Telling People.

[AnneLine]

That is fascinating, Spem, because I had a parallel experience!   It was my protestant friends who were most supportive -- I think they saw it like me going to ministry school or something.  (They didn't quite get the poverty/chastity/obedience stuff, but they could see the value of attending 'seminary'.  ;)   My Jewish friends were equally supportive!  

 

The non-religious ones just saw me as dedicating myself to 'social justice' and they were cool with that... and with what would make me happy.   Kind of sweet....

 

It was the CATHOLICS who for the most part gave me grief about the choice.... arguing that I would be throwing my life away.  At that point religious life was in a LOT of upheaval, and I think a lot of people didn't want to see me dragged down into what they had seen of the kind of lost situation too many of their teachers had been in.  But I am not sure....

 

I think the neatest thing was my Jewish landlord who took my cat when no one else would do it.  He made it clear that he wanted to give Dolpho a good home.... but also that he wanted me to know that he would be cared for so I would feel free to follow where the Lord was leading.  A wonderful ecumenical thing....!

Edited November 5, 2013 by AnneLine

[Spem in alium]

That is fascinating, Spem, because I had a parallel experience!   It was my protestant friends who were most supportive -- I think they saw it like me going to ministry school or something.  (They didn't quite get the poverty/chastity/obedience stuff, but they could see the value of attending 'seminary'.  ;)   My Jewish friends were equally supportive!  

 

The non-religious ones just saw me as dedicating myself to 'social justice' and they were cool with that... and with what would make me happy.   Kind of sweet....

 

It was the CATHOLICS who for the most part gave me grief about the choice.... arguing that I would be throwing my life away.  At that point religious life was in a LOT of upheaval, and I think a lot of people didn't want to see me dragged down into what they had seen of the kind of lost situation too many of their teachers had been in.  But I am not sure....

 

I think the neatest thing was my Jewish landlord who took my cat when no one else would do it.  He made it clear that he wanted to give Dolpho a good home.... but also that he wanted me to know that he would be cared for so I would feel free to follow where the Lord was leading.  A wonderful ecumenical thing....!

Your landlord sounds like he would have been amazing :)
Yeah, she's really lovely. She always asks how things are going and offers support to me. I'm really lucky to have her! One of my good friends is Anglican, and I've found I can really talk to her about things and feel that she supports me too.
A lot of my friends aren't practicing (if they're Catholic at all), and so it's a little harder for them to understand why I'd want to do this sort of thing - which is natural, as they've not experienced it themselves. Many of them can't really shake the idea that if I do become and stay a religious, I'll never marry or have sex. Those I've told have just acted pretty neutral about it (with responses like "Oh, that's nice") or made comments like, "Wow, you must be REALLY religious" or "You must pray a LOT". I just say things like, "There's a lot more to it". 

[MarysLittleFlower]

I think it maybe depends on what stage of discernment people are at... if they're still praying about it, or aren't really applying etc, they might not feel comfortable telling anyone except people really close to them... because it might affect their discernment, be potentially discouraging, or they're just not feeling ready. Once you're accepted into a convent or really decide to apply, I think that makes it easier to tell others because you know it's happening. I don't know. Just some guesses :)

[Kylie Spinelli]

With regards to the second question, it made me chuckle. I actually told my boss before I told my parents.  :hehe2:

[Freedom]

Word of advice, if a dude is flirting with you don't tell him unless he's ugly.