sistersintigo Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 [quote name='HopefulBride' timestamp='1317936088' post='2316768']Anyone heard from Saint Therese? the OP of this thread?[/quote] HB, you probably already know this/have this link. For the rest of us, look at this thread for the last update that Phatmass reported after the OP entered the monastery. [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/105116-update-on-lockport-dominicans-website/"]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/105116-update-on-lockport-dominicans-website/[/url]
HopefulBride Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 [quote name='sistersintigo' timestamp='1318016384' post='2317575'] HB, you probably already know this/have this link. For the rest of us, look at this thread for the last update that Phatmass reported after the OP entered the monastery. [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/105116-update-on-lockport-dominicans-website/"]http://www.phatmass....nicans-website/[/url] [/quote] That is wonderful!
Emma Posted October 10, 2011 Posted October 10, 2011 The comments on weight struck a very raw nerve with me. Everyone in my family was overweight - I was almost 90 lbs. overweight - on a 5'1" frame. That changed when my mom was diagnosed with diabetes and her doctor told her she had to change her eating habits or else. So she and my dad started eating healthy and exercising and are now down to normal and healthy weights. That did not make me change my eating habits, which I always tried to blame on something else - stress, work, school, moving - anything but the real reason - I just loved to eat sweets. I began to discern a religious vocation and one of the first things that popped into my head was "how can I be a fat nun?" What would that say about my commitment to poverty? I wouldn't lose weight because I saw what it was dong to my parents, but I did "get religion" when I considered what people would think about an obese nun. Now I am down to a normal weight and have just begun discerning in earnest - something I did not feel ready to do what I was overweight - I would have been very self-conscious visiting a convent before I lost the pounds. I know you are going to say that no one cares what a person looks like - it's what's inside that counts. Intellectually, I know that's true. But I just couldn't stand the thought of people seeing me in a habit and judging me if I was fat. Maybe this was God's way of getting me to be healthy - and I'm sure glad I did it - whatever the reason, but I put off actually writing to any communities or visiting until I had lost my excess weight.
brandelynmarie Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 How wonderful Emma! Congratulations! I am working on losing weight & am hoping to visit a couple of communities in the Spring or Summer. For now, I am limiting my intake of sugar & processed wheat products & dairy. I've upped my intake of fruits & veg & do eat soy dairy products as well as rice & rice products. I am viewing this as temporary... eating like this to heal myself. I am in more control over what I eat & how much I eat now. I am learning to eat when I am hungry & to stop when I am full. When any strong emotions come up, I let myself experience them & I ask God to help me deal with them & to continue to heal me. (I am a big fan of Ezekiel Bread. It's a sprouted whole grain bread that is actually a complete protein & it's delicious!)
OnlySunshine Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) I'm actually overweight as well. As a teenager, I suffered with a very poor body image and it had to do with my depression. There are days where I still have issues, but for the most part, I've worked past it. Much of the weight gain was attributed to being on an antidepressant that caused increased appetite. I would constantly be snacking for no reason at all. Now that I've been off it for several years, I definitely see a difference, but there are still some things I am working out with my counselor and one is emotional eating. Getting involved in Church ministry has been a HUGE help for me, especially CRHP, because I have many friends now and am no longer lonely. I am also much more pro-active in my school work and seeing that "A" on my report card from last semester helped a great deal. I am hoping to lose weight before I enter a religious community. Edited because when I type a. lot, it comes out alot. Edited October 11, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae
brandelynmarie Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Wonderful. We must keep trying to be faithful to the stirrings of the Holy Spirit.
OnlySunshine Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 [quote name='brandelynmarie' timestamp='1318294758' post='2319434'] Wonderful. We must keep trying to be faithful to the stirrings of the Holy Spirit. [/quote] My CRHP meeting is tomorrow night. I always look forward to Tuesday nights, now. I'm giving my autobiography presentation to my CRHP sisters, so please pray for me!
OnlySunshine Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 [quote name='brandelynmarie' timestamp='1318295981' post='2319452'] [/quote] Thanks, brandelyn.
brandelynmarie Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 So how did it go???? (If you posted about it elsewhere, please direct me to it )
OnlySunshine Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 [quote name='brandelynmarie' timestamp='1318424025' post='2320076'] So how did it go???? (If you posted about it elsewhere, please direct me to it ) [/quote] I actually didn't post about it yet because I was so tired last night when I got home. I only got 3 hours sleep the night before so I laid down to take a nap and ended up sleeping until 4:30 this morning. It was good that I slept through the night because I had planned to go to Confession this morning and I got up in plenty of time since Confession is at 9am. But anyway, about the CRHP meeting. I read my 7 page autobiography. I was the second one to give the presentation and I think it took about 25-30 minutes to finish the whole thing. I honestly thought I would get emotional when I was talking about my depression and the Holy Spirit bringing me back into the Church in 2007. I was crying a little when I wrote it, so expected to cry again. However, I had many good stories to tell during those 30 minutes so the heaviness wasn't felt as much and it ended on a very high note with my discernment story up to this point. Many of the ladies affirmed that I was definitely showing signs of being at peace and that God seems to be leading me to the Sisters I am visiting (I told them about the random signals that I didn't pray for and wasn't purposefully looking for but found). God, in His abounding mercy, has given me such wonderful women to be my sisters in Christ. In about a month, we will be doing a discernment meeting to pray for guidance about which roles the Holy Spirit wants us to take for the next weekend in March 2012. I believe that I am called to give a witness to the women, but I then have to discern whether or not to be a team leader or a co-spiritual director. I'm leaning more towards team leader.
brandelynmarie Posted October 13, 2011 Posted October 13, 2011 [quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1318438743' post='2320193'] . Many of the ladies affirmed that I was definitely showing signs of being at peace and that God seems to be leading me to the Sisters I am visiting (I told them about the random signals that I didn't pray for and wasn't purposefully looking for but found). [/quote] I am so glad that it turned out well for you! The whole signs thing is tricky, isn't? But somewhere on here nunsense mentioned connecting the dots by looking back...seeing the signs & experiences in retrospect as to how God has led you to this place...right here, right now. I think this is best. Not seeking them, but finding them!
OnlySunshine Posted October 13, 2011 Posted October 13, 2011 (edited) [quote name='brandelynmarie' timestamp='1318471321' post='2320420'] I am so glad that it turned out well for you! The whole signs thing is tricky, isn't? But somewhere on here nunsense mentioned connecting the dots by looking back...seeing the signs & experiences in retrospect as to how God has led you to this place...right here, right now. I think this is best. Not seeking them, but finding them! [/quote] It's just wierd how out of the blue this stuff happens. The last thing happened today. I was in line, waiting to go to Confession at Church and just happened to look at the stained glass windows. I hardly ever sit on that side (the choir side; I usualy sit opposite) so I had forgotten that the windows had the Beatitudes on them. I just happened to look at this one out of all the others: [b][i]Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.[/i][/b] I first went and then had a chuckle. This seems to be such a normal occurrence lately. The day before last, I was passing by a Baptist church and they had a sign talking about God's mercy. Mercy, mercy, mercy... it's everywhere! ETA: Ok, I know how to spell, but everytime I submit a post, it changes it to the wrong spelling of w.eird and u.sually) Edited October 13, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae
brandelynmarie Posted October 13, 2011 Posted October 13, 2011 wierd usualyWow. Now PM is developing random features all by itself?
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