Humph........

[FutureSister2009]

You know what's strange? Just a few years ago, I would've NEVER imagined myself being THIS jealous of people leaving to enter the Convent. That just shows that you don't know for sure what God has in mind for you

[Pax_et bonum]

It can be so easy to look at religious life through rose-colored glasses, but the reality is that it's a challenging life. We've met people on here that have been hurt by their communities, and we follow along and are inspired by their amazing path of trying again because that's what God is asking of them.
Leaving everything and everyone behind to enter a community will not be easy. Even those of us who have parental problems about our vocations, we will still miss them and get homesick. You may not see some of your good friends ever again. Being corrected in religious life will be hard; we'll feel like infants who don't know how to do anything right. I've never been in religious life, I'm sure others could tell better than I how difficult it is. RL, like marriage, brings with it both joys and pains. Don't focus so much on the joys that the pains come as a shock.

This time of preparation before entrance is a blessing! I hope to enter a cloistered order, so I'm getting into as many shenanigans as I can with my best friends this year (preparation for shenanigans in the convent? I think yes! ). We have so much fun, it's ridiculous. I don't want to just wish that away. Besides just having fun as my last year of childhood ends, I'm really using this time to pray and grow in faith and virtue. Frequent the sacraments! Pray the LotH! Prepare for RL while still living the life you have now.

[size=2]Edited cause I can't type [/size]

Edited September 13, 2011 by Pax_et bonum

[IamMyBeloveds]

[quote name='Pax_et bonum' timestamp='1315873144' post='2303990']
It can be so easy to look at religious life through rose-colored glasses, but the reality is that it's a challenging life. We've met people on here that have been hurt by their communities, and we follow along and are inspired by their amazing path of trying again because that's what God is asking of them.
Leaving everything and everyone behind to enter a community will not be easy.
[/quote]

You have so much wisdom, Pax_et bonum. Wise beyond your "years of religious life". It is beautiful to see that surrender that you have. Thank you for understanding the trials of those of us who have left and are planning to go back. You have brought me much consolation, and a few tears (good ones...the healing kind)! Even I, a second-timer going in, need to look at the joys as well as the pains and remember them both. They are both what helped me grow. Praise Be Jesus Christ for His goodness in the waiting!

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='Pax_et bonum' timestamp='1315873144' post='2303990']
It can be so easy to look at religious life through rose-colored glasses, but the reality is that it's a challenging life. We've met people on here that have been hurt by their communities, and we follow along and are inspired by their amazing path of trying again because that's what God is asking of them.
Leaving everything and everyone behind to enter a community will not be easy. Even those of us who have parental problems about our vocations, we will still miss them and get homesick. You may not see some of your good friends ever again. Being corrected in religious life will be hard; we'll feel like infants who don't know how to do anything right. I've never been in religious life, I'm sure others could tell better than I how difficult it is. RL, like marriage, brings with it both joys and pains. Don't focus so much on the joys that the pains come as a shock.

This time of preparation before entrance is a blessing! I hope to enter a cloistered order, so I'm getting into as many shenanigans as I can with my best friends this year (preparation for shenanigans in the convent? I think yes! ). We have so much fun, it's ridiculous. I don't want to just wish that away. Besides just having fun as my last year of childhood ends, I'm really using this time to pray and grow in faith and virtue. Frequent the sacraments! Pray the LotH! Prepare for RL while still living the life you have now.

[size=2]Edited cause I can't type [/size]
[/quote]

What beautiful insight you have. Though I have never entered and left, it took me a long time to understand the risks I would be taking when I finally take that step. You cannot do it without a firm knowledge of Jesus and a strong prayer life. You don't have to be the most perfect person before you enter, but you must be striving to be a saint.

I will be praying for your discernment, little one.

[Lil'Monster]

im gonna get hitched and have loads of kids

[carmenchristi]

Darlene, great post. I think it's good that you let some of the young girls know about the reality that sets in only when you are living religious life. I experienced many of the things you speak about, and I was a postulant only 8 years ago! And I am a member of an ACTIVE, Franciscan Institute. It is also true that the church (and communities with her!) is advancing in her conception of obedience and authority, and is slowly surpassing the "shut-up-and-do-as-you-are-told" attitude. This is a great [url="http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_doc_20080511_autorita-obbedienza_en.html"]document [/url]that helps put it in perspective. Even so, I do agree with te points you are making! And it's also true that many communities (especially the very traditional ones that many PMers are interested in) are not necessarily making changes in a well-established way of doing things.

Edited September 13, 2011 by carmenchristi