My Live-in Experience Coming Soon

[Julie de Sales]

Hy! I’m back from my live-in. It was a wonderful experience and I have no regret, even if it was very demanding. During the first week it was hard to adapt to the schedule, I was feeling tired and lonely, I thought that maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do. However, I continued and when I entered the cloister together with all the nuns I started to feel better. All my illusions vanished! I thought cloistered life was easy, that they were having plenty of free time, but I soon realized that you have to move fast at work and prayer can be difficult sometimes. At a certain point, I was upset because of the mistakes I was making, but then I accepted my week points and I offered to Jesus all the sacrifices that come together with contemplative life. The fact that I was protected from all the temptations outside the monastery helped me with my scrupulosity, and even if I was dealing with doubts, I managed at the end to receive Holy Communion 10 days in a row. Being all the time near Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was so touching and Eucharistic Adoration was a privileged time to speak to Him and put my life in His hands. I received a lot of graces in this period and I’m so thankful! In the end, Mother Superior told me that she believes in my calling, I was extremely glad because I was expecting the verdict . Now I have to let myself guided by the Holy Spirit, because I’m not sure if I am called to be a Poor Clare or something else. I was often picturing myself as a Carmelite, I continue to be drawn to this life, but only in time I will be more convinced about the decision that I must take. However, I feel more than ever that my vocation is to consecrate myself to God, and I have confidence that He will support me along the way.

Thanks to all who prayed for me, I keep you also in my prayers, during my retreat I was often thinking about all the discerners and hoping they will find their own vocation.

Praise God for the miracles He makes in our lives!

[Mary's Margaret]

Welcome back. It sounds like you had a very fruitful experience, and now it's time to "unpack the gifts" as it were. How wonderful to have your calling confirmed. I'll be praying for clarity for you in your discernment of the specifics.