Expert: Griff Ruby - 4/13/2008

Question
Dear Griff,

              As a 22yrs hispanic catholic I have been discerning my calling of religious life. I feel called to a religious order that was founded by the vision of Fatima. I felt that Mary was calling me to be in this order. They are a great religious order.

History
The Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate Queen was founded in 1967 not that old but it was founded to live and spread the message Our Lady gave at Fatima in 1917: prayer, penance, reparation, and consecration to the Immaculate Heart.

In the early days, the Sisters’ Main apostolate was the publication and distribution of religious literature, as well as arranging lectures on the Fatima message and the Catholic Faith across the country. Soon they also became involved in teaching which I want to be a teacher in catechism.

Today, besides the K-12 academy, religious mail order house and print shop they staff at their motherhouse in Spokane, Washington, the Marian Sisters have several missions and smaller schools in other states. Since 1979, the Sisters have been making recordings and performing concerts from time to time as “The Singing Nuns,” as they have come to realized that this, too, is a means of leading souls to God.

Purpose
The glory of God and personal sanctification by means of the three vows and the Holy Rule, which includes the Fatima message and Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as taught by St. Louis de Montfort. The Sisters are engaged in two main active apostolates: the education of youth, and spreading the Faith through the publication and
distribution of Catholic literature.

Training
There is a 6- to 12-month postulancy followed by a two-year novitiate. The first year of intense spiritual formation and training within the cloister is followed by one year of temporary vows, during which the Sisters are introduced into the active apostolate but continue their spiritual formation. The Sisters then make temporary profession of three years, after which they make their perpetual profession.

Qualifications
• Maximum age of 35.

Habit
The Sisters wear a blue habit and brown scapular (novice and work habit - blue scapular - novice wears a white veil), navy blue veil with white lining, white guimpe and corona, Miraculous Medal on cord around neck, and a black rosary on black leather belt.

"Singing Nuns" -- traditional Sisters of Mary Immaculate Queen have also an apostolate of song, with nine separate cd's available.  Find inspiration and peace with their soothing harmonies in a variety of moods, from strictly religious to secular inspirational.

Then I also have a calling to these other orders such as Sister Servants of the Holy Ghost of Perpetual Adoration (Pink Nun) Commonly known as “The Pink Nuns,” this congregation was founded by Arnold Janssen and Mother Mary Michaele in Steyl, Holland, December 8, 1896. Eighteen years later Archbishop Prendergast of Philadelphia asked the sisters to staff the newly erected chapel and Convent of Divine Love in Philadelphia. They have since spread to St. Louis, Holland, Germany, the Philippines, Argentina, and China.

Then I also feel called too Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic Congregation of the Holy Cross. Also Discalced Carmelite Nun
The Discalced or Reformed Carmelite, a branch of the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, was founded by St. Teresa of Avila, in 1562. Before her death, she established 16 Monasteries of Nuns. The first monastery of the Second Order of Carmel was established in the U.S. in 1790. Her apostolic life is spent in supplication; praying for the needs of the Church, salvation of souls, and conversion of sinners. See I like other orders but for some reason I do not think about dating other men I just feel like being with God. I feel like I belong to the religious life. For the longest time I felt this tug.

Now I do not know what to do I mean I am still discerning my calling. By all means I fell that God is saying to my right ear why are you not answering my call why are you putting me off. Is repeating its self over and over. Griff what to do. I know I have to work and get experience in life. And live life for now but I am sad and not having fun with this average life that regular people have. I am sad and my heart is thirsting for God. What to do I hunger for him so much. I even think about religious life constantly and I cannot help but to just think about it and sometimes I wonder is this the true me the life I have been longing for. What do you think?  

Answer
The thing to do is to contact the order of nuns and explain your leanings and calling.  By far, the blue nuns are the finest order you mention.  The pink nuns are conservative Novus Ordo, and so are subject to the vagaries of how they run things over there, and the Carmelites (apart from some small traditional Carmelite congregations taken care of by the SSPX) have been hopelessly corrupted from their former high ideals; they have been Novus Ordoized and in many cases aren't even particularly conservative.
But don't just fantasize about joining a convent, get in touch with them and they will help you to discern your calling.  That too is a big part of what they do.  If you belong they will welcome you warmly, and if not they will gently help you to understand that too and perhaps be able to help you to discern what else is in store for you.