For all the posting on vocations in here, perhaps it can be whittled down to the following as a discernment for a vocation:
First, your prayer life. That means reading the Bible, perhaps attending to the Divine Office daily, praying the Rosary, attending Eucharistic devotion, etc. An active prayer life is needed to discern if one may have a vocation.
Second, involvement in your parish. Do you volunteer to work in your parish, to lead prayer or Bible groups, to teach CCD, to be an altar person? Do you attend Mass every week or even on a daily basis? Involvement in your Church is needed to discern if one may have a vocation.
Third, family life. Do you tend to the needs of your family? Do you follow the commandment “Honor your father and mother?” Do you have good relations with your siblings? How about your friends?
These are three basic areas that are needed for discernment. Fourth is to find a good spiritual director who can lead you in discernment.
Good luck and God bless.
I too agree with the Brother on the value of this post. Thank you Peary.
First I must introduce myself. I am married and have two children. I too comtemplated the religious life when I was younger. However I did not have the courage to tell my parents or others as this was somewhat frowned upon. My parents would likely to have supported me if I was resolute but alas I was not. I first wanted to experience the world through God’s eyes, not for my own leisure. But being the eldest and a girl from a traditional catholic family I was not permitted to leave the home until marriage.
In my late teens I gained more courage and rebelled somewhat against the authority of my parents. I was on my way to becoming independent. Then my mother got pregnant unexpectedly and had complications. So I remained at home to help her and the baby once it was born. By this time I was 20 yrs old.
My mother knew it would only be time before I set my wings again to fly on my own. This time I had a clear calling from God. I was becoming so detached from the world and consumed with the urgency to serve God in any way I could; whether it be helping the poor in the community or missionary work around the world.
I never told this story as I am telling you but anyone who knows me knows that I contemplated a religious vocation. Yes I have to admit that I thought of marriage many times but only in a way that would Glorify God; if He willed it for me then I would of accepted.
Truth be told that year many were inquiring about my eligibility for marriage to which my mother gladly assisted. A man known to the family came calling for me. I knew that I was not interested. I wanted nothing more than to study and do God’s will. He was very persistent(very!!!) I found ways to avoid getting closer and he found ways to counter it. In the end his persistence won and I became his wife.
Since then I always thought about the religious life. Now I had to look at it from a different perspective of one who is married with children. All through my marriage I fought for my religious convictions as my husband was not as religious as I am. Though he comes to church almost every Sunday, he seems to be more with the flow than I like.
I have a most difficult time trying to juggle the two sides of my life; that of family and that of servitude to the Lord. Some will say that the two are together in serving the Lord; not always I say. In the words of St.Paul,"The unmarried woman thinks on the things of the Lord, that both in body and spirit she may be holy; but the married is solicitous how to please her husband.”
I am doing all the prescribed steps that Peary gave and I find myself leaning more and more towards the Lord. As my husband says with some humor that soon I shall join a convent. Actually, I will be taking a spiritual retreat for the weekend in a recluse monastery. I find myself comtemplating and praying and feeling great peace. It is as if God is calling me again.
I have faith in God that He will finish the work He started in me. However it will happen I do not know. So for anyone who is still doubting I urge you to follow the steps prescribed above. Live it sincerely and discipline yourself; if it is for you then it will never leave you until you fulfill it. This is my experience.
God Bless