Writing an autobiography when joining a religious order

[Lady Grey, Hot]

I've heard that some religious communities will ask inquirers to write an autobiography as part of the application process. Exactly what sorts of things might one include in that? Would one have to disclose, for example, specific sins one had struggled with?

[Totally Franciscan]

1 hour ago, Lady Grey, Hot said:

I've heard that some religious communities will ask inquirers to write an autobiography as part of the application process. Exactly what sorts of things might one include in that? Would one have to disclose, for example, specific sins one had struggled with?

Absolutely not!

[Nunsuch]

I think they want a primarily spiritual biography--on the development of your spirituality and prayer life, when and how you began to believe you had a religious vocation, etc. If you are a convert, how you found your way to the Catholic church, etc. The focus should be on things that will help the community leaders to decide if you are suited to their community, or to religious life in general. Also, if it is a community that expects members to pursue a professional course, they may want to see how your mind works (much like a college or grad school essay, then). 

[Tessa]

It's not about sins, I think. Rather focuses on your relationship with God: how it has grown, if it was constant or inconstant, your experiences of grace and conversion, your experiences of faith in your life (ministry, parish, books, etc if any of that was relevant)

Also your work/education history, probably to see if you are a person capable of commitment and follow through. If you've been jumping from job to job multiple times a year for no specific reason or no real reason then it might be a question of whether religious life in one place and one community is for you (I know missionary orders and apostolic move around, but you still live for formation years often in the same place).

Your hobbies perhaps, as an indicator of your social ability, can you live, truly, in community- with others. Can you integrate, can you share your gifts and can you accept the gifts of others, etc.

And perhaps your relationship with your family/friends. That's a foundational part of your faith and your ability to form and keep relationships. Whether that was a secular family and you found faith yourself and had to integrate that into your family life, or a faithful family from whom you received a solid faith but also then you would have had to 'make the faith your own', so that journey would be relevant too. 

 

*Sorry I had not seen @Nunsuch's reply when I answered and wouldn't have repeated so much if I had.

Edited October 18, 2022 by Tessa
Repeating someone else's good opinions!

[GraceUk]

I think an outline of your life. Your family members jobs you have done your education. Hobbies and interests. Maybe mention saints or religious figures that have inspired you.and what brought you towards discerning religious life. Certainly not sins.  I think much the same as others have said. 

[teresianspirit]

Yes, I agree with the above. The autobiography is for the Sisters to get to know you better, to get a better picture of your life up until this point. In my own discernment, any struggles about my past that seemed needful to discuss were discussed privately with the Superiors, whereas the autobiography was for a wider audience. There was place to touch on more difficult moments of my life as they were relevant to the story, but it was not a place to specify sins or any kind of confessional matter.

[gloriana35]

I agree with Tessa and Nunsuch. This absolutely is not about sins (nor would you have occasion to manifest sins to the superiors at any time. The only case in which one might have a matter to mention to superiors privately would be a public matter that could cause trouble for the community had it been brought up by someone else. For example, if someone had been the subject of some public scandal, or had been involved in a cult, or had a criminal record.)

Areas such as whether you were a convert, or whether you'd been a member of another community, or if you have canonical impediments, will still be on your application, I'm sure. 

I was older than most applicants were in 'my day,' and I wrote in a witty style. For example, since I was a musician, and fought the idea of entering religious life (inwardly) for years, yet kept returning to the idea, I headed my introduction "Sonata Rondo." :D 

[sr.christinaosf]

I don't think so!  I would talk about where your from, your family, education, etc.

[Lady Grey, Hot]

On 10/20/2022 at 10:55 AM, gloriana35 said:

This absolutely is not about sins (nor would you have occasion to manifest sins to the superiors at any time. The only case in which one might have a matter to mention to superiors privately would be a public matter that could cause trouble for the community had it been brought up by someone else. For example, if someone had been the subject of some public scandal, or had been involved in a cult, or had a criminal record.)

Question about this: I've heard people say, for instance, that an addiction to pornography would need to be resolved before entering religious life. I'm obviously not arguing that point, but, to be blunt, how would they know unless they asked you to disclose that? Or would even something of that nature still not need to be disclosed? Would be sufficient for the candidate to know, between themselves and their confessor, that the matter had been resolved?

[Hna.Caridad]

 

Vocation directors *should* be asking about addiction history before an inquirer even gets to the application process.  Addiction severely inhibits one's ability to make a free decision, so would make discernment of religious life (or anything else, for that matter) virtually impossible.  Many congregations will directly ask questions about addiction on the application itself as well.  If a person chooses to lie throughout the discernment and application process, it becomes apparent VERY quickly upon entrance and gives the congregation more reason than they would ever need to dismiss a person immediately.

That being said, a history of addiction doesn't preclude one from entering many (if not most) congregations, though an applicant would need to demonstrate that she/he has developed strong skills to handle stress without her/his substance (in the case of drugs and alcohol) or process (in the case of gambling and looking at porn) of choice for a very long time (usually, several years).

FWIW:  I wouldn't trust a confessor to determine whether or not an addiction has been resolved.  An addiction of any kind is an illness and needs to be addressed and treated by health professionals (preferably, behavioral/mental health professionals who specialize in addiction treatment).

[Nunsuch]

I agree with @Hna.Caridadthat addiction requires a medical/psychological professional. It is not a sin so much as it is an illness (as are all addictions). 

Most religious communities in this day and age (meaning for the last half century or more) require psychological screenings as part of the admission process. [If they don't, beware of the community!] That is where these sorts of things can get identified and responded to if they are still active. 

[gloriana35]

I agree with the last two posts. Even in my 'own time' (1970s), candidates had psychological tests before they even began the process of application. 

I am not at all a medical professional or spiritual director, but, just speaking of people I have known who were in religious communities, or sought application, there were extremes 50 years ago. Sometimes, very innocent people would be horrified by some past 'sin' (such as having 'sexual experimentation' that was just curiosity on the part of young children). In rare cases then, someone who'd had a far from virtuous life (excuse me if that sounds 'judgemental,' but I am employing euphemism) wanted to enter a convent as a means of atonement... and made sure everyone knew about their past to be sure the others marvelled at into what saints they had been transformed. Most people applying to religious life had not struggled with addictions.