Signs Of Vocation

[Julie de Sales]

In your opinion, which are the signs that you have a religious vocation or that you have to enter in a specific order? The most important thing is the desire, or it is better to think more rationally in choosing a state of life? It’s necessary to feel at home and to adapt quickly at the schedule of the nuns when you visit them, or this things are less important? Which signs do you perceive in your life that tell you you have a religious vocation?

[SstrAli]

Many religious order community websites will have a page on "signs that you might be called to religious life" usually under the "vocations" page.

Here is an article that might be helpful for you: [url="http://www.lafayettecarmelites.org/god_calling.php"]http://www.lafayettecarmelites.org/god_calling.php[/url]

[mantellata]

Well a desire is a place to start, followed by the health and emotional maturity to undertake such a sacrifice.

Then I would say, in spending time with them - which life feels most like a "fit" for who you are and what you understand to be the gift God is asking you to give? While consideration of the apostolate (if an active order) is not out of order - still it should not be the most important part of the decision as God may have new ways of expanding your abilities and horizons. I would say the most important factor is - is the community blessed by the Church, is it doing God's holy work (through prayer, holiness of life etc..) Does their horarium / way of life help you to invest your gifts -- but also provide formation that will help you to grow closer to God, and pare away your shortcomings? How do they treat their elderly members? If there is an active apostolate - is it about doing the work of the Lord or is it about achieving a quasi-celebrity status? Are you able to communicate easily with the members? Do you feel they understand you and you understand them? Is there a family spirit that attracts you?

And just to reiterate.... do you have a sense of "I fit here"? Or "I'm coming home?"

If so -- jump..... living the life for awhile will be the best test.

[i<3franciscans]

If instead of imagining yourself with a different[i] last[/i] name you are imagining yourself with a [i]religious[/i] name.

[SstrAli]

[url="http://www.religious-vocation.com/"]http://www.religious-vocation.com/[/url]

The above link might also be a good article to read.

[To Jesus Through Mary]

Also you might want to speak with a spiritual director or confessor about discernment. God speaks to souls differently. They are trained to be able to help you uncover the still quiet voice of God in your heart. Also Fr Tim Gallagher is a renowned author on St. Ignatius' spiritual exercises and discernment of spirits. His books were very helpful for me http://www.frtimothygallagher.org/books.

God bless your discernment!!

[ACS67]

[quote name='mantellata' timestamp='1347217600' post='2480659']
Well a desire is a place to start, followed by the health and emotional maturity to undertake such a sacrifice.

Then I would say, in spending time with them - which life feels most like a "fit" for who you are and what you understand to be the gift God is asking you to give? While consideration of the apostolate (if an active order) is not out of order - still it should not be the most important part of the decision as God may have new ways of expanding your abilities and horizons. I would say the most important factor is - is the community blessed by the Church, is it doing God's holy work (through prayer, holiness of life etc..) Does their horarium / way of life help you to invest your gifts -- but also provide formation that will help you to grow closer to God, and pare away your shortcomings? How do they treat their elderly members? If there is an active apostolate - is it about doing the work of the Lord or is it about achieving a quasi-celebrity status? Are you able to communicate easily with the members? Do you feel they understand you and you understand them? Is there a family spirit that attracts you?

And just to reiterate.... do you have a sense of "I fit here"? Or "I'm coming home?"

If so -- jump..... living the life for awhile will be the best test.
[/quote]
Mantellata,
This was very helpful. I have copied it and saved it for future use. The bit you said about formation struck me as I decided against a particular community for this very reason, i.e. they had no formation in place. They had postulants who had no formal class time, did not study the rule of their founder, nothing. They are a new community mind you but still, there was a postulant who had been there over a year and she had no formation at all and there was no immediate plans in the future to remedy this. I had a sense that this was not "right" and now that I have read your post I know I made the right decision. Thank you.

[mantellata]

Happy I could help. Formation is key in my books and one of the reasons why I personally shy away from new groups unless they themselves are founders from another community with solid formation or have received solid formation from another community. You can't give what you do not first possess.

[emmaberry]

[quote name='mantellata' timestamp='1347217600' post='2480659']
Does their horarium / way of life help you to invest your gifts -- but also provide formation that will help you to grow closer to God, and [b]pare away your shortcomings?[/b][/quote]

All of mantellata's post, but definitely THIS. It can be hard to narrow down orders, which is recommended before making community visits, though I'm sure some discerners visit a 'hodge-podge' of communities before discerning a certain order. It is usually done the first way because most of us are pinching our pennies, so a community must be discerned as much as possible from a distance before a visit is made.

One thing that so helped me realize I was a Franciscan was not a fluttering heart when I thought of Saint Francis-it was that the Rule of Saint Francis and the general life of Franciscans is what will help me to be most perfect, as it emphasizes aspects that counteract my greatest sinful tendencies. I am naturally arrogant and ego-centrical. The Franciscan life of 'littleness' (Franciscans are the 'tiny poor people!') really speaks to me and my most grievous faults.. Not that other orders do not focus on humility, but there are nuances to the three vows and their daily application between the different orders. The religious is, after all, a life lived in the pursuit of perfection. All vocations point to this, but the religious life has this for its most immediate and direct aim.

I am having trouble thinking of analogies with other orders, but I am sure they are there! Maybe something like: If you lean towards laziness, the Missionaries of Charity will work you hard and form you into someone who perpetually gives of themselves (if that is where God is calling you!). Or if you lean towards superiority in knowledge, you could check out the Dominicans, who focus on learning not for themselves but to pass onto others so that the truth of Christ can be spread.

It may be helpful for you to do some soul-searching, humbly recognize your most basic faults, and research communities/orders with this in mind.

Edited September 10, 2012 by emmaberry

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='emmaberry' timestamp='1347246201' post='2480864']
All of mantellata's post, but definitely THIS. It can be hard to narrow down orders, which is recommended before making community visits, though I'm sure some discerners visit a 'hodge-podge' of communities before discerning a certain order. It is usually done the first way because most of us are pinching our pennies, so a community must be discerned as much as possible from a distance before a visit is made.

One thing that so helped me realize I was a Franciscan was not a fluttering heart when I thought of Saint Francis-it was that the Rule of Saint Francis and the general life of Franciscans is what will help me to be most perfect, as it emphasizes aspects that counteract my greatest sinful tendencies. I am naturally arrogant and ego-centrical. The Franciscan life of 'littleness' (Franciscans are the 'tiny poor people!') really speaks to me and my most grievous faults.. Not that other orders do not focus on humility, but there are nuances to the three vows and their daily application between the different orders. The religious is, after all, a life lived in the pursuit of perfection. All vocations point to this, but the religious life has this for its most immediate and direct aim.

I am having trouble thinking of analogies with other orders, but I am sure they are there! Maybe something like: If you lean towards laziness, the Missionaries of Charity will work you hard and form you into someone who perpetually gives of themselves (if that is where God is calling you!). Or if you lean towards superiority in knowledge, you could check out the Dominicans, who focus on learning not for themselves but to pass onto others so that the truth of Christ can be spread.

It may be helpful for you to do some soul-searching, humbly recognize your most basic faults, and research communities/orders with this in mind.
[/quote]

I agree with you about this! With my prospective order, the Sisters are missionaries and you can be sent to Africa or Europe (or back to the States). For me, my weakness is being away from my comfort zone. Once I felt the supreme joy and peace with them that I had not felt with any other Sisters, I knew God would provide the grace I need in order to live the life successfully. Does it still scare me? Of course! Life is not without its uncertainties, but I have matured much in the past few years and I believe I am ready to make that commitment that I wasn't able to before. My mom certainly sees it within me as does my pastor.

The strangest thing is that I kept telling God and myself that I would never be a missionary (for very selfish reasons)! I had no interest in traveling to different countries to preach the Gospel (but I [u]did[/u] want to travel). Now it's the one thing that I can see myself doing!

Edited September 10, 2012 by MaterMisericordiae

[Julie de Sales]

One thing that so helped me realize I was a Franciscan was not a fluttering heart when I thought of Saint Francis-it was that the Rule of Saint Francis and the general life of Franciscans is what will help me to be most perfect, as it emphasizes aspects that counteract my greatest sinful tendencies. I am naturally arrogant and ego-centrical. The Franciscan life of 'littleness' (Franciscans are the 'tiny poor people!') really speaks to me and my most grievous faults.. Not that other orders do not focus on humility, but there are nuances to the three vows and their daily application between the different orders. The religious is, after all, a life lived in the pursuit of perfection. All vocations point to this, but the religious life has this for its most immediate and direct aim.

Thanks for sharing this, it really helped me! I will try to go this way, to discover which spirituality counteracts my faults and bad tendencies

[Julie de Sales]

One thing that so helped me realize I was a Franciscan was not a fluttering heart when I thought of Saint Francis-it was that the Rule of Saint Francis and the general life of Franciscans is what will help me to be most perfect, as it emphasizes aspects that counteract my greatest sinful tendencies. I am naturally arrogant and ego-centrical. The Franciscan life of 'littleness' (Franciscans are the 'tiny poor people!') really speaks to me and my most grievous faults.. Not that other orders do not focus on humility, but there are nuances to the three vows and their daily application between the different orders. The religious is, after all, a life lived in the pursuit of perfection. All vocations point to this, but the religious life has this for its most immediate and direct aim.

Thanks for sharing this, it really helped me! I will try to go this way, to discover which spirituality counteracts my faults and bad tendencies

[TheresaThoma]

I think another consideration is figuring out the difference between liking a community and being called to that community. There are many communities out there that I admire and like but I know I am not called to them. For a while I volunteered at a Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home. I loved being there and helping out but I realized I wasn't called there. That was so helpful in discerning, I could use that experience to decide if I was called to a community.
If there is a community near by that you don't feel particularly called to but you can visit easily go ahead and do it. It may help you figure out liking versus being called.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='TheresaThoma' timestamp='1347292439' post='2480982']
I think another consideration is figuring out the difference between liking a community and being called to that community. There are many communities out there that I admire and like but I know I am not called to them. For a while I volunteered at a Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home. I loved being there and helping out but I realized I wasn't called there. That was so helpful in discerning, I could use that experience to decide if I was called to a community.
If there is a community near by that you don't feel particularly called to but you can visit easily go ahead and do it. It may help you figure out liking versus being called.
[/quote]

I am glad you brought this up because this is what happened to me twice. I went to work with the Carmelites of the Divine Heart of Jesus in East Chicago, IN at their foster home. I had already applied to enter and I had debt holding me back that I believe was $1,600 at the time (personal debt from credit and loans). I thought I'd not be able to enter until October 2010 until the Provincial Superior and the Novice Mistress asked me to work in the foster home for 6 weeks to earn money to pay off my debts and live with the Sisters. I stayed less than 3 days and I couldn't eat, sleep, or work so I knew that this was not where God was calling me. I loved the Sisters but I knew that I was not ready for a commitment yet. To this day, I don't believe I was ever called there. It was purely my obsession with Carmelites that led me to discern with them.

I visited the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal the following year and thought that I'd find my home with them. I loved everything about them but I remained neutral the entire visit. I never felt the sense of "coming home." At the end, after speaking with the Vocation Director and Fr. Andrew, I knew that my search would continue. I had a difficult time getting past that one because I truly love the Sisters with all of my heart, but God has another community in mind.

The community I am hoping to enter and am already an aspirant for is even better than I could have hoped for. They came to my parish instead of me visiting them and it was like God gave me a swift kick in the ego because I honestly thought my discernment was over until He proved otherwise.

[emmaberry]

[quote name='TheresaThoma' timestamp='1347292439' post='2480982']
I think another consideration is figuring out the difference between liking a community and being called to that community. There are many communities out there that I admire and like but I know I am not called to them. For a while I volunteered at a Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home. I loved being there and helping out but I realized I wasn't called there. That was so helpful in discerning, I could use that experience to decide if I was called to a community.
If there is a community near by that you don't feel particularly called to but you can visit easily go ahead and do it. It may help you figure out liking versus being called.
[/quote]

Yes! Even knowing my vocation is NOT to the NDs/DSMMEs/SrsofLife, I still love to follow their websites and gush over their entrances/professions and lovely habits. You are so right that a girl 'crush' on a community because of exteriors, or just because you really value what the community is doing, does not mean you are called there. I fear that some girls are [s]s[/s] so drawn in by exteriors, and then have dashed hopes once they enter and realize that externals are a very small part of the community's substance.

Great advice!

Edited September 10, 2012 by emmaberry