Why did her boyfriend dump her for the priesthood?

[Math Is Hard]

My 18-year-old baby sister just got dumped by her boyfriend. The reason: he is going into the priesthood.

This has got to be one of the strangest breakup stories I have ever heard. Poor thing is crying her eyes out. She was crazy about him.

 

[Evo]

My 18-year-old baby sister just got dumped by her boyfriend. The reason: he is going into the priesthood.

This has got to be one of the strangest breakup stories I have ever heard. Poor thing is crying her eyes out. She was crazy about him.

Did she have any clue to his plans? Poor thing, she must be crushed.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Did she have any clue to his plans? Poor thing, she must be crushed.

I think she has been in denial for several months. He had hinted at it once before, but I don't think she took it seriously.

 

[physics girl phd]

Wow -- Tell her one of my friend's brothers drove three women to the nunnery. (The fun of going to a Catholic undergrad was that I heard of this stuff all the time.)

She's 18... tell her to put everything in a box, to pull out someday when her son/daughter has a break-up. It'd be a great story to tell THEN. That's what I decided to do about my first boyfriend when we broke up (I was about the same age as your sis). Of course, then I threw the box away years later... healing takes time. Now I just have the story and a few (very few) letters.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Wow -- Tell her one of my friend's brothers drove three women to the nunnery. (The fun of going to a Catholic undergrad was that I heard of this stuff all the time.)

oh my! I've known a few guys like that!

She's 18... tell her to put everything in a box, to pull out someday when her son/daughter has a break-up. It'd be a great story to tell THEN. That's what I decided to do about my first boyfriend when we broke up (I was about the same age as your sis). Of course, then I threw the box away years later... healing takes time. Now I just have the story and a few (very few) letters.

That's a good idea. Much better than mine. I was just going to buy her a copy of The Thornbirds.

 

[Moonbear]

Wow, that's a tough one, because it's one of those cases where it probably meant there was nothing at all wrong with the relationship, other than he's not allowed to have one anymore. It's kind of hard getting over it by convincing yourself he was a no good jerk and it never would have worked out anyway if he's going into the priesthood.

Tell her there's only one thing left to do, sign up here and join the PF Sisterhood! (Speaking of which, have we determined physics girl's shoe size yet?)

 

[Astronuc]

I was just going to buy her a copy of The Thornbirds.

Geez, talk about pouring salt on the wounds!

Tell her to write the Catholic Church to encourage them to change their position on not allowing priests to be married.

Alternatively, tell her to have her boyfriend become a Unitarian-Universalist. We're very liberal and flexible, but very nice too!

I should point out that Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, and even Albert Schweitzer were Unitarians.

 

[physics girl phd]

Tell her there's only one thing left to do, sign up here and join the PF Sisterhood! (Speaking of which, have we determined physics girl's shoe size yet?)

Moonbear -- you're so sweet! But my foot size is way too large to reveal!

P.S. Just so ya'll know, I'll be changing my online name soon. I'm thinking of going to "3-D" or "Three-D" when I get married in a few weeks-- when I become a (Dr. Debra. D.! -- yep, I'm name changing just cause it sounds cool). I just found and joined Physics forum the WEEK that I defended my thesis, fell in LOVE with the forum :!) and joined it instantly (and "physics girl" is my forum name on a non-physics forum). Now, I few weeks later, I feel so... immodest. :shy:

 

[Ivan Seeking]

The reason: he is going into the priesthood.

That was a favorite line for all of us Catholic guys.

Who knows, maybe he will have a change of heart. I don't know what the drop-out rate is for priests but it's probably pretty high.

I did a quick google

By its nature, seminary training has a high drop-out rate. Once a man realizes he no longer feels called to the priesthood, he is encouraged to discontinue his formation. Only about half the freshmen who enter Conception will ever reach graduation. Conception’s president-rector, Father Benedict Neenan, is quick to stress that, unlike at mainstream schools, dropout rates do not equate with failure.

http://www.conceptionabbey.org/TowerTopics/TTFall05/admintheo.htm

 

[berkeman]

P.S. Just so ya'll know, I'll be changing my online name soon. I'm thinking of going to "3-D" or "Three-D" when I get married in a few weeks-- when I become a (Dr. Debra. D.! -- yep, I'm name changing just cause it sounds cool).

How about D^3

 

[BobG]

I did a quick google

http://www.conceptionabbey.org/TowerTopics/TTFall05/admintheo.htm

By its nature, seminary training has a high drop-out rate. Once a man realizes he no longer feels called to the priesthood, he is encouraged to discontinue his formation. Only about half the freshmen who enter Conception will ever reach graduation. Conception’s president-rector, Father Benedict Neenan, is quick to stress that, unlike at mainstream schools, dropout rates do not equate with failure.

1) 51% of all college students graduate within 5 years, so there's not much difference in the drop out rate. http://www.act.org/news/releases/2002/11-15-02.html

2) What girl would want to marry a college dropout, anyway? She only gets the guy if the guy's a loser!

 

[turbo]

My 18-year-old baby sister just got dumped by her boyfriend. The reason: he is going into the priesthood.

This has got to be one of the strangest breakup stories I have ever heard. Poor thing is crying her eyes out. She was crazy about him.

That's got to stink! She could probably have an easier time if she had been tossed in favor of another young woman that was prettier, nicer to him, more popular, wealthy, etc, etc. Immature people do that kind of stuff all the time, and at least she could say "He's shallow, chasing another girl just because she's got a big chest and flirts." or something similar. How do you rationalize getting dumped by someone who essentially chose "none of the above" over you, especially if you respect him for his faith? Someone nice will come along for her. At age 18, days and weeks can seem like ages, and she may seem "down" for a while - I know you can give her some perspective.

My "niece" (actually my cousin's daughter, but she is closer to me than any other female relative) is getting married next summer at the age of 28. If you look in the dictionary under "cute", she'll be there. She was pursued fairly relentlessly by a couple of guys that were entirely inappropriate for her (including "handsome" and "wealthy") and after several years with a gem of a guy who is the son of a minister and manages a chain restaurant, they are going to tie the knot. I just want them to move to Maine so we can spend more time with them and (hopefully) kick their butts at darts. I have been waiting for this announcement for years.

 

[twisting_edge]

P.S. Just so ya'll know, I'll be changing my online name soon. I'm thinking of going to "3-D" or "Three-D" when I get married in a few weeks--

Be prepared for some extremely low jokes about cup-size from someone whose screen name also coincidentally begins with a 'D'. The fellow apparently has no sense of decorum whatsoever, and would probably be insulted if anyone implied he did.

I would never even imply such a joke, of course.

 

[Anttech]

Not Orthodox then... ohh well

 

[Evo]

Be prepared for some extremely low jokes about cup-size from someone whose screen name also coincidentally begins with a 'D'. The fellow apparently has no sense of decorum whatsoever, and would probably be insulted if anyone implied he did.

You need to learn to use smilies. See, how your meaning is now clear as opposed to without the smiley?

I would never even imply such a joke, of course.

Smilies, I'm telling ya, you need them.

 

[twisting_edge]

You need to learn to use smilies. See, how your meaning is now clear as opposed to without the smiley?

Tsk, tsk. Shouldn't that word be spelt "smiley" in the singular? (Unless, of course, you attend school in either NZ or San Bardino.)

 

[BobG]

You need to learn to use smilies. See, how your meaning is now clear as opposed to without the smiley?

I would never even imply such a joke, of course.

Smilies, I'm telling ya, you need them.

Not to mention, there's something wrong with your 'I'.

I:shy: , on the other hand , am well versed in smilie use .

 

[Evo]

Tsk, tsk. Shouldn't that word be spelt "smiley" in the singular? (Unless, of course, you attend school in either NZ or San Bardino.)

Why, whatever are you talking about?

And it's "spelled", spelt is an ancient form of wheat and is pretty nasty.

And don't use that "I lived in London" excuse.

 

[twisting_edge]

I, on the other hand, am well versed in smilie use.

Specialized fonts and whatnot are all very well and have their place deep in the bowels of marketing departments. But if you cannot make your point without them, you shouldn't oughta be writing inna first place.

I will use bold and italics here and there, mostly to get that true-to-life, arrogant, "you're-too-stupid-to-figure-it-out-by-yourself" tone I use so often when speaking.

Who? Me? Cop a pose? Never happen!

 

[twisting_edge]

And don't use that "I lived in London" excuse.

I read lots of Brit-lit as a kid. (Arthur Ransome is great, isn't he?)

 

[physics girl phd]

Be prepared for some extremely low jokes about cup-size from someone whose screen name also coincidentally begins with a 'D'. The fellow apparently has no sense of decorum whatsoever, and would probably be insulted if anyone implied he did.

Ooh -- I wonder what "danger"ous person that would be?
But if I can gain a "busty" reputation just by becoming "3-D"... WOW.

 

[twisting_edge]

But if I can gain a "busty" reputation just by becoming "3-D"... WOW.

You may wish to reassess your initial enthusiasm after a thorough consideration of precisely with whom such a reputation might lie.

Or not: it does take all kinds, I suppose.

subnote: See, I used a smiley. I tell you, the concessions I make just to keep some people happy are beyond belief. And, yes, that is in fact the smiley I'd intended: I'm just so innocent-looking when I apply that scheiss-essen grin.

 

[Evo]

subnote: See, I used a smiley. I tell you, the concessions I make just to keep some people happy are beyond belief.

And, yes, that is in fact the smiley I'd intended: I'm just so innocent-looking when I apply that scheiss-essen grin.

Yes, you manage to get away with anything.

 

[Moonbear]

I would never even imply such a joke, of course.

Actually, this is the more appropriate smilification of your statement.

 

[twisting_edge]

Actually, this is the more appropriate smilification of your statement.

I recently read an article in the NYT about the difficulties the OED is having with neologisms from the internet. I somehow doubt "smilification" will make the next edition.

I think it is due to be completed sometime around 2014. They are sort of abandoning the idea of "editions", though, and moving to a process of rolling updates by letter. But 2014 is the date they expect to have finished the current cycle so they can start over.

 

[Evo]

Actually, this is the more appropriate smilification of your statement.

I think smilification is a great word.

 

[Office_Shredder]

Moonbear, I think the ironic to literal ratio of the wink is too high to justify its use in the previous post. I think we should start a conference on the mathematics behind smiley use in order to encourage high end industry and government funded research into the proper usage and timeage of said smilies

 

[Moonbear]

Moonbear, I think the ironic to literal ratio of the wink is too high to justify its use in the previous post. I think we should start a conference on the mathematics behind smiley use in order to encourage high end industry and government funded research into the proper usage and timeage of said smilies

You forgot your smilies.

 

[Office_Shredder]

Without a proper certification and ISO 9000 process ensuring smiley efficiency and workplace decency, I have found it effusive to implement a no smiley policy on all posting heretoforth the Commission of Smiley Placement and Acknowledgement Interpretation Naturalization (aka CSPAIN) has filed proper reporting on their findings, along with all relevant paperwork ensuring said reports are complete, objective, and have been filed in triplicateTriplicate is key

 

[zoobyshoe]

My 18-year-old baby sister just got dumped by her boyfriend. The reason: he is going into the priesthood.

This has got to be one of the strangest breakup stories I have ever heard. Poor thing is crying her eyes out. She was crazy about him.

I've thought this out and arrived at the following:

breaking up = hard

math=hard

therefore:

breaking up = math

therefore: your sister just needs to balance her side of the equation by becoming a nun.

 

[turbo]

Smilies, I'm telling ya, you need them.

What's with the slimies? You're either slimy or you're not and your intent is misinterpreted to taste or not. Heads-up for the slimy!

 

[Astronuc]

your sister just needs to balance her side of the equation by becoming a nun.

This has real possibilities - priest - sister. Hmmmm.

 

[zoobyshoe]

This has real possibilities - priest - sister. Hmmmm.

Evo's cheating on her vow of celibacy all the time, in front of the whole forum. Seems to be working. The Sister Of Math Is Hard could learn a lesson in the value of making herself seem unavailable.

(Boy, she's going to have a cumbersome username when she joins PF to be accepted into the sisterhood novitiate. And the sisterhood roster: Mother Superior Evo, Sister Moonbear, Sister Math Is Hard, Sister Sister Of Math Is Hard.)

 

[Evo]

Evo's cheating on her vow of celibacy all the time, in front of the whole forum.

WHEN? Did I miss something, did I sleep through it?

(Boy, she's going to have a cumbersome username when she joins PF to be accepted into the sisterhood novitiate. And the sisterhood roster: Mother Superior Evo, Sister Moonbear, Sister Math Is Hard, Sister Sister Of Math Is Hard.)

 

[Moonbear]

did I sleep through it?

Darn, I hate when that happens!

 

[Math Is Hard]

huh? what vow of celibacy? was that on the checklist?

 

[Gelsamel Epsilon]

My 18-year-old baby sister just got dumped by her boyfriend. The reason: he is going into the priesthood.

This has got to be one of the strangest breakup stories I have ever heard. Poor thing is crying her eyes out. She was crazy about him.

Remind her that at least he didn't leave her because he didn't like her, or stopped loving her or something. He just did it because he holds his God above everything else in his life, like a good catholic would do.

 

[physics girl phd]

Triplicate is key

The gov't will then just lose it three times!

-- The future D-cubed

 

[zoobyshoe]

huh? what vow of celibacy? was that on the checklist?

Page 3 of your I Hereby Sell My Soul To Evo contract, paragraph 5, small print, yup. It's there: "In order to foster and maintain a level of aggressiveness sufficient to instantly smack miscreants with frozen salmon and other fish whenever called upon to do so, I hereby vow to completely refrain from sexual relations and sexual acts and sexual behavior of any and all kinds."

I warned you not to join, Math!

You didn't realize it, but now you're really a nun!

 

[Manchot]

I had two friends of mine go into the seminary. When I found out, I had two completely different reactions for each. For one of them, I wasn't too surprised, though I thought that he should've gone into physics or engineering. For the other, my jaw literally dropped to the floor. He was someone that I had known since I was five or six and had lived next door to me for the past six years, but the priesthood was the last thing I expected from him. Granted, I hadn't really hung out with him in high school, but I still saw him regularly in classes, and it was quite a shock. Since then, my family and I have come up with all sorts of cynical reasons as to why he might have decided to become a priest (but I won't repeat those).

All in all, out of ten people going to the local seminary in the entire metropolitan area, three of them came from my high school. I guess that's what I get for attending a Jesuit school.

 

[Astronuc]

Page 3 of your I Hereby Sell My Soul To Evo contract, paragraph 5, small print, yup. It's there: "In order to foster and maintain a level of aggressiveness sufficient to instantly smack miscreants with frozen salmon and other fish whenever called upon to do so, I hereby vow to completely refrain from sexual relations and sexual acts and sexual behavior of any and all kinds."

Of course, as always, there is a loophole. That's why lawyers exist.

Just check paragraph 6.6.6.

 

[twisting_edge]

WHEN? Did I miss something, did I sleep through it?

I believe discretion is distinctly the better part of valor for me on this one.

(to self: "do not drive the truck through the conversational opening, do not drive the mac truck through the opening,...)

 

[Astronuc]

(to self: "do not drive the truck through the conversational opening, do not drive the mac truck through the opening,...)

Need to add - "Do not operate machinery or heavy equipment while under the influence."

Also, exercise caution when attempting to influence.

Know when to duck , and when to keep mouth shut .