Not To Disappoint You

[4LoveofJMJ]

 

I agree that this is a bad sign. I had a community do this once with me over email, and I started to feel really uncomfortable. I was even told "I better get out there soon or else I might lose my vocation".  :pinch:

 

Ugh sounds like my experience with a couple of sisters from different orders at different periods. Once they found out that I was discerning, they were really pressuring me to drop everything and enter their convent despite my repeatedly telling them that I had only begun discernment. Plus I was way too young (14 or 15) to make any such decision. They did not take it very well. Unfortunately it took me a while to get over those experiences.

[PhuturePriest]

Ugh sounds like my experience with a couple of sisters from different orders at different periods. Once they found out that I was discerning, they were really pressuring me to drop everything and enter their convent despite my repeatedly telling them that I had only begun discernment. Plus I was way too young (14 or 15) to make any such decision. They did not take it very well. Unfortunately it took me a while to get over those experiences.

 

I know a guy who visited the community I did and didn't feel a call to them, but afterwards they kept calling him on the phone and telling him to go ahead and enter, regardless if he felt a call or not.

[Maggyie]

Some communities can be very aggressive. You're right that it's a red flag.

[4LoveofJMJ]

Funny part is that I am now thinking of discerning with one of the communities who tried to get me to join. I hope and pray that my experience was only one one sister's poor handling on the matter and not an overall view of how the community handles vocations. I am nervous just thinking about it.

 

[superblue]

I find it rather interesting what you are going through FP, I had a visit with a Franciscan order up north, and really the only bone i had to pick with them was that for what ever reason they felt comfortable using a clear glass bowl and chalace for the species during mass, i knew good n well that only precious metals are to be used, and that the tabernacle they were using, was see through as well, i dont know about the specific rules on that but it was a wooden frame with like plexiglass windows to see inside and ironically the Eucharist was held in a proper metal container go figure.

 

This order though was much much different than your experience and actually active, no kneeling on hard wood floors, but at the end i was not a fit for them, nor they for me an they were content to part ways and not preach at me or make me feel guilty about anything.

 

And i know , and i hope you do as well, there are more than just one Franciscan Order out there, don't let one bad experience lead you to just throwing out other Franciscan orders altogether,  and from my own personal experience i am learning that the journey only gets harder, especially for the diocesan priesthood,  if you havent been interrogated before, good luck, because that is pretty much what it is, but with out all the dangers normally associated, your life gets picked apart, you get asked questions ranging from your family life, to your personal views, to things you would never expect, and everything you say is judged, from how you answer, to what you say and what you dont say. This isn't a, you better be scared thing, but i would caution going in with the mind set that everyone there is to encourage you onward into what ever, the priesthood, or an order, they are there to make the best judgement possible and determine if they want to invest in you, because unfortunately it is a financial investment as well.  Eventually you will go through a psych exam which you will probably have no access to the results of,  if you haven't been through one before or even talked to a psychologist before it wouldn't hurt to look into it on your own and just see what comes of it, if anything you learn more about yourself.

 

And if you are tired of getting call backs, simply tell them you are dealing with depression, and you are unemployed and watch how fast they hang up the phone or stop emailing.

[Ed Normile]

Not to disappoint you.

 

 

Too late !

 

ed

[veritasluxmea]

word on the red flag thing. We need a discernment hangover support group. 

 

And if you are tired of getting call backs, simply tell them you are dealing with depression, and you are unemployed and watch how fast they hang up the phone or stop emailing.

That... actually made me laugh! 

[ardillacid]

The monks prayed too much?

[PhuturePriest]

The monks prayed too much?

 

They're an allegedly active community that boasts that they pray more than monks do (they are not monks). They pray 8 hours a day on their knees. You try it out and see if you like it. :|

[Lil Red]

They're an allegedly active community that boasts that they pray more than monks do (they are not monks). They pray 8 hours a day on their knees. You try it out and see if you like it. :|

 

It's hard to kneel (without falling over) when you're drinking. 

[PhuturePriest]

It's hard to kneel (without falling over) when you're drinking. 

 

Very good. Now go in the corner and sleep it off.

 

;)

 

(Don't hit me.)

[Lil Red]

That was in reference to you responding to ardill. (not moi, kthxbai)

[PhuturePriest]

Peace is almost always a big neon sign in a particular direction. :)

 

Another big neon sign: My mother is completely against it. :|

[Basilisa Marie]

Another big neon sign: My mother is completely against it. :|

 

lol you dork. :) Sounds it was a great learning experience for you overall. 

[SilentJoy]

Unfortunately it took me a while to get over those experiences.

 

Awww, sorry for your hurt. I have felt pressured to apply before too, but at least I was old enough (chronologically, at least) to be making those types of decisions. I liked SuperBlue's "depression and unemployment" excuse; the word "Asperger's" is also very effective.

 

The conversation, as I see it:

"Ah, and by the way, I have Asperger's."

"Oh! Let me talk to the Council Sister...

 

*curtain closes in grate room*

 

"...psst, Council Sister, what's Asparagus?"

"It is a twiggy vegetable that makes your pee smell bad."

"She didn't bringing us any vegetables, though. She said it like 'halitosis' or something."

"Oh, ASPERGER'S? It means she shoots people when she's angry."

"Maybe God is sending us a bodyguard!!"

"Ah...yes, but who is she is she most likely going to be angry with?"

"Oh. The Novice Mistress. ...does our insurance cover that?"

"No. We don't have any guns lying around that she could use, though; that's something to take into consideration."

"But still, it's not going to look good on the vocational pamphlets."

 

*curtain opens*

 

"The Council Sister said 'No.' DANG IT!!!"