water Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Although I had recently started to look into my vocation, in the last 2 years, I thought I am attractive to Franciscan. However, the more I pray and see in my heart, it isn't for me, and right now, I think I see myself more towards the Redemptorists for more important key reasons. Did this happen to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemma Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 [quote name='water' post='1700480' date='Nov 13 2008, 03:04 AM']Although I had recently started to look into my vocation, in the last 2 years, I thought I am attractive to Franciscan. However, the more I pray and see in my heart, it isn't for me, and right now, I think I see myself more towards the Redemptorists for more important key reasons. Did this happen to you?[/quote] It happens all the time. That's why discernment can take years--unless you walk onto the property and "you just know" that your vocation is at that particular institution. Discernment is also the development of your relationship with God. Keep in mind that grace builds on nature, and that the Holy Ghost works on attraction. Blessings, Gemma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mari Therese Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 When I first started discerning, I only visited the convent with the intention of "proving" to God that I didn't have a call to religious life THEN, I was discerning between the Daughters of St. Paul and SOLI. I totally thought that I was going to enter the Paulines, but after a series of events, I ended up getting steered towards SOLI. Funny how God works, ain't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortnun Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Definitely has happened to me! I truly loved a community--the sisters, their way of life, their apostolate--yet just didn't see myself there. I had to wrestle with God over why he was calling me to them. But in the end, that wasn't where I was called seeing as I'm applying to a totally different community. The important part, for me anyway, is to see how God was working in and through me during my whole discernment process. Had I not discerned with the first community how would I ever have decided to apply to "my" community?! God is good!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmeliteheart726 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Oh, yeah, definitely has happened to me too. I thought for a long time that I was called to the same order my friend is joining--the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus in St. Louis, MO. I went to meet her at their vocation retreat this year, and though I loved it, I did not feel like it was where I was going to end up. I prayed to God because I was concerned that I did not have a calling at all, but I was wrong. I did have a calling! It was just to the cloistered, contemplative life of the Discalced Carmelite nuns! I knew that being a Carmelite was where I was called because that was the only part that felt right to me. I am looking at mostly traditional orders within the OCD order: Buffalo, NY Brooklyn, NY Philadelphia, PA Iron Mountain, MI (I have an inkling of suspicion that this is where I will end up) San Francisco, CA (Cristo Rey) Arlington, TX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toservelove Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Yes, and yes...I even did an aspirancy with one group. After I sold my house and most of my goods, and quit my job, I had a little crisis and realized that it was not the group I was called to. While there I kept feeling that God was asking me if this was where [b]I[/b] wanted to be. I thought it meant I just needed to "give in" or something. Now I realize God was trying to get me to trust my feelings and my heart instead of my brain. Anyway I just finished an aspirancy to another group and hope to be there in January. Just think of this as a time where you are building your trust in God. Trust Him even when it doesn't make sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemma Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 [quote name='Carmeliteheart726' post='1700562' date='Nov 13 2008, 11:54 AM']Oh, yeah, definitely has happened to me too. I thought for a long time that I was called to the same order my friend is joining--the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus in St. Louis, MO. I went to meet her at their vocation retreat this year, and though I loved it, I did not feel like it was where I was going to end up. I prayed to God because I was concerned that I did not have a calling at all, but I was wrong. I did have a calling! It was just to the cloistered, contemplative life of the Discalced Carmelite nuns! I knew that being a Carmelite was where I was called because that was the only part that felt right to me. I am looking at mostly traditional orders within the OCD order: Buffalo, NY Brooklyn, NY Philadelphia, PA Iron Mountain, MI (I have an inkling of suspicion that this is where I will end up) San Francisco, CA (Cristo Rey) Arlington, TX[/quote] If you're really and truly feeling called to Carmel, please work on your detachment. This is the one quality that will get you in faster to any Carmel--or any monastery for that matter. Blessings, Gemma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmeliteheart726 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 [quote name='Gemma' post='1700587' date='Nov 13 2008, 12:29 PM']If you're really and truly feeling called to Carmel, please work on your detachment. This is the one quality that will get you in faster to any Carmel--or any monastery for that matter. Blessings, Gemma[/quote] I am constantly working on that! That's my one true weakness in life, is not being able to go without. But I am getting better. I am learning how to focus my energy and love on Jesus more than anything else. I have a Carmelite heart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosaMystica Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 [quote name='Carmeliteheart726' post='1700562' date='Nov 13 2008, 10:54 AM']Iron Mountain, MI (I have an inkling of suspicion that this is where I will end up)[/quote] I know a girl who just entered there in October! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmeliteheart726 Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 [quote name='MandyKhatoon' post='1700925' date='Nov 13 2008, 10:47 PM']I know a girl who just entered there in October![/quote] Awesome! That's good to know that it appeals to other young women and that maybe I'll have a chance. God bless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaviorsChild Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 (edited) It happened to me as well... at first, I thought God wanted me to become a mother of many many children - but then during a longer period of time I felt the strong call to be a cistercian nun! But as soon as I visited the convents, I just knew this was not my place. Very nice convents though! And now I "ended up" as a consecrated virgin - and I´m so happy about it. God even granted me the many children - as a teacher... Edited November 14, 2008 by SaviorsChild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EWIE Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 [quote name='Gemma' date='Nov 13 2008, 12:29 PM' post='1700587'] If you're really and truly feeling called to Carmel, please work on your detachment. This is the one quality that will get you in faster to any Carmel--or any monastery for that matter. Gemma dear, since each Carmelite Community is an essence of and in itself, perhaps you would do the favor of describing exactly how YOU understand the meaning of what you are referring to as detachment. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praying4carmel Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 Oh, I love this Topic!!! I was so Heart Set on the Carmelites only to have Our Lord clearly send me to the Benedictines! Ha Ha Ha! I'm going to have to come up with a new screen name.... So, I am: "A Carmelite in St. Benedicts House"... I may use that as my book title if I ever write a book on this experience. God Loves us so much and really wants us to be willing instruments. I visited several places in my discernment process. I wrote to several more, and had active correspondence with them. As the process moved along, the "weeding out" process thru listening to His direction became clearer. It was fun to discern. I am grateful that I had a SD and paced myself well. I also got alot of insight by paying attention to what people said my gifts were. Also the Sisters at BOTH Monasteries were Loving and patient with me and not "grabby". They truly wanted what the Lord wanted for me and not "just another Vocation". That sounds harsh but it is true that some places are desperate... I have Zero regrets about being a Carmelite, because I feel and know that I obeyed God's will for me. His decision has panned out better when I am reflective over the last 2 years better than I could ever have planned. Good Luck in your discernment, and May God Bless you richly! + Postulant Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
she_who_is_not Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 God is very, very good to us all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the lords sheep Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Yup. Happened to me.... I was set on being a Sister of Life, but that's not what God has in store for me! I'm still battling His choice (just a bit... oh, my pride...) but I'm pretty at peace with where he is leading me! But in short, it's quite normal! Just hang on for the ride and trust in Him!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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