Becoming a Nun

In the very Beginning, there is the heart of Christ seeking your heart...

Yet only a few are called to dedicate their entire lives to loving Him with an undivided heart, in prayer and community, for the sake of all humanity and the world. If you feel a stirring in your heart to respond to this call and find yourself wondering “How?”, it might be a beautiful sign that Christ is calling you to Himself.

Come. Let us explore Together!

Friday, April 25 – Monday, April 28

Friday, October 4 – Monday, October 7

The Journey Into Discernment

Where Are You?

(Gen. 3:9-10)

A Prayer of Discernment

- by Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I actually am doing so. For I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you, and I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadows of death. I will not fear, for you will not leave me to face my perils alone. Amen.

"What are you seeking?"

(John 1:38)

Candidacy & Observership

Becoming a nun begins when God stirs our heart with wonder and restlessness. We need to find out “Why?” and discernment begins. It usually involves three stages.

Getting-to-know one another:

First, contact us. We will talk about your heart’s movements together as many times as needed. If your heart desires, come and visit our abbey to see and pray with us!

Work-in:
After dialogues and short visits, we offer you a longer visit of 3 to 7 days, working with the sisters to experience our life a little deeper.

Observership:
As your discernment becomes more serious and clearer, you have the opportunity for an observership of at least 4 to 6 weeks, living with the community to experience actual monastic life.

Antony of the Desert … going according to custom into the Lord’s House, he communed with himself and reflected as he walked how the Apostles left all and followed the Savior; and how they in the Acts sold their possessions and brought and laid them at the Apostles’ feet for distribution to the needy, and what and how great a hope was laid up for them in heaven. Pondering over these things he entered the church, and it happened the Gospel was being read, and he heard the Lord saying to the rich man, ‘If you would be perfect, go and sell that you have and give to the poor; and come follow Me and you shall have treasure in heaven.’ Antony, as though God had put him in mind of the Saints, and the passage had been read on his account, went out immediately from the church, and gave the possessions of his forefathers to the villagers … that they should no more be an encumbrance to him …. (Life, 2)

"Who do you say I am?"

(Mark 8:29)

Postulancy & Novitiate

When your heart knows that God’s love desires you to live this way of life and in this community, leaving all behind you enter the monastery.

Postulancy:

At least 1 year to get to know yourself better, deepen your relationship with Christ, and learn the customs of this abbey. At the end of postulancy, you can ask to receive the Novice’s habit!

Novitiate:

At least 2 years for a deeper understanding of the monastic life and its goal.

Abba Poemen said to Abba Joseph, ‘Tell me how to become a monk.’ He said, ‘If you want to find rest here below in all circumstances say, “Who am I?” and do not judge anyone.’

“Peter, do you love me?"

(John 21:15)

Temporary Profession & Juniorate

At the end of the Novitiate, if you and the community recognize an authentic
vocation, you may ask to make your temporary profession and enter into the
Juniorate.

Juniorate: At least 5 years. It is the time for living the vowed life with a temporary
commitment.

PERFECT LOVE — Archbishop Luis Martinez

I discovered three conditions for perfect love:
It must be total: It must be total love with one’s whole heart, with one’s whole soul and with one’s whole strength. To love is to concentrate one’s whole
being and entire life in a single giving, which has something of immensity.
It must be singular: the word “love” has no plural; one can love only one single thing if the giving that constitutes love must be total. It cannot be made
except once. Is this not the supreme attraction of love? To concentrate one’s being and entire life on one single point – this is to love.
It must be eternal by its nature: the gift of love is made one single time; it lasts forever. It must be something definitive and irrevocable.

"Friend, why have you come?"

(Matthew 26:50)

Solemn Profession

If the community and you believe this way of life is your divine calling and your vocation remains solid, you will be accepted for Solemn Monastic Consecration. In this final step, you are permanently dedicated to God in the monastic way of life and become a life-long member of our community. It is a most significant moment of belonging to Christ and your community in a lasting relationship.

“Receive me, O Lord, according to your promise,
and I shall live. Let my hopes not be in vain.”
(Ps 119:116)

Abba Lot went to Abba Joseph and said to him, “Abba, as far as I can I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?” Then the old man stood up and stretched his hands towards heaven. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, “If you will, you can become all flame.”

If You Would Like to Learn More About Becoming A nun At Santa Rita Abbey...

If you are between the ages of 21-40 and in good physical and mental health, we invite you to visit us and join our Monastic Experience Weekend.