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How do I Become a Catholic Nun?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Becoming a Catholic nun is a lengthy process that requires both a “calling” to serve God, and also much time to consider one’s choice. There are numerous orders of nuns, each with different missions. Those who do not work in the outside world are more traditionally called a nun, while those who work outside of the convent, and are not cloistered are called a sister.

Since there are numerous orders, one should choose one that best fits with one’s ideals about how to serve God. Some women wish to be a nun to retire from the public arena and to serve God in a contemplative way. Other women wish to be active in the world. Some of the best known nuns are those with an extraordinary activist stance, like the deceased Mother Theresa, or Sister Helen Prejean who is a tireless advocate for abolishing the death penalty.

Some nuns work as educators in Catholic schools, or a nun might also work as a nurse in a Catholic hospital. Almost all nuns take a vow of poverty, so any earnings go toward maintaining a convent or supporting the mission of the order.

Many nuns choose to remained cloistered inside a convent.
Many nuns choose to remained cloistered inside a convent.

To become a nun, one must be Catholic, female, unmarried, and sane. Women who are not virgins can become a nun. Women who have been previously married and are divorced may not generally become a nun unless they have received a divorce or annulment from the Catholic Church. They must prove that the marriage was somehow invalid or contracted under false pretenses in order for an annulment to be granted.

A widowed woman may become a nun. Generally a nun must have raised any children under eighteen prior to taking vows, since these vows would supersede the care of her own children.

A woman must be Catholic, unmarried, and sane to become a nun.
A woman must be Catholic, unmarried, and sane to become a nun.

Some nuns are religious scholars, and for some orders it may be necessary to have a college education prior to joining an order. Especially if the order is either one that provides education to children or hospital nursing, one may need to train in these areas. Some nuns work as psychologists or doctors too, but an order that includes such a nun seldom requires all the others nuns to do the same.

Catholic nuns spend their time helping the poor and disadvantaged.
Catholic nuns spend their time helping the poor and disadvantaged.

Women who are interested in becoming a nun are encouraged to evaluate the different orders and to try living in a convent for some time while working in the outside world. Often living in a convent can help a woman decide whether serving God as a nun is really her chosen path. Women who choose not to be nuns are certainly not shamed for their decision. Most orders welcome people who take a while to make such a life-altering commitment.

Catholic nuns may spend time in impoverished communities providing aid and spiritual guidance.
Catholic nuns may spend time in impoverished communities providing aid and spiritual guidance.

When a woman decides after contemplation to pursue sisterhood, she may spend one to two years in a convent as a novice. After fulfilling her term as a novice, the woman can then take temporary vows of chastity and poverty. Final and permanent vows and full inclusion in the convent is made at the termination of the temporary vows. Any woman can leave the pursuit of sisterhood at any time. After permanent vows are made, leaving is frowned upon as akin to divorce.

While becoming a nun is still fulfilling to some, it is not as popular a vocation that it once was. Rising feminist concerns regarding the church often make some women feel that they are called to serve God in a priestly capacity. This is not allowed by the Catholic Church, and some women are not happy serving God in what they term a lesser and discriminatory post. This is not true of all nuns, or all who consider sisterhood. For many who choose to accept the calling, being a nun is a spiritually rewarding occupation, yet for some, it poses a barrier representing the vestiges of heretical discrimination against women.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent PracticalAdultInsights contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent PracticalAdultInsights contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon963366

I'm 13 years old and I go to a Dominican school. I really like the idea of becoming a nun, especially in the Order of Preachers (Dominic). I was wondering, at what age can I become a nun? And also, does it take time to become a nun? Because one of the teachers at my school said that it takes a year or so living with the Sisters and learning to preach and stuff. Is that true? I hope someone answers this in a somewhat descriptive way! May God bless you all -- Cecilia.

anon959952

What do I do to start the process if I want to become a nun? May God have mercy and lead someone to me. This I pray.

anon949124

I'm 45 years old and finished a second year college here in Philippines. I was a legionary during my youth days and after 25 years, I was called to become a legionary again.

Through this I have this feeling to enter the religious vocation. I'm single, have never been married and have no children. I am praying very hard for this feeling to become a nun is God's will. I felt this when I started to do the apostolate. I felt it was not enough. I want to serve Him more.

Kindly help me. At present I have worked as an officer in this company for almost 20 years. Are there congregations here in the Philippines? I already inquired of two convents here in Manila but they only accept women up to 35 years old. I need your help badly.

anon355835

I take issue with the use of the word "sane". Mentally ill folk are not necessarily insane or even disabled.

Seeing the attitudes of the church towards accepting those with very mild mental illness or mental illnesses with a very positive prognosis (for the purposes of service) is disheartening, and honestly borders on prejudice. I have known several with mental illnesses who have moved mountains for themselves and others and have had a positive impact on those around them in often profound ways, and have been told "the rigors of our life are certainly too much for someone with a cross as heavy as yours". Please.

agnusdei

@anon340079: Some orders will accept women who have annulments, but usually orders will only accept women who are widowed.

As for the food they eat, well, in my congregation -- the Sisters of the Lamb of God -- I had cinnamon raisin bread this morning that was donated to one of our communities from Panera, another sister had rice and another had Cheerios. There are some orders who do only eat what they catch, but this is the 21st century and there are practicalities to be considered like paying the guy to fix the a/c, purchasing CD-RWs, thumb drives and brochures for vocation events.

Many orders have stopped wearing the habit, but some still do, especially in the cloister. In my very limited experience (I am just a novice), I have found that all orders wear something that identifies each order, whether its a pin or a certain cross, or (in our case) a medallion of a lamb, and almost every fully professed sister I have met wears a wedding ring. It can be difficult to distinguish a sister or a nun by the way she looks, but it is her spirituality that lets you know that she is a sister or a nun.

May God be with you in all that you do.

agnusdei

@anon258452: We just had a woman in our congregation, the Sisters of the Lamb of God, who made her final vows last year at the age of 55 who is a convert. She always had the call to be a nun even when she was an inactive member of the Church of Christ. There are many priests in our area who are also converts. People who have converted to Catholicism bring such a richness to the faith that others cannot. You have much to offer and I pray that this is God's Will for you.

agnusdei

@anon271542: You always have freewill. If you suddenly change your mind, you suddenly change your mind. We answer the call of God and follow His Will, not ours.

agnusdei

@emmaagnes: People may be more cautious about letting teenagers enter convents because they are worried they will leave; unfortunately, this happens quite frequently. You sound like a young woman with a deep and true calling and that is a beautiful blessing, but perhaps God wants you to wait a little longer and spread your zeal for His love to others first.

agnusdei

@anon339017: I do not personally know how all orders feel about this, but many churches have support groups for women who have had abortions. If you are truly repentant for what you did and have made peace with God, it is something your direct superior should know about in terms of full disclosure, but is not necessary.

agnusdei

@aprilrose94: Depression or mental illness can be a stumbling block. All things are possible for God, and if being a nun is your calling, then He will certainly provide a conversion in your life that will allow you to overcome your depression. You sound like a very sincere young woman. Do not let your depression get in the way of your healing. Take heart in Mark 5.

agnusdei

For everyone who thinks they are too old or have a health problem and that automatically rules them out of religious life, I can absolutely tell you that is not true.

My congregation, the Sisters of the Lamb of God, was founded because a Jesuit priest looked around and saw that orders were not accepting women with clear vocations over the customary age of 30 or those with chronic illnesses or those who had simply been marginalized by society. We accept all who have the call to religious life because this is what fulfills the call to the Kingdom.

We had a sister who made her final vows last year at the age of 55 and another who will make her final vows in May at the age of 67. I am a 37-year-old novice with epilepsy. We have no set apostolate; you do what you love and what you are good at for the glory of God.

We have missions in Cameroon and Juarez, Mexico, and we are starting to partner with the Christian Appalachian Project in Eastern Kentucky, and we were founded in Brest, France.

May God Bless each of you in your discernment. I have found the most useful form of prayer is simply talking to God. Talk to God about your vocation. Be like Samuel, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

Pray and persevere. If one door closes it only means another one is going to open soon and the rewards behind that door will be even better than the door you thought you wanted open.

agnusdei

@anon261293: You have such vibrant opinions on what it is to be a nun, but I'm curious as to where you are getting some of your information. Perhaps someone has already cleared some of this up for you, but dowries are no longer required. Not all religious attend Mass every day; it simply isn't possible for some, and some probably just don't want to because they find Jesus in other places of their lives. For myself, I choose to go to daily Mass because I find a calm and peace that I don't find in other places and my goal is to carry that calm and peace with me throughout the day. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I have heard of orders that do leave their novices in a place and tell them to find their way back to the monastery as part of their formation. I don't know what relationship you have had with religious life that has drawn you to such conclusions, but you may want to look a little further into the history.

Men and women are called to this life by God and they freely choose this life by the freewill that God granted them.

agnusdei

@anon308973: The call to serve God is personal for each person. I recommend you watch the film "Bakhita" if you have not done so already. If you are meant for the religious life the Lord will show you the way in His time, you must be patient. If you convert to Catholicism, you will certainly have a great deal to offer your order if it is God's Will that this is the journey He wishes you to take. Whatever your call, you must persevere. Whenever things become difficult know that Jesus is behind you asking the question, "Can you do this for me?" Many blessings.

agnusdei

@anon294183: It is certainly possible to enter an order regardless of your health history. I am a 37-year-old novice with the Sisters of the Lamb of God in Owensboro, Kentucky. We were founded on the premise of accepting women over the customary age of 30, those who are healthy and those who have chronic illnesses, and those who have been marginalized by society.

We accept those who have a call to the religious life because that is the way the Kingdom of God is supposed to be. I have epilepsy, my formation directress is deaf with a cochlear implant and has severe vision problems, yet she was one of the best kindergarten teachers this city has ever seen. We have no set apostolate--you do what you love and what you are good at for the glory of God. May God bless you in your search.

amypollick

@anon340079: I'm not a nun or Catholic, but I do know a few sisters, so maybe I can give you some very basic information. I know you have to be a Catholic in good standing to join an order, and your priest can tell you what that entails and how to get in good standing, and what the status of your marriage is in the eyes of the Church. That's the first thing you will need to figure out.

You can look online for orders near your preferred areas. Just do a search. When you've cleared your Church standing with a priest, look for orders that appeal to you and accept women your age. Some orders will not accept women over 40. Then, contact the vocations director for more information. Many houses offer "Come and see" weekends where you can visit and see what their lives are like, and ask questions. Most orders have websites that will help you get an idea about who they are.

The first thing you need to do, though, is see a priest. He may even be able to offer ideas to help you discern your vocation and orders that might interest you. Good luck and God bless.

anon340079

I am 46, married, and not happy. We have a 27 year old daughter who, at the age of 13, made terrible false accusations, and we haven't seen or heard from her since. She is 27 now.

I have wanted to become a nun and to serve God, his loving son Jesus Christ in a cloistered order for many years now. Would I be able to get divorced (we weren't married in the church by a priest. We got married by a justice of the peace.) Am I legally wed under catholic law? Could I just walk away and be able to become a nun, and is there a cloistered order in or very near Colorado Springs or Wyoming that I could join?

Also, what type of foods do they eat? Do they eat just what they grow, catch, bake or do they get some foods and supplies like personal hygiene supplies from nearby stores? Who does the shopping and cooking? Who pays for the clothing, i.e., habits? What about personal grooming and hygiene supplies, etc.? What about what nuns wear and women need? And how many clothes do they need? Thank you for taking the time to read my all of my questions and I hope for a reply back. God bless.

anon339017

I am 24 and had an abortion at 19. Is it still possible for me to become a nun and who do I ask? Please help.

anon338100

I am a man. Can I become a nun?

anon336703

I am a 33 year old Hindu girl, and I want to become a nun.

anon334111

I am in my 40s and raised my son as a single parent. All my adult life, I have wanted to be a nun. I know priests personally who have not said anything regarding my ongoing desire to serve God as a nun, despite my first announcement at 16 or 17 years old when I first mentioned responding to a call, but these religious men stated that I would be wasting my life if I gave it all up.

Now I am in my late 40s and can't stand it anymore. I want the life God called me for. I did my duty and raised my son who is a wonderful man in his early 20s. Please help me. I have no money to give the church, but want to respond to my calling.

puritygirl83

I am 29 years old and unmarried. I have been a Catholic since I was 5 years old and I've been thinking of becoming a nun for last two years. But I had an abortion when i left church for a bit. Would anyone tell me if I'm still able to become a nun for rest of my life? Please reply.

anon321654

Investigate the Heralds of the Gospel! They are a fairly new religious order approved by Pope John Paul II in 2001. They are present in about 70 countries, and their feminine branch is called "Regina Virginum", Queen of Virgins. They accept even young teenagers -- with parents' approval -- and I will be joining the Heralds of the Gospel as soon as I finish high school. But they have schools all over the world, so you can start the religious life even if you haven't finished yet with your studies. They are truly a beautiful and grand religious order, and are made up mostly of young vocations.

anon308973

I am confused about whether God is really calling me to serve him. How do I find out the answer? I'm a 23 year old Hindu girl. I had my schooling and my master's from Christian minority institutions.

I would always love to read the Bible and go to churches to attend Mass. I had relationship and when it broke up, I seriously fell in love with Jesus. After that in my home, they started seeking a guy for me, but all the time this keeps sticking in my mind that I'm called here on earth to serve God. Even now I'm confused. Please help me to figure it out.

anon303744

I am a Christian and I want to become a nun. I am living in a village where I cannot find a place to join. Please suggest some places where I can become a nun. Are there any orders to join only in andhra pradesh?

anon303339

I am from Allahabad. I am a hindu girl. Is it possible to become a nun for a hindu girl. If so, please advise me to whom I need to contact in Allahabad.

anon297988

I'm a second year high school student in the Philippines, and I've wanted to be a nun since I was a kid, but the thing is, I don't know how to become a nun. I don't know which convent to enter. Can you please help me?

anon295798

I am 72 years old and have been in a civil "marriage" for 36 years. My first husband died a few years ago and I was made aware of my "living in sin" with my current husband since we were not married in the church. I have thought of becoming a nun for many, many years and wonder if it would be possible at my age and status.

anon294183

I am a 26 year old woman from India holding a masters degree. Recently, I underwent a shunt surgery after being diagnosed with hydrocephalus. Belonging to a Catholic family and attending a Catholic missionary school inspired me to think about joining a congregation. But given my medical condition, am I still eligible to become a nun?

anon292667

I'm 46 years old and I've been celibate for over 10 years. Can you help me in becoming a nun? Throughout my life, I've heard God's calling. Please help me find a a place that will take someone of my age. If God is calling me, should I be turned away? I am willing to go anywhere in the world to become a nun.

anon285275

I'm 51 years old and I've been divorced for 12 years. Can you help me in becoming a nun? Throughout my life, I've heard God's calling.

anon282919

I am 13 and would like to become a sister. I like the Dominican sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Am I too young to decide or should I wait a little until high school or college?

anon271542

I'd love to be a nun but what if I suddenly change my mind?

anon266155

I'm 16 and a couple weeks ago I suddenly got a calling to be a Nun/sister. But I have always had a very strong desire to have a family and now I feel so jealous of my sister because she's getting married and she's picking out saints names for her future kids.

And I know I really want to be a nun but I wish that God had called me before I made all these plans. Does anyone have an idea of why He calls us when He does?

anon263911

I'm a Hindu and studied in a catholic school. I would love to become a nun and serve.

aprilrose94

I'm 18 years old. I want to become a nun. I don't have a boyfriend, but I do smoke and drink a little when stressed but I'd have no issue in giving it up.

I do want to have a child but I could also give that wish up. I want to serve God. Does anyone know the procedure for joining a convent in Ireland? There's not much about it on the internet. I think I'll be able to finish high school just about and wouldn't mind training as a teacher or a nurse, but while being a novice though, I want to join as quickly as possible. One more thing: I suffer from chronic depression. Would that be a problem in joining? Or would convents accept someone with depression as long as it didn't get in the way of their daily duties? I've nearly found a medication that keeps me stable so I'm hoping it wouldn't be an issue. I really would love to join as quickly as I could because I feel like it's my calling!

I hope someone can reply to this message.

anon261293

A dowry is required to be a nun?

Since when did Jesus need to be paid off to 'marry' a female disciple? Seriously?

It's not God who wants to use you; it's the Catholic church and to boot, they want to keep you living like it's still the Dark Ages. They called them “dark” for a reason. It's because social oppression of a variety of flavors was perpetrated primarily due to the link between the Catholic Church and the royal families of that time. Women were chattel then and the Catholic church treats them like chattel now.

They're anti-choice for women and yet they do next to nothing to take all that money in the Vatican coffers (hey Padre, sell some art already! Or the gold, or the silver) and none of it can go to the adoption of these babies they insist be born? Or to families who would be willing to adopt them?

The Catholics are losing because sane people have your number. They carry on with double standards and hypocrisies and then hide behind the Cross in doing so. Very clever.

Have they ever thought maybe God doesn't like that and is going to ensure their sins find them out, dear church? That all of your thousands of years double standards and bigotries will come to light, to their shame?

Even now, they market to the illegal immigrants in America and, like the banks, will offer everything in Spanish too. Why? Because they need those tithe plates filled and they can't get that done without warm bodies and guilty minds sitting in the pews. Isn't that right?

Deny it. Deny it. Deny it. I'm waiting. I'm waiting for their usual posture: denial. "Oh no, not us..." Yeah, right.

Then you look at all the poor nuns and brothers and the suffering monasteries and cloisters and realize that the Holy See has trillions of dollars. Yet they expect these gullible servants to live hand to mouth, in the cold when it's cold, in the hot when it's hot, to have little food and they know that none of these will confront the Vatican with the truth: they live in luxury, surrounded by gold and marble and satin while their sisters and brothers suffer in poverty.

It's disgusting. How dare they offend God in this manner? How dare they suggest that suffering is a guarantee and that Christians are proving some spiritual worth by doing so?

They are children of God Himself. Do they think Him such a psychopath? Everything under the sun is God's. Why would He want those who recognize Him now and who represent Him to go about in rags and not have anything? It's absurd.

It makes me very, very angry that the church is turning to reason too slowly and lagging in obedience.

As for the issue of becoming a nun, be very careful. Think about the fact nearly all will tell you to

“attend mass every day” or some such advice. Why? They doubt your calling? How dare they? Or, is it that there is a greater chance of getting you to follow this whim if they can convince you face to face?

You do not need the Catholic Church to live a life unto Christ. I'm sorry sisters, but they simply don't and you know it. Many disciples of Christ have walked the path to and for Him totally alone. And they still do. The difference is it's not a path that escapists take to easily. If you want to figure out if a candidate is serious, stick them on a mountain by themselves for a year and wish them good luck. If they still want to be nuns after that and are still sane, terrific. But most won't want to and won't be. They'll have a manifesto and a hoodie on, more than likely.

Also, the true disciple of Christ has no audience to watch them and no guarantee of unity with anyone. Expect betrayal, even from professors of Christ.

Paying to become a nun or sister should be enough to stop a woman right in her tracks and go,"Whoa, wait a minute..." Jesus already owns everything. He doesn't need a dowry. I mean, really. Here's hoping your next pope has his head screwed on straight and holds a non-political council to abandon the bigotries and heresies the Catholic faith has absorbed for political reasons! You are not of this world anymore. You cannot play by its rules, and win.

emmaagnes

I am fifteen years old and have also recognized my calling to be a nun. One thing I have noticed about all of these posts: a lot of us are in our teens and have recognized this calling for years.

My question is this: why is there no place for those of us who feel strongly about our faith but are still "young" in the eyes of society to go? Why is there not a place to go learn and yet still serve the way we have been called to? Like studying the lives of saints, most were the ones who were fighting for and serving when they were our ages. The bible even says it, unless you become like a little child, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

He gave us this calling because we are the ones who will listen without questioning Him. I'm sorry to everyone who may have thought this was intended to bring down the rules of the Church, because it wasn't its purpose at all. I would just like to know why we aren't allowed to start our religious commitments until later?

anon258452

I have an interest in becoming a nun someday. I have had times when I feel it was a calling, especially as a young child. I've always loved Jesus so very much. I'm not sure how this is going to play out in my life yet but here I am at age 44 and I'm finally becoming confirmed. I just went to my first confession and today (Palm Sunday) I took my first communion. I plan on praying about it, of course.

Depending on how things go in my life, this may or may not happen, but my plan is to just listen to God speak to me during whatever time I have left here and if He calls me to move forward (even much later in life)then I will do so.

I don't care about material things. I've never cared about them. I know this sounds strange, but I don't mind being poor. I put no value in possessions really. I love people. I want them to be with God after they die. It's that simple and I'd like to be the Lord's maid-servant and fulfill any plan God has for my life. Thank you and may our Father lead and help each and every one of you as He reveals His will for your life. With love, best regards and prayers.

anon249995

I am a hindu. I am 25 years old. I want to become a nun. I want to live a peaceful life and want to help people. I want to know how to become a nun.

PrayforNuns

@Post 227: We’re praying for you! You could try contacting several Visitation Nun monasteries – most have no upper age limit, and since each monastery is independent, a “no” from one could still mean a “yes” from another. One close to you may be the Visitation in Snellville, GA.

Also, the Carmelites in Savannah, GA at Our Lady of Confidence Monastery prayerfully consider older vocations on an individual basis. If this is your first time making vocation calls, be prepared for very direct questions (don’t take them personally) such as, "How old are you?," "have you ever been divorced?", "how did you discern God might be calling you to our order versus other orders?", "are you working with your priest now to discern your vocation?" You can also contact your diocese main office for other vocation options in your area.

PrayforNuns

@Post 226: While you're never "too young" to pray about what God wants you to do with your life, you have to keep a few things in mind.

First, if the law says you're too young to be responsible for yourself, you probably need your parents' consent before visiting or joining a religious order.

Second, although Church law doesn't set a minimum or maximum age for joining a religious order, Church law does say a person can't be a novice if they haven't "yet completed the seventeenth year of age..." Third, since postulancy comes before the novitiate, it is possible for you to visit and seriously consider becoming a nun before you are 17, but remember that each order may have minimum age requirements, and some will tell you that you have to be at least 16 or 17 years old, and in "active discernment" before they’ll allow you to visit.

I encourage you to talk with your parish priest about all this. You are in our prayers!

soloally

I am 61 years young and have had a strong calling to becoming a Sister(nun). Are there any orders that take women my age? I am single. My only child is married and she is 42 years old. I live in Florida.

anon240492

I am a young teenager. Am I too young to decide to join the convent? I've never had a boyfriend or anything, and I feel like God is calling me to become a nun. One more question, how old do you have to be to become a nun, 18 or 21?

anon225673

Having never been part of the Catholic religion, could one convert if they had the desire to become a nun? Also, if the lady in question had been married before, but her husband had helped to conceive a child with another woman while they were married, would that make it impossible for her to become a nun?

If not, are there any other religious orders that accept females and live a monastic lifestyle that you know of? Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my question.

amypollick

@ps17: Please see post no. 216 about Hindu women becoming nuns.

As for your job, well, if you join an active order, the sisters might be able to use your skills, or you might find some way to use it in a part time capacity, to help others. However, you would have to leave your job as it is now. Your work would be for the order your joined.

I know a woman who is an attorney (or solicitor). She is a nun, and works in the public defender's office, helping people who cannot pay to hire a solicitor. But she does this in service to God, since she is helping people.

I think you need to seriously consider whether you are ready to change your entire lifestyle, including your religion and your profession, to be a nun. I'm not trying to discourage you -- far from it -- but I get the impression that you and other Hindu women who have posted here are not completely understanding what it means to become a Catholic nun. You will not be Hindu any longer. You will follow another faith entirely.

However, as the person in no. 216 said, I will certainly be praying for you, and pray that this means God is calling you to follow Him.

ps17

i am an Indian. if it is possible for me, then please help me. Who should i contact and what do i have to do to give myself to God. thank you.

ps17

i am 22 year old and am Hindu. I want to know that is it possible for me to become a nun as i am Hindu.

i am unmarried. i am studying in B.Tech final year

and i also want to know that if someone working as an engineer with any company if it is possible for her to become a nun without leaving her job.

anon212937

I have a relatively good life, and I have a great boyfriend who is there for me and a loving family and a job and I am still young, but ever since I saw a documentary about nuns, I have had this urge of becoming one. Even though I am not catholic I believe that we have the same God and when it comes to worshiping him and doing all that he wanted us to do, it does not matter which religion, culture, ethnic group or part of the world were you come from -- we are all his children, and no matter what we call him, we believe in one God.

So I have decided that I want to be a nun and start a life that God has wanted me to live. So if you know where I can go around Pretoria, please tell me so that I can follow my destiny.

PrayforNuns

@post 218: That's great! Since becoming a nun involves prayerfully making several personal decisions over a period of time, the best way to begin is to do these three things today: 1) Pray to God, telling Him about her desire; 2) Call her parish office and leave a message for her priest, telling him she wants to become a nun and asking for help with next steps (she can mention this to him this weekend after Mass); and 3) Call the diocese office and ask to speak to the person who handles vocations for women (that’s the vocations director, who is experienced in helping women become nuns), and leave a message requesting a time to meet or talk about discerning a call to the religious life (if she doesn’t know the number to the diocese, she can call her parish office and find out).

It helps to work with both the diocesan vocations director, who will have a lot of contacts with nuns and sisters both inside and outside the diocese; plus, her pastor has to be aware, as part of the process involves having a recommendation from her pastor and/or spiritual director who knows about her discernment. These people will help her with discernment and spiritual direction, help her recognize the gifts God has given her and which religious orders would be a fit for how she desires to serve God, or arrange a visit to a convent, etc. We’re praying for her!

anon206115

one of my friends wants to become a nun. Somebody tell me the procedure.

PrayforNuns

@post 194: The amount of education needed to become a nun or sister depends on the religious order, based on how they serve. For instance, orders where the sisters are teachers or nurses usually require a college degree or certification that would allow you to fulfill that role, or a little bit of college to show you have the capability to handle a higher learning situation, if you pursue an education within the order. Other orders don’t require a college education upon entrance, but have a plan that helps you eventually get the education needed to fulfill the role of service the order provides. Still others, often the contemplative orders, don’t require college, but do expect completion of high school.

Most orders have a “vocations” webpage that lists their entrance requirements, including education. God bless you!

Cssml

For Dolly (post 201) and other Hindus, welcome! To become a Catholic nun, you first have to embrace only the Christian God and become Catholic, because Catholic nuns and sisters make a commitment to love and serve the One Christian God in three persons (God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit), according to the tenants of the Catholic faith. If you want to learn more, I invite you to stop by, call, or email any Catholic Church or organization in your area or speak to any Catholics you know.

You may also want to read about Sister Nirmala, a friend of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the famous nun who started the Missionaries of Charity, whose nuns and sisters wear the white sari habit with blue stripes and help the poor around the world.

Sister Nirmala was a Hindu until her mid-twenties, when she heard of Mother Theresa’s work among the poor and wanted to follow her example. It turned out her desire to serve was the Christian God calling her to come to follow Him.

Sister Nirmala talked to Catholics who told her about Jesus Christ, and she decided to love and follow Jesus and so converted from Hinduism to Catholicism. Now Sister Nirmala follows in Mother Theresa’s footsteps, serving and loving only the Christian God, and is the worldwide head of the Missionaries of Charity.

Since you’re on a site about becoming a “Catholic” nun (versus another kind), it may be a sign the Christian God is calling to you too. We’ll pray for you.

anon191763

To post 204: By completing high school at age 17, you’re not neglecting God’s call to be a nun, but instead showing you value the free gift He’s given you of an education, that you value the virtue of perseverance and have the ability to follow through on a commitment – all good traits for becoming a nun. And most convents require you to be at least 18 (of legal age) to enter, so completing high school is a good use of your time.

A nun tries her best to be a good steward of the gifts God gives her, including intellect and reasoning, which are sharpened by an education. Regardless of how a nun serves, education helps her, and she continues to learn in the convent through talks, classes, and retreats, to better serve God, pray, and help others. Please consider talking to your parents, priest, or a nun at the convent you’re interested in, before you decide to quit high school. Peace and prayers.

anon191505

@ Post 196: You may enjoy reading about St. Francis and the Franciscans and his friend, St. Clare, who started a religious order of nuns called the Poor Clares. Franciscans and Poor Clares are known for their love of animals, and that’s why you sometimes see a statue of St. Francis in a garden even if the people aren’t Catholic. In the Poor Clare convents, the nuns always have a few dogs or cats as pets.

Since you have to be 18 to consider joining most convents or begin veterinary school, you have a few years yet to talk to God, your parents and your religion teacher about how to know what God wants you to do when you grow up, but we'll pray for you.

PrayforNuns

Dear Mai (anon190646 - Post 212): Christ’s peace to you. It sounds like you have a heart that desires to love and serve God, as well as your neighbor by using your skills in nursing to care for patients. What a wonderful way to fulfill the two great commandments that Jesus spoke of. In the religious life, you can do both. There are religious sisters who work in hospitals, nursing homes, and care for the sick – they aren’t doing it for the money – it’s because they want to live out Jesus’ words, “I was sick and you cared for me” (Matthew 25:36). To find out if God is calling you to serve Him as a sister, I encourage you to be sure you’re doing those things that help you hear God’s leading, such as attending Mass and confession regularly; and spending time in prayer with God daily. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, and He will give you peace, and show you which path He desires you to take.

You can also ask your local parish priest or diocese vocation director for help in discerning a call to the religious life. They can help you with questions, tell you about religious orders in your area, and help you arrange a vocations visit (that’s when you spend a few days with the sisters to pray and serve with them and see what their life is like). If you don’t know how to contact the diocese vocation director, contact your local Catholic Church, and they should be able to find this information for you.

Last, you can contact religious communities directly if you prefer – to help you get started, here are the names of some religious orders that work in various fields of health care: 1) Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, serving in 13 countries; 2) Sisters of St. John the Baptist, serving in 14 countries); 3) the Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm, in the US and Ireland; Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, serving in the US, Belize, Botswana, India, and Nepal. God bless you.

anon190646

My name is mai. One of my happiest moments was passing the board exam for nurses. But after that, I wasn't really happy. Because after all, what I was up to was to impress my parents. I forgot what is all about serving God, especially nowadays. Nursing has become all about money. I hate everyone's expectations. I feel so guilty and confused because while volunteering in a hospital, I am more worried that the doctor might scold me if I make some mistakes rather than worrying about my patients. I'm starting to regret why I took this course.

I thought of becoming a nun, because somehow through this vocation, it will help me understand how to serve God and will bring me closer to him. I wish someone would comment about this because I can't focus anymore.

PrayforNuns

To Anon168815 (Post 189) and others over age 35: Take heart, it is never too late to serve God – the Catholic Church affirms you were created to know, love and serve the living God. The question, rather, is how He is calling you to serve. First, pray daily, and faithfully attend Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation. This will help put you in the right place spiritually so that when God speaks to you with His direction, you’re better able to understand Him.

Second, if you believe God is calling you to the religious life, then begin researching religious communities that consider “belated vocations”. The research process can be time consuming, as unfortunately, there is no master list or spreadsheet that you can sort through to help you focus your search and that lists the thousands of communities worldwide by charism, entrance requirements, etc. But here are some resources to help you begin your online search: 1) Institute on Religious Life (primarily in North America) –a resource listing many female religious orders, and includes entrance age information. 2) The Visitation Order (Visitandines) who are worldwide, and welcome belated inquiries – they were established by 2 saints: Francis de Sales and Jane Chantal; 3) The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Washington, DC (their main call is prayer and Eucharistic Adoration, and they accept inquires through age 50). 4) The Cloistered Dominicans at Menlo Park, CA and they accept inquiries from belated vocations.

Last, remember that every religious order started somewhere with just a handful of people, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and the approval of the Church -- and various periods in history have seen an influx of new communities which help renewal in the Church. We seem to be in just such a time. Here is a new community to consider, that has been established with the permission and support of the local Bishop: The Daughters of Divine Hope in Tyler, TX. Their vocation is to pray and provide practical support to those in Holy Orders. Dear Sisters in Christ, be assured of God’s love for you, and remember, when God calls you to serve Him, He does not call empty-handed.

anon186946

Sin isn't something permanent, like a character trait; it's an act against God. God forgives you of sin and will always love you, no matter what. Accept that you're not perfect, nobody is, but can still do the work of God. Don't be afraid. And your mother probably just wants what she thinks is best for you and what would make you happy, but don't let her choose your life for you.

If you're serious about this vocation then pray for guidance and try talking to a religious person, like a sister or priest. They might be able to help you determine your vocation, whether it's to be a sister or not. Don't worry. You're not alone.

anon186198

I am 18, a Roman Catholic and have considered becoming a sister, to serve God for the rest of my life and stay committed to the Church.

But every time I mention this to my family it is very frowned upon. My mother is always pushing me to get married instead and how she wants to see grandchildren in the future.

I feel that my life would mean so much more if I was married to God. Is it strange to feel fear of getting married to another?

I've never been in a relationship but I fear that if I ever did decide to get married, I would not be able to be a good wife or a good mother.

Being a sister would be so much more rewarding and peaceful. I have always been a calm and collected person who enjoys going to church and feels safe inside its walls. It is only when I leave do I feel fear and sadness.

But then again, I sometimes feel unworthy to serve God for I am not without sin. If I cannot deal with my sins now, can I become better if I join the convent? I don't know, there is always this doubt within me.

I'm sorry if this is long. I just needed to let my thoughts out!

anon186181

There's always hope. I think you should quit drinking and smoking first, though, just to clear your mind. If it's still something you really want to do after that, then go for it.

And hey, Dr. Phil down there, number 205, stop stereotyping and making negative remarks about women wanting to become a nun. It's not weak or cowardly to answer a calling to sisterhood. It's not running away from problems; everyone has problems.

But you can make your life better by answering your calling, and if becoming a nun is truly your calling, then go for it. The only one stopping you is yourself. I'm 17 and want to be a Carmelite, so if you feel called I advise you pay attention to what your heart is telling you to do, and don't listen to Dr. Phils.

anon185894

I'm 19, I smoke, drink and put it about way too much, but I would love to become a nun. is there hope for me yet?

anon181377

It seems to me that a lot of women just can't take the rejection or the bitter side of men so they think they don't want love or get married.

And women, instead of trying to solve their problems or making a difference in their lives by doing new things, they just want to run away and hide among other people.

Also, instead of finding new ways to experiment and make their present situation work, they think they can just give everything all up, for whose sake?

anon181041

I am 17 years old, just finishing junior year, and I have felt strongly called to become a nun for at least a year. I am one of the top of my class and everyone expects me to become a doctor or a lawyer, but I want to be a nun. That must sound crazy to someone not actively practicing religion, but I think the users of this website will understand.

Anyway, I've been trying to get into a community for some time, but no one is taking me seriously because I'm 17. They think I need help! Is it so wrong for a young person to want to give up their life to God? I am quitting high school, whether I get accepted to a community or not, and going to give my life to God. I feel so self-centered living my high school life because it's always about me, studying, working, all for myself. I want to live for God, and I know He wants me to, too. Every second for Him, and I also want to help out my brothers and sisters when I can, but I can't do that while I'm in high school. What am I supposed to do?

Thank you for listening, and I will pray for the people on this website. Don't worry, I'm sure there's some sense in all of this.

anon177651

Many convents of age limits of 17 or 18 to 35. There are some who will decide on older inquires on a individual basis. Also, check out the Daughters of Divine Hope, a new community who will be welcoming widows and older applicants someday soon.

anon177637

To post 191 (anon169840): You can join the Dominican sisters of St. Cecilia or the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Both orders teach and both orders are set up so you can go to college while going through the Novitiate for your teaching requirements.

anon176500

I want to became a nun, but i belong to a hindu family, not a christian family, so please tell me how can i do this. --Dolly

anon175585

i am 21 years old and I want to become a nun. I feel happy that some of the people are like me.

irussel01

Hello anon 78174 (post 106) there is a place in cebu where you can go to inquire about religious life. The Sisters are in Lahug, Cebu City. God be with you.

anon175532

If you are discerning religious life as a "Sister" I invite you to visit the website of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM Sisters). The RVM is an active order of nuns with missions in many different countries.

anon173575

I have been wanting to become a nun for a year now, but i am only 11 years old. On one side of my family everyone is Catholic (mom's), and dad's side are all preachers in the Christian faith.

I know why God created me on this earth, but I love animals and want to become a vet when i am older. I have talked to my religion teacher at school, and she told me i could probably do both, because there are monks who take care of animals and nuns who are nurses.

She told me that I would just have to put the two together and become the first vet and nun. I would like to know other people's comments.

anon171393

I am 26 years old. I don't have any positive attitude towards life. I have never been loved by anyone in this whole world, and i look very ugly.

Once i tried to end up my life. I always try to be happy but i failed to do that.

I want to spend my life by praising god and serving people, to spread love and peace until the end of my life. please help me.

anon171377

I have one question. I am 19 and i am beginning college and i know i have a calling to serve god. But do i need a college degree to become a nun? I am dedicated to serve him and i want to go to the convent, but why do i need a college degree? Please help answer. thank you.

anon171358

I am 26 years old and just almost finished my first year of law school. Before law school I spent a year doing missionary/volunteer work and living with nuns. I have always contemplated being a nun because I love God and I want to simplify my life and make my focus on God and service and love. I have only had one romantic relationship but I was constantly confused and frustrated and feeling hurt because I feel that romantic love must be at least partially selfish. You love the other person for what they can do for you, and they love you because you are beautiful or whatever the case may be.

The thing is, I thought I could help people doing law. Maybe I can but I also feel that the world is so selfish; law students are so competitive. I want to get away from it all but I don't feel that escaping is a valid reason for becoming a nun--it seems to be a selfish and self-serving reason. I only hope that I can do God's will and serve Him.

It breaks my heart to read all the posts here because so many people want to do good and feel so empty. I will pray for all of you. Will you pray for me?

anon170291

if women want to serve the society, it's not necessary that they should become nuns only. even by leading a normal family life, they can do wonders for the betterment of the society.

anon169840

I am 15 years old and have felt a strong calling since i was in the fourth grade. I know exactly what I want to be. I want to be a Dominican Sister and a teacher. I just can't wait any longer! I need to be with God 24/7, and I feel like if I wait to long other things may come in the way of me pursuing my call.

I go to an all girls Catholic high school and I am a very devoted Catholic. Every time I walk in a church/chapel I feel such comfort and love that I can just spend hours sitting in the arms of God. I just know this is the life for me. Is there any way I can start before college?

anon168815

I became catholic 2 years ago. I am 49 years old and never married. I am changing in my views of the world. I desire more and more to find out how God wants me to live. My life is really very empty.

I have worked very hard all my adult life in a job

but realize now I made a terrible mistake. I have no education, just a desire to help other nuns and the church. I don't know what I could to but would love working in the kitchen or gardening. Is it too late for me? Then I'll just have to be happy being a very regretful catholic? How can you be sure if this is what God wants? All I do is work my job and read the bible. I cannot stand t.v. anymore or shopping or money. I just want to be close to God all the time now. It's painful. Any advice?

anon167630

I am very frustrated in my life and don't want to live anymore in this selfish world.

i don't want to live but i can't die because i love my parents and want to give up everything and want to spend my life by serving God and serving people.

So please assist me how to be separated from the selfish world and spend the rest of my life serving God.

I am a 26 year old unmarried hindu girl. i want to be a nun serving God. Please help me and please give me a positive response for this.

anon166106

@Post 137 - Hindu girl believe me if you die by killing yourself you will never go anywhere close to God to be able to ask Him any questions. Taking a life (even your own) is murder, and murder, according to God's Word is a sin, and all sinners go to hell.

Jesus is the only way, the truth and life and it is only through Him (Jesus) and not through any church, pastor or saint (as per Sister Rose's comment)that we go to God and are accepted by God. It is only by Jesus Christ that our sins are forgiven, and not by any of our good works. We are saved by grace alone, and which no one deserves not even the popes, bishops etc. We need to realize that we are sinners who need forgiveness from God by His Son Jesus Christ who died to pardon our sins.

anon165228

praise the lord. this is really a good work which makes people know about the life of a nun. really good work. i am a Christian. i also want to become a nun. pray for me, too. I am waiting for the second coming of Christ. --Rachel

anon164872

I came to this website looking for information about becoming a nun. Like some of the women posting, I have experienced heartbreak in my life as well. It seems like being a nun would be a perfect way to "escape" ever being hurt again. I think that is what some of us are looking for.

Before we decide to become nuns or do anything else to “escape,” we must turn to God. We have to give our situation, our hurt and pain to God. He will heal us in time. He can use that painful situation for our good and to help others. Perhaps if we hadn't gone through those painful situations we may not have heard God calling us. We have to forgive the one(s) who have hurt us and we have to be willing to seek forgiveness. We have to be willing to admit our own sin against God, being out of His will and repent. See Acts 3:19-20. In my case, the pain came from being involved in a sexual relationship with someone I was not married to. Then I found myself pregnant with my first child and later miscarried. He walked out a couple weeks after. See Romans 6:1-23

When God calls us into a relationship with Him and we give Him our hearts and lifestyles and accept Him as our savior, He uses us, right where we are. At other times He does send us to other places. But if you desire to serve, start right there in your own backyard. Serve your neighbor, your friends, volunteer to give the single mother with three kids a few hours of rest by babysitting for free, buy the homeless man on the corner a sandwich and tell him that it’s from God and that God loves Him. Take a moment to tell others what God has done for you, get involved in activities at your local church, go on a mission trip. God gave you gifts and desires to serve in His name-whether it’s running, singing, being a wife, being a doctor, etc.-who do you think gave them to you?

If you haven’t accepted God as your personal savior, that should be your first step. See John 3:16, and 2 Corinthians 5:20-21. Next, pray. Talk to God. He desires to have an intimate relationship with you. Ask Him what He wants you to do with the life He gave you. Then be quiet and still and listen to what God has to say.

Read the Bible -- God's word. It is the instruction book we are to live by. It tells us how we are to live our lives everyday. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live out God’s word. Remember we need to give over our lives and lifestyles. See Colossians 3:1-17 and Ephesians 4:22-32. Also Hosea 6:8.

If you have truly sought God and He has told you to become a nun, then be obedient. Otherwise, just live your life for Him right where you are.

Also see Ephesians 1:17. This is my prayer for you and that you will continue to walk in His ways.

anon164085

I'm 30 years old, and I want to be a nun. Before, i keep on denying to myself that this the life that I wanted because I want to have my own family someday. But why I have this feeling that I will be only happy if I will enter into the convent.

I suffered a lot of pain in life. There are times when I don't want to wake up in the morning. And now I realize that i will have a peace of mind only if I serve God full time. And that means becoming a nun. Please help me, where i will start to become a nun?

anon163254

I've always wanted to serve God. I'm 19 now, and I've had one relationship with a boy. I found it unfulfilling, because he couldn't walk the path of Christ with me. I don't want to be a nun because i don't want to be enclosed in a silent room. I want to help people. I want to show God to the sad, the hopeless, but i don't want to be enclosed in a room. I want to help the non believers, and especially the depressed, because I've been there, and God saved me!

anon161678

I am married with four kids from previous relationships. My husband is a nice man, but is hooked on watching porn, and i always catch him looking at other girls.

I want to get away from all this drama. I am feeling so lost and don't know what to do. Sometimes I think of becoming a nun, but still like I said, I feel lost. Please pray for me. I really need someone to talk to.

anon158661

I'm sheila, 18 years old. I want to be a nun but not now. I still have responsibilities to my parents and would like to save some money first for them before doing what i really wanted to do. My question is: is there an age limit for becoming a nun?

anon155660

I am hindu lady 29 yrs old and in my past i had relations with boy friend and now we break up and i have no desires to be linked with the living world. i want to become a nun and serve god and needy people.

i am having responsibility of my mother and brother who is mentally unbalances. at this moment of time i cannot devote 100 percent to god so after all my responsibility is over and i will be alive i want to do this. can i be catholic at any age or point?

anon155038

we are looking for teaching sisters for our traditional Catholic community, Sisters of St. Clement.

Our lady immaculate, pray for us. May the peace, love, and blessing of God the Father almighty descend upon us and remain with us always.

anon154203

Greetings to all. I have been reading the ladies' comments and I pray that God will speak to our hearts and bless us to be good servants- Salome L.

anon152183

I want to be a nun but not now. I still have responsibilities to my parents and would like to save some money first for them before doing what i really wanted to do. My question is, is there an age limit to become a nun? will they still accept me if I enter in my 40s?

anon151788

I am a 14 year old girl. I believe I have had the calling because (i no this sounds crazy) The virgin mary came to me in a dream and told me I should become a nun. I do want to but i also love the idea of getting married. what should i do?

anon151254

My name is Ewuso Francisca. I was born in 1987. My dad is a practicing catholic but my mum is not.

I had the zeal of becoming a nun when i was young. My dad said i should have my degree and if the zeal is still there I could apply to any congregation i want.

I am a Catholic, a member of St. Anthony 's Catholic Church and am a fresh graduate of Tai Solarin University of Education, where I studied geography and environmental management. I want to go into religious life. God bless you. Hoping to hear from you.

anon150391

Dear anon #147001 ("Post" #161): I read your post and I felt compelled to write to you, with regard to your pending marriage vows. I do not know when you wrote this, but if you have not gotten married yet, I implore you to go get some counseling at the Church and to talk to some nuns, or sisters, if possible. In addition, now is the time for quiet prayer.

Remain in silence, regarding this topic matter, as far as your family and friends are concerned. They will definitely detour you and persuade you to continue with your plans. Unfortunately, this leads to a great deal of confusion, indecisive feelings, animosity, pain and fear, due the the uncertainty of your future path. This is time to rely on your faith in the Lord, and quietly pray to Him for His guidance, for strength, wisdom and understanding. Enjoy your experience, while exploring your feelings about Him, with Him, and only Him. Have that closeness you long for, in order to draw strength for guiding you in the right direction.

Do not live your life in regrets. Make wise choices and do not waste your life on "what if," because the pain will stay within your heart and you may not have a second chance to serve the Lord, if you succumb to a life without Him, whether it's through marriage, or not.

God bless. Peace be with you!

anon150163

I'm kamini, a single hindu girl ifrommalaysia.com currently pursuing my diploma in accountancy and i will be turning 25 this year and i feel this is the right time for me to serve god and be peaceful. i need to know am i eligible for it. thanks.

anon150033

I have always thought this was a noble cause. When my daughter is raised I will become a nun. Until that time I'm going to get a degree in religious study. I always felt this was for me. I do paintings and I feel I can offer my art to God as well as my life.

If my friends heard me say that they would tell me to shut up!

anon147878

I am praying for everyone who wants to become a nun or pursue some sort of religious life. It is so comforting to know that there are people who are putting others and a higher calling before themselves. God bless you all.

anon147001

I am a Catholic girl. I have always wanted to become a nun, but I used to be afraid of not being perfect enough and strong enough in the spirit to do it. But these days I feel the calling and desire to serve the God quite often. I have a boyfriend of a different religion and I am afraid to break his heart, too. Because the relationship is serious and we will be married soon. Please pray for me.

anon144544

I'm 48 years old and have a 24 year old son. And i would like to become a nun now. I love god from my heart and do all that i can do to serve him. I'm a very private person. I want to say whatever it is, whatever it is, I'm going to serve god. amen

anon139218

It is good to be a nun and to serve humanity if you feel to do so. It is not a good idea to become a nun because of social problems that exist in every culture and religion. It is not an escape route from problems, but if you really desire to do so there are jain institutes in hindus too where a girl can give up worldly life and spend her life in service of God and humanity. However, they are not so popular because in India most of the girls get married and do not even divorce. This too, is service to humanity as hindu girls are able to respect marriage and keep the society clean and give their children complete security in life.

amypollick

@All Hindu girls: Please see my previous post, no. 81. That should help answer many of your questions.

However, I would like to repeat one point: If you wish to become a Catholic nun, you *must* become a Catholic. This means leaving behind your Hindu faith and converting to Christianity. You will *not* be a Hindu any longer. You will be a Christian. You will no longer visit Hindu temples or make offerings there. You can't be a Hindu in your heart and a Christian in name. It doesn't work that way. O.K.?

For my other comments, see post no. 81. Good luck.

anon136321

I am 26 years old. I am Hindu. can I become a nun. I don't want to get married. I want to spend my entire life in helping others. Please help me.

anon135724

I am 24 years old. I am a hindu girl. i want to be a nun. please help me.

anon135643

I'm 24 years old Polish young lady I've seen things and hear things that are very unusual to me at first, the first time i heard voices when i was 13 years and it continued to this day. When i was almost 16 i saw a blue light in my room in the springtime. I dreamt of what looked like a cross!

Then when i turned 24 years old; the virgin mary appeared to me on my right leg pure solid! What does this mean? It took about three seconds or so to look at her and vanished? I mostly hear things but now not as much as i did when i was a teenager.

The other was when my friend took a photo of me, and it appeared to be an angels dressed as an suit of armor could this be saint michael, maybe?

The third one is that whenever i pray the rosary especially at night my hands turns deeply red and without my hands turns red too! What could this mean? Please help me answer to this question!

anon133953

I am hindu, 25 year old girl, and really frustrated with this selfish world.

Kindly help me to become a nun. When i was small i always considered myself as different. i don't know why and then i fall in love also, but again cannot find peace in the human love. all pretends to be so nice, but the selfishness continues. Please someone help me in becoming a nun. Please.

anon130133

i am a 21 year old hindu girl. i have become frustrated because of my parents and my life. now i want to lead a cool and calm life devoting myself to the sake of humanity, if you can help me out regarding this.

anon127843

Mother Teresa was not a nun. She was a religious sister- it's a different thing.

anon126829

I am 41 years old single from philippines. am ofw {overseas contract worker} helping my family. sometimes I am not happy with life. I feel lonely, and something is missing i don't understand. I am planning to become a nun in order to serve but am worried because of my age. Please pray for me. thanks.

anon123437

I am a hindu girl and i want to become a nun. can you tell me please how can i be? I am eagerly want to do the service of mankind. I want to dedicate all my life at the feet of god and want to serve the people.

anon121323

i am a filipino woman 29 years old. my boyfriend and i have been living together for nine years now. during our ninth year our relationship was rocked by the biggest trial we could ever have.

i thought we were really happy. those long years have been a happy years but in the ninth year i noticed my boyfriend is not the same anymore.

i went to a far place but came back after two weeks. he visited me when i came back home to attend my sick mother. but after three meetings, we haven't seen each other for two months.

After two months he told me everything -- that he impregnated someone. he is telling me that he loves me and is sorry for everything and that he never wanted this woman but she bears his child.

i made a quick decision to be with him in a far place.

he left the woman but after several weeks of being away, i felt that something was wrong with him. he told me that he's thinking about the child and that he's dreaming about it. i am suffering now because even if he says that he loves me I'm afraid that when he comes back to see his child I'm afraid that he would leave me for them.

i don't want to go home to my parents because they thought i married this man but we were yet to be married next month.

I'm thinking of becoming a sister and devoting myself to the lord so i wouldn't feel this selfishness that I'm feeling right now. i want him but i still feel it's wrong even if he's saying that he wants us to get married.

Please help me decide. where do i go if i want to be a nun?

anon116171

i m 20 year unmarried hindu girl. i want to become a nun. i want to dedicate my whole life to god. Please help me out.

anon115766

I am 32 years old Christian married girl, and am recently married but i am able to understand my husband does not love me. He has somebody else in his life. It's OK i accepted it's life but if i live with my older parents they will die seeing me divorced. So i want to run away from this relationship.

I am an engineer by profession and I want to know does anyone require me on earth? If yes then i will spend my life in helping him. If i am not required on earth i am deciding to end my life.

anon114507

I am interested in becoming a nun in Chicago, IL. Do they have places open for me? Or where can i find one and start praying to the Lord. Please respond, someone. Love.

Lucia Mejia

I went to a retreat. it was my second one, and well, it was such a good feeling. I'm home now and miss the whole feeling of being connected to god, and i think to myself that if i know there's a heaven, why don't i just be a servant to god, or be his arrow in his hands and have my place in heaven with him. but here comes i don't know if i can commit myself. i need advice and prayers.

anon109994

I am 26 years old and married for past two and a half years. I have a five month old son. I want to leave my husband but I don't wish to go to my parents and trouble their lives. I want to dedicate the rest of my life by doing something good and worthwhile.

anon108790

I am 26, newly married, and now I realize I made a terrible mistake. I don't know why I didn't become a nun instead. I am Catholic and always felt the calling, but I never answered. I wanted children, so I got married. But now it is so clear that I should never have done so. Please pray for me.

anon106269

I am a hindu and i want to be a Catholic nun. is it possible. I don't want to live in this world. Please help me or else i will die.

anon104431

I will be sixty years old in February of 2011. I am a Christian minister's oldest daughter who was very affiliated with several Catholic priests and nuns. My father was also a civil rights activist prior to his death in 2008.

Now that my own two children are married and raising children of their own, I find that my spiritual calling is to be closer to God, Mother Mary and Jesus Christ. I would like more details about becoming a nun at my age and working in the field I have experience in: that of medical missionary and poverty work.

I have almost completed a degree in Anthropology after having been a nurse for twenty-one years and after having built several businesses of my own. I prefer not to have material ownership and want to walk a spiritual path. Please feel free to contact me through this web site. Call me, the chandler.

anon104162

I am a 53 year old indian and I am a married woman, all but in name, my husband and I don't even talk anymore and I am finding it very very difficult living under the same roof as him. The problem I have is my daughter is only 14 so I cannot abandon her.

Please help in my quest for peace. Due to financial constraints I am unable to take my daughter with me if I contemplate leaving. Please help me and give me some guidance.

anon103818

I'm 18 and headed off to college soon. I'm not sure what career I want to pursue. I'm Catholic and have attended church weekly all my life. Lately, I've felt like there's got to be something more to my life, and in this day in age I feel like I don't fit into this time period. I've always considered life as a sister. I'm confused. Please, I need prayers.

anon101337

I'm 18 years old and I feel God around me all the time. I came close to death two times and I believe so strongly that I am connected to God. It's a great feeling and I love helping people. I'm a Roman Catholic and receive baptism, communion, and confirmation. I do not see myself married in the future. Please pray for me.

anon101222

Growing up, I lived a very spiritual life until I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This caused me to feel extremely isolated; my relationship with God fluctuated a lot.

One night, after much prayer and reflection, He answered me with a revelation that feels life-changing. I want to serve Him, but would my mental health diagnosis prevent my serving as a sister? I want to help others like me, through Him, but I have strayed so far, I do not know how welcome I would be in that particular area. Advice?

Thank you, J.K.

anon99055

I'm 18 years old and live in South Africa. I am a Christian Methodist. I have recently discovered that my purpose is to serve God. I have been through so much this past year. One day I tried to commit suicide only to leave behind evil on earth and to be closer to God. But God didn't want me just yet, soon I realized that God has pruned my life only to grow in faith.

I've been pressured by family and teachers to make a decision on what I would like to become in the near future. I don't have a clue, all I know is that I want to serve God because his love is the only thing that keeps me alive. Please will someone lead me closer to God and teach me how to become a nun?

anon96239

I am a Hindu married girl who has been pained, hurt and betrayed so much. I now wish to give up everything and come to the service of Jesus where I can search for the peace of my mind and heart. Please help me. I cannot live this life anymore. Either you have to help me or I will die and go directly to God and ask for help.

anon94773

I am 25 years old. Am i eligible to be come nun. I am a catholic too.

anon93866

Please can anyone tell me if there is any age limit in becoming a nun.

anon91182

I am twelve and Catholic. I love God with all my heart, and up until a short while ago, I planned on being a mother. But now I do not know if I should be a mother or a sister. Please pray for me.

anon91176

i am 19 years old and i am vexed with my life. i want to serve people. i want to become a nun. Can you please suggest to me how can i become a nun? -maya

Lori Harris

There are many ways to serve God. We are full time missionaries serving the Catholic Church and the general world with Kerygma, in India. There are branches throughout the world. Contact us and we will tell you how to serve in any field you feel called through through missions! There is no age limit or restrictions on how to serve Jesus!

anon89973

I'm 18 years old and every night I dream of an angel who leads me to a church where I see myself in a habit praying. Is this god's way of say serve me? I am confused!!

anon89885

I am Manorama K., 22 years old. I am unmarried. I had a boyfriend. Now I have no interest in my life. God is calling me now. I want to become a nun. Please help me. Please, I don't have any other option in my life.

God bless to everyone.

anon89824

June 12 is the Feast Day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

To all the women asking, please know that the desire of your heart is pleasing in God's sight. He wants all of us to serve Him and His people in the various ways the He call us.

I want to encourage all the women here to continue to bring this to God and in His infinite love, He will affirm that the call you feel is very real.

Speak with your parish priest or with your diocesan vocation offices. Introduce yourself to any sisters or nuns in your area. Many are very open to speaking with you about vocations to religious life.

Search on the internet. Many websites have good listings of religious orders around the world.

Most of all, be open to whatever God asks of you. He asked Mary to be the mother of His Son Jesus and her simple "yes" brought Jesus to all people. Your simple "yes" will also bring Jesus to the lives of people whom you will touch.

May God bless you on your journeys to holiness.

Peace in Christ--Sr. Elizabeth Mary

anon89335

if being religious means attending Sunday masses and reading scriptures, obviously i am not, but, i always have this strange feeling in serving god and my people especially the needy that I only want to become a nun. however, i know in myself that i never deserved to become one.

anon87534

I would like to know the age limit of becoming a nun? Can anyone help me with that? Thank you so much and God bless.

this is my strong decision. please help me.

anon87166

I am 48 years old and have an 11-year-old son. I feel such a strong calling to serve god and feel that joining an order would be the most meaningful way to do this.

Based on the responses I have received from different orders, it seems that this door is being closed to me at this time. Are there any alternatives for me that will allow me to follow this pull?

anon86146

Any Catholic can take a vow of chastity.

anon86145

In order for any process to start you must contact your local parish.

Becoming a nun is a lengthy process; you don't just magically become one.

If you're not a practicing Catholic it doesn't matter because your baptism and communion are still good. You must go to confession though, to ask for forgiveness for leaving the church for a bit.

Previous marriages only become an issue if they were in the Catholic church and if they bore children.

Your children must be raised before you can become a nun. (18 years old).

All Catholics do not practice sex outside of marriage.

Catholics pray to saints to reach God. They don't actually worship them. They ask them for special favors since God favors them so much.

Sister Rose

anon84527

If you wish to be a Catholic nun, first you should thank God for such a calling as you are very special to be chosen for such a holy work. In these times, I can't think of a career that is more needed. Our world is plagued with drugs, confusion, lonely people and hungry children. There is much work to be done.

I don't agree with the descriptions below of "how difficult" the sisterhood is. It is a very fulfilling and joyous vocation. You will know when you are doing it that it is right or wrong. And remember: you can leave the sisterhood at any time if you find that it is not right for you or no longer right for you. The Catholic church does not want to "hold you prisoner" but wants you to be "in it" heart and soul. It's not like the army where you are under contract. God doesn't work that way. But the church wants to make sure you are committed to this on the onset - as it is an undertaking.

Do keep in mind, however, that you can change your mind at any time later. Women leave and join the sisterhood all the time. The best way to become a sister is to go talk to a priest and Catholic sisters in your local area.

Go to the phone book, visit the Catholic Churches in your area that have nuns and tell them you wish to talk to the head nun or mother superior and she will be happy to help you. I suggest talking to more than one order to get information. Maybe talk to three or four and they will all give you leads on how to do research on which order to choose. Good luck and God bless!

anon84269

I am unmarried christian software engineer aged 32. I want to study theology and want to do missionary work worldwide. Please help me.

anon83672

why do so many hindu women want to become nuns? what's up with that?

anon82917

I'm 25 years old. I'm single and I've been thinking about this for a very long time. I've never had a boyfriend and I've never been interested in anything that my other friends have been. And, i feel that god is calling me to him. i have tried other religions but none of them were for me. i went to St. Mary's college in ipswich(australia).

anon82507

To become a nun, you need to pray, and God will open a way for you. That requires faith, the number one thing you need to have as a nun (or a Christian in general). So it means - contact God first of all, and keep in contact. Constantly. He knows what He is doing.

Not only Catholics have opportunities for religious life. You may feel closer to the Orthodox, Anglican, or various Protestant denominations. In any case, you must commit 100 percent to this religion.

Being a nun means changing entirely. That's not too comfortable. Being sinful and weak people, we have nearly no idea about what it means to strive to become virtuous. Before committing to a community, pursue an extremely serious spiritual life in your parish for at least three or four years.

Give up TV, entertainment, and rather read spiritual books and pray.

If you don't have a parish, pray for one, research for one in the phonebook, the internet, signs by the road, or whatever. First by praying for one.

It means being poor. This means truly poor. You will not necessarily have anyone giving you money for food and lodging. You may have to work at a secular job to support yourself and keep up prayer and service without any form of complaint at any time, and without losing God in you heart - it sounds easier than it is, trust me.

There may be plenty of times that are unfair and hurtful, but these and other tribulations are not actually there to harm you, but rather, to heal your sinful soul.

Being a religious is the same as entering the spiritual hospital. The medicines are not sweetened.

You will not have your own will - you will need to do as told, at all times, whether it's easy or not or you want or not (as long as what you are told is not against the Gospel).

Get used to taking injustice - it is for your best. Get used to everyone despising you. The world will never praise you for your choice. If you love the world or yourself, it will be difficult for you - but not impossible.

Pray for your enemies, wholeheartedly, and love them sincerely. Do good to every person who hurts you, imperceptibly, and not asking thanks. Thank God for every wound, because He is healing your soul.

For those of you who are married - your marriage is your religious life. Your husband is your abbott. For those who have children - you are the abbess of these children. You must lead them to God - leaving them would not accomplish this task, and you would lose your own soul as well. --

a nun

anon81872

I'd like to become a nun, but i don't where to go and what order I'm going to join. I really need someone to help me. I'm a very hopeless person.

LoriHarris

Come join us! Youth With A Mission Kerygma Teams is a world wide lay missions training and sending organization. We have missionaries in every vocation around the world.

amypollick

Anon80036: If you are Hindu, you cannot become a Catholic nun. I am not certain if the Hindu faith has these kinds of religious orders for women or not.

In order to be a Catholic nun, you must first become a Christian, which means you turn away from the Hindu faith and accept the Christian faith. Then, you will need to contact a Catholic priest about being baptized into the Catholic faith. Only then can you think about being a nun.

Mother Teresa's order, the Sisters of Charity, is very active in India. I suggest you contact the chapter nearest you to get your questions answered.

anon80036

i am a hindu girl 24 years old. please help me. how should i start the process and whom should i contact?

anon79857

i want to be a nun. Where can I go to to enroll? Are there some requirements needed? I'm 28 years old, and I'm from the Philippines.

anon79856

i want to be a nun. can you please gave me some advice? how to do it, when and where i go to start?

anon79270

I am 30 and have been married but am now separated. I recently converted to the Catholic faith at Easter 2010. I have wanted to be a nun since I was about 15 but was always afraid to open up and talk about my feelings to my mum and rest of my family.

But now I have found the courage to do so and my mum supports me in my decision. Getting married I thought my life was over and I would never be able to follow my dream and path. If anyone can give me some advice on what to do and where to start. Thank you and God Bless, Vicky

anon78195

The age limit for becoming a nun depends on the community you are interested. But the age limit usually is 18-35, but it depends on the community, some orders will take you older or younger. just start searching.

anon78194

if God is calling you to become a nun, then start contacting communities. Nothing should stand in the way of being united with God, on the road he has chosen for you!

anon78174

I'm 27 years old and not been married can you suggest me where can i apply for a nun here in cebu philippines? i want to serve god. I hope you can give me details regarding my question. thank you very much.

anon76748

I am 24 years old unmarried girl and i am hindu. i want to become a nun but my english speaking is not so good. Please tell me about the procedure to become a nun. thanks.

anon76294

I want to be a nun. I have a 1 year old son. I have been married for four years. Problem in marriage and difficult for annulment in the church. I want to go away from my husband's cruelty.

anon74166

Okay, this is not to deny anyone of her chances and opportunities to become a nun, but you cannot just become a nun. God has to really call you. It's not something where you just wake up in the morning and say "hey I think I want to be a nun"! I am not a catholic. I am just spiritual. I attend a non-denominational church. But I went to Catholic schools all my life and have learned almost everything about Catholicism.

Anyway, what I am trying to say is that you still need learning, teaching and really show dedication into becoming a nun way before you can even become one. Some people I know took 10-20 years, but since they really were called to it, they went through the process.

I hope that you all find what you are called to do and even if it's not being a nun, don't give up or think it's the end of the world.

anon73724

i am a catholic girl. 24 years old name agnes. college student. doing m.phil. i want to become a nun. i want to serve god. Please tell me the age limit and way to become a nun.

anon70271

i am 27 year old unmarried girl,i want be a nun.i'm hindu. please help me. i'm from madhya pradesh in india.

anon70011

i am 23 years old and Hindu. i would like to become a nun, whom should i contact?

anon68949

My dear folks and good hearted ladies, i see the light of eternity in you. You are indeed blessed with a heart of gold. God has gifted you with everything to help suffering humanity. Go ahead and do it in your own manner without hurting anybody's sensibilities. God will bless you and you will find strength flowing through you.

anon68718

i an unmarried 29 year old woman, from hyderabad. I want to become a nun to serve poor children. Please let me know the process.

anon66481

I am 34 year old divorcee. I want to become a nun. please guide me. Suvarna

swapna

I am swapna, working in singapore holding PR status. I'm unmarried and hindu. I'm interested in becoming a nun to serve poor families.

Anyone please guide me in the process to become a nun in singapore.

amypollick

rubylecobuan, the first thing you need to do is to talk to the local priest at a Catholic Church in your area. If you are not Catholic, you will need to convert to Catholicism before you become a nun. The priest can then advise you about the nuns who live in your area, who they are, and what they do. You don't go to "nun school." If you are accepted to an order, you are educated there.

The first step, though, is to talk to a priest.

rubylecobuan

I'm 27 years old from Philippines, and unmarried. i want to be a nun, but i don't know where to start. i was looking for a free school too study since i don't have enough money for exclusive school for nuns here in Philippines. i pray that somebody could help me. thank you very much.

sanjana

I am unmarried. i am a Hindu and want to become a nun and help the poor all my life. i am seriously thinking about becoming a nun.

It is what i want. i want to stay away from guys for good and love.

Where can i apply and whom do i have to contact?

I am from Mumbai. Please guide me to the nearest nun center close to Mumbai (Andheri), India.

anon61732

i am 23 and unmarried. i am a hindu and want to become a nun and help the poor all my life.

where can i apply and whom do i have to contact?

i am from Hyderabad. Please guide me to the nearest nun center close to Hyderabad, Andhrapradesh, India.

anon61359

I have seen that there are a lot of aspirants on this site and these seeds of hope, love, deep faith and inquisitive mind could lead to many fruits.

First, I would like to suggest to almost everyone to continue discerning through prayers.

Second, ask yourself what is your main reason why you wanted to become a nun.

Third, it is best to ask people who knows you and what they think about your desire. These people might make or break your heart but it is a good thing to know it.

Before entering a congregation why not try to become a lay person first? These are people who are serving through community building, conducting feeding programs, evangelization through media, etc. Mostly are pastoral based and are guided by the Catholic Church.

See what you feel about the community of people serving the Lord. If you still feel that you wanted to devote yourself entirely, then try to talk to religious people from different congregations and I'm definite that they can help you discern your path.

I'm sure there are other ways to serve the Lord but we are called differently. Remember that God is a patient God and He understands our imperfect nature. Continue to pray. May God bless us all.

anon59201

Peace to everyone! I'm 15 years old, a sophomore in high school and have had a strong desire to become a religious sister since I was seven.

As the culture of death arises in my society of youth, I feel the urge to answer God's call-if He wills for me to become a nun. I am wondering if anyone knows of a minor convent (a high school that trains you for sisterhood) anywhere in the world.

There are several minor seminaries for boys, as my brother attended one. I know they exist, and have found two schools, but are in areas with bad conditions. Please keep me in your prayers.

anon58555

Hi Steve: Sadly you sound very naive. Poland is a civilized country and normal people from Poland do not urinate in public. I worked in that country for many years and travelled a lot and got to know people from many different backgrounds.

Becoming a nun is also very unusual in Poland nowadays - as unusual as it would be in the USA or UK - some people are still religious but not to that extent and not ones from towns like Tarnow.

If your girlfriend speaks several languages then it means she has had a good education in Poland - because once again this is something that usually only wealthier Poles or the better educated ones can afford to do - usually well-travelled townies who know a lot about life. That is why her so called innocence about contraception is rather hard to believe, too since it is freely and widely available in Poland and can be bought in any supermarket or chemist.

Sex education is compulsory in Polish schools, from primary level upwards, so if your girlfriend has had any education she is well educated. Again sexual behavior in Poland nowadays does not differ in any from what would be the norm in western countries.

In any town bigger than a village people live together without getting married and there are more sex shops on some high streets than would be permissible in some conservative states in the USA.

So this display of Catholic guilt or ignorance would have been possible in Poland about 50 years ago - but not nowadays.

Finally, some Polish girls -- like women in every other country -- like to flirt with men and they know exactly what they're doing. In some ways Polish culture conditions some women to see themselves in a very feminine context and open flirting is a good way of attracting attention - just as it would be in any other country.

I've shown your post to some Polish friends and they guffawed with laughter at your naivety and said you've got in with the wrong kind of girl who is making a fool of you. They didn't believe a word of her 'nun' story and neither do I from my experience of the country.

She's making a fool of you and taking advantage of your kindness. If you have any doubts I suggest you travel to Poland and go and see Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk and you'll be convinced that Poland is no different from Switzerland and in some ways is a more urban country.

I feel bad when I see someone who is kind-hearted being taken advantage of in this way by what must be a very ruthless, cunning and dangerous woman.

sweetdog49

I'm only 14 years old, turning 15 really soon, and I actually had dreams and callings while I was sleeping and when I was in church.

I currently have a boyfriend, but I was wondering if we could have a boyfriend, then become nuns later on?

I know God wants me to do something, but I am not sure. I don't know if I'm doing something that He is happy with. But I'm trying really hard to become a nun.

Being a nun is what I always wanted to be since my sister mentioned it.

I'm also asking God to show me clearly what He wants of me. And people who I told this about, they are also praying for me.

anon56864

i am 16 years old and i want to become a nun. God has called me and i want to listen to him.

amypollick

To Deepu and the other Hindu women who have expressed interest in becoming a nun: you must convert to Catholicism in order to be a Catholic nun. You will no longer be a practicing Hindu. And to be fair, you need to believe in what the Catholic Church teaches if you're going to convert to that faith. You won't do anyone any good if you become a Catholic but still believe like a Hindu. There must be a complete change in your religious belief structure.

If you truly want to become a Catholic, you'll need to talk to a priest at the nearest Catholic church. He can help you with the process. He can also probably point you to orders with convents or motherhouses in your area where you can apply.

Anyone who is already Catholic can probably talk to their parish priest about beginning the process.

I am not telling someone they need to convert (since I am not Catholic, myself). I'm just letting all of you know that becoming a Catholic nun (if you are not Catholic, or at least a Christian already) will require you to completely change your beliefs.

anon55034

I'm 27 and female (Hindu) and I want to become a catholic nun. Please advise me where i need to enroll in New Delhi. Please help me. Thanks and regards. Deepu

anon53284

my mother wants to become a nun at the age of 53, third divorce, and three grown kids later. Is this a symptom of a mid-life crisis?

anon52644

am a 27 year old Hindu woman, and i would like to become a nun to serve people.

where can i apply and whom do i have to contact?

i am from Hyderabad. Please guide me to the nearest nun center close to Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.

anon50997

i am a hindu and want to become a nun and help the poor all my life.

anon50754

thanks a lot for the info. it really opened my eyes. keep it up. I am seriously considering becoming a nun. Mayc

anon50359

I am unmarried and working. I hope i am eligible to become a nun. where can i apply and who do i have to contact?

anon50228

I am unmarried and working. I hope i am eligible to become a nun. where can i apply and whom do i have to contact?

i am from Hyderabad. Please guide me to the nearest nun center close to Hyderabad.

anon50104

I found this wonderful Ursuline convent in Northeast, Ohio. They are currently looking for women looking to become nuns.

anon45645

I've been in multiple rehabs, and almost died a couple of times. I'm an art student in Baltimore with a boyfriend, but I would like to dedicate my life to god, and sacrifice the option of being a director. Can I become a nun? or have i pushed my limits too far? I am willing to give up what I have.

anon45388

What's this about a dowry? And the medical - dental insurance thing isn't fair. I have no insurance. I have to take thyroid medication once a day for the rest of my life and I certainly hope this wouldn't be a problem if I do decide to become a nun. I am seriously thinking about this now since I lost my job and I truly have *no* real purpose in life but to serve God. I first considered becoming a nun when I was 12. I've spoken briefly to a few nuns (I got a few phone calls from some very kind Sisters). I was hoping to become a Franciscan Sister of the Renewal - since they actually go out and work with children, the elderly, the poor, etc. But now that I read this info here, I don't know what to do. Dowry? C'mon. Sheesh. Shouldn't the Sisterhood be open to anyone who is seriously considering Holy Orders? And the lady who commented about the 'cost' of someone who is trying to be a nun -- she made me think too. I do know that one does not need any college education to become a nun, unless it is an order of scholars and education or nursing. Now I am having doubts. Now I am not feeling as happy and comfortable with this- and for that I can thank all the people here who left depressing comments. =(

anon44288

i am seriously thinking about becoming a nun.

it's what i want. i want to stay away from guys for good and love

anon43644

Please forgive me, i am mot religious but keep an open mind about many things. I know a girl who is Polish and from Tarnow in Poland. We have known each other for nine months. She is very confused about many things including other people and how if they help her as i did to find employment etc! She seems to think that person wants something in return. I was and still am very fond of her, yet she thinks i'm aggressive towards her because i have been trying to make her realize and understand that because of her past and corrupt past, she thinks all men are the same. She indirectly compared me with her father. I am kind, gentle and understanding. now after trying to discuss that life isn't so bad, she continues to have this unreasonable opinion. We have slept together yet never made love and she enjoyed my company and I respect her for not wanting to. She comes from a poor family. Yet i have offered her a chance to make her life better in many ways. She lost her job in spain, she was unsure about coming here to switzerland because of the german language. Yet she spoke French, Spanish, english and Polish. She always flirted in front of me towards other men totally innocently. Without realizing the consequences of their reactions.

Plus urinating in public places and other things. I now find she is somewhat aggressive towards me after trying to explain the female body, contraception and she was afraid of becoming pregnant. She always commented to me about becoming a Nun and now says she is starting in Warsaw after she comes back from Spain in mid September. I am very worried about her. she doesn't understand and thinks and acts as if life is a pessimistic existence. She has told me not to contact her by e-mail or calling her home. After i have explained how i feel about her, i was willing and patient, intelligent enough to try and understand her. Yet i cannot win. I don't think she is worthy. perhaps she will enter and realize she has made yet another mistake. I am genuinely worried about her, but at the end of the day it is her decision and she doesn't realize what chance she had of a successful life. Thank you, Steve.

anon43175

Hello, I am not Catholic, 29 year old, but hope to become catholic soon. I was married outside the church and am going to be getting divorced. I have two children. I have always had on my mind since I was at high school that I would like to become a nun. In the last couple of years my feelings have become stronger and I think about this all the time. I attend church every week and pray every day and would love to know if it is possible for me to serve God as a nun or is there any other way. Thank you and God bless you all.

anon43155

I'm pretty sure you might be able to become a postulant before you turn 18. That would help you to become a novice and then a professed sooner. But make sure you know where you want to go. Look into a few communities.

anon40373

I believe there is some misinformation in the original article about divorce. The Catholic Church does not recognize divorce or grant divorces. If a marriage is shown to be invalid, an annulment may be granted (but this is not a divorce). Even if a Catholic marriage fails and the couple divorces in civil court, the marriage remains valid in the eyes of the Church.

anon40243

Quick question, wouldn't someone serve god better if he/she just donated some of their money monthly to the church? Why isolate yourself? Please answer as I am very curious about this aspect of my faith.

anon39465

Its a very informative article but I notice there's nothing about an address or contact details of the relvant authorities. Who does one approach on the first step to becoming a nun?

anon37614

Hello, some of you have asked about Orders that work with animals. There is one called The Poor Clares of Brenhem, TX. They raise miniature horses and work with ceramics. I once was thinking of joining that Order.

anon37607

I am 54 and Lutheran. I am very interested in becoming a nun. I am willing to convert. Is there a place for me to serve? I have never been married. My only goal is to serve God, and to use the talents He has given me to help others and bring them into a close relationship with Him. What do I need to do to respond to this calling?

anon36982

i am 23 years old girl not married but a hindu. I want to become a nun can you give me some suggestions please

anon36830

Hi,I am an Indian married gal. But i am not living with my husband and i have decided to serve God and its people. So what can i do to become a nun and also i want to change my religion.

So do i need to take a divorce from my husband to become a nun???

Please help me...I just need grace of God.

anon36712

hi. My name is diana. im 15 years old. i would later in the future want to become a nun but also study to be a doctor

anon36613

I am tired of living among people, and I would like to become a nun and serve God, because I don't see any other choice to live happy. Please help.

anon35913

I am 22 years old. I wish to become a nun. What is the first procedure to do?

anon35255

I 19 and very interested in becoming a nun. However, I am not Catholic, but I want to convert to become a nun. I live in South Africa. I would appreciate it if anyone can give me any information that might help.

Thanx

anon35080

hi,i am 23 years, unmarried, hindu girl. i am not a virgin. can i become a catholic sister? i want to something for the peace and development of this world.

Meira

Dear Catherine.

There is a religious order that is of the Methodist faith. They are called the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary. You can find them online. They have retreats a couple times a year. One is coming up this year in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Another one in Texas this year. They have religious orders in the USA and Abroad. Even in Israel.

God is calling many, many of us to religious life and one does not have to be Catholic to be in a Christian Religious order. The Catholics have wonderfully been forerunners in this calling. They have paved the road for the rest of us.

It may be harder to fit in, under the Protestant banner or Messianic movement...since this life is so foreign to other streams in the body of Christ, yet being a forerunner in this calling/invitation from Christ is worth the 'standing out' and taking the heat from those who do not understand the bridal heart of a lover of Jesus. If God is not asking you to join the Catholic institute, then don't. But if He is, than *do*. *We* need to be where God is calling us, or be courageous to live this life alone and watch God brings other sisters along side of us in time. It is not an easy life. I have been making vows for a while and am about to make my Holy Vows. The Lord has blessed me with Protestant pastors who understand this life and have blessed me in my journey of Spiritual discernment. I have a good friend who is a nun that is under the Protestant banner of a (non-denominational church)who was so ministered to by the Carmelite order. The cloistered one. She desired to convert to Catholicism and become a Carmelite nun, but knew if she did, she would not be able to do what God has called her to do in Israel. She is building houses of prayer in Israel. So her solution in desiring to be a Carmelite was/is to live in the spirit of a Carmelite within her heart. Her secret inner life with God. She has suffered much with some people not understanding her life choice, yet one day everyone will understand when we stand before Jesus face to face in eternity. It will be worth all the reproach. This young woman is the most joyful, peaceful, secure in Gods love, compassionate, and solid Christian I have ever met. It is Gods grace alone, and her obedience to His invitation/call. Matthew 19 says that this life choice is a choice. Some are called but many choose this life for the Kingdom of God, and God honors it *big time*. He loves it so much. It is a life of prayer and fasting...like Anna in the temple awaiting the Messiahs return. It is likened to a Mary of Bethany, who sits at Jesus' feet and ministers to His heart.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you and give you Shalom!

Kahlan

I am a twenty-seven year old girl. I have been thinking of becoming a nun for the past four years but I don't know how to take that first step to reach that goal. I am not a catholic,I am a Buddhist. Do I need to convert into Catholicism in order for me to become a nun?

anon31251

I want to know that to be a nun is it necessary to be a catholic girl? I'm a hindu girl 23 years old. I want to be a nun. Can I do so?

anon30903

Well i've been thinking of becoming a nun. now my story is maybe quite different andpleasedo not judge me in either way! i'm a 14 year old catholic girl and i've been thinking of becoming a nun for a while now. at first i joked saying i wanted to be one, but then i thought about it and somehow i feel like i want to be a nun.

now i have my reasons 1) i like girls and wish to not have such feelings nor do i wish to love anyone. i feel like i want to help people though i can't find a way and, even though it sounds odd in a way, i do want to be a nun and live my life serving god!

emz93

Hi. I'm nearly 16 years old and I'm interested in becoming a nun Do you have to be 18 years of age to become one? What are the steps of becoming a nun? thank you.

oreoacat

could a person become a nun if they want to get away from love? i am thinking about becoming a nun. i don't want to fall in love. i know what most guys intentions are, but i am seriously thinking about becoming a nun. i just need some more information.

anon26646

I actually am not Catholic, but I have a feeling deep within me that I would very much like to be a nun.

If I became a Catholic, would I still not be eligible to become a nun?

elijah2007

i want information of the nearest convent cause i want to become a nun????

anon24270

Hi My name Is Shamira. Im From Belize. As a child I always wanted to be a nun. now I am going on 18 and i gave it a thought and i still want to be a nun to serve god and the People!! I'd love to work on child psychology can this be possible? By the way i yet don't get what is the difference between sisters and nuns!! please help me out~~

anon23227

I think it’s wonderful! More and more women are responding to the vocations to enter the sisterhood. What a gift that would be for a woman, be the bride of Christ! But, if any one is reading this, fells even the slightest tug towards the sisterhood, do not fight it! When I was called to serve as a priest, just to short years ago, I was a bit upset, but I knew I must be like Mary and say "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." God will not lead you to where you are stuck! May the Lord protect and guide you.

anon20764

i am seeking for guidance, i am 27 years old, filipina, secretary, somehow i love to correct my life and only thing that made me move on is my faith to god, and i want to return the goodness and blessing god given me, by serving the rest of my life. Can you please advise me where and how much do it cost me if i study and enter the world of god and be a nun... I am currently working in Middle East, muslim country however my heart is pure catholic. i studied islam somehow here however my belief and faith has never change as catholic.please help me by giving details

tara65

hey i am a catholic 14 year old girl and i was wondering if there was a school/convent place i could attend for maybe a year or so to see if i want to become a nun or sister. i am very interested in pursuing a religious life so please, if you can, could you help me?

yogita

I am unmarried and working...I am eligible to become Nun? where can i apply and whom do i have to contact? I am from Gurgaon. Please guide me to the nearest nun center close to Gurgaon, Haryana, India.

anon17877

Thanks for putting this article out for people to read! I wanted to share with the others commenting here some thoughts about vocations to religious life...

You must pray that God show you what He wants you to do, and you should also visit some religious communities, or attend retreats, to get a feel for the life.

I'm soon going to be entering a catholic convent in the USA, a wonderful religious order, the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Our Savior. God bless all those here seeking religious life!

anon15872

I'd love to be a nun in Hong Kong, is there any Catholic church/convent I can contact?

Racquel3

Hello and thanks for letting me join. Do you know of any order of Catholic nuns that work with animals. I have tried to find info especially of the Franciscans but without any success. Can you help?

anon14193

I'm looking into becoming a Nun. It seems like a good life.

cecimest

hmmm...i am a christian. can i become a catholic, to become a nun?

anon12227

I am from hyderabad. I am a hindu girl. Is it possible to become a nun for a hindu girl. If so please advise me to whom i need to contact in hyderabad.

anon11967

I am married and I have 2 children. I have a daughter who is nearly 18 and a son who is 9. I was baptized a catholic. I married a divorced man outside of the church and I am unfortunately not a practising catholic anymore. My husband's first marriage was not annulled and so I am unable to receive the sacrament of reconciliation or any other sacraments. I wanted to become a nun when I was young. I would like to do something now in the church and for God. I understand that I cannot become a catholic nun (at the moment) as my children are under the age of 18. I want pardon/forgiveness for my sins and I want to follow in Christ. Is there anyone who can help me or offer me some advice please? It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

anon10089

About pets, priests & nuns: Parish priests do not take a vow of poverty (they take vows of chastity and obedience but not poverty!). Nuns and monks or priests in a religious order do take a vow of poverty, and from what I understand, poverty precludes keeping a pet.

This is also why you will meet the occasional parish priest who owns his own home etc. One of our priests inherited his mother's home when she died, and he lives there, which is acceptable. A monk or sister probably would not be allowed to do that as per the rules of the order.

anon10088

In answer to questions:

1) Generally there is no age limit to becoming a nun although individual orders may impose one. I know of one woman who was widowed and in her late 50's who decided to become a nun.

2) If you were married but not married in the church (ie not in a sacramental mass) consult your parish priest regarding ability to become a nun.

3) There is no such thing as taking vows for just 5, 10 or 20 years. That's akin to getting married and saying the marriage will "just be for 5, 10 or 20 years". There is something called a "lay order" to which you may be referring. Lay orders are composed of regular men and women, not necessarily monks or nuns, who believe in the mission of the order but who for whatever reason still want to live in the regular world or do not want to take vows. If you google the various orders, such as Franciscans, Dominicans, etc you can find out more about this. ETWN television (Catholic TV station) has a great website for all things Catholic and you can probably find the info on this there.

4. The process to becoming a nun is generally 1) pray and make sure that this is God's calling on your life 2) research the various religious orders and find one that feels right or that you feel called to. Each has its own particular mission. For example, Poor Claires are like Franciscans in that they help the poor in various capacities. Dominican sisters are devoted to scholarship and are most often found in teaching. Sisters of Mercy are usually nurses, doctors or in the healthcare professions. You get the drift! 3) I believe you will need to contact a local order or chapter house to start the process. They will want something from your parish priest to certify that you are Catholic and have made the sacraments up until confirmation. If you were married, you will need to show proof of divorce and Catholic annulment (they need both, not just divorce papers). When in doubt start with your local parish office and ask there.

5) Most orders do not allow pets. Remember, you are going to live in a community with other women...some of who may be allergic! You should check with the order. I know of a priest who owned cats, and one convent that had a group pet dog, but they may not allow it.

6) Yes you do need to provide your own medical, dental etc care until final vows are taken. Once final vows are taken the order takes care of you until death. They will provide healthcare and even nursing care when you get old, sickly, etc. They take good care of their sisters! The dowry part is called a patrimony and has always been part of the process.

7) For the person in India, google the India Roman Catholic church and visit your local parish if you have one. Or start with Mother Theresa's orders in India; they have a lot of convents in various cities although are by no means the only order.

8) For the person who asked "What does it mean to find the right order or an order that fits" - each order was founded by a different person, for a specific reason. They are all dedicated to different ideals and works. Some orders are more contemplative, meaning the sisters spend most of the day in prayer and religious activities. Others are very active. My aunts are Sisters of Saint Dominic (Dominicans) and one has spent most of her life in scholarly pursuits, teaching, researching (biology etc) and running a university. The other is an artist and teaches at the university as well as creates beautiful artwork and has gallery shows etc. But the order, Sisters of Saint Dominic, is dedicated to scholarship so their vocations as teachers/scholars/artists is right in line with the mission. Other orders are dedicated to serving the poor, healthcare, etc etc. You have to research each to find one that fits.

good luck to all and God bless. I looked into this route years back, and have been blessed to have many aunts and great aunts who were nuns...and they taught me a lot about the process!!

anon9709

I have a question similar to anon5873 about being able to keep a pet. I have a cat who I view as a precious gift from the Lord. Celibacy I can handle, but it is nice to have another living creature to greet one at the door and provide quiet, unobtrusive company. The cat has been a blessing for several years now, and I believe it would be morally wrong to abandon an animal one has made a commitment to care for. Plus, the cat likes to sit quietly next to me and purr when I pray the rosary, like she wants to participate too.

If I was to become an activist, I would be an activist against the euthanasia of healthy but homeless animals in shelters. It is a desensitizing precursor to other forms of needless death like abortion-- ending a life should never be done for the sake of convenience. Oops. I guess I am activist already :)

ca45

My name is Catherine, I'm 20 and a half years old, a college student and I'm from Ghana Africa. I would love nothing more than to please Jesus Christ, my God and my savior. I would love to become a sister, but the only problem is that I'm not really a catholic and I don't believe in praying to saints. I think all our prayer should be directly to God. And also I just really started thinking about a life devoted to God a few weeks away. My question is how do you know that it's a calling to become a sister, or a nun. And also are there any protestant sisters. I been looking on the internet, and I found one in Europe and Korea are there any in America.

Please reply.....Catherine.....God bless.

anon6108

My daughter has been dedicated to becoming a nun for four years. Are others aware that is is also a costly process in that you often must have some college, yet bring no debt? That you must have psychological, medical, dental evals, and you must provide your own medical insurance while in the convent for the first 2 to 3 years? Also, a dowry of sorts is expected at time of entering? It has become a difficult path for us.

usha

hi Olittlewood,

I am from Hyderabad so can you please guide me the catholic school or convents addresses near to hyderabad. I have searched and asked the church training people but they don't have any idea about this. Kindly provide me the guidelines. Thank you

anon5873

Is there a convent out there that takes care of animals as well? Like maybe, they can bring a pet dog with them or something?

(Lol, I have to admit, I see more priests with dogs than nuns so I have to ask that question. x3)

olittlewood

usha,

my advice to you would be to start with your local parish, Catholic school or convent. have you asked your priest if he can help you become a nun? if you're interested in serving others, find out where the different orders of nuns may be serving in your area, and volunteer to help them. they will probably welcome your desire to serve others and help you get started down the path to becoming a nun. good luck!

usha

I am unmarried and working...I hope i am eligibe to become Nun.

where can i apply and whom do i have to contact?

i am from Hyderabad. Please guide me to the nearest nun center close to Hyderabad, Andhrapradesh, India.

usha

what is the process to become a nun? pls help me to start the process to become a nun. Everywhere details are only about the topic...pls tell me the process and whom i have to contact.

anon5439

Do non-catholics ever convert with the specific aim of becoming a nun? How long before entering a convent would you have to convert? How do you become a catholic?

anon5284

someone said, "one must research the orders to find out what is right for you."

what does that mean?

thank you.

anon5149

I was wondering how long one would have to be a catholic before taking a vow of chastity?

anon4726

Good day!

Where can i enroll if i want to be a nun? I'm from the Philippines.

Thanks and God bless.

anon4183

i have heard that you can vow for only a few years and you do not have to vow your entire life but could post 5, 10, 20 years. Is this true?

anon3931

I would like to know the age limit of becoming a nun? Can anyone help me with that? Thank you so much and God bless.

anon3451

Can a person who had been married (but did not have a Church wedding) still become a nun?

teachcal

Anonymous, I'm not sure when you posted the question.

This reply is as of 8/14/07:

First, you need to be an unmarried or widowed Catholic. Next, you need to research the orders to find out which is right for you. Some stress service, some teaching, and others are contemplative (like monks). So much depends on your personality.

Good Luck!

Theresa

anon1318

What do I do to start the process if I want to become a nun. May God have mercy and lead someone to me. This I pray.

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