AnneLine Posted April 28, 2012 Posted April 28, 2012 Dear Marigold, This is so exciting, for you and for us!!!! That list is practical and simple. You wouldn't believe some of the things that were on mine 35 years ago!!!! This one has enough details and suggestions to be helpful, but gives you the ability to use what you already have. How honoring of holy poverty! Question -- do Orthodox nuns take the same vows as Roman nuns? (Poverty Chastity Obedience).... I believe the concept of 'cloister' or 'enclosure' is a little ldifferent -- and sometimes there is a very limited external ministry - what is the custom in your house? Can you tell those of us who truly have no idea what the entrance ceremony is like (if any)... and what the other ceremonies are likely to be? Am I correct that if all goes well (we pray!) that we are unlikely to have any further contact with you unless you are able to send a letter to a Phatmasser? We just want to know.... so we can pray for you & support you. Also, is there anything we can do to support your family & friends? They are welcome to come hang out with us if they would like to do so... sometimes it can help if they can see that others are also doing this thing and are happy .... What time will your interview with the Homeland Security people be? Just tell us what time in Greenwich Mean Time and I can put up a time calculator so we can all know when to pray.... Anything any of us in the states can help you with?
marigold Posted April 28, 2012 Author Posted April 28, 2012 [quote name='AnneLine' timestamp='1335637381' post='2424409'] Dear Marigold, This is so exciting, for you and for us!!!! That list is practical and simple. You wouldn't believe some of the things that were on mine 35 years ago!!!! This one has enough details and suggestions to be helpful, but gives you the ability to use what you already have. How honoring of holy poverty! Question -- do Orthodox nuns take the same vows as Roman nuns? (Poverty Chastity Obedience).... I believe the concept of 'cloister' or 'enclosure' is a little ldifferent -- and sometimes there is a very limited external ministry - what is the custom in your house? Can you tell those of us who truly have no idea what the entrance ceremony is like (if any)... and what the other ceremonies are likely to be? Am I correct that if all goes well (we pray!) that we are unlikely to have any further contact with you unless you are able to send a letter to a Phatmasser? We just want to know.... so we can pray for you & support you. Also, is there anything we can do to support your family & friends? They are welcome to come hang out with us if they would like to do so... sometimes it can help if they can see that others are also doing this thing and are happy .... What time will your interview with the Homeland Security people be? Just tell us what time in Greenwich Mean Time and I can put up a time calculator so we can all know when to pray.... Anything any of us in the states can help you with? [/quote] I'm happy you're excited! I just spent a couple of hours repacking and cutting application form photos to [i]exactly[/i] 2 by 2 inches. My room is looking rather empty and I've put post-its with names on the few things that I won't have time to return to their owners - just a couple of books, and my guitar that I'm giving to a friend. This coming week is busy so I'm getting all the 'bits' done now. It's strange, I keep having these little moments when I really doubt the kindness and/or the welcome of the mothers and sisters. I'll remember some remark or indiscretion completely out of context, and feel very unsure about wanting to put my lot in with these mean, mean ladies This morning all I could think about was the difficulty of getting dressed in a freezing, dark room, all the dull moments, even the stings and nettle scratches I got while working. Ridiculous things. Glory to God, at the moment I have some perspective on these little fears, but it's still unsettling. To get down to your questions: yes, Orthodox nuns make vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and stability. They're not reeeally the focal point of the ceremony though, they come in a wider context of questions and answers in a dialogue between the bishop and the candidate. The 'moment', if there is one, is the cutting of the hair, that's why it's referred to as being tonsured and not making vows. I do have the text of the tonsure service somewhere, probably in the suitcase I just put away, so if you're really interested I can quote from it directly. The [i]entrance[/i] ceremony... I don't actually know exactly. It's very brief, and involves blessing the Beautiful and Glorious Scarf. It'll probably just be one or two prayers tacked on to the end of Vespers. As I've written here before, 'apostolates' can vary hugely, from prayer and and welcoming guests (like mine) to running whole schools and hospitals. As such, the amount of time a monastic spends outside his/her residence also varies. I don't know how to explain this in a way that doesn't make it sound like a free-for-all, because it's definitely not, it's just... we don't think in juridical terms. A monastic generally speaking would not go somewhere other than where their work required them to be; they are dead to the world and practically, that means no gallivanting around when you don't need to be. Every monastic's heart is (should be) in the monastery, so if you're finding reasons to stay 'outside' then something's wrong. So yes and no: we do have places where you only leave the premises for medical reasons, but we don't think of them as a particular classification of monastery. Speaking of being dead to the world, you're right in thinking I'll just be communicating by letter with you and perhaps Sr. Faith and Sr. Maria Teresa (Aya Sophia). (It's just occurred to me - what's up with collecting Carmelites? ) You're free to pass on iwhat I say so long as the monastery and the sisters, including me!, have anonymity. That is quite important. I doubt any of my friends or family will be interested in VS; all this God talk, it'd be too much like going to church and we can't have that! But what you can do is pray for them, that they come to know the Lord in whatever measure they're capable of. And prayer is the one thing [i]I[/i] will need an endless supply of, that's what you can do for me! Interview's at 8 a.m. on Monday!
PhuturePriest Posted April 29, 2012 Posted April 29, 2012 (edited) [quote name='marigold' timestamp='1335647992' post='2424485'] I'm happy you're excited! I just spent a couple of hours repacking and cutting application form photos to [i]exactly[/i] 2 by 2 inches. My room is looking rather empty and I've put post-its with names on the few things that I won't have time to return to their owners - just a couple of books, and my guitar that I'm giving to a friend. This coming week is busy so I'm getting all the 'bits' done now. It's strange, I keep having these little moments when I really doubt the kindness and/or the welcome of the mothers and sisters. I'll remember some remark or indiscretion completely out of context, and feel very unsure about wanting to put my lot in with these mean, mean ladies This morning all I could think about was the difficulty of getting dressed in a freezing, dark room, all the dull moments, even the stings and nettle scratches I got while working. Ridiculous things. Glory to God, at the moment I have some perspective on these little fears, but it's still unsettling. To get down to your questions: yes, Orthodox nuns make vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and stability. They're not reeeally the focal point of the ceremony though, they come in a wider context of questions and answers in a dialogue between the bishop and the candidate. The 'moment', if there is one, is the cutting of the hair, that's why it's referred to as being tonsured and not making vows. I do have the text of the tonsure service somewhere, probably in the suitcase I just put away, so if you're really interested I can quote from it directly. The [i]entrance[/i] ceremony... I don't actually know exactly. It's very brief, and involves blessing the Beautiful and Glorious Scarf. It'll probably just be one or two prayers tacked on to the end of Vespers. As I've written here before, 'apostolates' can vary hugely, from prayer and and welcoming guests (like mine) to running whole schools and hospitals. As such, the amount of time a monastic spends outside his/her residence also varies. I don't know how to explain this in a way that doesn't make it sound like a free-for-all, because it's definitely not, it's just... we don't think in juridical terms. A monastic generally speaking would not go somewhere other than where their work required them to be; they are dead to the world and practically, that means no gallivanting around when you don't need to be. Every monastic's heart is (should be) in the monastery, so if you're finding reasons to stay 'outside' then something's wrong. So yes and no: we do have places where you only leave the premises for medical reasons, but we don't think of them as a particular classification of monastery. Speaking of being dead to the world, you're right in thinking I'll just be communicating by letter with you and perhaps Sr. Faith and Sr. Maria Teresa (Aya Sophia). (It's just occurred to me - what's up with collecting Carmelites? ) You're free to pass on iwhat I say so long as the monastery and the sisters, including me!, have anonymity. That is quite important. I doubt any of my friends or family will be interested in VS; all this God talk, it'd be too much like going to church and we can't have that! But what you can do is pray for them, that they come to know the Lord in whatever measure they're capable of. And prayer is the one thing [i]I[/i] will need an endless supply of, that's what you can do for me! Interview's at 8 a.m. on Monday! [/quote] So I take it you're entering very soon? If so, I'm both happy for you and sad for me since I will no longer have someone to talk to about the Monastic life. Isn't it the practical thing to do to wait for some random stranger on the internet? Edited April 29, 2012 by FuturePriest387
marigold Posted April 29, 2012 Author Posted April 29, 2012 [quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1335658079' post='2424549'] So I take it you're entering very soon? If so, I'm both happy for you and sad for me since I will no longer have someone to talk to about the Monastic life. Isn't it the practical thing to do to wait for some random stranger on the internet? [/quote] Yes, very sensible Just got back from what was, God willing, the last or next-to-last Sunday Liturgy with my parish community. Everyone seemed to have had the same thought and so I've been inundated with good wishes, promises of prayers, cards, gifts and chocolate (they know me well!). I'm a little taken aback that this has happened before I even have finalised travel plans, but I'm so grateful and happy and feel very loved. Getting up at the crack of dawn to go to the interview tomorrow!
PhuturePriest Posted April 29, 2012 Posted April 29, 2012 [quote name='marigold' timestamp='1335718463' post='2424768'] Yes, very sensible Just got back from what was, God willing, the last or next-to-last Sunday Liturgy with my parish community. Everyone seemed to have had the same thought and so I've been inundated with good wishes, promises of prayers, cards, gifts and chocolate (they know me well!). I'm a little taken aback that this has happened before I even have finalised travel plans, but I'm so grateful and happy and feel very loved. Getting up at the crack of dawn to go to the interview tomorrow! [/quote] Oh wow, so you're entering either this week or the next? You must be both excited and a little nervous. I know I would be. But I must say I feel regretful for just having befriended you recently. I wish I had done it sooner. I don't suppose you'll have a computer there (Or did I already ask that?)?
marigold Posted April 29, 2012 Author Posted April 29, 2012 [quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1335718753' post='2424770'] Oh wow, so you're entering either this week or the next? You must be both excited and a little nervous. I know I would be. But I must say I feel regretful for just having befriended you recently. I wish I had done it sooner. I don't suppose you'll have a computer there (Or did I already ask that?)? [/quote] Not a personal one. AnneLine and I are figuring out how she will be the go-between so I can stay in touch a bit without putting my community's details out in public. Send messages to her and she'll get them to me. I want to see what you eventually choose to do- all in good time.
PhuturePriest Posted April 29, 2012 Posted April 29, 2012 [quote name='marigold' timestamp='1335719154' post='2424773'] Not a personal one. AnneLine and I are figuring out how she will be the go-between so I can stay in touch a bit without putting my community's details out in public. Send messages to her and she'll get them to me. I want to see what you eventually choose to do- all in good time. [/quote] I will gladly do this. I'll probably end up being something completely unexpected. Being Pope Paul the seventh has a good ring to it to me.
marigold Posted April 29, 2012 Author Posted April 29, 2012 [quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1335719809' post='2424779'] I will gladly do this. I'll probably end up being something completely unexpected. Being Pope Paul the seventh has a good ring to it to me. [/quote] You'll probably get married now just for saying that
PhuturePriest Posted April 29, 2012 Posted April 29, 2012 [quote name='marigold' timestamp='1335721009' post='2424786'] You'll probably get married now just for saying that [/quote] Shh! Don't say the "M" word!
marigold Posted April 29, 2012 Author Posted April 29, 2012 [quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1335722180' post='2424796'] Shh! Don't say the "M" word! [/quote]
AnneLine Posted April 29, 2012 Posted April 29, 2012 Good morning Marigold! Today is the big day! Here's a video to get you started: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDKahUIx1QM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDKahUIx1QM[/url] You are not alone in needing to explain yourself.... [url="http://livejesus.blogspot.com/2007/08/terrorist-in-family.html"]http://livejesus.blogspot.com/2007/08/terrorist-in-family.html[/url] Marigold told us... [indent=1][color=#ff0000]Interview's at 8 a.m. on Monday![/color] [/indent] That is Greenwich (England) time, so here's a calculator ... you can all figure out when she will need our prayer support... [url="http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/gmt-converter/"]http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/gmt-converter/[/url] or you can put in your prayer time RIGHT NOW and ask the angels to deliver it for her at the right time! ================================================================================= Marigold, the parish I attended to day has a shrine to St. Francisca Cabrini, first American Citizen Saint... I lit a candle for you and your intentions.... and will be praying when your inteview takes place. Anyone want to join me? [img]http://www.mothercabrini.com/legacy/images/cabrini1.jpg[/img][img]http://howlingforjustice.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/candle-gif-photobucket-21.gif?w=353[/img]
marigold Posted April 30, 2012 Author Posted April 30, 2012 Forgive me if this is a bit brief... I got back from the embassy half an hour ago and have been emailing everyone madly. They granted me a visa. It will be a couple of days before my passport is returned by courier... I'm waiting to hear back from Mother as to whether Sunday or Monday is better for them. But right now I'm going back to bed - I got next to no sleep last night and all the excitement's tired me out! Very happy. Glory to God.
EmilyAnn Posted April 30, 2012 Posted April 30, 2012 [quote name='marigold' timestamp='1335780833' post='2425124'] Forgive me if this is a bit brief... I got back from the embassy half an hour ago and have been emailing everyone madly. They granted me a visa. It will be a couple of days before my passport is returned by courier... I'm waiting to hear back from Mother as to whether Sunday or Monday is better for them. But right now I'm going back to bed - I got next to no sleep last night and all the excitement's tired me out! Very happy. Glory to God. [/quote] That's a[color=#000080]w[/color]esome! I'd give you props but I've run out. Anyway, that's fantastic news, I'm so happy for you! So will you be entering soon then?
EmilyAnn Posted April 30, 2012 Posted April 30, 2012 (edited) Oops, double post. Edited April 30, 2012 by EmilyAnn
ACS67 Posted April 30, 2012 Posted April 30, 2012 Congratulations Marigold. You may have covered this elsewhere but are you Greek, Antiochian, or Russian Orthodox? I'm just curious.
Mary's Margaret Posted April 30, 2012 Posted April 30, 2012 Prayers of thanksgiving! I'm so happy for you, Marigold. May you be blessed in abundance in your new home.
Lisa Posted April 30, 2012 Posted April 30, 2012 Glory to God! I'm so happy for you, Marigold!! Could you PM me your future address? I'd like to send a note every once in a while!
Jennifer Posted April 30, 2012 Posted April 30, 2012 I'm so glad that you were successful this morning which that you will be entering your new home within the next week. God Bless you Marigold.
marigold Posted April 30, 2012 Author Posted April 30, 2012 [quote name='EmilyAnn' timestamp='1335782865' post='2425126'] That's a[color=#000080]w[/color]esome! I'd give you props but I've run out. Anyway, that's fantastic news, I'm so happy for you! So will you be entering soon then? [/quote] Thank yooou! Yes, as I say, Sunday or Monday! [quote name='ACS67' timestamp='1335784979' post='2425133'] Congratulations Marigold. You may have covered this elsewhere but are you Greek, Antiochian, or Russian Orthodox? I'm just curious. [/quote] Thanks! Actually I don't think I have mentioned it, it's another one of my pet peeves - are you Irish Catholic, Italian Catholic or Polish Catholic? I was brought up under the See of Antioch, and the monastery is definitely American with Russian heritage. [quote name='Mary's Margaret' timestamp='1335788647' post='2425153'] Prayers of thanksgiving! I'm so happy for you, Marigold. May you be blessed in abundance in your new home. [/quote] Thank you! I hope so. Keep those prayers coming. [quote name='Lisa' timestamp='1335789009' post='2425155'] Glory to God! I'm so happy for you, Marigold!! Could you PM me your future address? I'd like to send a note every once in a while! [/quote] Thanks Lisa, I'm happy too! Even more so now that I've had a nap! AnneLine and I decided she would be the go-between for me and PMers. I would love to get your messages, I mean that (though I bet you'll have as much fictional free time as me! ), so if you find out her details, she can pass messages between us. I know it's a bit awkward but it was a blessing when she offered as it saves me trying to remember who I've given out details to and lets me have that all-important anonymous space to figure out monastic life.
marigold Posted April 30, 2012 Author Posted April 30, 2012 [quote name='Jennirom' timestamp='1335797861' post='2425179'] I'm so glad that you were successful this morning which that you will be entering your new home within the next week. God Bless you Marigold. [/quote] Thank you, I'm relieved more than anything! God bless you back!
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