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When I was a young man I was in a relationship and fell to the lusts of the flesh. This relationship ended and I turned back to the Lord Christ. I have repented and confessed these sins before my father of confession. I recently went on a retreat to a Coptic Monastery and found myself longing for a monastic life. I spoke to my father of confession about it and he says it may be a good path for me, but for now we are praying and asking for God to reveal His will. Part of me feels that the sins from my past relationship disqualify me from the great blessing of the monastic life and my sin is at all times before me. Is it possible to still pursue a monastic life having fallen to the lust of the flesh previously?

St. John Chrysostom says, "The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints." The monastic life is not for the sinless; otherwise, there would be no monks or nuns. We are all sinners. St. Moses the Strong is one of the greatest examples of a penitent that rose to sainthood and became a leader to other monastics. The righteous St. Macarius the Great refused any kind of praise even as his soul was departing from his body. The monastic life is austere and rigorous, structured and disciplined. Every monk has his own personality and you must live in harmony with all the fathers and brothers. Take time to visit monasteries and ask permission for an extended stay. Most of all, pray that God choses the path of your salvation.