Discerning religious life

[IHeartAquinas]

Last spring, I had the absolute pleasure of spending four days with the brothers at the Abbey at Gethsemani in Kentucky, of Thomas Merton fame. While there, an age old question of my life sprung up again concerning a possible commitment to religious life.

When I was much younger, I thought of nothing except that one day I would be a priest and be able to administer the sacrament. Due to personal rebellion against my parents and everything they stood for (including the Church) I was away from the Church for some time. Since having reconciled myself to the Church, I have begun contemplating religious life again. Only this time, at risk of falling into spiritual pride, I have taken a liking to monastic life.

My question is this: in searching the web, I have thus been unable to find anything that I would be able to do temporarily. I am not at this juncture willing to take a vow that would be binding for life, or for a period, really, longer than three months. But, I would like to be able to take a temporary vow either alone or within the structure of a community that would allow me to discern for a longer period than a weekend how well-adjusted I would be to a particular kind of disciplined life, and allow greater insight into whether or not I am genuinely called to such a life.

Any suggestions, references, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Disciple4Christ]

Sorry I have no answer for you but I will pray for you as I hope you are doing also.
I would strongly recommend prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
May the Lord help you find your true path and guide you on it daily.

In Christ
jim

 

[Farley4334]

Take a look at the seminary. You are not required to take any vows. Sometimes we forget, the seminary is a place for discernment. It’s not promising to be a priest, the seminary is to holy orders as dating is to marriage. I’ve had a couple friends that went into the seminary because they just thought they might have that call, and after a semester, decided they didn’t. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe something to consider…

 

[tmancath]

Last spring, I had the absolute pleasure of spending four days with the brothers at the Abbey at Gethsemani in Kentucky, of Thomas Merton fame. While there, an age old question of my life sprung up again concerning a possible commitment to religious life.

When I was much younger, I thought of nothing except that one day I would be a priest and be able to administer the sacrament. Due to personal rebellion against my parents and everything they stood for (including the Church) I was away from the Church for some time. Since having reconciled myself to the Church, I have begun contemplating religious life again. Only this time, at risk of falling into spiritual pride, I have taken a liking to monastic life.

My question is this: in searching the web, I have thus been unable to find anything that I would be able to do temporarily. I am not at this juncture willing to take a vow that would be binding for life, or for a period, really, longer than three months. But, I would like to be able to take a temporary vow either alone or within the structure of a community that would allow me to discern for a longer period than a weekend how well-adjusted I would be to a particular kind of disciplined life, and allow greater insight into whether or not I am genuinely called to such a life.

Any suggestions, references, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

This thread should have been posted in Vocation sub-forum, but I will give advise here anyway. Definitely pray, visit the seminary or even look into a Secular Order and learn about their daily lives. I will hold you in my prayers and offer you this prayer of vocations.

Behold me at thy feet, O Virgin most kind, seeking to obtain through thee, the most important grace of knowing what I ought to do. I desire nothing but to comply perfectly with the Will of thy Divine Son at every moment of my life. Mother of the Good Counsel, let me hear thy voice. It will dispel every doubt that troubles my mind. I trust thee, being confident that, since thou art the Mother of my Redeemer, thou wilt also be the Mother of my salvation. If thou, O Mary, wilt not send me a ray of the Divine Sun, what light will enlighten me? Who will direct me if thou refusest, who art the Mother of the uncreated Wisdom? Listen, them, to my humble prayers. Let me not be lost in my uncertainty and instability; lead me along the straight road that leads to life everlasting, thou who art my only hope, and whose hands are full of the riches of virtue and of life, and who dispenses the fruits of honor and holiness. Amen.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

My question is this: in searching the web, I have thus been unable to find anything that I would be able to do temporarily. I am not at this juncture willing to take a vow that would be binding for life, or for a period, really, longer than three months. But, I would like to be able to take a temporary vow either alone or within the structure of a community that would allow me to discern for a longer period than a weekend how well-adjusted I would be to a particular kind of disciplined life, and allow greater insight into whether or not I am genuinely called to such a life.

My guess is that your best action would be to contact the monks at Gethsemani (if that’s where you think you might want to enter) and ask about a live-in experience with them for several months.

Blue Cloud Abbey in South Dakota has an associate program where they say:

In the Associate program, we invite men between the ages of 19 and 50, to join our Benedictine Monastic family for a period of two weeks up to two months to see what we are about.

The Associates live in the monastery. They are brought into the daily rhythm lived by the monks. Besides the public activities of prayer, Eucharist, meals, work, and recreation, the Associates participate in the times of personal prayer, reflection, and holy reading, and free time.

Our experience has led us to set up our Associate Program in this way. The personal motivations that move each associate to want such an experience vary greatly. We want to offer each of them not only an in-depth experience and participation in our monastic life, but the encouragement for reflecting upon their life. We want to stimulate in them an openness to what God may want to do in their life in the years ahead.

While it is not a requisite that they be thinking about a religious or monastic vocation or about entering our community, we are willing to help them do such vocation discernment if they request it. Regardless of what they decide to do after their time with us, we are confident that their experience of monastic life in our community will be a blessing. All are called, through Baptism, to form one body in Christ. If we, even in some small way, can be instrumental in strengthening our Associates’ response and commitment to Jesus Christ and His Church, we praise the Lord for that.

More at: bluecloud.org/assoc-cand.html

 

[IHeartAquinas]

This thread should have been posted in Vocation sub-forum, but I will give advise here anyway.

Oops. Sorry.

Thank you all for your suggestions and prayers.

 

[otjm]

The Trappist abbey in Oregon has a period of discernement; I think it is about 30 days duration. I would suspect that there is more to the process after that, but one would not be taking any vows until well after one has been around for a long enough period of time that both te candidate and the community could decide if the fit was there. that is,f you might want to stay, but the community might not see you as a good candidate; and the reverse could also be true.

Any thoughts about the Benedictines? Not many people are up to the regime and strictness of the Trappists; but neither are the Trappists the sum and substance of all vocations.

Note: you may have a desire for the priesthood, but it is up to the order to determine if they want to call you in that direction.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Take a look at the seminary. You are not required to take any vows. Sometimes we forget, the seminary is a place for discernment. It’s not promising to be a priest, the seminary is to holy orders as dating is to marriage. I’ve had a couple friends that went into the seminary because they just thought they might have that call, and after a semester, decided they didn’t. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe something to consider…

Much the same thing can be said about the period before final vows in the religious life.

You don’t think that once you enter even a Trappist monastery you make your vows immediately, do you?

You may leave (or be asked to leave) at any time during the postulancy and novitiate.

You are also free to leave when temporary vows expire.