News About My Discernment

[faithcecelia]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1315190260' post='2300306']
I know we all benefit from reading stories of the saints and religious gone before us. I was reading the story of Leonie Martin -- St. Therese of Lisieux's older sister -- who entered and left religious life 3 times. The last time she left, she was so heartbroken that she could not stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. Despair did not get the best of her and she entered religious life a final time with the Visitation Sisters of Caen in France and stayed until her death. Her story is full of hope for those suffering.

[url="http://martinsisters.org/sister_francoise_therese.html"]God's Little Violet -- Sr. Françoise-Thérèse[/url]
[/quote]


How did I miss this? (and sadly I have no props to give ). The very first night I was at Craigs when he collected me from Q (2yrs ago today) I sat up all night as sleep simply wouldn't happen and I found this article. Leonie, like Therese and Pauline, had a strong feeling of vocation (Marie and Celeinedidn't really, they entered because their confessors told them too).

She continues to inspire me today. When I first entered I could never imagine it going wrong - even when it was horribly hard, I could never imagine I would be sent away. This time I go with the same intention its for life but with a knowledge that it [i]might[/i] go wrong. Even so, I know Leonie will support me if I need to try a 3rd, or 4th time.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='faithcecelia' timestamp='1315266693' post='2300699']


How did I miss this? (and sadly I have no props to give ). The very first night I was at Craigs when he collected me from Q (2yrs ago today) I sat up all night as sleep simply wouldn't happen and I found this article. Leonie, like Therese and Pauline, had a strong feeling of vocation (Marie and Celeinedidn't really, they entered because their confessors told them too).

She continues to inspire me today. When I first entered I could never imagine it going wrong - even when it was horribly hard, I could never imagine I would be sent away. This time I go with the same intention its for life but with a knowledge that it [i]might[/i] go wrong. Even so, I know Leonie will support me if I need to try a 3rd, or 4th time.
[/quote]

I honestly cannot imagine experiencing such torment. She tried so hard to be obedient to her Superiors, but they were harsh towards her. I admire her for her tremendous courage and love for God. The excerpts I read from St. Therese's letters to Leonie were very moving (to the point of tears). She kept referring to her "little pupil of the Little Way" that she was still the bride of Christ and His Beloved for all eternity. It kept Leonie going and moving towards her goal of becoming a religious.

What struck me the most is that Leonie never complained about being the last in the family. She desired to be small and ignored so she could give Jesus her full heart. Her kindness towards others was beautiful. She is a saint in my eyes. We can only pray and hope that she will be made a true saint of the Church some day. Her aunt, Sr. Marie-Dosithee, predicted it.

[Sarah147]

I was just recently talking with someone about trying to look at charisms and ask Orders, rather than just look at Orders open to health issues.......for when I do discern Orders again.


I like the charism (works of mercy) of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, but I don't know that I could handle the college. I would really like a semi-contemplative Order, with much focus on contemplative living (but that can get out and do things, too), that doesn't have to go to college. I recently started a composition 3 credit course with a community college, and the stress of that, plus the stress of getting rejected by the SsEW, plus I suspect a side effect of the stimulant medicine I was trying for ADHD, I ended up with awful depression and anxiety. A weight was lifted as soon as I dropped that course. Stopping the medicine helped, too. (I did homeschooling and the type of essays they asked for in composition was just way over my head.) Maybe school in general is too much pressure for me. I also have ADHD and Dyslexia.


My main mental issue is totally under control by a medicine, but I'm still having some depression and anxiety so I think I will be trying a medicine to help them and see how it goes. But I still don't know that college is for me. It's just so hard to find that kind of Order that is also open to my health issues, and with the ability to help me if something should happen without sending me away from the Order forever.


I'm back to the drawing board! I sure loved the SsEW. How on earth do I find the right Order that is also open to my health issues?


P.S. Mater, I totally feel for those with depression and anxiety. At it's worst, it was awful. The depression made me feel so alone and I couldn't find joy in life, and I just wasn't myself; I wanted to sleep or be around loved ones all the time to get away from the alone-feeling . And the anxiety, it made my mind constantly go over and over about the composition course, and worry, and it made my heart beat faster and I felt so strangled by the anxiety. Thankfully, getting off that medicine and dropping the course helped a great deal. I just may ask my doctor about the Wellbutrin and see how it helps my ADHD and this minor depression/anxiety.

Looking back, I can see that I am very prone to anxiety and depression (it's in my familiy, too). Many times when trying out Orders, I was actually having pretty bad depression and anxiety, some pre-existing the visit. Also, at times in my earlier life. Clearly with trying college, too. It seems I don't handle transitions, stress, and pressure well. This is even though I go for monthly counselling and my other mental issue is totally controlled by medicine. I guess my brain chemicals just get out of wack a lot unless medicated. My ADHD is even from low norepinephrine brain chemicals.

Thoughts, encouragement, etc. welcome.

God bless you.

Edited September 12, 2011 by JoyfulLife

[das8949]

Joyful have you looked at this order? I do not know how they feel about mental/physical issues but they have chrism that one would not have to have a degree in. They spend alot of timein prayer.

[url="http://search.pch.com/search?q=tor+franciscan+sisters&sourceid=opensearch"]http://search.pch.com/search?q=tor+franciscan+sisters&sourceid=opensearch[/url]

[Sarah147]

All Orders are welcome from y'all. I'll check them out. Thank you.



I looooove what I see about that Order! Hiking trips, give talks/retreats, work with children doing crafts, loving interaction among the Sisters... etc. etc. LOVE IT! I wrote them to see what they say.

I'm feeling a lot better about the SsEW. But I don't feel I'll be able to give my full heart in discernment for a little while. But, it will be good to know what they say.

Edited September 12, 2011 by JoyfulLife

[Pax_et bonum]

[url="http://www.heartsofjesusandmary.com/acts.htm"]The Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary[/url]
Contemplative order with acts of mercy as part of their charism. They are a new community, a private association of the faithful.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1315857661' post='2303900']
All Orders are welcome from y'all. I'll check them out. Thank you.



I looooove what I see about that Order! Hiking trips, give talks/retreats, work with children doing crafts, loving interaction among the Sisters... etc. etc. LOVE IT! I wrote them to see what they say.

I'm feeling a lot better about the SsEW. But I don't feel I'll be able to give my full heart in discernment for a little while. But, it will be good to know what they say.
[/quote]

I am sorry that you are going through a tough time right now. If you felt that dropping the course was best, it was a good thing you did it. I had to do that, too, a few times because dealing with health issues AND taking courses while not on the right medication was a disaster. I am so thankful to have found the right one and I'm able to focus a lot better! My medication may not be right for you, but it's worth giving it a try if you haven't already. I just found that my recurring episodes were lessened greatly and I have little to no anxiety anymore.

Have you considered looking into the [url="http://www.dominicansrs.co.uk/"]Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph[/url] in the UK where Sadora (laetitia_crucis) is? They are a Dominican semi-contemplative order and very much like the SsEW in their apostolate (it's pretty much the same). I am not sure how they feel about mental illness, but I know that they were accepting of LC when she told them of her vision problem. If I felt called overseas, I would check them out myself, but I'm pretty sure I'm not called to England.

Here are some other orders that I found on IRL (I know nothing personal about these orders, but they might suit you; you'd have to ask how they feel about your illness):

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/388"]Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/356"]Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/138"]Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Christ[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/109"]Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/117"]Sisters of Jesus Our Hope[/url]

[url="http://daughtersofstdominic.org/index.html"]Daughters of St. Dominic[/url]

[url="http://www.childrenofmary.net/home.html"]Children of Mary[/url]

Edited September 12, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae

[faithcecelia]

[quote name='Pax_et bonum' timestamp='1315859211' post='2303903']
[url="http://www.heartsofjesusandmary.com/acts.htm"]The Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary[/url]
Contemplative order with acts of mercy as part of their charism. They are a new community, a private association of the faithful.
[/quote]


Ah! These are the sisters who I always wonder how they manage to keep those lovely long veils on They seem absolutely lovely - so much prayertime!

[Sarah147]

I wanted to add that I'm not set on Orders that do works of mercy. I'm open to semi-contemplative Orders. I'm feeling good in the approach of contacting them all and seeing that they all say, before getting my heart set on Orders.



Wow! Lots of beautiful Orders to look into!

Mater, that Order in England... I don't want to leave the USA plus they send their Sisters for further education at a college, Sadora told me.


I also spotted these threads:
[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/87089-semi-contemplative-sisters/page__st__20__p__2144762#entry2144762"]one[/url]
[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/106853-religious-sisters-in-habit-apostolate-of-spiritual-talksconfretreatetc/"]two[/url]


Are there anymore semi-contemplative / semi-cloistered threads?

Edited September 12, 2011 by JoyfulLife

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1315861090' post='2303917']
I wanted to add that I'm not set on Orders that do works of mercy. I'm open to semi-contemplative Orders. I'm feeling good in the approach of contacting them all and seeing that they all say, before getting my heart set on Orders.



Wow! Lots of beautiful Orders to look into!

[b]Mater, that Order in England... I don't want to leave the USA plus they send their Sisters for further education at a college, Sadora told me.[/b]


I also spotted these threads:
[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/87089-semi-contemplative-sisters/page__st__20__p__2144762#entry2144762"]one[/url]
[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/106853-religious-sisters-in-habit-apostolate-of-spiritual-talksconfretreatetc/"]two[/url]


Are there anymore semi-contemplative / semi-cloistered threads?
[/quote]

Whoops! I didn't know this...

I can understand the reasoning behind not wanting to further your education, but I tell you in a spirit of love, don't discount the future. You may well find the correct medication and be able to attend college with no issue at all. That's what happened for me.

[Sarah147]

I just emailed everyone you all mentioned, except the links I just added above. I want to seriously know who I can discern in the future. I'm praying for a semi-contemplative Order without college.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1315862447' post='2303920']
I just emailed everyone you all mentioned, except the links I just added above. I want to seriously know who I can discern in the future. I'm praying for a semi-contemplative Order without college.
[/quote]

Prayers, dear. I hope God leads you to where He wants you when you are ready.

[LaPetiteSoeur]

The Sisters of Jesus our Hope are a cool order; they were in my old diocese and do so much good work there. There was an article about them in the paper a while back, but I can't find it on google. But I'll search around and find it!

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='LaPetiteSoeur' timestamp='1315864613' post='2303931']
The Sisters of Jesus our Hope are a cool order; they were in my old diocese and do so much good work there. There was an article about them in the paper a while back, but I can't find it on google. But I'll search around and find it!
[/quote]

The Vocations Director, Sr. Judith, is on Facebook (or at least, she was).

[LaPetiteSoeur]

Found the article! It was actually in the OSV, not the local paper! http://www.osv.com/tabid/7621/itemid/7869/Pets--our-fellow-travelers-on-the-spiritual-journ.aspx