My Live-in Experience Coming Soon

[Julie de Sales]

So, I want to share with you the fact that in just 3 days I'm leaving for the Poor Clares convent to make a live-in experience which will last a month. The first week I'll live outside the cloister, but then I'll be 3 weeks with the sisters. Please pray for me, because I really want to find my vocation and hopefully I'll get to the conclusion that God calls me to the contemplative life.

[EmilyAnn]

That's so exciting! I will keep you in my prayers.

If you don't mind sharing, which community are you visiting? I understand if you don't want to share that.

[Julie de Sales]

[quote name='EmilyAnn' timestamp='1344530579' post='2465050']
That's so exciting! I will keep you in my prayers.

If you don't mind sharing, which community are you visiting? I understand if you don't want to share that.
[/quote]

Thank you for the support . The community which will recive me is in my country (Romania), I don't think someone from here could know them. They are Urbanist Poor Clares who came to us not long ago from Italy. There are few sisters, but they are looking forward to new vocations. Here you can find pictures of them: [url="http://www.ercis.ro/actualitate/viata.asp?id=20071030."]http://www.ercis.ro/...sp?id=20071030.[/url]

Edited August 9, 2012 by Julie de Sales

[Jennifer]

Many prayers for you......I hope you have a wonderful live -in with the community.

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Julie de Sales' timestamp='1344529500' post='2465040']
So, I want to share with you the fact that in just 3 days I'm leaving for the Poor Clares convent to make a live-in experience which will last a month. The first week I'll live outside the cloister, but then I'll be 3 weeks with the sisters. Please pray for me, because I really want to find my vocation and hopefully I'll get to the conclusion that God calls me to the contemplative life.
[/quote]

Oh wow! This is so razzle dazzle! It will be a while, but I look forward to your thread explaining how it was.

[AdoroTeDevote]

That is really razzle dazzle, I hope you will find out God's will for you there. Tell us about it when you come back (if you don't mind of course).

[Julie de Sales]

[quote name='AdoroTeDevote' timestamp='1344535217' post='2465073']
That is really razzle dazzle, I hope you will find out God's will for you there. Tell us about it when you come back (if you don't mind of course).
[/quote]

I will certainly enjoy sharing with you my experience once I will be back home. For the moment, I know that one thing will get me sad: the fact that I will not be able to recive Holy Communion each day like all the sisters. This is because I fear a lot Confession and even when I recive absolution the peace of my conscience doesn't last very long. So, I will have a lot of trouble with this, hopefully the sisters will understand me.

[maximillion]

Julie, I hope your live-in is wonderful and that you find peace for yourself. Will be praying for you and the sisters.

[Clare~Therese]

Woohoo!
May God grant you peace there.

[Mary's Margaret]

I hope your time with the Sisters will be truly blessed and bring you clarity.

[Julie de Sales]

I have a question: how should I be dressed during my live-in? There are certain rules or this doesn't matter? It's necessary to wear a skirt? How long the sleeves should be? I'm a bit confused because I don't have a lot of clothes who seem appropriate. It has to be only dark colored and can-I have prints? Thanks :d

[dymphnamaria]

[quote name='Julie de Sales' timestamp='1344535986' post='2465076']
For the moment, I know that one thing will get me sad: the fact that I will not be able to recive Holy Communion each day like all the sisters. This is because I fear a lot Confession and even when I recive absolution the peace of my conscience doesn't last very long. So, I will have a lot of trouble with this, hopefully the sisters will understand me.
[/quote]

Why! You will be very blessed to have received Jesus everyday in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass especially during your live-in with the sisters. Do not let you fear rule over you.I'll be praying for you..

God bless you!

Edited August 10, 2012 by dymphnamaria

[dymphnamaria]

[quote name='Julie de Sales' timestamp='1344609312' post='2465479']
I have a question: how should I be dressed during my live-in? There are certain rules or this doesn't matter? It's necessary to wear a skirt? How long the sleeves should be? I'm a bit confused because I don't have a lot of clothes who seem appropriate. It has to be only dark colored and can-I have prints? Thanks :d
[/quote]

It would be appropriate to wear modest dress. A simple skirt and a blouse or shirt will do. It doesn't necessarily need to be dark colored clothes. I knew one community who prefers to see their 'search-ins' wearing colored clothes. But it still depends on the community you are up to.

[EmilyAnn]

[quote name='Julie de Sales' timestamp='1344535986' post='2465076']
I will certainly enjoy sharing with you my experience once I will be back home. For the moment, I know that one thing will get me sad: the fact that I will not be able to recive Holy Communion each day like all the sisters. This is because I fear a lot Confession and even when I recive absolution the peace of my conscience doesn't last very long. So, I will have a lot of trouble with this, hopefully the sisters will understand me.
[/quote]

You should read "Herald of Divine Love" by Saint Gertrude of Helfta. I think it's somewhere in Chapter 9 there's a brilliant section that really helped me with my scrupulosity.


[quote name='Julie de Sales' timestamp='1344609312' post='2465479']
I have a question: how should I be dressed during my live-in? There are certain rules or this doesn't matter? It's necessary to wear a skirt? How long the sleeves should be? I'm a bit confused because I don't have a lot of clothes who seem appropriate. It has to be only dark colored and can-I have prints? Thanks :d
[/quote]

I think prints and colours would be absolutely fine. The key is just make sure your clothes are modest and practical. Personally, I chose to wear either long or elbow-length sleeves. Again, I wore skirts but I don't generally wear trousers anyway.

[EmilyAnn]

Oops, double post.

Edited August 10, 2012 by EmilyAnn

[Julie de Sales]

Hy! I’m back from my live-in. It was a wonderful experience and I have no regret, even if it was very demanding. During the first week it was hard to adapt to the schedule, I was feeling tired and lonely, I thought that maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do. However, I continued and when I entered the cloister together with all the nuns I started to feel better. All my illusions vanished! I thought cloistered life was easy, that they were having plenty of free time, but I soon realized that you have to move fast at work and prayer can be difficult sometimes. At a certain point, I was upset because of the mistakes I was making, but then I accepted my week points and I offered to Jesus all the sacrifices that come together with contemplative life. The fact that I was protected from all the temptations outside the monastery helped me with my scrupulosity, and even if I was dealing with doubts, I managed at the end to receive Holy Communion 10 days in a row. Being all the time near Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was so touching and Eucharistic Adoration was a privileged time to speak to Him and put my life in His hands. I received a lot of graces in this period and I’m so thankful! In the end, Mother Superior told me that she believes in my calling, I was extremely glad because I was expecting the verdict . Now I have to let myself guided by the Holy Spirit, because I’m not sure if I am called to be a Poor Clare or something else. I was often picturing myself as a Carmelite, I continue to be drawn to this life, but only in time I will be more convinced about the decision that I must take. However, I feel more than ever that my vocation is to consecrate myself to God, and I have confidence that He will support me along the way.

Thanks to all who prayed for me, I keep you also in my prayers, during my retreat I was often thinking about all the discerners and hoping they will find their own vocation.

Praise God for the miracles He makes in our lives!

[Mary's Margaret]

Welcome back. It sounds like you had a very fruitful experience, and now it's time to "unpack the gifts" as it were. How wonderful to have your calling confirmed. I'll be praying for clarity for you in your discernment of the specifics.