Following your initial discernment. Take time to refine your reflection. Take time to reflect on your own vocational calling.
It is relatively easy to choose between something that may be good and something that may be bad. But it is a lot harder when it comes to choose between two “goods”
You really want to follow Jesus to the best of your ability. How???? What does this desire actually mean for how you live?
Christian Marriage is the way the majority of people live out their Christian Baptismal call. This is a wonderful vocation and is the basis on which all life within our Church is built. If you believe that marriage is for you click here for further information.
However, you may feel that on one level you would like to be married but on another level you feel drawn to something different. Let us look at what may be different.
Religious life? Priesthood? Is this where God is calling and leading you? If you believe that God may be calling you to priesthood click here for further information. If you believe that God may be calling you to religious life click here for further information.
As you think about your call, lots of questions may be going through your mind … am I worthy? Am I silly to think that God might be calling me (like, I know me!) Have I got what it takes? Will people think? I’m mad? What will my family and friends say if they knew I was thinking about? Why become a religious today? People say that religious life is dying….??
YES: There will be questions and most are ones that are not easy to answer.
REMEMBER: God does not call us because we are worthy, or good, or ‘holy’ or … God calls simply because God knows us and knows what is the best way we can be the person God created us to be.
Sr Joan Chittister was once asked: Why would you become a religious today? Her answer: Well, why not!
The priesthood or religious life may be the only place where you may be able to express your deep love for Jesus in such a way that you can be authentically yourself.
You may be asking yourself, if I choose this radical following of Jesus in an exclusive love relationship
Will there be hardships? YES
Will I be lonely? At times, YES
Will I miss my family and friends? YES
BUT
Will I grow as a person? YES
Will I develop as a disciple of Jesus? YES
Will I be able to share my faith? YES
Will community life be a challenge? YES
Will I discover peace and joy at a deep inner level? YES
Will I have to do this alone? NO… at all times in the journey you will be walking hand in hand with Jesus … remember it is a love relationship!
Is this where God is calling me?
As you record your reflections, your thoughts and feelings, you may find that you want to talk personally with someone. That’s really great. Please do share what is going on with another…like Mary, the mother of Jesus, when you hear God’s call there is a desire to share. Mary shared with her cousin Elizabeth who affirmed and confirmed Mary’s experience of God’s call. So find yourself an Elizabeth…an older more experienced person to share your experience with. This could be a Vocations Director or a Spiritual Director or another person that you know. (If you need help to do this please contact us).
Now take some time to reflect on this short passage from Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus said: ‘And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.’ (Matthew 19:29)
If you sense that God may be calling you to follow in a more radical way, in an exclusive love relationship; calling you to be one of the few who will publicly declare your desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Can you say “NO” to his invitation to give all you are and have and follow him?
Your “yes” may be very tentative at this stage or it may be very bold or it may lie somewhere in between. Jesus deals with us as we are. He will only invite, never force. Sit with how you are feeling and what responses are coming to the surface. Before you continue on, you may like to go back to the Prayer of Thomas Merton or you may like to go to the personal reflection section and sit in quiet for a while.
Today the variety of religious life can seem to be mind blowing. How do you find out which congregation is the best for you? Again you need to focus of your own inner call.
Are you seeking a life where prayer is the “work”? A life where you will be part of the “power-house” for the rest of the Church and the world. A life where all things revolve around praying with a community several times during the day. A life that is one of silence and reflection. But at the same time a life where you help to support the community by the work of your hands. If this sits with you, you will need to look at what Contemplative/enclosed religious life is about. In Australia you have the choice of Benedictines (women and men), Carmelites (women and men), Poor Clares (Women), Cistercians (men). Look these up in the Directory and read through what these are about and see if one or two seem to fit what you are seeking deep within.
After considering these options, which is the right fit for you? Is it still hard to tell? Take time to let the different ways of living the Gospel speak to you. Become aware of where you are drawn. What is it about this community that attracts you? Is there anything about this community that brings up anxiety or fear in you?
As you sit with what you have written, become aware of how God is calling you. Could it be to a Contemplative/enclosed way of life? If your answer is “yes”, can you take the risk to contact the community that attracts you the most and talk to them about their way of life? This is the next stage of discernment. You need to talk with a Vocations Director. This can seem a bit daunting at first but well worth it. You can arrange a visit and get to know the Monks/Sisters more and become more familiar with their way of life.
If you feel you can’t make contact at this stage then sit with this and see if you can work out what it is that is stopping you. In prayer, ask Jesus what he thinks!!!
A Vocation Discernment Prayer
God, I know you love me and have great plans for me. But sometimes I am overwhelmed by the thought of my future,
I sense that you may be calling me to be a sister, brother, priest or deacon,
Show me how to walk forward one day at a time.
May I have the courage to search openly,
to learn about my choices
to listen to others for advice,
and pay attention to my own feelings,
but most importantly, to listen to you.
By doing this, I trustingly respond to your call, believing that you will lead me to fullness of life.
My deepest desire is to serve you,
so I trust that you will give me whatever I need to follow wherever you may lead.
Amen.
To learn more about vocations in the Diocese of Parramatta, please visit parracatholic.org/vocations
With thanks to Catholic Vocations Ministry Australia.
