By Rosie-Gertie
Whether or not a person who leaves religious life discerned that on her own, it may feel like a disappointment on some level. Here you were, ready to give yourself away in the life of religious vows, and now you are no longer in the community you joined. You trek back to the secular world wondering, “What’s this all about?” You may feel like Eliza Doolittle who cried out, “What’s to become of me?” Perhaps for some it may feel that leaving religious life is simply an ending, with no new beginning in sight. But each of us is called to be a saint, and there are a number of holy people who left religious life or seminary (or were never permitted to enter), only to find their vocation elsewhere and become persons of exemplary holiness.
For the encouragement of all who are a part of Leonie’s Longing, I thought I would start a list of saints, blesseds, and other exemplary persons who at one time aspired to the religious life but were unable to enter, or were in seminary or religious life and left.
+St. Frances Xavier Cabrini – was turned away in her youth from entering religious life due to poor health; she later founded her own order.
+Bl. Margaret of Costello – expelled from a religious community, she became a 3rd order Dominican.
+St. Zelie Martin – she had been rejected by a religious order and became a holy wife, and mother to St. Therese of Lisieux.
+St. Louis Martin – could not join a monastery because he could not master Latin and became a saintly husband, and father to St. Therese of Lisieux.
+St. Anthony Mary Claret – sickness kept him from remaining in the Jesuit novitiate; he later became a bishop and founded a religious order.
+Fr. Isaac Thomas Hecker – had been expelled from the Redemptorists, then was asked by Rome to form a new community, which became known as the Paulists.
+Judge William P. Clark – had entered seminary then left and became a top advisor to President Reagan
+Elizabeth – a friend of mine who could not become a religious due to a chronic health condition…now she is a consecrated virgin with the Blessed Sacrament in her home.
+Sister Luitgard Kussman, OSB – member of Benedictine nuns in Colorado who died a few years ago; health problems led to her being released from her religious vows as a Missionary in 1945. Some years later she entered the contemplative Benedictines.
+Pope St. John Paul II—wanted to enter the Discalced Carmelites, but due to the war in Poland, they were not accepting novices at the time of his inquiry. Looks like God had other plans!
If anyone knows of others, PLEASE share so that we all can be encouraged and inspired even more!
St. Luigi Orione: left in postulancy, first the Franciscans, then the Salesians, ended up founding several institutes for men and women.
+ San Rafael Arnaiz Baron. My reluctant friend. (He wouldnt let me get away from him…) In and out of the Trappist monastery in Spain 4 times due to war and his poor health.
My Confirmation saint! And yeah, he finds you, not the other way around 😉
That is so true! Elias decided he was going to Direct my journey & nothing I said deterred him!
St. Mary of Jesus Crucified, OCD – She was denied entrance to the Daughters of Charity and the Poor Clares, but the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition received her as a postulant. When it came time to discern her entrance to the novitiate, the vote was not in her favor. After the unfavorable vote, one of the sisters who was preparing to transfer to Carmel proposed the idea of having Mariam enter there as well, and they were both received. “At the feet of Mary, my mother dear, I came back to life.”
St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, MC – Left the Sisters of Loreto to found the Missionaries of Charity
St. Thomas More pursued consecrated life early in his law career in London. From the Catholic Encyclopedia “It is certain that he went to live near the London Charterhouse and often joined in the spiritual exercises of the monks there. He wore ‘a sharp shirt of hair next his skin, which he never left off wholly’ (Cresacre More), and gave himself up to a life of prayer and penance. His mind wavered for some time between joining the Carthusians or the Observant Franciscans, both of which orders observed the religious life with extreme strictness and fervour. In the end, apparently with the approval of Colet, he abandoned the hope of becoming a priest or religious, his decision being due to a mistrust of his powers of perseverance. Erasmus, his intimate friend and confidant, writes on this matter as follows (Epp. 447):
‘Meanwhile he applied his whole mind to exercises of piety, looking to and pondering on the priesthood in vigils, fasts and prayers and similar austerities. In which matter he proved himself far more prudent than most candidates who thrust themselves rashly into that arduous profession without any previous trial of their powers. The one thing that prevented him from giving himself to that kind of life was that he could not shake off the desire of the married state. He chose, therefore, to be a chaste husband rather than an impure priest.'”
He later married, loved his children deeply, became Chancellor of England, and was martyred for the Faith. He lived his life devoted to learning, acts of penance, raising his children, deep friendship, and service to Our Lord.
Venerable Nano Nagle – Known as “Lady of the Lantern” because of her late night visits, she left the convent to teach Irish children at a time when it was forbidden to do so. She would later established a convent of her own.
Bl. Peter To Rot, wanted to be a priest but for whatever reason it didn’t work out. Married, had kids, became a catechist. Kept the Catholic community together after all the priests were martyred. Then he was martyred.