Where Are You In Your Religious Discernment?

[OnlySunshine]

I'm back from the monastery road trip - I arrived late Wednesday night and stayed until after Mass this morning.  It was my first time hearing the Divine Office (I went to each Hour) and...wow.  So amazingly beautiful.  And all those psalms and antiphons - so rich in praise to God and such rich food for meditation.  It is a place where one can simply remain - for in the Office one gives glory to God in God's own words, one prays with Christ in His Sacred Humanity and in His Mystical Body, one does the Work of God.   Yesterday I pulled weeds from the melon patch, harvested okra, and watered broccoli sprouts.  I also got started reading Bl. Colomba Marmion's "Christ, the Ideal of the Monk" in the small but excellent guest library.  This morning I rose at 4:25 and walked over the rickety footbridge and over the fields under bright moonlight to get to the first Office of the day.  I was a little late even then but it was lovely to hear the chanting wafting over the grass.  The food was very fresh and I enjoyed the freshly made lemonade for the guests.

 

I bought three new holy cards.  One I think I will treasure very much is of the Child Jesus.

 

I mentioned no A/C in the car in a previous post.  Errr...yes, that was definitely a penance.  I'll also be sunburned on one side of my face tomorrow.  Fun.  But SO worth it.

(also, if you want to guess where this is I ask you don't mention it on this thread but PM me if you want. thanks.)

 

Glad to hear you had a great time.  Prayers that you continue in your discernment with this newfound peace.  As I mentioned previously, I know what it's like riding in a car with no A/C so I'm glad you survived it.  :)
 

[maximillion]

Oh Chrysostom, you mentioned all my favourite things! Those early mornings in choir.......I still love my early mornings and I have them with the deceased monks in the cemetery here ( I live on the site of what was an ancient Cluniac Priory ).

 

So pleased to hear about it and praying for whatever your next steps will be...............

[TheresaThoma]

Chrysostom it sounds like you had an awesome time! Yuck on not having A/C and the sunburn though. One of out vehicles has take. Penitential to the next level, the A/C is highly temperamental AND the driver's side window doesn't work at all, so I feel your pain.

[Kayte Postle]

Just got back from my first meeting with my new spiritual director! She was very helpful, kind, and we got along very well.

[Lady-Indis]

Where I'm at in my discernment....

I'm pretty sure I have either a contemplative or teaching vocation at this point.  :unsure: I'm leaning towards the Poor Clare Sisters in Belleville, IL. I've visited 4 convents in the past few months, and they were definitely eye-openers! :) 3 of them are already off the list, and I need to write 5 letters to various convents!  :eek:

God bless you all,

Lady-Indis

[TheresaThoma]

Well God threw me a major curve-ball. I'm now in a completely different state looking for work, thank God for awesome friends who allow you to crash on their couches. The upside is I am closer to the Sisters, the downside is I have zero income.

[Spem in alium]

Blessings and prayers, TT. :)

 

Had a wonderful convent visit a couple of weeks ago and can hopefully schedule another lengthier one (maybe a week, even!) at the end of Sept. Hoping to hear an official decision regarding my entrance sometime in Oct/Nov. 

 

 

[Augustinian]

I'm an aspirant for the Dominicans, hoping to enter when I finish my Ph.D. Praying for everyone who is discerning. 

[marigold]

Well God threw me a major curve-ball. I'm now in a completely different state looking for work, thank God for amesome friends who allow you to crash on their couches. The upside is I am closer to the Sisters, the downside is I have zero income.

Hope you find your way soon TT. All things can work together for good.

[SilentJoy]

I still love my early mornings and I have them with the deceased monks in the cemetery here ( I live on the site of what was an ancient Cluniac Priory ).

Wait...you live where? How did I miss that? Awesomesauce.

[inperpetuity]

I just got back from visiting two Carmelite monasteries and I am going to seriously discern one :smile2: .  The visits went very well and I loved the sisters at both places.  I don't yet want to reveal which monasteries though.  Please pray for me.

[Lady-Indis]

Good for you! I'll keep you in my prayers.

[Spem in alium]

Random story: I found out one of my parents' friends almost joined the order I've applied to...but then she met her future husband (my parents know her through her husband's family). Kind of cool to think that I still would have met her anyway if she was a Sister. :)

 

The other day I got an email from the Provincial Superior, who is currently in Poland, to say she would be praying for my vocation before the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa (the Black Madonna) in Jasna Gora. I felt so blessed! Mama Mary, pray for us!

[Starets]

I was talking at Table (Sunday supper is a talking meal) last night about how there is a Benedictine monastery in Norcia that was founded by an American monastery. This isn't the first time that I have commented on monastic history. So my superior asked if I would like to teach a class on Monastic History, concentrating on the Benedictines. I said that I would be happy to. I am not sure if anything will come of it though.

[inperpetuity]

Wow, Staretz, that's great!  That will be such an interesting project for you!  We just had an announcement yesterday before mass that a young man of our parish is joining the Benedictines of Norcia!  Unfortunately, he is the head of our schola, but I was so happy to hear this.