Cloister Worries Dissolving

[Gemma]

Your journey is reminding me of St. Bridget of Sweden, who, after her husband's death, was taken on a tour of the convents of Sweden by Our Lord. She eventually tired of it, and insisted that He take her back home.

Are you a convert? If so, we are finding that many converts think they are called to Carmel because of St. Therese's Little Way. Then that evolves to another spirituality/charism; then to another. This is due to a lack of "mystagoga" (spiritual journey) training in the RCIA process.

I've told our Cloister Outreach yahoo groups to "let go and let God." You may think you're called to one specific spirituality, but that more than likely is not where God wants you.

This was seconded by a woman who has discerned that she is to found an order of anchorites in the Capuchin Franciscan tradition, who plan to actually be attached to churches. She had kept insisting that she was Carmelite, until the Lord finally "hit her over the head" with Franciscanism by sending her a Capuchin saint. We sponsor her website and yahoo group.

[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/anchorites/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/anchorites/[/url]
[url="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/anchorites_of_reparation/"]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/anchorites_of_reparation/[/url]

This group is not to be confused with our Reparatrix Anchoresses of Our Lady of the Cloister, better known as the Cloisterite Hermits: [url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/cloisterites/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/cloisterites/[/url] The Cloisterite Hermits are a private association of the faithful with the intention of becoming an institute of religious life, under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Charlotte, NC.

Another thing to pray for is spiritual maturity. The cloister is not for spiritual dwarfs, as St Teresa puts it--the cloister is for mature women.

Your following the schedule of the monastery is exactly what I did after I left the vocation retreat in Toledo. I was to enter on this date in 1987 for the pre-postulancy, but family matters arose and I had to go to TN--ironically on Independence Day.

The Holy Ghost works on attraction--keep that in mind. People write books about discernment, but it all boils down to those six words. Spiritual Directors help prepare you for the religious life by helping you get focused, and helping you conquer your spiritual weaknesses and vices. If you can find a copy, read "The Golden Arrow" published by TAN. In that book is a chapter where the Golden Arrow visionary was taken through the purgation of vices by her spiritual director.

We offer a yahoo group for cloister discerners (and active discerners, too, but they're in the minority), called the Cloister Outreach Vocation Incubator (COVI): [url="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/COVI/"]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/COVI/[/url] One member has entered the cloister, and two more are about to do so.

HTH.

Blessings,
Gemma

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='Gemma' post='1921523' date='Jul 16 2009, 09:32 AM']Your journey is reminding me of St. Bridget of Sweden, who, after her husband's death, was taken on a tour of the convents of Sweden by Our Lord. She eventually tired of it, and insisted that He take her back home.[/quote]

That's interesting. My next meeting with my spiritual director happens to be on her feast day next week (July 23rd). Maybe I should start a little novena to her?

[quote]Are you a convert? If so, we are finding that many converts think they are called to Carmel because of St. Therese's Little Way. Then that evolves to another spirituality/charism; then to another. This is due to a lack of "mystagoga" (spiritual journey) training in the RCIA process.[/quote]

Nope, I was born and raised in the Catholic faith. I had a reversion to the Church in December 2007 and that's when I began my discernment.

[quote]Another thing to pray for is spiritual maturity. The cloister is not for spiritual dwarfs, as St Teresa puts it--the cloister is for mature women.[/quote]

I'm praying for this daily. I'm currently reading "Introduction to the Devout Life" as well. I've also read St. Teresa's "The Interior Castle." Both were/are very helpful in my discernment.

[quote]The Holy Ghost works on attraction--keep that in mind. People write books about discernment, but it all boils down to those six words. Spiritual Directors help prepare you for the religious life by helping you get focused, and helping you conquer your spiritual weaknesses and vices. If you can find a copy, read "The Golden Arrow" published by TAN. In that book is a chapter where the Golden Arrow visionary was taken through the purgation of vices by her spiritual director.[/quote]

I'll have to try to find that book when I'm done with "Introduction."

[Noemi]

[quote name='InHisLove726' post='1920936' date='Jul 16 2009, 01:43 AM']Puella, it's wonderful to see you posting again. I've missed your posts!

I know what you mean, though. I can definitely relate. How is it that God wants to close us up when we have a great desire to travel and see the world? For me, Ireland was always inspiring, and I still haven't had the chance to go. I would love to see South Africa, Australia, Italy and France. But, I'd be willing to give all this up to become a nun. It's going to be difficult, but I can't keep putting it off. That'd be like putting off the most wonderful marriage to travel. I think if I did that, I'd be incredibly selfish.

I will pray for you. I have only been discerning for a year and a half, so the worries are still fresh, but I doubt they will be as much of a hindrance as they were for me before. If He truly wants us enclosed, I absolutely trust He will give us the graces to achieve His will.

God be with you, puella. [/quote]


"I would love to see..." - you said.
Think about nunsense, she is an enclosed nun now and she travelled to Paris - as the Reverend Mother sent her there.

A Pauline nun told me once that the "prayer can reach every countries".

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='Noemi' post='1921626' date='Jul 16 2009, 12:31 PM']"I would love to see..." - you said.
Think about nunsense, she is an enclosed nun now and she travelled to Paris - as the Reverend Mother sent her there.

A Pauline nun told me once that the "prayer can reach every countries".[/quote]

Yes, that was quite something. Ireland definitely needs our prayers since its priests are in upheaval due to the crisis abroad.