Discernment Confusion

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Mystery17

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I’ve been praying about whether it is God’s will for me to become a religious sister. My mind keeps coming back to the thought of it. I even prayed a novella (I can’t remember her name) but if you see a rose it means it is in God’s will about whatever you pray about. And I saw a rose. I haven’t seen it again where I saw it again. I’m in love with the concept. Giving God my whole life, and dedicating my life to serving others like that sounds so right. But my family doesn’t think it’s the right path for me, that I’m running because I’m scared no man will love, but I really do think I’m being called. Does it sound like in being called? Thank you for reading, and God bless.
 
It doesn’t sound like you’re doubting yourself. So you would probably want your next step to be to your dioceses vocation director.
 
Mystery17 said:
I’ve been praying about whether it is God’s will for me to become a religious sister. My mind keeps coming back to the thought of it. I even prayed a novella (I can’t remember her name) but if you see a rose it means it is in God’s will about whatever you pray about. And I saw a rose. I haven’t seen it again where I saw it again. I’m in love with the concept. Giving God my whole life, and dedicating my life to serving others like that sounds so right. But my family doesn’t think it’s the right path for me, that I’m running because I’m scared no man will love, but I really do think I’m being called. Does it sound like in being called? Thank you for reading, and God bless.
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I almost shy from giving a mere opinion - yet to me it sounds a bit immature… .

You think? Rather, you should Know what God wants of you - if even in general manner,

Becoming a nun? It’s very symbolic on the one hand - and on the other - there’s been problems within some religious orders. That said… if you did … you must move slowly with researching

You can be single… .or even Married. and yes . Devote yourself / your life to being a Disciple of Jesus.

That said, no matter what - you must do your very best to get to know Jesus to the best of your Abilities - and then you’ll be in a far better position to find out what you’re called to do…

Prayerfully Read the Gospels… The New Testament - Asking the Author to be with you. .

You asked for opinions… and them’s mine. 😃
 
EndTimes said:
You think? Rather, you should Know what God wants of you - if even in general manner,
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I totally disagree with this. When teachers speak of their students in Seminaries, they will say they always get concerned if someone says ‘well Fr, this is it, I am going to be a Priest or a Religious’.
Doubt on the calling is part of the journey and one very healthy part of the journey.

Mystery17, your next step should be to contact your vocations director at your Parish and discuss your next steps.
You are in my prayers as you explore your vocation and calling.
 
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The OP asks for opinion and I gave mine

And It’s common knowledge that some Seminaries and Novitiates have been problematic.

There’s nothing wrong with seeking a working relationship with God… as we’re called to.

It’s also true that some involve who knew not what they were involving in.
And wound up leaving in very disturbing manners which negatively affected them

Along with and connecting with
knowing what being emotionally and yes sexually mature should be… .
before ever taking any Vow of E.G. Chastity - at such a young age.
which in turn has led to a legion of problems with not just a few… .

)
 
In discerning major life choices, discussing them with competent others has been key for me. Talk to your priest, talk to your diocese’s vocations director, visit monasteries and have a chat with a nun. Most monasteries around me here in Europe welcome extended stays from young women discerning a calling to monastic life.
Mystery17 said:
I’m in love with the concept.
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This is a good starting point, but you will probably need to take it a bit further than that. As a sister friend who was mistress of novices in her community says, going from the romanticized idea of being a nun to actually being a nun involves a lot of reality checks which can be hard to take in stride.
 
The patron of our new congregation, St Vincent de Paul, said he wanted the Daughters of Charity to first and foremost be good Christians. One cannot give what one does not have. That being said, be like St Therese, and work on becoming a saint now, instead of when you enter, if you do.

Make sure you have a sacramental life. Wear the scapular, Miraculous Medal, and pray the rosary. Ask the Holy Ghost to purify your intentions. And by all means, visit convents! The Holy Ghost works on attraction. My spiritual director at the time of my marriage said he knew he was in the right place when he stepped onto seminary ground.

Always look locally first. Then in the surrounding dioceses.

Are you attracted to active or contemplative life? The first link under my signature has resources for discerners.

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
I agree that certainty is almost never likely at this stage of things. As for discussing this with your diocese’s vocation director, in many cases, these individuals are almost exclusively concerned with the secular priesthood, and not religious life (especially for women). A better idea might be to talk with the Vicar for Religious in your diocese, or the vocation director of a nearby community. Most vocation directors–good ones, anyway–are not simply recruiters for their own communities, but also helpful in guiding people to where they should be, even if that’s not religious life, or to another community.

It’s almost impossible for people on a website to respond concretely to a question like this. Go to someone you can talk with, preferably someone who knows you well from a spiritual standpoint.
 
I agree. I would get a good Spiritual Director, if you don’t already have one, and just start looking online for orders that look interesting, filling out inquiry forms, and going on vocation retreats. At this point, you’re in the very beginning stage, so it’s alright not to know for certain. Everyone’s different… Some people have always known, some people didn’t know for certain until a few months before final vows.
Just stay close to Jesus, and have fun exploring. At the end of the day, discernment is like dating… There is supposed to be a certain amount of relaxed, fun exploring! 🙂
 
Well the most important thing is Gods will for you.
You don’t say how old you are but you family concerns are something you hear and then move on from. God told St Catherine of Sienna you take care if my things and I will take care of your things (or something like that, if memory serves me correctly). Meaning if she did his will he’d take care of her family and all her concerns. It’s like this for us too. If God is indeed calling you, and that’s what needs to be discerned, then he will care for you family.
It sounds like you feel called so ought to find out about the next step like perhaps a vocations director if that appeals, or speaking to your priest for advice or looking online to read about different orders and their charisms. Perhaps you have a local community you are interested in that you could visit? Or talks you could attend. God bless you
 
praying for you
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Let's Pray a Perpetual Rosary Spirituality
for @Mystery17’s Discernment Confusion HAIL MARY, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 9th Hail Mary ~ Glorious 2
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