How do I explain the call to religious life

[uruviel]

[quote name='Piobaire' post='990433' date='May 25 2006, 12:38 PM']
I sure am!!!!!!!! 56 days and counting Maybe I wont come home LOL
[/quote]

LOL! What an AMAZING place have a safe trip!! Are you going to actually visit the sisters, and discern with the Poor Clares, or are you going just to visit the shrine?

God Bless!
-uruviel

[magnificat]

[quote name='Piobaire' post='990358' date='May 25 2006, 11:28 AM']
That is so true! I have found that my non-Catholic friends have been really supportive and the people who I thought would be most supportive, those that are most active in the parish and in their prayer lives have been really negative about the whole thing. It is really crazy how all of the reactions I have been getting are the exact opposite from what I expected

[/quote]

That's funny because the responses I've gotten are opposite of that. Now granted, most of my Catholic friends either have discerned a vocation to the priesthood/religious life, had at one point been discerning priesthood/religious life, or knew someone who had entered already... ...and I've also purposely avoided, for now, telling people who I know will react negatively to it.
Although...there might be a difference between telling someone you're entering a cloistered order versus a more active order....

[Jnorm888]

They should of saw that show on A&E


"God or the girl"






INLOVE Jnorm

[awyers]

[quote name='uruviel' post='990585' date='May 25 2006, 03:34 PM']
LOL! What an AMAZING place have a safe trip!! Are you going to actually visit the sisters, and discern with the Poor Clares, or are you going just to visit the shrine?

God Bless!
-uruviel
[/quote]

Yes, I am going to discern with the PCPA's for the week. I feel soooo drawn to their community. I dream about them all the time and I cant go one day without checking out their website. And get this, the other day I went to confession with a new priest and out of no where he mentioned that I should go visit "this lovely community of Poor Clares in Alabama"! I almost fell off my seat I really hope that God is calling me there but if not I pray that I am able to discern His will for my life.

Allison

[quote name='zunshynn' post='990584' date='May 25 2006, 03:34 PM']
I eased my friends into it. They've been in on my journey about all of this for pretty much the whole time. I think that made it easier for them. It's important to answer their questions gently, even the idiotic ones about never having sex, etc. Do they understand? No, not entirely. But they want me to be happy. and so their questions, even the dumb ones, are their attempt to accept what I'm doing, an attempt to understand it.

I have difficulty explaining it—how I knew, and how really, I feel I'm gaining much more than I'm giving up, and how ultimately, I fell in love, and I don't deserve it and I can't explain it, but I did.

I'll add more later. I have to run.
[/quote]

Hey Jennifer!

Sorry I havent gotten back to you yet. You reminded me of what happened when I told another friend about my vocation. Her first response was....But that means no sex! and then she said......So does that mean you cant get married?? I just had to laugh

[uruviel]

[quote]Yes, I am going to discern with the PCPA's for the week. I feel soooo drawn to their community. I dream about them all the time and I cant go one day without checking out their website. And get this, the other day I went to confession with a new priest and out of no where he mentioned that I should go visit "this lovely community of Poor Clares in Alabama"! I almost fell off my seat I really hope that God is calling me there but if not I pray that I am able to discern His will for my life.

Allison[/quote]

WOW that's so awesome!! I LOVE the Poor Clares, and hope to make a visit when I reach the age, I just love them! Do you feel callled to the cloister or extern life? I hope you have a great trip!! you will have to tell me all about it! Have you ever talked to Lauren (totustuus) before she entered there? If not, I'm sure you'll see her there! Are you staying IN the cloister, or just making a day retreat? Anyways, God Bless!
In Christ,
uruviel

[awyers]

[quote name='uruviel' post='990618' date='May 25 2006, 05:01 PM']
WOW that's so awesome!! I LOVE the Poor Clares, and hope to make a visit when I reach the age, I just love them! Do you feel callled to the cloister or extern life? I hope you have a great trip!! you will have to tell me all about it! Have you ever talked to Lauren (totustuus) before she entered there? If not, I'm sure you'll see her there! Are you staying IN the cloister, or just making a day retreat? Anyways, God Bless!
In Christ,
uruviel
[/quote]

I never knew anything about the Poor Clares or EWTN or the shrine until just recently but I have been evolving into a great love for the Fransican spirituality so I am very excited for the opportunity to visit. Right now I feel called to the extern life but I can totally see myself entering the cloister later in life. It is such a gift to have the opportunity to experience both lives. I will be staying in the guesthouse for the week and basically shadowing the externs in all their activites to get a feel for the life. I hope to get the opportunity to enter the cloister at least for a little while during my visit to see what their life is like but as it is full at the moment and I would only be accepted as an extern I might not be able to??? I never knew Sr Lauren before she entered. I just came across this site which is another great blessing from God. After speaking to OLAM Dad and others I cant wait to talk to Sr Lauren in person. I am sure I will be busting at the seems after my visit and would love to tell you all about it. Maybe I will even get some nice pics to share!
God Bless,
Allison

[OLAM Dad]

[quote name='Piobaire' post='990704' date='May 25 2006, 08:22 PM']
Maybe I will even get some nice pics to share!
[/quote]

[brandelynmarie]

...I have also lost 2 close friends because of my wanting to become a nun...& certain family members are distancing themselves from me too (I'm a Catholic convert)...but I still love them & pray for them & if they want to ask about this...I will talk to them...but I would not recommend trying to explain things to them if they are not willing to listen or trying to understand...I thinkit is the beginning of detachment...Trying to do what is pleasing to God & not necessarily pleasing to others...



Many prayers here for you & for when you go!

[awyers]

Well I am no where near the photographer that you are but I will do my best : Maybe if a bunch of us visited OLAM from time to time we could smuggle out pictures of Sr Lauren for OLAM dad lol!




[quote name='brandelynmarie' post='990885' date='May 26 2006, 06:48 AM']
...I have also lost 2 close friends because of my wanting to become a nun...& certain family members are distancing themselves from me too (I'm a Catholic convert)...but I still love them & pray for them & if they want to ask about this...I will talk to them...but I would not recommend trying to explain things to them if they are not willing to listen or trying to understand...I thinkit is the beginning of detachment...Trying to do what is pleasing to God & not necessarily pleasing to others...
Many prayers here for you & for when you go!
[/quote]

Thanks brandelynmarie I am sorry about your friends. I am new to this site so you may have said this already but do you know what community you are being called to? My prayers are with you in your journey too!

God Bless,
Allison