My Dream Community

[Little Flower]

Would play hockey and ultimate frisbee and football. And we would still pray a lot. And we would wear full habits that look nice And the monastery would look very monaster-like and very pretty (not just like a random house) And there would be lots of other young nuns who want to play sports with me. And I like the studying charism or whatever its called so we would do that. I haven't decided if my dream community would pray the midnight DO cuz that would be hard but it would be razzle dazzle.

WHAT ABOUT YOU!?!??!?!??!?!

[EmilyAnn]

My dream community would allow me to continue with my embroidery and ideally find some way to use it in the work of the community. I've got a skill, I might as well use it!
Definitely would have a full habit, I can't imagine becoming a nun and not having a habit!
I'd also love it if the community did a lot of singing, I really enjoy singing (I'm not great at it though) so that would be nice.

[FutureSister2009]

My dream community would do children's Biblical theatre and Saints stories. But still have active prayer life. And a lot of singing is essential too. Plus the full habit is necessary

[Little Flower]

[quote name='FutureSister2009' timestamp='1323202901' post='2345697']
My dream community would do children's Biblical theatre and Saints stories. But still have active prayer life. And a lot of singing is essential too. Plus the full habit is necessary
[/quote]
would your dream community watch Veggie Tales? MINE WOULD!!!!!!!!!! jk lol

[FutureSister2009]

[quote name='Little Flower' timestamp='1323206834' post='2345740']
would your dream community watch Veggie Tales? MINE WOULD!!!!!!!!!! jk lol
[/quote]

Well we would turn it on for the children! I love Veggie Tales too much and I'm 20

[Feankie]

Not to put a pox on this thread, but.... Did you ever stop to think your dream community exists in your dreams only?! I don't think there is ever a truly perfect community for anyone as we can always find fault with small as well as large things. People become annoying at times as well as practices, customs, etc. I think the best one can do when discerning is to follow where God is leading you, get to know the nuns/sisters VERY well - talk to/with them, pray with them, work with them, live with them, sing with them. Sometimes the little question mark goes off in your head when you see/hear/experience something that just doesn't feel "right." Other times, the light bulb will go off in an "aha" moment as well. If you dwell or focus on your dream community too much, you just may pass by the community God has chose for you.

[OnlySunshine]

To be honest, I don't have a "dream" community. The only thing I look for (that really matters) is that they are 100% faithful to Papa Benedict XVI and the Magisterium. I am not into wishy-washy communities one iota. Sure, there are a lot of things that are nice to have, but I would only go where the Holy Spirit sent me. I'm not saying that to be prideful, either. I'm sure this is just a fun thread, but I honestly cannot think of anything.

[jruss]

[quote name='Little Flower' timestamp='1323200553' post='2345670']
Would play hockey and ultimate frisbee and football. And we would still pray a lot. And we would wear full habits that look nice And the monastery would look very monaster-like and very pretty (not just like a random house) And there would be lots of other young nuns who want to play sports with me. And I like the studying charism or whatever its called so we would do that. I haven't decided if my dream community would pray the midnight DO cuz that would be hard but it would be razzle dazzle.

WHAT ABOUT YOU!?!??!?!??!?!
[/quote]

Sounds an awful lot like the Nashville Dominicans to me.

[InPersonaChriste]

The one God calls me too

[Nunsense]

[quote name='InPersonaChriste' timestamp='1323226939' post='2346100']
The one God calls me too
[/quote]

I was thinking the same thing! At first I was gonig to say 'the one I am discerning with' but then I realised it won't be the perfect one unless and until God calls me to enter with them and live the life faithfully.

I do have certain attributes that I look for in a community from a very practical standpoint but these aren't 'dreams', these are reality. For example, my 'reality community' will allow women my age! Not much point to dream about a community that won't accept me!

Anyway, your post says it all for me. To find the community where God has already prepared a place for me - that is my 'dream'.

[InPersonaChriste]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1323227600' post='2346116']

I was thinking the same thing! At first I was gonig to say 'the one I am discerning with' but then I realised it won't be the perfect one unless and until God calls me to enter with them and live the life faithfully.

I do have certain attributes that I look for in a community from a very practical standpoint but these aren't 'dreams', these are reality. For example, my 'reality community' will allow women my age! Not much point to dream about a community that won't accept me!

Anyway, your post says it all for me. To find the community where God has already prepared a place for me - that is my 'dream'.

[/quote]

Definitely,
When I was first introduced to nuns I had a thought about what sort of church I would want to be in if I became a nun, what sort of habit would look nicest on me (hey don't judge I was like 9 when I first looked at nuns and I was not even discerning!).

But when I started discerning I looked deeper into myself, I knew that I really did not care about those things, as long as I rested in the heart of Jesus. And I truly believe to this day that as long as I am fulfilling his will, it will not matter what I do at recreation or if the church looked like a replica of the cathedral in Chile. As long as I am in union with God.

[i<3LSOP]

[quote name='Little Flower' timestamp='1323200553' post='2345670']
Would play hockey and ultimate frisbee and football. And we would still pray a lot. And we would wear full habits that look nice And the monastery would look very monaster-like and very pretty (not just like a random house) And there would be lots of other young nuns who want to play sports with me. And I like the studying charism or whatever its called so we would do that. I haven't decided if my dream community would pray the midnight DO cuz that would be hard but it would be razzle dazzle.

WHAT ABOUT YOU!?!??!?!??!?!
[/quote]


You need to come to Camp Veritas! You would love it!

[i<3LSOP]

[b] Serious Part:[/b]

My dream order would wear habits that are dark green with white veils and brown rosaries. We would go to Mass everyday, not be transferred, be able to pick the Sisters that we like to be with us and our "mission" would be to help anyone who is elderly who's poor materially, but especially spiritually. We would pray our Rosary's everyday, have adoration, and have at least two-three hours of time to pray to the Lord. We would all try to grow into close union with the Lord and each other too!

[b]Fun Part:[/b]

We would be able to play lot's of game like apples to apples, monopoly, clue and we would all play volleyball and ice skate in free time.


[b] Who wants to join!?! [/b]

Edited December 7, 2011 by i<3LSOP

[i<3franciscans]

My dream community is the one that God has dreamed for me.

But it would be pretty razzle dazzle if we could live in castles and climb rock walls. And I would want friars within walking distance so that they could come and chant for my sisters and I during adoration.

[i<3LSOP]

[quote name='i<3franciscans' timestamp='1323272957' post='2346463']
My dream community is the one that God has dreamed for me.

But it would be pretty razzle dazzle if we could live in castles and climb rock walls. And I would want friars within walking distance so that they could come and chant for my sisters and I during adoration.
[/quote]



That would be fun!

Edited December 7, 2011 by i<3LSOP

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Little Flower' timestamp='1323200553' post='2345670']
Would play hockey and ultimate frisbee and football. And we would still pray a lot. And we would wear full habits that look nice And the monastery would look very monaster-like and very pretty (not just like a random house) And there would be lots of other young nuns who want to play sports with me. And I like the studying charism or whatever its called so we would do that. I haven't decided if my dream community would pray the midnight DO cuz that would be hard but it would be razzle dazzle.

WHAT ABOUT YOU!?!??!?!??!?!
[/quote]

My dream Monastery would be a huge French-Gothic styled Monastery in the mountains with a group of over a hundred Monks there in beautiful, breathtaking Habits (The color of which is debated at the moment. I can't decide plain white, plain Black, plain brown, or brown and white like the Carmelites). Of course, my family would be allowed to visit me as often and as long as they like, and we would be allowed to leave Monastery grounds to go evangelize to the world.

And, of course, there would be sports such as football to be played, and we wouldn't have to wake up at four-thirty in the morning. Six-thirty will do, and on Sundays after Mass we can even go back to bed if we like.

... Does anyone know the process of making one's own Order? I'm extremely tempted now.

Edited December 8, 2011 by FuturePriest387

[i<3franciscans]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1323320594' post='2347205']

My dream Monastery would be a huge French-Gothic styled Monastery in the mountains with a group of over a hundred Monks there in beautiful, breathtaking Habits (The color of which is debated at the moment. I can't decide plain white, plain Black, plain brown, or brown and white like the Carmelites). Of course, my family would be allowed to visit me as often and as long as they like, and we would be allowed to leave Monastery grounds to go evangelize to the world.

And, of course, there would be sports such as football to be played, and we wouldn't have to wake up at four-thirty in the morning. Six-thirty will do, and on Sundays after Mass we can even go back to bed if we like.

... Does anyone know the process of making one's own Order? I'm extremely tempted now.
[/quote]
Gray, go for gray.

[Deus te Amat]

Threads like this are dangerous, and its my vote that it should be closed. I realize it's fun to sit down and write out everything that YOU would like in a community, but if one enters a community expecting or hoping for that perceived "ideal," they are in for a lot of heartache.

The community you enter is not about your desires or goals -- although God may use them. It's not about what the communities offers you. It's about the gifts you add to the community, what you offer to the mission, what God is asking you to do.

In this thread, I see a lot of "gorgeous habits," unlimited family visits, the ability to do whatever one pleases. That is a misguided perception of religious life, and if one enters expecting or hoping for these material things, they will (likely) fail.

The habit it to set one apart. Nothing more. It marks the person's removal from the world. If one is concerned about "how it looks," they do not yet have that understanding.

When one enters the religious life, you leave your family behind. Jesus says it explicitly in the bible. You either drop everything and follow him, or don't bother. Your family is important, but when you enter a religious community, that community [i]becomes[/i] your family. To rely so heavily on your earthly family is to not give yourself fully.

One of the vows of religious life is Obedience. Your time is not God's time. You wake up at 4:30 to give glory to God, and much of that glory comes from the sacrifice of the act of actually dragging yourself out of bed. Taking on the mission of the community does not mean doing what you choose to do, it's doing what the superior tells you to do insofar as they are acting as the voice of God for the community.

I'm sorry for being so harsh, but a lot of the posts in this thread raised red flags. Perhaps you did only intend good fun, but I don't think an idealistic approach is the best one to have when one is discerning religious life. It's HARD and a lot of people leave. God gives the call to religious life, and God gives the grace to persevere. We wouldn't last a day without either.

[i<3franciscans]

I think everyone was just intending good fun, but I see where you are coming from. Closing this would not be a bad idea...

[EWIE]

[color=#A52A2A][size=4][b]sheesh....ever hear the old song, "everybody has a pooper thats why we invited you.....party pooper.....party pooper.[/b][/size][/color]
[color=#A52A2A][size=4][b]There's nothing dangerous in this type of fantasizing. It's downright healthy, and it is a helpful tool to lighten things up.[/b][/size][/color]
[color=#A52A2A][size=4][b]Sometimes I think that there are waaaay too many "professionals" on this forum and unfortunately they are NOT the authentic Sisters.[/b][/size][/color]