AfroNova No Limit Soldier Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 who wants to quit my job, sell everything, and move to Italy to be closer to the saints? I make a lot of money. I graduated from college when I was 20, got a lucrative job right after, bought a house when I was 21, got laid off the next week, took some time off to fall in love with Jesus, and now I'm at a better, higher paying job than the one before. But I feel like all this is straw. I've been to Fatima, Lourdes, Loyola, Siena, Assisi. I've been literally 5 feet away from the Pope. I've been dating the same guy forever & he loves Jesus & he wants to get married. I told him I wanted to leave everything & become a Carmelite nun. Now I think about it, that would be a cop out for me. I'm pretty sure God is calling me to the married life, and a life of a lot of pain and suffering. Is there anyone who has had the same sentiments as me? Sometimes I'm scared that I'm too radical - but then I learn about the lives of great saints & pray to them - Francis of Assisi, Max Kolbe, Theresa of Avila - a lot of good men thought they were too radical. Actually, most (if not all) the saints were too radical for the world. That's why they're saints. I know I love the Church. I know I love Jesus. I know I love Mary. But I still sin, I'm a hypocrite. And that's okay. The devil really is roaring about like a lion, seeking those to devour. And I tell him to BRING IT. Where, oh death, is your victory? Where, oh death, is your sting? I want to be a saint. Not for my glory, but for His. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonzaga Posted September 4, 2004 Share Posted September 4, 2004 [color=green]I think its really cool what your thinking, and you have a lot of faith, but I think that if you find God in everthing you do you can still be married( have kids?), you can live your life for Him. I understand what you are saying in moving to Italy, I was also thinking about going to live there for a while. I am planning a few days there in November, just to experience it, the thought of having the Vatican and everything that goes with it on your doorstep sounds good to me! Remember Therese's mother and father, both were wanting to go into orders, but it was their duty to be together and raise a family, and teach their family about God, and to live in Gods way. I hope you find the right decision. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam [/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Br. Augustino Posted September 4, 2004 Share Posted September 4, 2004 I like this sort of conversation!!! Hard Core.. I feel ya, Afronova. It wasnt too long ago I was in that same position. It just so happens that God has a sense of humor and called me to be a Franciscan... Oh, and He also wanted me to quit playing games and fall in love with Him... This is what I have learned in my years as a Friar... But I have also met so mant [b]holy[/b] people on the way. It is truly edifying... Actually what JPII wrote in [i]Vita Consecrata[/i] (His Apostolic exhortation to religious) that the vocations to the married life and religious life are meant to edify the other. Let me tell you I have lived this. Besides we need some holy hardcore families. St. Francis De Sales says that it is good to pine for the Divine, but the married cannot live like a poor Capuchin. so know if your vocation is to be married you can live like I am trying to, but we can call eachother on to holiness... oh yea that is waht I am talking about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted September 4, 2004 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Well, everything is possible with God. But.... are you an American citizen? If so, it is very difficult to move to the European Union and obtain permanent residency unless you marry a European, happen upon a job there (this isn't easy on your own as an American -- I don't know how it is in Italy, but when it comes to getting work in other EU countries, often EU citizens are first in line to be hired), or if you're in the miltary, or work for the military, and can get stationed there. My aunt is stationed as a teacher at a military base in Ansbach, Germany, and has been trying to get moved to her true love, Florence, for years now. Or, you can save up a LOT of money and embark as an entrepreneur. But that involves documenting that you have the funds saved up. I work with a lady who is friends with a couple that packed up and moved to Italy. They were professors and well-to-do people, probably, and I'm not sure how they got permanent residency there. But they own a house in Tuscany, somewhere I think. So it has been done... lol! My boyfriend is a citizen of the EU so I've done a lot of researching over the past 2 years about what involves being an expatriot abroad as an American. Can't you tell? P.S. another poster with a long name affecting Phatmass Pheng Shui! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasJis Posted September 4, 2004 Share Posted September 4, 2004 If you're that rich, make a donation to PhatMass (go to Home and see Donate link) and we would all be happy that we are here and will lovingly share our opinion with you. Remember: "You get what you pay for." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfroNova No Limit Soldier Posted September 4, 2004 Author Share Posted September 4, 2004 Br. Augustino - oh yeah, HARD CORE! Man, you are a Franciscan! God bless you! Thanks for citing the Pope's Vita Consecrata. I haven't read it, but I will now. I'm going to my First Friday devotion - all night adoration. I'll lift you up & all the consecrated religious to our Lord tonight. You're awesome! Gonzaga, I didn't know that about Therese's parents. I'll have to read up on that... Ash Wednesday, I'm an American & so's my boyfriend, but my family is from the Philippines & his from Vietnam, so transplanting is in our blood. Thanks for the EU tip, though. I'll check it out. And JasJis - Yeah, I'm rich. With Jesus. I don't buy any new clothes. I live in a small, new home. I take care of my grandparents who live with me & are ill. I'm thinking of selling the house & moving into a 1-bedroom apt. when I get married next year, getting rid of all the furniture. I've even thought of getting rid of the bed & sleeping on a bamboo mat on the floor.I work in an office & wear the same thing every week, and most of my clothes have to be mended because they're so worn. I mortify my body as did the wonderful saints. I keep myself from frivolous things like pillows, ceiling fans, television, radio, movies, videos, watching pro sports (which I still LOVE!), plucking my eyebrows, etc. I have too much money. I'm gonna skip getting a haircut this month. I think $5 is too much to pay for a meal. I think $20 clothing is too much. I'm rich because I have furniture in this house & a different thing to wear every day. [b]I want to sleep on a rock in a hole in Assisi & wear one of those sack cloths.[/b] JasJis, at first I resented your comment. Now I appreciate it. I will pray for you tonight, pray that all Christians will lovingly share this opinion, no matter how much $$ they have. Thanks for the tip about making a donation to phatmass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasJis Posted September 4, 2004 Share Posted September 4, 2004 (edited) Yeah, maybe I did come off a little hard sounding. It's tough to communicate nuances via a 1 dimensional media like this. I did try to lighten it up with a smilie... Sorry... Read the thread: [url="http://phorum.phatmass.com/index.php?showtopic=19458"]"dUSt and PhatMass"; What can we do to help?[/url]about some of the financial struggles of PhatMass. It's financially supported mostly by dUSt (who isn't appreciated) and some donors. The demographics usually aren't people with tons of money. It kinda became an issue yesterday, and you started this thread at the same time (well a couple of threads away) stating you got lot's of money. My comment was more appropriate if we were all talking in a large group and you were as aware of all the conversation. Again. I apologize if I offended. I meant no ill will, it was more of a flippant remark in the larger context of other threads on this board. edited to add the link... Edited September 4, 2004 by jasJis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theoketos Posted September 4, 2004 Share Posted September 4, 2004 "sell all your thing and come follow me"- Jesus I am sure that you will do what God wants, should you only be open to His will! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scofizzle Posted September 4, 2004 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Listen carefully to his words and follow him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musturde Posted September 4, 2004 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Sadly, when I went to Italy, it seemed to have not too much religious observance. Even right next to the Vatican! I saw people undressing in the vatican (a girl too you could see her bra but she didnt take off her pants) I FREAKED OUT. I thought they were gunna do something nasty. Instead they changed into different clothes. The Vatican has a strict policy as to what you can and cannot wear. Now this applies to VERY few people but go there for a visit, check it out, then see what u wanna do. It's very different from what you think. People are possible more conservative here than over there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.R.D Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 Italy woot woot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theoketos Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 [quote name='musturde' date='Sep 4 2004, 04:18 PM'] Sadly, when I went to Italy, it seemed to have not too much religious observance. Even right next to the Vatican! I saw people undressing in the vatican (a girl too you could see her bra but she didnt take off her pants) I FREAKED OUT. I thought they were gunna do something nasty. Instead they changed into different clothes. The Vatican has a strict policy as to what you can and cannot wear. Now this applies to VERY few people but go there for a visit, check it out, then see what u wanna do. It's very different from what you think. People are possible more conservative here than over there. [/quote] Wherever you find great holiness, you will find it under attack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i feel like im taking crzy pills Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 It's so awesome that you thought of this topic. I really hate paying $20 for clothes, but I do it anyways. I think that some people just need to give it up all for God. I know that I couldn't right away. I'm having problems putting God's plan before my own. His is well planned and works together, where as mine is just thought of at the moment. Being only 15, I wish that I had as much... I duno... determination? faith? commitment? (I don't know the word I'm tryin to find) but I really admire it. I know that maybe someday I will be reading a story about how you rocked our world... (like a saint, ya know..) Ya know what, I'm gonna pray for you... Pray that you find God's will and do it! By the way, you guys rock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scofizzle Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 I honestly don't think I could give all my stuff up for God right now. It's sad to see that I am so absorbed into materialism. I will have to pray about his seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfroNova No Limit Soldier Posted September 5, 2004 Author Share Posted September 5, 2004 Scofizzle, I will pray for you. Check out the Gospel for today. [url="http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/090504.htm"]http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/090504.htm[/url] "In the same way if anyone of you does not renounce all his possessions you cannot be my disciple." It's too bad that most of us take Jesus' words figuratively & not literally. If you're young (I'm 23) & have a bright future ahead of you, prayerfully consider taking Jesus literally. Carry your cross. Hate this world because Jesus doesn't reign, but love it to bring others to Him. Renounce all your possessions. If a lot of us did that, we could bring many, many souls to Christ. Most people don't take us seriously because we don't preach the Gospel with our lives. We are materialistic, we curse, we fight with our parents, siblings, spouses. We get frustrated at work, we are cheap when spending our time with the homeless, the poor, the less fortunate. We are too cheap to give 10% off the TOP of our earnings to the Lord (tithing which is lost in our parish), we DON'T fast (even though the Pope has encouraged us MANY times over not to forget the traditional triad of PRAYER, FASTING, ALMSGIVING. We don't really love the Eucharist. If we really loved the Eucharist, believed Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament, we would be crawling on our hands and knees to attend Mass & adoration every single day. It's not coincidence that this is today's Gospel. Pray for me, pray for all of us, that we would follow wherever He would lead. It's scary, I know. But let's do it together. Thank you for all your prayers. God is working. I can't believe how much He loves me. Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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