Mother Rosario

FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about Carmelite Vocations. If you need specific help or your question isn’t answered here, you should head to our Contact form.

General Questions & Answers

  • What advice would you give someone thinking of becoming a nun?

    The first step is to discern whether you the vocation to Cloistered Carmelite life. This involves three activities: Reflection, Prayer and Time.
    Reflection is the human effort to consider the positive values as well as to foresee the difficulties in a cloistered life like silence, long hours of prayer, ascetical practices etc.
    Prayer is to implore God’s grace to enlighten your mind to make a right decision and to find out His plan for you.
    Time is to help you to make a mature decision, and not to be carried away by impulsive feelings.

  • Are there any “spiritual practices” you would recommend to someone who is discerning?

    A regular life of prayer every day, Spiritual reading, especially the books and articles on Carmelite Spirituality; e.g. The Way of Perfection of St. Teresa of Avila, The Story of a Soul of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, etc. , the Rosary, the Holy Mass - daily if possible. During your personal prayer give enough time to listen!

  • What vows do you take?

    We make the three traditional Vows of Chastity, Obedience and Poverty.

  • Do you have Discernment Days?

    We encourage women to come for a “Come and See” programme for a few days/ weeks; but not exceeding three months. Sometimes, for private retreat-style visit for a couple of days.

  • Do you have any minimum/ maximum age limit for admission to the community?

    We also have an age limit; that is between 20-35. But that is sometimes open to modifications in special circumstances.

  • Do you have any educational requirements for admission to the community?

    You have to have at least a +2 certificate. Any other education will be appreciated but not necessary.

  • Do you accept formerly married women, i.e. widowed or woman with Annulment?

    Yes. But a woman whose marriage is annulled, has to produce the Certificate of Annulment. We do not accept women with children.

  • Do you accept Religious Sisters from other Congregations/Orders?

    Yes, we do. There are Sisters who are, at present, members of a Congregation or Order who, after having lived an active life for some time, may long for a Carmelite Contemplative life. If their motivation is genuine, we welcome them.
    In that case, they have to first undergo a “Come and See” for three months. If they are happy with our life, and if the Community positively decides, they enter the Novitiate which lasts for two years. (They have no Aspirancy or Postulancy) It is followed by Juniorate for two years at the end of which they make the Solemn Profession.
    During the period of probation, they do not have to leave the Congregation/Order to which they belong. And if they wish to discontinue our life, or if the Community disapproves them, they can go back to the former Congregation/Order.

  • Do you accept women from overseas?

    Although the founding Sisters were Spaniards, we do not have any foreigner at present. Moreover, the Church recently discouraged foreign recruitment.

  • Do you have a sense of humour and enjoy life?

    Yes, of course. St. Teresa of Avila very much encourages it. “God save us from gloomy saints”, are her words. And you won’t survive this type of life without the sense of humour.

  • How cloistered are you?

    We have Papal Enclosure which means that the laws of enclosure are determined by the Holy See. Enclosure is not an absolute but a means of helping us live our vocation to the full! We need this Sacred Space to live this vocation of intercessory prayer and contemplative life.

  • How do you earn your living?

    Divine Providence always provides us if we let Him! We also make Hosts (the Eucharistic Bread), embroidery items etc., and besides, we run a dairy.

  • Do you wear the habit all the time?

    Yes, we wear the Carmelite Habit. For manual work we wear an apron over it.

  • How you care for the old and sick Sisters?

    We care for our older nuns ourselves. It would be unfair to confine them to a “Home for the Aged” or a “Care Home” after having spent their entire life in and for the Community.
    As for the other sick Sisters: Doctors come to the Monastery and treat them. In serious cases, they are allowed to seek treatment in hospitals.

  • How good is your library?

    Quite good – mainly the books on Carmelite Spirituality, Biblical Studies and other books on spirituality.

  • Do you keep silence at all times?

    We have two recreation periods each day. Outside of those times we strive to keep silence as much as possible. From after Compline (the Night Prayer) until Lauds (Morning Prayer) is what we call “Strict Silence".

  • Do you keep your own names or are you given one?

    The custom of changing the names at Baptism as well as of dropping the surnames and of taking another name began with the Reform in 1562. The change of names symbolizes a new life in Religious Life; and dropping the surname is to avoid social class distinction. In Carmel, “all must be friends, all must be loved, all must be held dear, all must be helped, all must be equal”.

  • How much time do you spend in prayer?

    Each sister has about two hours of mental prayer. We are also faithful to the Liturgy of the Hours (the Divine Office) at different parts of the day. So in total we pray about six to seven hours daily. However, our Rule prescribes to pray without ceasing, and the prayer of the heart continues throughout the day.

  • Do you have any special devotions?

    The monastic life is rooted in the Holy Mass and the Divine Office. Though we don’t have a lot of devotions, we keep the devotions proper to different liturgical seasons, First Friday of the month, May Devotion, devotion to St. Joseph in March, to Sacred Heart in June etc.

  • Do you have to be able to sing to join your community?

    No, but we believe that everyone can sing and it’s just a matter of learning how. If a Sister doesn’t know how to sing, she has to be willing to learn! “To sing is to pray twice”.

  • Do you use the internet?

    The Prioress and the Sister-in-Charge of official correspondence are using the internet.

  • Do you watch TV?

    According to our Constitutions: “The use of radio or television is prohibited, except in special circumstances of a religious character”

  • How often do you see your families?

    We do not receive any visit during Advent and Lent.

  • Do you have any free time?

    Every day each sister has about two hours of free time - for a siesta, reading, quiet work etc. Sundays are free days (if you aren’t scheduled for the kitchen) . The Community has a Recollection Day once a month, and Annual Retreat for eight days.

  • Do you have holidays?

    Not the way the people usually understand! There are days of extra recreation, a cook-out, extra free-time, etc. but all this revolves around and is centered on our essential aspects of life - Holy Mass and the Divine Office.

  • Do you vote in elections?

    Yes, the Sisters are free to exercise their civil rights and vote. As we have to go out for voting, we are dispensed from the rule of enclosure on such occasions.