Can this be a sign of vocation to religious life?

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LeonardDeNoblac

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I’m 18. I used to think of my future life as one of a married man with children. But recently I’ve started to know more about religious life, and I love it. Also, I’m feeling increasingly tired of living in this secular society, where I always see God and His saints ignored and mocked, even by people who call themselves Christians, and no one doing anything to stop all of this, while constantly being nervous because of the many tempations that I have to resist every single day - hardly anyone truly cares about not creating occasions for temptation. Could this be a sign that God is calling me to religious life? All I know is that I have to discern a lot before making any decision. What do you think?
 
  1. Pray on it
  2. Talk to the vocations director at your parish
3.???
  1. Spiritually profit
In my opinion, I think you should go for it.
 
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FrancisFan43 said:
after you reflect on it you will spiritually profit from it
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That’s for sure. Whatever God is planning for my future, it must be beautiful, and if it turns bad it will happen only because of some human error or sin.
 
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But seriously, I think you should go for it. I’m praying that you are brave enough to see it through if the vocations director thinks you are ready.
 
The hard part would be talking about it with my family and friends. I’ve always told them that my plans for the future are studying history at university to become a teacher or a researcher. We’ve often talked about our future families. I don’t know how they would take the news that I’m discerning a vocation to enter into a monastery or a convent. But I know that, even if my family were opposed, I wouldn’t be the only one in that situation: it has happened to countless saints, including Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Claire and Saint Thomas Aquinas.
 
I’m sure your friends and family will be disappointed at first, but if they really love you for who you are they will accept it and support you in it.
Luke 14: 25-27
25 Many people were traveling with Jesus. He said to them, 26 “If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life! 27 Whoever will not carry the cross that is given to them when they follow me cannot be my follower.
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I’ll pray that, if it happens, God will give me the strenght to do His will and follow Him, and love Him more than everyone else. I wouldn’t be the only one who lost his family and his friends for Christ’s sake.
 
You do not have to tell your family or your friends about your wondering if you have a vocation. If you know already that family and friends would not understand your seeking and discovering God’s will for your life…then keep it quiet just like the Mother of God did. Even St. Joseph hadn’t a clue about Mary until an angel revealed it to Joseph. In time all will become clear. Of course speaking , or emailing a religious order would be helpful. Will pray for you.
 
I’m in my last year before university. If I find out that God is calling me to religious life, I’ll probably have to give up university, at least for the moment.
 
The first thing my Spiritual Director recommended me was not telling anyone I was discerning until, obviously, it reached a public phase.

If you do, you risk getting biased by people who say you should become a religious and people who say you shouldn’t. They could also throw it at you when angry.

You can also continue a secular career by discerning (it’s what I’m doing, BTW).
 
LeonardDeNoblac said:
I’m feeling increasingly tired of living in this secular society, where I always see God and His saints ignored and mocked, even by people who call themselves Christians, and no one doing anything to stop all of this, while constantly being nervous because of the many tempations that I have to resist every single day - hardly anyone truly cares about not creating occasions for temptation.
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Religious life isn’t about escaping the world as much as it is about embracing it - as Christ did though his incarnation. The same applies equally to temptations - if anything, religious life can increase these struggles rather than decrease them. So, time in the world - especially outside of a structured environment like school - is something which I see as being essential for anyone discerning a vocation to priesthood and/or religious life. Take it one step at a time and take it slowly - remember that any vocation is as much about when as it is about what. Find a spiritual director and let them accompany you on your journey, trusting that God will lead you where He wants to go, but will do so in His time and not yours.
 
Why would you have to give up university? Also, please note that many congregations require a college degree for entry.
 
Not necessarily. Many communities are pleased to have someone who has a college education or more. Also many communities want your loans paid off before they take you into official formation. Sometimes people help pay off loans of those who sincerely are seeking to enter religious life.
 
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