Comments on: what motivates a person to become a nun?? http://anunslife.org/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/ Catholic Sisters and Nuns in Today's World Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:32:01 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Alexandra http://anunslife.org/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/#comment-46380 Alexandra Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:19:51 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/#comment-46380 Sister Julie: I've had a rough day with my kids and the poster who said all mothers should be canonized brought tears to my eyes. So thank you for that. I often dream of having a life with different responsibilities, a more regimented and reflective life... to that end I am working on an art/theater piece about my parallel life where my character has dedicated herself to a spiritual life. I have a stereotype in my mind of those who dedicate themselves to Christianity as resentful and dried up. I didn't want it to be that way but it's what I have sometimes observed. I came across your site searching for examples that counteract that prejudice. So thank you for blowing that stereotype out of the water and showing me what I was hoping to find. I love your site and wish you luck. Sister Julie:

I’ve had a rough day with my kids and the poster who said all mothers should be canonized brought tears to my eyes. So thank you for that.

I often dream of having a life with different responsibilities, a more regimented and reflective life… to that end I am working on an art/theater piece about my parallel life where my character has dedicated herself to a spiritual life. I have a stereotype in my mind of those who dedicate themselves to Christianity as resentful and dried up. I didn’t want it to be that way but it’s what I have sometimes observed. I came across your site searching for examples that counteract that prejudice. So thank you for blowing that stereotype out of the water and showing me what I was hoping to find. I love your site and wish you luck.

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/#comment-43921 Sister Julie Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:30:05 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/#comment-43921 Dear Kyoko, It is difficult to say if turning to the convent after a difficult situation is an escape or a genuine calling. In general, I think whenever a person goes through a challenging time like what you described, it's important to not make any major life decisions. You need time to regroup and ground your own self. You must trust in yourself, and feel good about who you are before you can give yourself to anyone or any life commitment like Religious Life. That being said, God works in all sorts of ways in our life. It may be that God is using this situation as a way to get your attention. It may not be immediately to religious life, but it may be to develop a deeper relationship with God, learn more about God and how God is with you. Maybe some retreat time would help you just to be close to God, to be quiet, and to make sure you are okay with yourself. In any life choice -- even being a sister or nun -- we have times of peace and times of unrest, challenge, and distress. We are not exempt from regular life or from suffering. Like other Christians, we place our hope in Christ and we struggle and we pray and we find a way to move on. I encourage you to consider doing a weekend or week retreat (depending on your time and work) just to regroup and ground yourself in your relationship with God. Spend time each day in quiet prayer, listening and occasionally talking to God. If there is a particular practice that you like -- walking in the woods, writing in a journal, drawing -- use that as a way to pray. Also there are some good scripture verses to pray with on page <a href="http://anunslife.org/how-to-become-a-catholic-nun/" rel="nofollow">How to Become a Catholic Nun</a>. Blessings, Kyoko. Sister Julie Dear Kyoko,
It is difficult to say if turning to the convent after a difficult situation is an escape or a genuine calling. In general, I think whenever a person goes through a challenging time like what you described, it’s important to not make any major life decisions. You need time to regroup and ground your own self. You must trust in yourself, and feel good about who you are before you can give yourself to anyone or any life commitment like Religious Life. That being said, God works in all sorts of ways in our life. It may be that God is using this situation as a way to get your attention. It may not be immediately to religious life, but it may be to develop a deeper relationship with God, learn more about God and how God is with you. Maybe some retreat time would help you just to be close to God, to be quiet, and to make sure you are okay with yourself.

In any life choice — even being a sister or nun — we have times of peace and times of unrest, challenge, and distress. We are not exempt from regular life or from suffering. Like other Christians, we place our hope in Christ and we struggle and we pray and we find a way to move on. I encourage you to consider doing a weekend or week retreat (depending on your time and work) just to regroup and ground yourself in your relationship with God. Spend time each day in quiet prayer, listening and occasionally talking to God. If there is a particular practice that you like — walking in the woods, writing in a journal, drawing — use that as a way to pray. Also there are some good scripture verses to pray with on page How to Become a Catholic Nun.

Blessings, Kyoko.
Sister Julie

]]> By: Kyoko http://anunslife.org/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/#comment-42624 Kyoko Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:08:48 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/#comment-42624 Hi Sister Julie, I have a question about the motivation to be a nun. I recently started going to a Catholic church and will be baptized soon. But I was not Christian before (I am now 27 year old) All the difficulties that I went through recently in my life made me turn to God as I understood no one is as trustworthy, powerful and loving as he is. My difficulties were my parent's divorce and a break up with a boyfriend I planned to marry. Now I feel that living in a monastery and dedicating my life to God is the only way to for me to live in peace. I have talked to some people about my situation, and they told me that I am trying to escape from this world I live in by going to the monastery. I have spoken to a nun today, and she said she got a calling when she was 18. so she told me i have to listen carefully for god's calling. Is it okay to turn to God after so much difficulties in life? or is it an escape? What can I do to listen to God more carefully? Do you find peace in monastery life? Kyoko Hi Sister Julie,

I have a question about the motivation to be a nun.
I recently started going to a Catholic church and will be baptized soon. But I was not Christian before (I am now 27 year old) All the difficulties that I went through recently in my life made me turn to God as I understood no one is as trustworthy, powerful and loving as he is.

My difficulties were my parent’s divorce and a break up with a boyfriend I planned to marry. Now I feel that living in a monastery and dedicating my life to God is the only way to for me to live in peace.

I have talked to some people about my situation, and they told me that I am trying to escape from this world I live in by going to the monastery.

I have spoken to a nun today, and she said she got a calling when she was 18. so she told me i have to listen carefully for god’s calling.

Is it okay to turn to God after so much difficulties in life? or is it an escape?
What can I do to listen to God more carefully? Do you find peace in monastery life?

Kyoko

]]> By: Sister Julie http://anunslife.org/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/#comment-40450 Sister Julie Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:20:28 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/#comment-40450 The simple answer is yes, nuns can change communities. However this is not an ordinary thing. First, it takes 5-7 years of formation and discernment to become a nun under permanent vows. So a person has plenty of time to see if the community "fits". Once she is well in the process, it's rare though possible that she'd switch because her community becomes like her family. But sometimes a nun finds that she is no longer in sync with her community and in that case she discerns with her community and may decide to take a leave of absence. During that time she might get to know other communities that she is more in sync with and then discern with them. Such a decision is never made lightly. The simple answer is yes, nuns can change communities. However this is not an ordinary thing. First, it takes 5-7 years of formation and discernment to become a nun under permanent vows. So a person has plenty of time to see if the community “fits”. Once she is well in the process, it’s rare though possible that she’d switch because her community becomes like her family. But sometimes a nun finds that she is no longer in sync with her community and in that case she discerns with her community and may decide to take a leave of absence. During that time she might get to know other communities that she is more in sync with and then discern with them. Such a decision is never made lightly.

]]> By: Ashley http://anunslife.org/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/#comment-39475 Ashley Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:06:15 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/12/14/what-motivates-a-person-to-become-a-nun/#comment-39475 Can a nun change communities after they have joined one and then later discover that another community fits them better? Can a nun change communities after they have joined one and then later discover that another community fits them better?

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