How Is This Even Possible?

[tinytherese]

I've read multiple times before that when St. Maximilian Kolbe was having doubts as to whether or not he should be ordained a priest that his mother came to him and told him that she was joining a convent and that his father was becoming a monk even though they were still married, both legally and sacramentally. How could this have happened?

[Thy Geekdom Come]

I am not familiar with this specific story, but it has happened with saints in the past (I can't recall their names off-hand, but I've read their biographies) where in old age, a man and his wife might separate to join religious communities (in one way or another) in order to prepare spiritually for death. In fact, I seem to recall that this is a more common custom in the East.

[CatherineM]

A married man can't be ordained to the priesthood until after his wife's death, but he can certainly enter a monastery. Nuns and Monks take vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. Separated married spouses can take those vows in good conscience. I can't imagine doing that if my husband was still alive, but as a widow, I would certainly consider it.

[cappie]

Rule of St Francis:

Chapter II Concerning those who wish to adopt this life, and how they should be received.

If any would desire to adopt this life and would come to our brothers, let them send them to their Ministers provincial, to whom alone, and not to others, is the permission to receive friars conceded. Let the ministers indeed examine them diligently concerning the Catholic Faith and the sacraments of the Church.

And if they believe these things and want to observe them faithfully and firmly unto the end, and they have no wives or, [b]if they do, their wives have already entered a monastery, or having taken a vow of continence, permission (to enter a monastery) has been granted to them by authority of the bishop of the diocese, and the wives are of such an age that suspicion cannot arise concerning them,[/b] let them say unto these the word of the Holy Gospel (cf Mt 19:21), that they should go and sell all that is their own and strive to give it to the poor. But if they cannot do this, a good will suffices for them.