St. Emma's, Greensburg, Pa (benedictine): Whaddaya Know?

[Totally Franciscan]

I must say, this topic has me very upset. A discerner contacts a community in all humility to inquire about their order. For whatever reason, the community decides this person is not called to their community, then a CHARITABLE RESPONSE is what is called for. I forget which saint it was who said, "Charity in all things", but he/she was correct. To make nasty remarks about ones country of origin or non-employment is something I just cannot understand. Indeed, these discerners should be grateful they were not accepted to a community that lacks in basic charity. If indeed these communities are trying to see just how interested the discerner is by giving them uncharitable and curt responses, they need to find another way to accomplish this goal.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='Totally Franciscan' timestamp='1353463713' post='2513976']
I must say, this topic has me very upset. A discerner contacts a community in all humility to inquire about their order. For whatever reason, the community decides this person is not called to their community, then a CHARITABLE RESPONSE is what is called for. I forget which saint it was who said, "Charity in all things", but he/she was correct. To make nasty remarks about ones country of origin or non-employment is something I just cannot understand. Indeed, these discerners should be grateful they were not accepted to a community that lacks in basic charity. If indeed these communities are trying to see just how interested the discerner is by giving them uncharitable and curt responses, they need to find another way to accomplish this goal.
[/quote]

While I agree (obviously), I think sometimes we (myself included) forget that religious are human beings with the capability to make human mistakes. Now, this doesn't excuse the rude replies, but I know I've been guilty of putting religious on pedestals and then being crushed when I get a response that I don't like. It's a lesson in humility and it's one that I needed to learn because I don't always know what God wants of me. Plus, I was going against my own peace in the matter. While visiting the community last year, I did not feel completely at home but since the assistant postulant mistress said they allowed people to try the life even if they needed medication AND God had provided a way to get there through a generous benefactor, I figured that applying was the next step. Little did I know that God needed to open my eyes and give me a lesson in patience. If I had not have received the uncharitable response that I did, I would probably still be discerning with them and would not be in the position I am today with my current religious order. So, the moral of the story is that, while it doesn't look good at first, God does bring good out of the bad.

[jumpfrog]

I just want to clarify that the response I got from St. Emma's was curt and unfriendly, but not rude or insulting. I said brusque, but maybe that was too strong a word...graceless and cold, yes, but they didn't insult me or anything like that...I think I was a little surprised that they would ask for such extensive information on their vocational inquiry form...lots of detailed info, and then not consider someone just because of where they were from. So, I thought it was just a callous excuse, and that bothered me at the time. I actually deleted the email, it bothered me so much, and I usually save everything.