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'I wanted seven kids but instead I became a nun
BBC ^ | 16th June 2024 | Sister Catherine as told to Pail Mosley

Posted on 06/18/2024 1:48:05 AM PDT by Cronos

While faith has always been important to Catherine, 26, she did not always plan on joining a religious order. "I'd had this dream of getting married and having seven children - you know, proper Catholic, you need to have lots of babies, right?".

Yet here she is, part of a small group of women in a convent on the edge of Dereham, a small Norfolk town. Growing up a Catholic and working for the local diocese, .

She initially had doubts about joining them, working instead as an au pair in Austria. She hoped to find "a nice, handsome man", but that did not happen.

"There were lots of moments on my day off I'd go exploring some of the beautiful surroundings," she says. "And I can remember those times where I'd come across a chapel or a church and have that real sense of deep peace - almost a sense of being held - in God's presence. "And so I realised this desire to belong totally to God was still there."

Shortly after the first Covid lockdown, Sister Catherine joined the convent of The Community of Our Lady of Walsingham, based in a converted barn. "I thought I'd give it three weeks. Almost four years later, I'm still here," she says. A typical day involves at least three hours in prayer and silent contemplation.

But Catherine and the other sisters are also involved in the community, giving talks in schools, working in prisons and also with university students. They also maintain the convent and its grounds, as well as its website and social media channels.

...She met "some really joyful sisters" and says that, through prayer, she came to trust that what God wanted "is what's best for me".

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: catholic
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1 posted on 06/18/2024 1:48:05 AM PDT by Cronos
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To: Cronos

Being a nun is not permanent. It’s a good way to be until you are ready for marriage and find the good guy that you want to marry.


2 posted on 06/18/2024 1:50:29 AM PDT by Jonty30 (He hunted a mammoth for me, just because I said I was hungry. He is such a good friend. )
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To: Jonty30

What do you do with a problem like Catherine?


3 posted on 06/18/2024 2:22:11 AM PDT by Sirius Lee (They intend to kill us. Plan to avoid this.)
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To: Sirius Lee

I think until she is ready for marriage, if she ever gets to that point, she’s right where she should be.

My position is that if you cannot marry, or are not yet ready for marriage in terms of your ability to take on the responsibility, prepare for it through developing yourself. Live an enjoyable life while you are prepping.


4 posted on 06/18/2024 2:33:54 AM PDT by Jonty30 (He hunted a mammoth for me, just because I said I was hungry. He is such a good friend. )
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To: Jonty30

Maybe being married is a way to prepare oneself to become a nun? As a wife and mother, one practices self-denial and living for others, and the outward rewards can be great: a living partner and the fun and challenges of children.

But the ultimate purpose of our lives is to love and serve God. Some are called to love and serve God in a way other than marriage and parenthood.


5 posted on 06/18/2024 3:01:28 AM PDT by Chicory
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To: Chicory

I can see the interconnection between that.


6 posted on 06/18/2024 3:03:02 AM PDT by Jonty30 (He hunted a mammoth for me, just because I said I was hungry. He is such a good friend. )
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To: Chicory

I think anything you do to improve society and make it better serves God, but not the liberal kind of improving society where it is mandated or you will be punished.


7 posted on 06/18/2024 3:13:36 AM PDT by Jonty30 (He hunted a mammoth for me, just because I said I was hungry. He is such a good friend. )
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To: Cronos

Did she realize that nuns can’t really fly?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKR56OncyBI


8 posted on 06/18/2024 3:17:45 AM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult (“History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes” - Possibly Mark Twain.)
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To: Cronos

Life for the “Singing Nun” did not end well.


9 posted on 06/18/2024 3:30:20 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: Cronos

God wants you be married regardless if you’re serving in the Catholic Church. That’s just some rule they made up.


10 posted on 06/18/2024 3:41:36 AM PDT by roving (Deplorable Erectionists Listless Vessel )
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To: Cronos

I went to a church that had a convent during a Lenten season a couple of years ago. I was amazed at the sisters seemingly boundless joy and bliss. They radiated.


11 posted on 06/18/2024 3:44:58 AM PDT by Az Joe (Live free or die)
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To: Jonty30

Being a sister is not permanent. This is before their final vows and they usually do lots of missionary work in the community.

Being a nun can be. Technically, they marry Christ and take final vows. It can take years to reach this stage.

Very few nuns leave once the final vow is taken.


12 posted on 06/18/2024 3:45:59 AM PDT by TheWriterTX (🇺🇸✝️🙏🇮🇱)
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To: Cronos

At least 80% of Vatican priest are homosexual.

At least 21% of Vatican nuns are lesbian.

https://www.newoxfordreview.org/documents/what-about-predator-lesbian-nuns/


13 posted on 06/18/2024 3:50:28 AM PDT by Flavious_Maximus (Tony Fauci will be put on death row and die of COVID!)
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To: Jonty30

some serve God while others serve gods. only you can decide which is right for you.


14 posted on 06/18/2024 4:08:26 AM PDT by Qwapisking ("IF the Second goes first the First goes second" L.Star )
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To: Sirius Lee

I see what you did there.


15 posted on 06/18/2024 4:11:25 AM PDT by EvilCapitalist (Pets are no substitute for children)
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To: Flavious_Maximus

Even the most anti-Christian articles say 17% of priests.

The article you link doesn’t say anything of the sort. Where are you making up the numbers?


16 posted on 06/18/2024 4:11:45 AM PDT by Cronos (I identify as an ambulance, my pronounces are wee/woo)
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To: roving

They are married to God. They wear a wedding ring on the ring finger of their righthand.


17 posted on 06/18/2024 4:11:55 AM PDT by Az Joe (Live free or die)
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To: Cronos

https://walsinghamcommunity.org/

It appears, from the community’s website, that this young woman is not, technically, a nun, but a Religious Sister in simple vows. The community is in the Carmelite tradition and is structured to meet the needs in its environment.

Best wishes to all of them.


18 posted on 06/18/2024 4:29:06 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Sounds like a great idea, with the best of intentions. What could possibly go wrong?)
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To: roving

What an ignorant thing to say.


19 posted on 06/18/2024 4:29:32 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Flavious_Maximus

ANOTHER ignorant posting.


20 posted on 06/18/2024 4:31:02 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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