I will continue to pray for you.

I just posted something on the PCPA thread from one of the books I am reading. Since you are, too, going to be a cloistered nun, I think you'd like it.

Beautiful Thanks...

FutureNunJMJ - I am from Rockford, and absolutely love the Poor Clares! My family goes way back with them! I have cousins named Clare and Colette, and my aunt takes them to their doctor appointments, and get this (it's my favorite part...): when I was born my grandma took me to the Poor Clares and they (shhh!) passed me through their grill so that they could all hold me. My mom thinks this determined my vocation right then and there.
They truly are a beautiful community! (plus, St. Clare and St. Colette are pretty sweet)

That's awesome!

I had a roommate in college who has an aunt who is a Pink Sister. Her parents also used to put her through on the spinning thing (not sure what it's called), so that the nuns could hold her.

I heard back from Mother Abbess!!!!! Those nuns sure have been VERY busy little bees! I think I will be able to visit during spring break, but I am staying home the 1st few days so that I can help clean and stuff like my mom would probably like me to do

Awww that's great! I knew you were wondering if you were going to be able to go. Isn't it hard waiting, wondering if they're going to respond? LoL, I was a little worried myself when I wasn't able to get a hold of my own community. . .later to find out they were on their 8 day retreat, and didn't answer phone or email.

I will be praying for you. Is your Spring Break now? It is for the colleges here.

Nope, I don't have spring break until the week of the 20th... my little sister has it the week afterwards...

I like those pink habits. They are so "in" for Spring..

LOL!

If they leave the enclosure they wear a grey habit...

That wouldn't be "in" though?

Brown is ALWAYS in. So I don't have to worry about a thing.

So is black.
hahha

Nuns are always "in"

I wonder if I will be able to learn quilling this time

Uhhh what is quilling?

Well, it's like rolling up coloured paper and making designs and things with them, like flowers. I guess it is hard to explain, but that is one of the things that the nuns do when making cards and such. I was supposed to be taught how to last time I visited, but the newspaper reporter showed up when I was, but that's okay. I am hoping to learn maybe this time!

.Wikipedia is good for some things.

Ummm, wow.

Whoa! Cool! I wanna learn to!

Yep, that is it!

Apparently my mom doesn't want me to go to Rockford during spring break because of my car... I think I am going anyways... My car will make it! My other car made it, and so can this one!

I think I am going to drop out of school/college after this semester. I will have to get a job and work to pay off debts for some time. Maybe a year or so, that is if I can get some financial help from divine provedince or generous people. I really think that I need to enter ASAP.

ASAP?


God bless you, my poor clare sister. I will keep you in my prayers.

I feel awesome right now. I just asked for a copy of my baptismal certificate to be sent to the Monastery and left a note for Father to write me a recommendation letter. Now I need to find the rest of my application so I can go to the dentist and doctor and have a full physical done to make sure I am healthy. I am so excited!

New member introducing herself!

I've been looking around this board for a while; it's inspiring to see so many people here discerning religious life and having the courage to take the plunge. Places like this really are a huge support in a crazed out world like this one.

Myself, I'm British but live in the Netherlands. I've been a Benedictine Oblate for several years and am getting tired of running. It's a relief to know that whilst we're in a minority, I'm not the only European here

My visits will begin at the end of next month, with a short trip to a Benedictine Abbey in Germany, although of course there are other places on my "short list" (for want of a better phrase).

You are all in my prayers. May God strengthen you all on your journeys.

Puella

Welcome!! You'll get addicted quite fast I imagine! It's also really cool having someone else NOT from the States, hehe.

Welcome! I know if you check in on open mic, you can meet some of the other europeans Welcome again! Have a most enjoyable time here with us!

Goodness, people reply here fast!

Thank you both, memtherose and FutureNun, for your welcomes. I'm thinking heading over to the Open Mic, but time is precious and I know how good the internet is at sucking it all away from (more) useful stuff like Lectio It's enough to know that the Europeans (and other non-USAns) are out there

Puella

When do you hope to enter?

I am shooting for summer next year, and if debts are gone earlier, I'll see if I can seek earlier enterance

Well I will keep you in prayer before our Eucharistic King! God bless you!

Denise.

I'll need all the prayers I can, my mom is not going to take this well at all. In fact, I might have to move out of my house to do this.

I am sorry to hear that. It seems that those of us who have a non supportive parent or parents is more frequent than those who have loving supportive parents (like Sr Lauren).

God bless you.

Denise

Yes, about 3 years ago I told her I was thinking about it and she flat out told me that I was not becoming a nun.

It's nice that she should say that ~wry smile~ but it's not in her hands. It is in yours, and God's. God bless you, sweet sister. You've got my prayers, to be sure.

Hey Girl (Puella),

Welcome to Phatmass. I used to live in Germany, where will you be visiting?

What does being a Benedictine Oblate consist of? I'm not familiar with the term.

Cheers,

Michael

Dear Michael,

thank you for your welcome, but more importantly, thank you for the gift of your daughter to Christ. Your family's story, courage and generosity are awe-inspiring.

A Benedictine Oblate is (in these days) somewhat comparable to a member of a third order; non-monastics (that is, it is open to both lay people and secular clergy) who try to live their lives according to the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict. On the spiritual side, we try to pray the Divine Office daily (at least Lauds and Vespers) and attend Mass as often as possible. On the practical side, we undertake to live in moderation with regards to everything; we try to maintain a good balance in our lives.

Further we develop close ties with the particular House that grow and endure. Because Benedictine Houses are autonomous (the Congregations worldwide are often much "looser" than as understood in other orders), just as one becomes a monk or nun of a particular monastery rather than the order, one similarly becomes an Oblate of a particular monastery and is under spiritual obedience to that Abbot or Abbess. Depending on the House in question, Oblates will be integrated into the goings-on of the community to different degrees.

I'll be visiting St. Hildegard's Abbey in Rüdesheim, near Frankfurt. It's only a train ride from here (the joys of living on the Continent - it's a novelty for a Brit, at least!) and I'm very much looking forward to it.

I hope I've given you a good picture of what Oblates are; if you have any more questions then there are many resources online, although I can try to answer them too.

With love and prayers,

Puella

Oh, boy! It's so sad...I mentioned on another thread (maybe you read it!) that a family member said, "Well...you could do worse!" In response to my wanting to be a nun! It bothered me...but I believe this person meant well! Peace be with you! Brandelyn

puella! You'll love all the smilies! How did you become drawn to Benedictine spirituality? Pace e bene, Brandelyn

Dear Brandelynmarie,

thank you for the welcome! I trust I'll get used to the smilies in time, but I can't promise that I'll be using them as extensively as everyone else

(Although I have to admit that is my favourite so far, because I'm a bibliophile like that)

As for the Benedictines, I've been really very lucky (or blessed, I should say): I grew up close to a Benedictine monastery, in my teens I began to read more about the Rule, the Benedictine way of life, Ora et Labora, all those kinds of things, and that's where I'm an Oblate now. Benedictine life held my heart's attention then and it continues to do so now (although I almost get the feeling I'm being head-hunted by a Dominican friend of mine ); whilst I love the fact that the Church has been blessed with so many spiritualities and charisms, this one refuses to let go of me, and I don't expect another to be able to wrestle me away!

All right, I promise I will stop my of the thread now and will do more of supporting others. Perhaps I will get the hang of all these smilies. I'm trying to read enough to get an idea of different people's directions on here, rather than asking lots of questions that have already been posited and answered

Love and prayers,

Puella

Hello Ladies,

I love the "future nun support group!" I've been accepted to a community and anticipate entering next summer. Anyone in a similar position?

Pax!

What community are you entering?

Please pray that I can find a job for over the summer and hopefully one to continue for sometime. I know I can count on you all Thanks!

The Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist.

God Bless you! I am entering the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration on Divine Mercy Sunday, but I'll have a month to get to know you!

DSMME are a wonderful group! I spoke with a couple of sisters there, when I began my discernment. And I was in the Sisters of Life a long time ago, as a postulant, so I briefly met Mother Assumpta.

Prayers for you.

Your sister in Christ,
Denise

Hello Veritas! I have only heard very good thngs about DSMME...Oh! & here for FutureNun too! Pace e bene, Brandelyn

FutureSoror on this board is going to be one of your future co-postulants!

Welcome!

The SMME are phenomenal, aren't they? I've heard about them from so many different sources - great to see the wonderful life they lead and that so many women are entering there. Many prayers!

Love and prayers,

Puella