Exploring My Vocation

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TommyCCR

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I have been praying about and exploring my vocation for quite some time now. I would like to learn about some different monastic orders. I am looking more for an active order, an order that is traditional, but also gets involved. I desire to help people every day, but I know monasticism or the priesthood is a large possibility for my life. Priesthood is a good option, but I would like to explore monasteries as well. So if you could tell me of some respectable active orders I would appreciate it so much.

God Bless.
 
Do you have an idea of the kind of spirituality you are looking for (Carmelite, Dominican, Benedictine, etc.)?? If not, what really appeals to you in terms of an order’s charism and rule?? Maybe some of us can help you discern which charism you should look at more closely.

Also, if you don’t have a spiritual director, I recommend that you start trying to find one. Pray for God to guide you in your search and he’ll let you know what to look for. It can be either a priest, deacon, sister, or a brother. I recommend that you stay away from lay spiritual directors, however. I’ve discovered that they don’t know enough about religious life to help you form your discernment.

Some articles:

ehow.com/how_2264461_catholic-spiritual-director.html
newadvent.org/cathen/05024a.htm

I recommend, as well, that you get yourself a copy of “Introduction to the Devout Life” by St. Francis de Sales. I am reading it now and I’m learning so much about discernment and spiritual direction (St. Francis was a spiritual director himself 🙂 ).
 
TommyCCR said:
I have been praying about and exploring my vocation for quite some time now. I would like to learn about some different monastic orders. I am looking more for an active order, an order that is traditional, but also gets involved. I desire to help people every day, but I know monasticism or the priesthood is a large possibility for my life. Priesthood is a good option, but I would like to explore monasteries as well. So if you could tell me of some respectable active orders I would appreciate it so much.

God Bless.
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A lot is going to depend on your age, talents, interests, level of education. Different religious communities have different foci.

For example, we have a new foundation that is seeking men who are called to live the Franciscan life in its traditional form: prayer, silence, poverty, obedience, brotherhood.

But the brothers are called to serve the unborn in respect life ministry.

There is another group of Franciscans in New Jersey that just started who have the same life as the one that we have in FL, but they do street ministry. They have priests, but their priests must be brothers and live as brothers. The can help out in parishes on weekends.

Then there are the larger orders that usually require at least a Master’s Degree, but accept someone with a BA and you can continue studies from there.

There are orders that are missionaries and other that are not.

A lot depends on where your strengths and interests are. God usually aligns us with the religious community that will bring out the best in us, not change us into something that we’re not.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
Hey Tommy,

That’s so great that you want to begin to explore your vocation. I imagine that means that you already have a solid foundation in prayer, virtue, and the reception of the Sacraments (Eucharist and Confession). That’s awesome! When it comes to living a vocation, the first thing you need to think about is receiving a strong formation. For that reason, I strongly recommend two communities that I have personal experience of:
  1. The Priestly Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo: <www.fraternityofsaintcharles.org>
    These guys are closely tied to the Communion and Liberation movement of which B16 is a huge fan.
  2. my own Apostles of the Interior Life. You can read a little more about us at: http://www.apostlesofil.org/male_branch.htm.
Our community has 4 pillars: prayer, study, community life, and a focus on spiritual apostolate (evangelizing the unconverted and forming those already on the Way). Our apostolic model is Christ himself, so we have no real structures to speak of like schools or hospitals and we live totally on Divine Providence (we do everything for free and live on what people give us).

I hope this helps…
 
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