Why Sr. Natalia Became a Nun | Pints with Aquinas Episode
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- In this episode of Pints with Aquinas, I chat with my dear friend, Sr. Natalia, who is a Byzantine nun. We talk about what it's like to be a religious sister.
WARNING: In this conversation, we get real, real quickly.
If you're a young woman discerning God's will in your life, then this conversation is ABSOLUTELY for you. Or if you're someone who just loves conversion stories about people radically loving Jesus, then you're going to LOVE this episode.
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Biggest misconception people have about nuns ... go!
That they are not happy and are old and mean. But they are beautiful with beautiful souls
That they go there because they give up on life in the world. An escape, so to speak.
Escapism. They isolate themselves and don't engage with those who need to hear the gospel. This is a big misconceptiom as I am a protestant so I've had very little contact with nuns.
That they only choose this vocation because they aren’t likely to get married :/
That they're ugly
Nuns don’t need makeup because they have Christ as their foundation.
Ha haa, that's a good one!
HAHA!
😂
Got eem lol
This is lit!
Sr. Natalia’s comments about not being married or having a family was gut wrenching and amazing to listen to. How she discussed talking and listening to Jesus was awesome. God bless her. I loves nuns.
Yeah! I really felt that 😢💕
i had an interior ugly cry...it was pain and joy for Sr. Natalia. Thank you Sr. for praying for the world.
What a waste of life.
@@svetlanabarrow6026 what an unnecessary comment...
@@konyvnyelv. courage to do the right thing. Courage to be a good parent not just a parent.
I might not fully understand Sister's pain... As she is a woman.
Yet even now as a very young Priest I can say it truly hurts!
Jesus never leaves your side, even when you can't feel it. God bless Father
You are a hero
We are so grateful for you! I hope you find comfort for that sacrifice.
If you feel like that why are you a priest? Just another career choice?
Yes true but if it's the Lord directing, you should be good. May Not be easy living either way. Best to follow God's direction.
Hearing Sr. Natalia talk about her struggles was so helpful and comforting! I am discerning a religious vocation and I have struggled with everything she talked about...I am coming more and more to the realization that a deep desire to be a wife and mother is actually the foundation of a truly fruitful religious vocation...we are all called to be wives and mothers in some way. The interview gave me much peace as it seems to confirm what the Lord has been putting on my heart.
I feel the exact same way.
Me 3!
Me 4.. I always imagined to b married & hav a family.. since it hasn’t happened th desire still persists.. I never ever thought to b a nun.. but to be single forever feel obscene to me.. being a wife & mother is to me equivalent to being female.. & being a foster parent on my own doesn’t feel true to me.. plus not having met a proper man.. I’m blown away by th thought & yet feels totally natural as a very appropriate option.. i.e. next step. (Do any of u ladies hav leads as to how to proceed?..).
Feel free to email me: gloriadc@yahoo.com.
@@gloriamariadc7757 I was listening to a talk last night about Christian marriage & a question was asked @ the end of the priest--what about single women waiting? What are they to do? He lamented the situation in his own parish saying how many wonderful women were unable to find suitable husbands, that it is indeed a growing problem in our society (for many reasons). He encouraged them to remain at home with their family meanwhile, if possible, or to live with other women as opposed to living alone (which he said can set a woman up to live alone for life). The monastic life used to be much more visible in society also, so men & women explored that option far more than we do in this generation. I never thought about it before either, but I realized who my life actually belongs to, & I've been focusing on growing spiritually above all. To that end, I would say if you haven't already, find a good priest & seek some spiritual direction in counsel with him. Perhaps visit a monastery on a retreat to get acquainted with the life first hand. Pray. I know that a religious vocation isn't what we are all called to, but there are steps to take in discerning this. Again, I think talking to your spiritual father will be the way to start exploring this possibility. God be with you!!
@@lorraine5800 Thank u for this reply. Super appreciated. Yes.. single women in the church end up feeling like lepars & outcast (or just not belonging).. clinging to ways of being of service. I totally agree w staying w/ one's family.. but there's many of us who are older in age (over 40) who live alone & our families are in their own situation, &/or don't lead a life of faith.. I've lived w/ women but hav had the same challenge that they don't want to talk abt faith.. for that reason I live alone. I definitely will do what u said re: getting a spiritual director on this & pray about it specifically on what God's wish is for me. Thank u.. & yes I hope to look into retreats at specific convents. Many blessings to u as well Dear one!
You can feel her happiness and contentment. Low key one of the best interviews I’ve listened to on your program Mr. Fradd
Her whole energy is vibrant and beautiful. The rapport in this video is brilliant. One of my fave vids to date.
27:14 That is a magnificent point. Reminds me of a somewhat related G.K. Chesterton quote: “Feminism is the muddled idea that a woman is a slave when she helps her husband, and free when she serves an employer.”
erravii that quote is an anathema to the ideology preached in every public school and university in the west
That's a criticism of capitalism, not feminism, GKC. I'm sure he knew, because he was not at all in favour of wage slavery. Of course when he lived conditions were very different.
That does fit the view of feminism today. What sound wisdom that is.
Not all men are th same to marry (or work for).. A woman can leave a bad employer but not necessarily leave a bad husband.. very different.
@@ritawing1064 Yep, it was a criticism of capitalism, but also a misunderstanding of feminism.
Feminism was never pro-capitalist.
This is an incredible woman, unbelievably beautiful human being. Thank you God for her sacrifice.
Why, just why it should be a sacrifice? It should not be that way. Every woman born to be a mother.
@@konyvnyelv. that’s not what I meant. No need to twist my words around. I was not talking about Catholics (anyway I think this sister is from different Christian denomination . I admire men and women who choose that path, but as I woman my heart breaks for them for missing out so much. But I also believe that they make an informed decision and think it trough very carefully before committing to God. Not sure what you mean by catholic’s demanding sacrifices. I never meant that and don’t agree with that.
It was really helpful to hear her express an intense anguish due to her vocation and I empathize with that anguish. My girlfriend and I recently separated-she felt as though she was incompatible with me and that she was a bad girlfriend-and the anguish I feel is...I’m not intelligent enough to articulate it with any eloquence. It feels bad, basically.
The futility of it is what is most striking. It wasn’t a fault of my own which caused the breakup, at least none that she vocalized, and it was purely a matter of how she felt. In retrospect, I greatly respect her for being able to express that, but I still feel crippled by the entire ordeal. It’s like someone took a piece of metal rebar and smashed my shins. But, whenever I heard Natalie speak, especially about how painful her meditations about married life were, it helped me realize that I wasn’t alone. More still, it gave me hope that there is something to look forward to and that there will always be a lingering sadness which tinges the peripheries of our lives. That isn’t a cause for melancholy, though. It helps us understand the love of God and the enormity of His Incarnation. It helps us appreciate God and authentically and truly worship Him!
What’s important is to recognize that life is work, but it is also joy. There is a time to suffer and a time to dance.
I’ll always love my ex-girlfriend. Maybe I’ll never even pursue another woman. Maybe a priest. A celibate monk. Maybe I’ll fly over to Nigeria and become a servant of the people there. Maybe her and I will try again one day. No matter what happens, I’ll suffer, but I’ll also dance.
Blessings to Natalie. She is more strong than I could hope to be right now.
Wow
I watched this interview and was reading the comments, read yours, felt sad for you. I pray and hope your are doing OK now and you are in dancing phase. ✝️🙏❤️
I know this video is a year old but I love it. I am a 35 yr old cloistered nun of 12 years and undergoing fierce temptations to leave solemn vows and return to the world. I know deep down I won’t but on the surface I feel so agitated and don’t want to pray or be at community exercises. If the community of this channel could pray for me I’d be so grateful. I also have terrible health and that makes it worse. I promise all of you my prayers as well. Sr Gemma Rose
Praying specially for you Sr Gemma Rose
How is it going Sr Rose? I will be praying for you
I am doing better. Thank you all for your prayers. We all hit rough patches in our vocations. I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and it had me in a depression. But I’m ok now ☺️🙏🏻
Continued prayers even now. May God strengthen us all in our vocations!
Sister Gemma, I'm glad to hear you're feeling better
What a beautiful and raw interview. I felt for sister’s pain in not being able to have her religious vocation and the vocation if marriage. I guess I always assumed sisters didn’t want marriage and kids.
They are very wise, they Marriaged The Greatest Perfect Husband, and, yes they have kids ! lots of kids, all Consecrated lives through Mary became Spiritual Mothers of humanity, A grace!!!
Married men and women , can join any community becoming 3rd Orders🙏❤🙏
I think Christ places the desire to be bride and mother in the heart of every woman, it is just fulfilled in differed ways through different vocations. She is just living the eschatological reality now whereas the marital bonds of a husband and wife end at the death of one of the spouses. I LOVE that Our Blessed Lady was daughter, virgin, wife, and mother...such beauty and what a model for the Church and all women especially.
As a nun can I jump in? I knew from age 9 I was going to be a religious. When I was in high school I used to imagine my wedding day but try as I might to picture myself walking down the aisle, the only man I could possibly see waiting for me at the end was Jesus. I knew I couldn’t give it away to anyone else. He already had it from such a young age. And when I made my solemn vows and walked down the aisle on the arm of my father, it was Him waiting for me.
God bless this woman.
Exellent episode. Sr. Natalia is just adorable... and that smile, oh boy😅. Thank you both for your openness. Greetings from Finland.
Are there Catholics in Finland?😂
@@joelmontero9439 some, but very few. (And I'm not one of them, yet) The Orthodox church is a state church, besides the Lutheran.
@RC Journeys 👍Moro!😃
@Tom Harry Finland has had small Tatar (sunni muslim) minority since late 1800. They integrated well.
Now, especially after the 2015 migration, we have several different ethnicities of muslims. "Not all" integrate well.
@@mikkis668 are you converting yourself, or just friendly with Catholics?
And, the Orthodox Church in Finland is a state church? Like the Finnish Orthodox Church?
Fr Gregory Pine & Sr Natalia show us that joy that comes from being espoused to Christ. Its so beautiful witnessing their joy.
Ahhh!!!! My son worked at Walter Reed when he became an EMT in the Army! Also, I became a nun because I got divorced and my kids saw my Vocation before I did...I am one of the 7 Sisters lay concecratated! God bless you dear Sister 😇🙏 love your ❤️ holiness!
We need to hear your story!
theticoboy agreed!!!!!!
@@konyvnyelv. I wondered that also
Hey Matt! Your work is helping me a lot. When are you going to talk to Mathew from the Ten Minute Bible Hour?
This would be fantastic
@@mattboyer7466 - TOTALLY agree, Matt!
Y'all Be Safe!
Great suggestion
I agree!
Fantastic interview. Sr. Natalia is so relatable.
JUST BEAUTIFUL! Sister Natalia YOU are beautiful and real! Thank you.
wOw. Sr. Natalia is so inspiring! Her story and conviction yield wisdom every serious Christian can use. I'm a protestant evangelical who is unashamedly getting sucked into this channel. Perusing the many great comments, it's such a nice crowd, too. Thank you!
There is some kind of cloistered Nun community in LA/Hollywood. My Aunt bought some of their cookies once. They were super good! That sadly is my only experience with Nuns. There is so much pain and sickness in the world...We need women like this.
GOD Bless both Matt and Sister Natalia, that they are so content in their chosen life. I am 83 year old cradle Catholic.Have had 12 years of my life with Nuns in both elementary school and high school back then at much earlier time. But Lord watch over both of these I am listening to as they are so happy in their lives -Blessings to them! Amen 🙏
i still think about the sisters who taught me in elementary school as well 🤍
@Matt Fradd, This was probably the best episode I've seen. Very insightful and felt completely genuine.
Great stuff, man.
Peace from the UK.
Felt this so hard on my heart, I´m cryyyyying
I must say, the beard looks Glorious Matt! Loving 'Pints with Aquinas', especially these long talks - Sr. Natalie is wonderful. Thank you for sharing!
I’m so excited to see this!!! I’ve got stuff to do atm, but thank you *so* much! (I’m an 18-year-old, planning on joining the Church this month, who loves to dream about possibly becoming a sister someday. In reality I don’t know what my vocation will be, but am so eager to listen to her story. God bless you both!)
Finally watched...so so good!! It was very helpful. Thank you!
@@Hope-fj4ep have you officially joined the church?
@@GuadalupePicasso Yes I have!! Thank you, it’s been amazing. I actually got to quickly meet Mr. Fradd too, haha
@@Hope-fj4ep awesome, and welcome to the family! I got to see Matt give a talk in Manhattan last year, and he also attends a Byzantine Catholic Church where a friend of mine is the pastor!
Hi, I’m very interested to see how you’re doing and how your vocation is going
OUT....STANDING interview. So raw, real and also faith-filled. Thank you for it.
Sister Natalia is a fantastic woman. Thanks for this conversation, Matt.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Me too.
Its a beautiful interview Matt Fradd, Sr Natalie remind me of late Sr Clare Crockett... Was also thinking her habit esp upper part looks like Burka 😂 ...nice reply Sr Natalia....There are many but only few are chosen. Praise God for Sr Natalia ,may She continue to be a blessing wherever she goes...Beautiful reminder of Getsamane prayer 😍
Thank you for your show. I have never considered religious life but I am thrilled and thankful that others do and often wondered why some do. Sister answered that question for me.
She's so likeable and wise. Really enjoyed this one. God bless Sr. Natalia (and you too Matt)
If I were a young man again, this lady would probably have broken my heart. Great Interview and the right person in the Son of God has her!
YEA SISTER NATALIA! YOU GO GIRL
Love the vulnerability. You're a great interviewer, Matt.
Totally true about prayer: intimacy, not only petitions. 😍 Evident are your loving holiness and honesty and teaching, Sr. Natalia.
So happy for you my dear friend little Sr. Natalia... aka little Vicky. You are such a great blessing and know you are all in our prayers back in Denver.
P.S. told you so
You are both really cool!! I am a protestant but love the devotion and commitment!!
My dearest sister, you discounted a few times your eloquence and intellect. Yet, I remained glued to your speaking as it touched my heart and fed my scholastic intellect. Today, I will rock you gently in my prayers.
Levis Shalom
Great interview! thankyou for sharing your story, Sister. I am currently discerning my vocation and this is just very encouraging and inspiring. God bless you Matt for all the grat content you put out, I´m happy you didn´t die from coronavirus btw, I prayed for u!
I am delighted to discover sister Natalia.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
She is absolutely adorable and genuine! Excellent video. Love the candor!
Beautiful and inspiring sister. May Our Lord Jesus bless her as she grows in love with him.
she is so vibrant. I love her and her voice.
Matt, could you plz do a talk with a consecrated virgin? Yesterday (May 31) was the 50th anniversary of the reintroduction of consecrated virginity and it’s such a beautiful vocation!
Yes! Matt I know a few! I'm going to be consecrated in October (God-willing!) but I know several CV's that would totally talk to Matt.
What's a consecrated virgin?
Can men be CVs?
Chayan Roychoudhury Absolutely!!
@@gloriamariadc7757 where do I search?
Such a beautiful catholic woman! Awesome!
Just lovely, inspirational and fun. The joy in Sister's smile is profound.
Totally true about prayer: intimacy, not only petitions. 😍
You're right. Intimacy! I insist a lot on that. I insist to have perfect love for God not just an imperfect one. I’m publishing a weekly RUclips video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you.
This interview was incredibly beautiful! 👌🏼 The way that you talked about the struggles and sacrifices that you make on a daily basis is not only inspirational but so insightful! ☺️
She looks like an actress i forgot the name, so pretty🥰
"...this marriage is God's will for her, at that point [...] Once I make that commitment, i can now be assured that this is God's will for me. Once you two are married, that IS God's will." What a BEAUTIFUL thing to say, and so reassuring...It warmed my heart Thank you
I almost cry whit this interview, and I don't know why.
men don't cry but real men do. see what I did there?
Ok I’m crying listening to her talk about wanting a family 😭 how incredibly touching.
An extremly wise and beautiful woman. Thank you God for her
Matt, I've seen on your twitter that you're doing an initiative to translate your videos to Spanish. I'm a native Portuguese speaker, have you thought about reaching the lusophone audience?
This interview with Sr. Natalia has been very inspirational. 🙏 Thank you!
God bless you Sr Natalia...you’re personal journey resonated with me !!!!
Matt you have to have her back on the show 💯👌
What an absolutely beautifully honest nun! Thank you for sharing this open and honest account of one the most amazing bride of Jesus!
What a beautiful interview! Thank u both so much💚💚💚
One reason why it's so important for you to ask the obvious questions, what's on everyone's mind but might not ask, is that it defeats the misconception that our faith is brittle or un-thought-out. Giants of the faith have wrestled with all of this before, and I take great comfort in the fact I follow in their footsteps. Hearing your questions, and Sister Natalia's answers, helped me in that way. Thank you.
I just came across this from John Climacus: "So let no one tell me that he is unfit for the monastic life because of the weight and number of his misdeeds, or that because of his addiction to pleasure he must be excused for remaining stuck in his sin. The more putrefaction, the greater the need for treatment, if the uncleanness is to be done away with, for the healthy do not make their way to the doctor's surgery." page 78 Ladder.
"Nor let us abhor or condemn the renunciation due merely to circumstances.......... I have seen seed casually fall on the earth and bear plenty of thriving fruit. And I have seen the opposite, too. I have also seen a person come to a hospital with some other motive, but the courtesy and kindness of the physician overcame him, and being treated with an astringent, he got rid of the darkness that lay on his eyes. Thus for some, the unintentional was stronger and more sure than what was intentional in others." Step 1, On Renunciation of the World.
An Dagda 🙏🏻👌🙏🏻👌🙏🏻👌🙌🏻🙏🏻✨
🙏🏻✨🙏🏻👌🙏🏻✨
So pedophiles still have a chance then 😂🤣😂
Great talk! God bless everyone!
What a beautiful and honest sharing from Sr. Natalia!! Loved it!!
I hope you have her back soon. She's awesome.
I'm a former Trappist monk. It seemed to be a common misconception that we have magical powers. People would ooh and ahh when I came to the guesthouse to gather the laundry and haul it away in a work truck. People are interesting. Their expectations were truly humbling.
I'm pleased to see a young sister with a realistic grasp of people's expectations. Ironically, I was born into the Byzantine church and moved to the Roman church.
I should have mentioned that I am impressed by this young woman and do indeed pray for her perseverance and happiness as is to be understood and provided by Christ our Lord.
Awesome question selection AND answers from Sister Natalia. Loved this episode
Best interview yet. Of course I may be a bit biased.
Amazing talk, the best episode that I have seen in this channel. Looking forward to hear her speak on your channel.
I like her honesty . She is amazing
I'm back here a year on to ask if we can have Sr Natalia back on again!
Oh my goodness! Sr. Natalia rocks!! Her sincere most deep feelings and thoughts are in deed so real!!!
This is wonderful, thanks for making this available
I am an evangelical (United Methodist), and this is a beautiful story. thank you so much for sharing, Sister!!
This was just marvelous! Thank you!!
One of my favorite interviews! Thank you Sister (or Mother now?) for your moving words
Just watched now after having watched the most recent interview. I just love Mother Natalia. I feel such peace listening to her. Matt should interview her at least once a week😁🙏❤️
Beautiful! Thank you for being so vulnerable too, it's been so inspiring to hear about those difficult moments. I feel less alone in mine.
About the monasteries/convent appellations. Even in North America in Quebec you have Augustinian nuns monasteries, Ursuline nuns monasteries, St Clare nuns monasteries, Dominican nuns monasteries, Carmelite nuns monasteries. Basically it's used a lot more than convent and often when translated in English it becomes convent.
In the United States, too. In July 2019, I spent 5 days on a self-guided silent retreat at Our Lady of Beatitude Monastery in the Catskills Mtns of New York, which is a women’s monastery.
Thank you for this interview with Sister (Mother?) Natalia. It's amazing to see and hear a beautiful and intelligent young woman such as Sister who go against the culture and dedicate their life to Jesus. May I ask if the members of Sister's Byzantine Rite Catholic monastery are drawn towards the Eastern rites because they were born of Ukrainian, Croatian, Romanian, or Hungarian ethnic or born from a family of such ethnicity? Thank you.
Thanks Matt…another excellent show! Love Mother Natalia!!
God bless you once again !!!
Love her tranquil joy, and also her humor! "Chris the bridegroom", lol
Gotta say, the eyebrow game on that nun had me entranced.
God bless you, Sister Natlia. Christ walks with you wherever you go. Thank you for your wisdom and devotion. Deus vult.
I loved this episode. Sister Natalia was smart, humble and real!
I remember when I was in the Western Theo-Seminary, right across the street from Catholic U. Nearby, down the street in beautiful NW DC, there used to be a Russian Orthodox Bookstore, and a monk was working there, I bought an Icon of St Anne & Joachim there. What makes me think of this is, here was this young guy in a monk's robe and had a Dostoevski like beard and the man was from Nebraska, didn't speak a word of Russian, but he must have known some Slovanik, but he was a lot like Sr Natalia. So Eastern looking, and yet your typical American.
We have to guard your soul, yourself. I do take care of my marriage. Avoid temptation.
Loved this, both of you!!❤❤🙏🤗🤗
At first I thought this was an old video and you were interviewing Sr. Claire Crockett. Sr. Natalia reminds me of Sr. Claire. Hopefully another Saint in the making.
Really fascinating. It is sort of why she became a nun but it was so much more. Loved the discussion on secular's culture understanding or lack of understanding of chastity, desires and happiness. Great conversation.
This was so awesome I learned so much
Lovely interview! Into an otherwise unknown perspective to men. Thank you
Thanks so much! Great discussion!
this is an incredible beautiful interview fully of reality , truth and Grace
She's so real and so cute as well. Glory be to GOD for her vocation !
This is so interesting and helpful.
That’s funny that she thought beautiful couldn’t be nuns... when I went to seminary to be a priest I thought that I was so ugly I HAD to!
But life made some turns and rather than getting ordained I am married and have a baby on the way. And still ugly 😇
“And still ugly”🤣😆😂
I loved when you asked how she was and she said ' good! Christ is risen!' Very good start! :) and My heart was touched when she said she has given her heart to Jesus and sees Him as her husband..... I wonder if it's truly possible to do this as a married woman? Any thoughts?
You have no idea how this have helped me, Mthr Natalia, and I’m only a little over halfway through! Your testimony before being tonsured is what I’m going through as an engaged woman to a devout Catholic man…. the inverse of it, if that makes sense? I know my fiancé would be supportive if I truly am called to be a nun, but I feel like the devil is using several tactics to prevent us from pursuing our vocation as husband/father and wife/mother, including the fact that the cloistered life has always appealed to me and I think I can do well in community life (that doesn’t mean that’s what God is calling me to do!)