She Had Every Intention of Becoming a Nun
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In June 2016, Rachel, 26, was two months shy of professing temporary vows when she was asked to meet with the Provincial Superior one day after breakfast. She had every intention of being a nun, but it seems God had another vocation in mind for her.
“Before lunch, my family was called, all of my things were packed up, and I was driving back to my parents',” she shares.
Rachel was understandably stunned by her quick departure from the convent but she was open to any plans that God had for her. “God's ways are not our ways,” she adds.
Even though they both were hoping to meet someone "in real life," they both eventually decided to try online dating.
Matthew, 26, was nearly fed-up with dating. A 2013 convert to Catholicism, he had made a sort of deal with God: if he hadn't found his wife by age 30, he would consider becoming a priest, although his heart had always desired marriage and children.
Both Rachel and Matthew’s friends were pushing them to try online dating but neither of them was interested.
Long before entering religious life, Rachel had been a CatholicMatch member. Matthew, on the other hand, had avoided online dating. “I’m a traditionalist and really wanted to just bump into someone and have that love at first sight feeling.”
However, with the difficult dating situation our culture has put young people in, he felt another resource was needed. Rachel and Matthew decided that joining CatholicMatch was another way for God to act, even though they had preferred to meet someone "in real life.”
And God did act, by connecting them to each other.
In the spring of 2017, Rachel was a member for eight months and Matthew was a member for four months when he sent her a message.
“Her eyes and smile were what got me the most—what attracted me to her,” he shares.
Matthew was also attracted to what he calls “her sweet demeanor,” her love for faith and family, and her desire for children. It didn’t hurt that Rachel also loved ice cream!
Rachel counters, “I liked him because of his huge heart that's full of loyalty, passion, faith, perseverance, humor, chivalry. These all of the qualities I've prayed for God to cultivate in my future husband. Those big brown eyes don't hurt either”
With their families on standby (you never know!), they met half-way.
On April 29th, 2017, after a couple of months of communicating through CatholicMatch, they decided to meet halfway. They both lived in Indiana, but there were two hours of driving time between them.
“We were meeting in the middle with open hearts and open arms,” she says.
Matthew’s family was a little leery about his meeting someone so far away, but his friends commented that it was, "about damn time!"
Rachel added, “I had my family and a good friend on standby in case I needed backup, but they all knew I'd made up my mind to meet this man, so I didn't meet much resistance!”
They met for a day consisting of lunch, ice cream, and strolling through a local park. Seeing Rachel in person, it was love at first sight for Matthew.
“I realized that everything I'd prayed for was standing in front of me.”
Rachel, on the other hand, liked Matthew a lot but, as was typical of her personality, she needed longer to come to the same decision.
“But once my mind is made up there's no changing it!”
They say, “From that day we were practically inseparable and spent nearly every weekend together, getting to know each other's family and friends.”
Midnight engagement
On New Year’s Eve 2018, Matthew planned a party with some friends. During the countdown to midnight, he got down on one knee and popped the question.
“I was so excited that I knocked the ring out of his hand!”
Luckily, they quickly found where the ring landed, and they got right back on track amid cheers and noisemakers.
They plan to get married on October 20th, 2018 at St Mary's Navilleton. “We do have a special, secret, departure planned, and we are honeymooning in the Smokies,” she shares.
The couple says, “If you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans, but always remember that His dream for you is your greatest joy!”