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Good Books For Discernment?


Carson

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Hi! I'm looking for good books for discernment into sisterhood. Do you know of any? Thanks!

 

Also, what happens to all of the topics after 5 pages in Vocation Station? Do they just disappear or can you still find them?

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Catherine Therese

Three great places to start:

 

1. In the School of the Holy Spirit - by Fr. Jacques Philippe

This wonderful little book is a helpful tool for reflecting upon how it is that the Holy Spirit speaks to you and prompts you, and how to 'listen' for that prompting and respond. It's a wonderful aid for discernment, very accessible, fairly short. 

 

2. And You Are Christ's - by Fr. Thomas Dubay

This book is a great help for learning about what it means to be a consecrated woman - the reality of consecration is more about who you are before God as He made you, and much less about what we do, what we give up, how we live, etc. Those things are important, but what you do is subservient to who you are. As a starting point in understanding your identity should you become a religious, this work is a must.

 

3. But I Have Called You Friends - by Mother Mary Francis

This little book offers a series of grounded and sensible reflections on the realities of life in community and how to love yourself, your neighbour and the Lord in an ordered way. Wonderful preparation for life in community.

 

Prayers for you!

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Catherine Therese

oooo do you ship overseas? i haven't encountered that book before, I'd love to have a look!

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Sr Mary Catharine OP

Yes, we do. If you put in an order the shipping listed is probably much more than actual shipping. If you email as at giftshop@summitdominicans.org Sister can give you the real shipping cost.

 

God bless you!
SMC

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brandelynmarie

Hello. :wave: You can Google & "resurrect" a thread if it's dropped off as long as it's not locked. I often look up topics I'm interested in by typing something like "phatmass discernment" or "phatmass Benedictine". If it's too old, I don't recommend resurrecting it, but starting a new one like you did here. Hope this helps. :)

Edited by brandelynmarie
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Three great places to start:

 

1. In the School of the Holy Spirit - by Fr. Jacques Philippe

This wonderful little book is a helpful tool for reflecting upon how it is that the Holy Spirit speaks to you and prompts you, and how to 'listen' for that prompting and respond. It's a wonderful aid for discernment, very accessible, fairly short. 

 

2. And You Are Christ's - by Fr. Thomas Dubay

This book is a great help for learning about what it means to be a consecrated woman - the reality of consecration is more about who you are before God as He made you, and much less about what we do, what we give up, how we live, etc. Those things are important, but what you do is subservient to who you are. As a starting point in understanding your identity should you become a religious, this work is a must.

 

3. But I Have Called You Friends - by Mother Mary Francis

This little book offers a series of grounded and sensible reflections on the realities of life in community and how to love yourself, your neighbour and the Lord in an ordered way. Wonderful preparation for life in community.

 

Prayers for you!

 

Thanks for the prayers! All three of those books look amazing! I'll try to find them in a Catholic bookstore that I'm going to soon. 

 

Hello. :wave: You can Google & "resurrect" a thread if it's dropped off as long as it's not locked. I often look up topics I'm interested in by typing something like "phatmass discernment" or "phatmass Benedictine". If it's too old, I don't recommend resurrecting it, but starting a new one like you did here. Hope this helps. :)

 

Thanks! I haven't been on Phatmass in a few months and all of the topics i used to see had disappeared!  :hehe2:

 

Do you guys know of any free books that i can access online about discernment?

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Catherine Mectilde

I wholeheartedly second the Fr. Jacques Philippe suggestion; it was wonderful to learn how practical discernment can be.

 

I would suggest wariness of resources that focus a lot on the desires 'God places in your heart'. Desire is good, of course, but the devil appeals to our senses to influence our will (though he cannot force our will). Be aware that the Church teaches religious life is objectively better and your task is to discover whether or not it is subjectively better for you. Often we forget that God can communicate His will in very ordinary ways and if we are able for religious life (i.e. without impediment), then this is a big indication. This is not to ignore desires but we should bring our desires in line with our intellect, and not the other way around. I didn't make this up; this is Thomistic!

 

Anyway, that's just something I wish someone had told me earlier on, it would have meant a lot less stress! May God bless you in your discernment.

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TheresaThoma

If there is a specific community you are interested in things by their founder or notable members would be good. That would help you get a better idea of their spirituality.

"And you are Christ's" is awesome I have read it a couple of times now and really loved it.

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If anyone is interested in my volume two- The way of Perfection Meditations on the Song of Songs The Interior Castle "The collected works of ST TERESA" (Translated by Otilio Rodrigueez, O.C.D and Kieran Kavanaugh O.C.D ICS Publications
Institute of Carmelite Studies
Washington, D. C.
1980
Please PM me if you might be interested. Thanks

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loveletslive

*Virginity: A Positive Approach to Celibacy for the Sake of the Kingdom of Heaven by  Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa 

 

A Right to Be Merry by Mother Mary Francis, PCC

 

*The Meaning of Vocation - compilation of homilies/addresses by St. John Paul

 

I also found The Way of Trust and Love and Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Phillipe helpful.
 

 

*I had my parents read these two when I was accepted along with And You Are Christ's. It was very helpful for their understanding of my vocation & religious life in general and some of the "lingo" used when talking about religious life, etc as well as helpful for them when explaining to other people about my vocation.

Edited by loveletslive
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