However, she did suggest that I come for a couple of weeks this summer. They don't have aspirancy, but it would be a chance to experience the community more fully, by charing in some of the work and having focused and guided meditations ( right word ? ) with the Novice Mistress. It wouldn't be the same as really living with the sisters, since I wouldn't be admitted into the enclosure, but it would give me a chance to get to know some more of the sisters and to get a larger insight into their daily life.
I really appriciated the time they took to meet with me and the guidence I was given. It was an opportunity for me to delve a bit further inte their rule (the rule of St. Benedict ), which I'm only just starting to study, but which I'm quickly learning to love. It makes so much sence and it really speaks to me. However, I've also realised that to really embody it is the work of a lifetime but I'm eager to begin my study in the "school for God's service".
The only "bad" thing about my visit was that I was told that I should learn german, since they have a lot of contact with monasterys in Germany. Unfortunately, I'm not good at languages, but we all have our crosses to bear (sp?) .

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how I've been and to thank you for your prayers.

Pax

Veera, om du läser det här, så välkommen hem. Ring mig! Kram, Suzanne.

Dear Suzanne,

Your trip sounds like it was a blessing. How wonderful!!!
Now, I know two years sounds like a long time but may be ask St. Therese to help you out with the waiting. She had to wait to enter Carmel and so she understands what it is like to wait on the Lord's timing. I have asked her to help me to wait as well.

As for languages: My degree is in Linguistics and if there is any comfort for you Swedish is family of languages is considered in the North Germanic family. So take it slow and consider learning German as learning another language in the family

I have and read parts of the Rule of St. Benedict. It is wonderful and practical at the same time.

Thank you again for the news and may God bless you in your time of discernment with these good sisters.

Im so thankful that this group is here. I want to dedicate my life to serving God and others, and i want to be a nun. Unfortunately, very few people are supportive of my decision. I go to a public school, with very few catholics, the catholics that are there are not exactly practicing catholics, so i have very few people i can talk to about wanting to become a nun. I can talk to our priests, my good friend peter, and my confirmation teacher. Then i stumbled upon this group and i feel like i have so many questions....
First of all, How do I get involved with local orders of nuns?? I have an idea of where I want to go but I would still like to research more orders, how can I do that?
I would really appreciate your help!
-Brienne

Hey hon! welcome to PM! Your vocation journey will be in my prayers

In JMJ

First, Brienne!!!! I hope you find much support about your vocation and desire to serve God here on Phatmass. It's great to hear that you've searched out people in your own life who are able to support you. We welcome you and your questions......

The internet is a great tool to explore religious orders... where they are, what apostolates they're involved in, etc. Then, GO VISIT! If there are sisters/nuns in your area, go make retreat with them or become involved in their ministry. And, if you feel comfortable sharing what order you feel called to, please do. And I presume (please correct me if I'm wrong) that you're in high school. That is such a blessing, as it will allow you time to continue to grow in your vocation and research other orders.

Again, welcome!

Hiya I'd just say to really continue to make prayer and the sacraments an integral part of your life! From there, start looking at different charisms and spiritualities. Then working from there (with the Holy Spirit!) once you start to sort out in your head where your interests lie in regards to religious life, for example, are you interested in teaching? nursing? prolife work? media outreach? or purely contemplative? There are so many orders out there, but God will place the right one(s) along your path!

You'll be in my prayers!

I miss my nuns... I am just itching to visit, or even better yet, enter.

What would you guys think about a book being written about your process of entering the religious life? It would be a book about your vocation story basically... what do you think?

Well, during the process, I don't think it's a good idea. It's all very well keeping a spiritual diary for yourself, but not a book. Just my opinion though.....

I love reading vocation stories AFTER the subject has entered religious life - it makes it seem so real. Afterall, entering the novitiate is still only part of the whole discernment process!

I don't know it could be a good and bad idea, I mean it could help those out there whom need support in their vocation and it could be harmful as well.

+JMJ+

It would be too long of a book.
I've opened and closed so many doors on the journey.

So, how are things my friends?

not so bad how about you?

Karin, what do your parents think of your becoming a nun? Are they supportive?

God bless you and protect you,

Denise

I'm checking in.

I've been good, too. It was funny because I have gotten into the bad habit of hitting the snooze button (which I am giving up for Lent and hopefully the rest of my life because it's the greatest obstacle to holiness in my life), and as a result, gotten out of the habit of going to daily Mass on a daily basis as of late. I woke up really early today because of having to do it this weekend, so I went to Mass. Our amazingly holy associate pastor looked at me after Mass and said, "It's good to see you here again. You're the one who should be coming everyday! It was always a joy to see you, and then you disappeared!"

Praise the Lord for sending us priests who remind us to focus our spiritual lives and get them back in gear when we fall off the path!

That's funny! It reminds me of a sister who used to say that everything in their life is an act of obedience & surrender, including happily* jumping out of bed when the bell rang at 4:30 am!!

well my mom is more supportive than my dad she is happy that I am, becoming a nun. But she would rather it be on her terms rather than what I believe God is calling me to. My dad thinks I am throwing away my life. But really my mom is pretty supportive even if I am not going to the monastery that is closest to home so that she can visit easier, God Bless and Mary keep
Karin

I'm glad to see things are going pretty well I myself have fallen slightly ill and it is interesting that one should mention daily Mass and the snooze button... It has been much to long since I have been able to get to Daily Mass and lately I have been going to bed much too late to be getting up. I think that is part of why I am feeling under the weather. Also, I have been fasting in a sort and abstaining from meat as much as I can, but I felt like I needed to have some meat earlier because I was not feeling well and I also ate more than the past few days...

Sorry to kind of shpeal out everything going on, but I feel like I am not doing everything I could be... Know what I mean?

Karin, My family is sorta supportive...Mom is a Nazarene & Dad is a non-practicing Catholic...Of, course he has told me that he will never see me again if I enter because his health is too poor to travel far...And I even had one family member say, "Well, I guess you could do worse!"
Families usually mean well... Brandelyn

Hi FutureNunJMJ, I'm in almost exactly the same boat in my life- going to bed too late to go to Mass in the morning, not eating right, etc. Haven't been feeling well as a result either. Let's pray for each other, k?

When I wanted to join a contemplative order (now I'm looking at active orders) my aunt said, 'Why would anyone want to do that?? It sounds like prison!" And my Grams, God rest her soul, whenever I mentioned wanting to be a nun, would say, "Yeah, yeah, nun of this and nun of that..." LOL. Ahhh, families...

Go Grams! Brandelyn

Sure

It's been nearly 3 weeks since I last sent the Nuns a letter... I don't think it got delivered... I think my dad may have brought it in with the mail coming in and it never made it to the post office...

I think I may write another letter or something, but this kinda bums me out, for nearly 2 weeks now I have been waiting to receive something, and I keep ending up with an empty mail box...

I have been doing pretty well. I am normally a pretty calm person, so it seems natural for me not to be extremely exuberant... but it bothers me sometimes how I just feel numb, even when I think I should be excited. I'm taking it as a test of faith. Besides, there are little consolations He sends me that I should be paying more and more attention to.

More and more I'm realizing that I should be thinking more of Christ and spending more of my time with Him. I can relate to the use of the snooze button!

Now is the perfect time to stop hittin the snooze button. Let's try to do it together!

Hehehe... and I did it this morning, too. But may that be the end!!

I didn't! I thought about it, but I decided to sit up so that I wouldn't be tempted to fall back asleep. It worked, and I got to Mass. And it was a very good day to go to Mass because of the readings, and my priests' preaching was very good!

I missed Mass this morning even though I was up... I just wanted to sleep another hour...

I regretted missing Mass so much last Saturday when I skipped it! I am deffinetly going tomorrow morning.

You know... There have been several times in the past where I knew I was supposed to drop out of college to enter the monastery, but then something happened that would just screw everything up and I would be utterly confused again.

Anyone know what I am talking about?

I think I may know a little about what you are saying. When I thought I was called to the religious life, I felt quite a few things fall into place, making me feel that yes, this was in fact what I am supposed to do. Then other things would pop up, making me pause and wonder if they too were signs, or if they were distractions from the evil one. Not sure what your situation is, and if by 'screwing everything up' if you meant the time to enter, the community, etc. but please know that as your time grows closer, when you go to enter again? satan WILL be more wily, trying his best to make sure you don't enter. 'Stay steady and get ready' as my SD says. Especially after some things that happened this week while I was on vacation, I can say with certainty, words were never more wisely spoken than those words.

I will keep you in prayer.

Feel free to PM if you'd like to discuss more off post.

God bless you,
Denise

Thanks I haven't formally applied to the postulancy, so I don't have an enterance date, but by "screwing things up" I just get so confused and lost as to what I need to do... you offered wonderful advise though. I think I need to find myself a spiritual director.

FutureNunJMJ,
Totally with you! I definately have times (frequently!) where I'm at school and just stop and wonder what on earth I'm doing here when I'd rather be in a convent. Prayers for you!

When you imagine yourself in a convent. . .what do you see yourself doing? You know, when you're wondering why you aren't in one 'right now'?

(I just wanted to reply to your post before leaving for Lent)

Yes, I think I know what you are talking about. However, just this afternoon, I realised that I am no longer quite so unsure.

For the last three or four months I had have an assurance about whereabouts I am called. A variety of factors (eg family, braces, distance, school etc) have prevented me from taking any "major" steps. Last week, I found out that my braces are coming off on June 15. (thank you Jesus! Mary! and Bl Elizabeth!!) So, for the first time, I am in a position to "make a move" so to speak. However, although for the last few months I have had a certainty about me being called to the cloistered contemplative life, since being at university, I, once again, feel this great desire to catechise, teach and evangelise (which has always been in the back of my head.)

But, I think (I'll have to keep praying though!) that I am being asked to give up these holy desires - to cling to the One Thing necessary. I think that as much as I'd love to be in an active teaching order, my heart is in Eindhoven. So now, for me, I have to wait out this semester, til my braces come off (Praise God!) keep preparing my parents, and then Thy holy will be done, oh Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If my little place is not in Eindhoven, I will look at teaching again, but I must give our Lord His chance. He gave me my life, and I want to utterly "throw my life away" for Him!!! People over the last few weeks have been telling me, if I'm so sure, why aren't I doing anything about it? I'm scared, this is a scary place to be in, on the verge of committing myself to what I believe is my vocation. However, its not really about me at all, its about Him and Love.

OK, not quite what I meant to say, but there it is. Please keep me and my family in your prayers as this is awkard times for us all. Know that you are in mine

God bless + and our Lady guide and protect you.

Oh I am sooo happy for you! I know you've had quite the attraction to your community and from their site, they look wonderful! I will keep you in my prayers, that He leads you where He wills, but I will also pray that Eindhoven is it! :D

God bless you!

It's the feastday of St. Colette! YAY! She was a Poor Clare who reformed the order... those under her reforms are Poor Clare Colettines, which is the community I seek to enter! 'My' nuns are party-ing today!

LOL! Happy Feast Day to you and the PCCs.

Now to go write the nuns and hope to visit them over spring break! I think it is coming up soon! Like the week of the 20th!

Have they already said you can come visit? The 20th will be here before you know it! Do they allow you in cloister?

No, I am not allowed into the cloister, but I have cleaned the extern chapel with the novices before That was last year in preperation for Easter. I am hoping to write them and maybe call them if I don't hear back, but Mother Mary Regina is good about responding rather quickly!

That's fabulous! Good luck! I will pray that you will be able to make a visit. Have you made any efforts towards application for entrance?

I have a great portion of the health stuff filled out, but I have not been able to do much with having the doctor and the dentist check me out and getting a priest's recommendation letter (I have already asked a priest to do so for me) and getting a copy of my certificate of recieving the sacraments. I got to re-find my application again!