Discernment

[JuCa]

I'll be the one to open the girls end of this thread!

I am discerning a vocation to religious life. Right now the only place I am really discerning is the Passionists. I have not visited any other places.

So, this is open to all of you who want to talk. I find it very helpful to hear of others who are open to God's call. So many these days just have their minds set on marriage and it's all about finding the PERFECT man.

If any of you have anything to share about discerning (even if you really think you are called to marriage life- it's a vocation!) please drop a post.

You all will be in my prayers. I pray for discernment in vocations daily...it is very important! You men will also be in my prayers.

God bless,

JuCa

[JuCa]

Vocation Prayer

O loving Jesus, you promised that once you were lifeted up, you would draw all things to yourself. Through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, draw to yourself the hearts of all whom you are calling to be a brother, sister or priest. If you are giving me this gift help me to respond generously.

O loving Jesus, I long to gaze upon you. Reveal to me the beauty of your love in your sacred Passion. Enlighten my mind to see the passing nature of all earthly things. Make me thirst after you, who alone can satisfy the deepest longings of my heart.

O loving Jesus, Spouse of Souls, let me hear your voice calling my name. Give me realization of the urgent and grave needs of our times, so that I may generously leave all things in order to follow you.

O loving Jesus, I ask all this for the glory of your holy Name and to obtain an abundance of your mercy for souls. I commit myself entirely to your holy will.

[Joyful]

JuCa,

I think this is a great topic. It seems to me that women's discernment is often overlooked.

Right now, I'm just listening. I'm not in a hurry to know my future, ya know? God and I are just taking it slow. It good to just let go and let God.

I have to be honest though: I would love to be married and have children, but I am totally open to whatever God wants.

So ummm that's it for me!

Joyful

[FaustinaVianney]

hey y'all...I'm discerning my vocation as well. It is a tough tough battle. mainly because I just entered the Church one year ago this Saturday (the 29th YAY!!!) and I already feel called to Rel Life. Some people think that it is just because of all the graces one receives when entering the Church, but if you knew me you would know it is a lot deeper than that and I was thinking about it before I ever entered the Church. The hardest thing for me is the fact that I work with male college athletes. They don't exactly set up a great holy environment. I'm so appalled at some of the things they tell me, but because of the experience with them I am able to see more clearly what God has in store for me. They don't harm my vocation. It only provokes me to bring the happiness of Our Lord to them with all His Peace.

JuCa~

The Passionists are a GREAT group. I have a friend that professed her final vows in Sept. I so wanted to be called to a cloister, but I do not believe that is where God wants me. I feel as if I'm called to be a Dominican. (They are such a great group to me.) I would suggest going to visit a couple other convents that get your attention, but you must be careful because one can become confused! As if discerning isn't confusing enough, eh??

I'm really glad we have this thread. We need a community where people can talk about vocations (Rel Life or married life) and the struggles that go along with it. It's hard to keep Christ in an anti-Christ world. We must pray for all the non-believers!

Veritatem dare summa caritas

*HUGS-n-PEACE*

:)

[JuCa]

I definitely plan on checking out some more orders. I have been scheduled to visit the Sisters of Life and Carmelites at one time or another but both fell through. I have also talked to some Dominicans. And Sisters of the Renewal...which I would really be interested in visiting!

It's just so unbelievable how many orders are out there. My friend and I talked to an order from Peru at a conference we were at. It's amazing how each and every one have a specific mission- but on a whole they are all here for the same mission!

FaustinaVianney- who is your friend that made her final professions? Would it happen to be Sr. John Mary??? I was wondering who you were so I looked up your profile and you have a quote from Fr. Burns so I figured you were from around my neck of the woods and the one who made her vows at the KY monastery

Happy 1 Year Anniversary on entering the Catholic faith :)

[sista2b]

I'm thinkin Dominican too, my avater kinda shows though. I went to visit the Passionists w/ Faustina Vianny too. their amesome. I'll post more later, gtg.

[FaustinaVianney]

Yeppers!! Sr John Mary of the Indwelling Trinity (I think that's the last part of her name) at the KY Monastery. She is such a beautiful nun with a really groovey voice!!! hehe I'm from the Jasper area. I usually have a quote from Fr Tony, but I thought I would be nice to Fr Burns since he is my spir dir. hehe he's too groovey, but don't let him know I said that!!!

Sisters of Life and Sisters of the Renewal are supposed to be pretty happening orders. Which Carmelites are you into? cloistered?? I visited the Carmelites of the Divine Heart of Jesus, which were like half-cloistered. On their campus they have a retirement home and a daycare, but no one is allowed into their convent. (that's the cloistered part) Their mission is to work with the elderly and the youth. I thought they were great and would loved to be called to such an order, but that's not where I'm feeling called. There's a website of more traditional women religious orders www.cmswr.org. (Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious). I'm into the habit-wearing, pretty, traditional orders and one of the orders gave me a booklet of CMSWR and I found it pretty good. It gives addressed and such, so one can get in touch with the orders.

Thank you for wishing me a happy anniversary!! I'm so excited about it! I feel as if I've been Catholic my WHOLE life, but it hasn't even been a year. on the day that I did become Catholic I was blessed so many times!!! I had two orthodox priests performing the ceremony! What a blessing!! hehe I'm such a nerd!

Veritatem dare summa caritas

*HUGS-n-PEACE*

:)

[littleflower+JMJ]

dont worry.

nerds are cool.

B)

[VeraMaria]

i watched an interview with the sisters of life on life on the rock the other day!! TOO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!

And also one with the Nashville Dominican Sisters! B) B) B)

[JuCa]

YAY! I am loving this thread.

Yes FaustinaVianney- Sr. John Mary of the Indwelling Trinity! She totally rocks (and you are right about her voice- absolutely beautiful). I have a picture of her at her Final Vows with the cross and crown of thorns hanging on my wall. I have been blessed to get to know all of them very well. So amazing! Were you there that day???

That is the Carmelite order that I was supposed to visit. In St. Louis, right??

Fr. Burns and Fr. Tony- two of the greatest priest!!!!!!!! We are blessed to have them

Yes, I am drawn towards habit wearing communities. It just says so much!!!!

You sound exactly like me. Getting excited about things- (two orthodox priest performing at your ceremony). I'm constantly reminding myself that i am a nerd...at least there is more out there! haha

Sista2b...you are from the Evansville Diocese? maybe some of us will have to plan a trip down to the Dominicans some time. I know a couple others who would like to visit them.

It is so good to be open.....always pray for the grace to do something difficult. :D

[JuCa]

oh and thanks for the website!!!!

[FaustinaVianney]

JuCa~you are very welcome for the website...anything to help someone else out! Yes, I was there for Sister's final vows! How beautiful! It was my first Catholic wedding!!! I was so psyched up that day! I do tend to get a lil too easily excited about things esp when they are about our Lord, but hey it's a good thing! And yes, the Carmelite order in St Louis was the one I visited. It was the first Rel Order that

I'm loving this thread as well!!! I'm so not used to having orthodox people to talk with while I'm here at school. Even though I go to a Catholic University. Everyone is so liberal and don't see anything wrong with it!

I ever visited, so I was totally psyched! It was such a blessing. I love the Nashville Dominicans. They have a mission here in Cinci so I go to Mass with them everyday AND Dominican Friars run the Parish, so I ALWAYS get a good homily on the TRUTH! The Friar novices are here as well and they are such a holy group of young men. I've talked with a few and they are so excited that I'm considering the Dominican Order. hehe At first I basically refused to think that I belonged to the Dominican Order, but when God is constantly telling your heart something, even though it may be a soft whisper, how can you deny it??? A trip to visit the Nashville Dominicans would be amesome! I've already gone once, but I'm wanting to go again!! sista2b is from Jasper as well! I know some others that wouldn't mind going to Nashville either!

littleflower~ thanks, I know it's okay to be a nerd, but when I tell Fr Burns that he is one he doesn't seem to understand that it is a totally groovy thing! hehe oh well

May we all continue to be blessed by God's wonderful grace!!!

Veritatem dare summa caritas

*HUGS-n-PEACE*

:)

[sista2b]

hey JuCa,

i know brandy's on here somewhere is that you? The way your talking about passionist and Sr. John Mary maybe....I'm so confussed!

I did go down to the Nashville DOminicans not too long ago, thier amesome i gotta say, but i'm leaning more towards some in Michigan. The founding sisters are from Nashville so, their a ton alike. So its kinda hard to decide. I started thinking to much. Some advice from Sr. Catherine Marie (nashville vocation director) actually helped me to see that i getting pulled more towards Sisters of Mary. ne way i've been confused, but it seems pretty clear now, i'm going north.

by the way FaustinaVianny, love the avater. :)

[FaustinaVianney]

JuCa~I was just thinking about my trip to the Passionists. I think they talked about you. Is there a certain chair that you always sit in??? If so, than I was sitting in it during the retreat last January. hehe I think that all of us discerning in the Evansville Diocese should get together every now and then and discuss out discernment. It gets difficult at times and I think it would be great to pray and talk about it with others. just a thought...

Veritatem dare summa caritas

*HUGs-n-PEACE*

:)

[immaculata]

I really have thought about religious life, but I also feel really called to the incredible vocation of motherhood!! :wub:

I feel such peace when I'm with the sisters, it's incredible. But I also want to be able to give of myself through my children... hmmmm..... Many prayers, please!