Everything you ever wanted to know about vocations----a MUST read for all

[Jehu]

VERY useful, thanks. Where did you find this?

It’s old book which can be found online at Wikisource. Glad it helped.

 

[goforgoal]

Jehu- May God reward you on the information you provided very helpful and useful. I hope that the information is helpful and may come in handy to all who are discerning a vocation.

goforgoal

 

[Jehu]

bttt

 

[Jehu]

bttt

 

[Chiltepin]

What is the difference between the religious and the secular priesthood? This is only the second time I have heard this distinction.

 

[Jehu]

What is the difference between the religious and the secular priesthood? This is only the second time I have heard this distinction.

A religious priest is a member of a religious order and takes religious vows, a secular priest does not. Secular priests can be incardinated into their local dioceses or into secular institutes. Eg, a Jesuit priest is religious, an Opus Dei one is secular.

 

[poetryforjesus]

Hope that helped people. Please tell me if you found this useful.

Thank you very much, Jehu! This is very helpful.

 

[TeresaAnn]

Thank-you Jehu for posting this. I have some questions…

Are we each given a vocation for our lifetime? Do we know we could possibly be blessed with more then one?

I’ll give my situation as an example. I knew I was called to be a mother and wife since an early age. I even had a dream when I was a preteen that I had four sons, which I have been blessed with. I was married young and lived through many years of abuse and my husband was repeatedly unfaithful despite multiple “lets try this agains”. He is an alcoholic and lives in a recovery house. I still love him as family but I have to be strong to raise the boys.

So… I had a strong calling to have these sons. My marriage was over 7 years ago. Now and for the last couple years, I feel a calling to religious life. I don’t want to get my hopes up… are we sure I could have this second vocation? Or is it just my wishes and longing. I don’t know what to do if is a one shot deal. The marriage is non existant, the priest who married us has offered to annul it years ago, he says he had reservations before we married.

I won’t get into the details of the calling I feel right now, i’ll just say it has turned my world upside down and it is all I can think about. I pray I won’t be rejected.

DEFINITION. - EVERY PERSON HAS SOME SPECIAL VOCATION.

Q. What is a vocation?
A. A call from God to some state of life.

Q. Which are the principal states of life?
A. Matrimony, virginity, the religious state, and the priesthood.

Q. Has every person a vocation?
A. Yes; God gives a special vocation to each person.

Q. How is this doctrine proved?
A. St Paul says: “Every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that. . . . As the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one, so let him walk.”

Q. Is it not beneath God’s notice to give a particular vocation to each person?
A. Not at all; for even the birds of the air are objects of the providence of God: “Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Q. What do Father Faber and St. Alphonsus say on this subject?
A. Father Faber says: “Every man has a distinct vocation.” St Alphonsus says: “We must embrace that state to which God calls us.”

otherwise, I don’t know where I will fall according to St Augustine when the boys are grown. I have so much I want to offer.

Q. What does St. Augustine teach concerning special vocations?
A. St. Augustine says: “He who does little, but in a state to which God calls him, does more than he who labours much, but in a state which he has thoughtlessly chosen: a cripple limping in the right way is better than a racer out of it.”

 

[TeresaAnn]

**CHAPTER XI

MEANS OF PRESERVING A VOCATION TO THE RELIGIOUS STATE - SOME OBSTACLES.

Q. What other reason may be given why a religious vocation should be followed promptly? **
A. Like other graces, the grace of a religious vocation is transient; it may be offered today, and if not accepted, it may be withdrawn tomorrow: “Today if you shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” "Exhort one another every day, whilst it is called today, that none of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin?

Another question… my youngest is almost 9yrs old. I have at least 9 years until I could even start the process. That would make me 45. Am I making God wait!!! Will this be withdrawn from me because I have to raise my sons? Jesus talks of leaving your mother, your father, your children to follow him. Does this apply to this situation? I feel I have a lot of work yet to do with my sons to set them on the right spiritual path.

 

[dakotagirl]

This is a fantastic post! Many thanks!

 

[goforgoal]

TeresaAnn- What type of Religious orders have you been considering? Have you shared this with your family or friends? Have you discussed this with your Priest? Religous Sister?

Everyone does have a Vocation so don’t be discouraged instead be encouraged.

There are many ways that God calls us. Yes, even you TeresaAnn.

Are you active in your Parish?

A Parish always needs help. You could volunteer to read the gospel readings, prepare candles, Eucharistic minister, the list is endless…You can always volunteer your services and time with any Religious Sister…

Have you considered a lay order/third order? Associate? CWL member?

I’m not really sure if I asked you the right questions or if this is what you really wanted to “hear” but I shall leave you with this Bible verse and let you know that I am Praying for you.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened”- Luke 11:9-10

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

Another question… my youngest is almost 9yrs old. I have at least 9 years until I could even start the process. That would make me 45. Am I making God wait!!! Will this be withdrawn from me because I have to raise my sons? Jesus talks of leaving your mother, your father, your children to follow him. Does this apply to this situation? I feel I have a lot of work yet to do with my sons to set them on the right spiritual path.

*TeresaAnn,

I would encourage you to first concentrate on your family. In other words you have at least 9 wonderful years ahead of you. As you say you have work yet to do to set your sons on the right spiritual path] Remember today the present is Gods gift to you…Who knows what may happen in 9 years?

Secondly I would encourage you to at the very least meet often with your parish priest, if you can( at some point) also find a spiritual director if you haven’t already. You are not making God wait if you are taking care of your boys. Right now your vocation is to your boys … Be faithful to that calling. ( At least till they are grown)

As to the possibility of entering a community at 45??? Time will tell if you have a vocation. Again seek the advice of your priest or spiritual director… let them guide you though this to determine if you have a (second) vocation to the religious life…(Perhaps if not to a regular religious order perhaps you could consider a secular religious order)… again you have time on your side. Again enjoy and work, and concentrate on the present as that is where God is working with you (now)…

What I am trying to say (perhaps badly) Is your first focus is your present state in life… but for your peace of mind… talk to your priest to see what you can do to both strengthen your present spiritual life but to also plan for the future. ( God could indeed be providing a late vocation)

Blessings of Peace and All Good!*

 

[anode]

Another question… my youngest is almost 9yrs old. I have at least 9 years until I could even start the process. That would make me 45. Am I making God wait!!! Will this be withdrawn from me because I have to raise my sons? Jesus talks of leaving your mother, your father, your children to follow him. Does this apply to this situation? I feel I have a lot of work yet to do with my sons to set them on the right spiritual path.

My impression is that religious orders require that a candidate have no obstacles, which means, among other things, dependents. It doesn’t matter if your sons are all at least 18–as long as even one is dependent on you, let alone your parents or other family members being dependent, you are not free. St. Jane de Chantal (foundress of the Visitation) may have been able to step over the prostrate form of her youngest son on her way into the cloister, but that sort of thing isn’t allowed nowadays. In addition, boys take longer to mature and 18 years may not be long enough for the youngest.

As to your age, I doubt that a shortage of vocations is going to go away. Although some orders are lowering their upper age limits again, as more candidates appear, I thing that there will still be orders willing to take older candidates.

 

[TeresaAnn]

Thanks for the responses. I am meeting with the priest that married me next month so I think I may have a lot of questions answered then.

I agree that the focus should still be my sons right now, as this is my current vocation, It’s just some things you read make you do a double take. Like a few lines in this article. I just want to be sure I’m not talking myself into anything despite God’s true plans for me.

I have more questions that maybe I’ll add to the discernment thread.

anode,
I don’t plan on having sons that want to hang around home until they are 30. I don’t think that is a good trend really. They seem to have independence in their blood anyway. I was dying to get out in the real world at 16 and so was their father. My parents held on to me until I was 18. It’s not that I would be kicking them out though! It’s just around here at 18 you are off to live in residence at university. I can’t imagine sitting at home waiting until they are older before I finally say yes to God can make sense. I will still be there in some way for them, and I have a large family. They would not do without. Of course, fi something happens and one of them still needs me, I will be there of course and delay my plans… it just gives me the “Eebee Gebeeze” thinking I would be saying no to God. It’s all over the place… we are to love him most and live by his will.

From what I have read, “sistermoms” are on the rise, I’m not concerned.

As far as parents and other relatives as dependants… I’m sure you have some, why did it not hold you back?

 

[anode]

Thanks for the responses. I am meeting with the priest that married me next month so I think I may have a lot of questions answered then.

I agree that the focus should still be my sons right now, as this is my current vocation, It’s just some things you read make you do a double take. Like a few lines in this article. I just want to be sure I’m not talking myself into anything despite God’s true plans for me.

I have more questions that maybe I’ll add to the discernment thread.

anode,
I don’t plan on having sons that want to hang around home until they are 30. I don’t think that is a good trend really. They seem to have independence in their blood anyway. I was dying to get out in the real world at 16 and so was their father. My parents held on to me until I was 18. It’s not that I would be kicking them out though! It’s just around here at 18 you are off to live in residence at university. I can’t imagine sitting at home waiting until they are older before I finally say yes to God can make sense. I will still be there in some way for them, and I have a large family. They would not do without. Of course, fi something happens and one of them still needs me, I will be there of course and delay my plans… it just gives me the “Eebee Gebeeze” thinking I would be saying no to God. It’s all over the place… we are to love him most and live by his will.

From what I have read, “sistermoms” are on the rise, I’m not concerned.

As far as parents and other relatives as dependents… I’m sure you have some, why did it not hold you back?

It’s not what* you *perceive your obligation is to your sons/family–it’s what *the order *you want to enter perceives it to be. You won’t be earning money for the upkeep of your children or grown dependents, if you have any, in a monastery. If your order perceives that your children or relatives, such as elderly parents, are still dependent on you, for whatever reason, you won’t be able to enter until they are no longer dependent. Youre responsibilities don’t end once your children become 18, in their view. Of course, if you have no dependents, literally or figuratively, then this won’t be a problem. There are lots of sistermoms and sistergrandmoms around.

 

[Jehu]

bump!

 

[Shin]

I was looking for this, and you found it. Thank you for being a bearer of such a fine volume to share it with everyone.

 

[Jehu]

bump!