Poll: Discernment Rings

[marigold]

​I feel the same way! I wear a crucifix ring on my ring finger. I like to think of it as my "engagement" ring. While I have not entered a community or taken vows I have surrendered my life to Jesus. When things get difficult it is a gentle reminder of my "yes" to Him. I have also found that when I am struggling with temptation that it is a bit easier to avoid it because I see the crucifix on my finger. I am not saying that it prevents me 100% but it does help. So glad that wearing your ring means so much to you!

 

​Welcome Katherine!

[MarysLittleFlower]

​I feel the same way! I wear a crucifix ring on my ring finger. I like to think of it as my "engagement" ring. While I have not entered a community or taken vows I have surrendered my life to Jesus. When things get difficult it is a gentle reminder of my "yes" to Him. I have also found that when I am struggling with temptation that it is a bit easier to avoid it because I see the crucifix on my finger. I am not saying that it prevents me 100% but it does help. So glad that wearing your ring means so much to you!

 

​Hi Katherine, I see this is your first post, welcome to the Phorum! I'm glad to know there's someone who has a similar experience about this. I find having my ring helps me too especially because I have a job that involves a lot of travelling (walking around the city, taking buses, etc,) and somehow it helps me to not get distracted about my decision as I'm out in "the world".

[MarysLittleFlower]

I wanted to vote in the poll but I can't figure it out.. does your right ring finger count as a wedding ring finger? I should know I guess but I'm from a different culture where people actually wear wedding rings on their right hand. (Eastern Europe).

I had to decide whether to wear my ring on the right or left hand. I decided on the right hand for various reasons... it emphasizes for me that it has a spiritual meaning (though if I entered an order that wore rings on the left hand that's fine), it's more according to my culture, but also in my job I'm called "Ms" and it would confuse everyone if I were to wear a very "wedding" looking ring on my left hand. This way it's just kind of a secret thing between me and God and no one can see much less understand the engraving.

If you wear a ring, what hand do you wear it on?

[MarysLittleFlower]

​I feel like you about being able to simply say "not interested", as I said in my earlier post on this topic. I wouldn't wear a ring without some kind of formal commitment.

Purity rings feel much weirder than discernment rings to me. Why just a purity ring? Why not also get a ring to remind you not to bear false witness or covet your neighbour's ox? The idea of singling out purity like this makes me a bit uncomfortable, as it can just as easily tip into some sort of obsession with sex (see that whole subset of evangelical 'purity culture' where fathers present their daughters with the rings - ick). 

​I guess the whole thing behind purity rings is that young people can be so strongly tempted towards impurity.. I mean especially teenagers in our culture. They might not get such overwhelming temptations to other things. Though I never wore a purity ring. (I thought of it though). I also didn't wear a ring that "I'm discerning". I only got one when I made a decision. I wondered too if I should wait until I've made some sort of formal commitment... it definitely makes sense to wear something like this after making a vow. I am leaving my ultimate vocation to God and to the Church to approve, and since I haven't made a formal vow in the Church yet, I am still waiting for a confirmation. However, this might take time and I was impatient, but mostly it's just to encourage me when there are difficulties, as an external reminder that I've committed to something (provided it's God's Will of course!).

[:o)Katherine:o)]

​Welcome Katherine!

​Thank you Marigold!

​Hi Katherine, I see this is your first post, welcome to the Phorum! I'm glad to know there's someone who has a similar experience about this. I find having my ring helps me too especially because I have a job that involves a lot of travelling (walking around the city, taking buses, etc,) and somehow it helps me to not get distracted about my decision as I'm out in "the world".

​MarysLittleFlower, yes a friend of mine suggested Phorum to me several times and I finally signed up!

I wanted to vote in the poll but I can't figure it out.. does your right ring finger count as a wedding ring finger? I should know I guess but I'm from a different culture where people actually wear wedding rings on their right hand. (Eastern Europe).

I had to decide whether to wear my ring on the right or left hand. I decided on the right hand for various reasons... it emphasizes for me that it has a spiritual meaning (though if I entered an order that wore rings on the left hand that's fine), it's more according to my culture, but also in my job I'm called "Ms" and it would confuse everyone if I were to wear a very "wedding" looking ring on my left hand. This way it's just kind of a secret thing between me and God and no one can see much less understand the engraving.

If you wear a ring, what hand do you wear it on?

​I am in the US and wear mine on my left hand on the ring finger which is also the wedding ring finger as far as I know. I could be wrong. That is beautiful that it has such a special meaning for you!