If you have a vocation to religious life, but turn God down, will he still send you a spouse?

[DebChris]

Thanks, Deb. You sound like you have a wonderful family. I was a little confused, though. Was it your younger brother that entered seminary?

I had 4 brothers. All 4 married. It is my third brother who entered seminary. He had 4 children, each born in a different country. My youngest brother had no children of his own. He adopted his wife’s daughter. All my brothers were older than I. I’m #7 in the family. I have 2 younger sisters.

 

[manualman]

Hmmm, well, it’s complicated.

Are you a religious or married?

I’m married.

It’s certainly messy and difficult, but it isn’t complicated. The bottom line is simple. If God is giving you a vocation, then saying yes to His call will be the path in life that leads to the greatest joy for you. So the hard part shouldn’t be figuring out whether or not to say YES to his call. The hard part should be figuring out what his call IS.

I certainly struggled with it as I believe every catholic should. The best time to do so is when you are young and emotionally unattached. For me, I spent a year doing traveling youth ministry and came to a level of peace that huband and father was my calling (though it was years later that I actually found her). Rarely does anybody get a burning bush though. You need quiet time and prayer to hear the voice.

 

[Tezza]

I’m married.

It’s certainly messy and difficult, but it isn’t complicated. The bottom line is simple. If God is giving you a vocation, then saying yes to His call will be the path in life that leads to the greatest joy for you. So the hard part shouldn’t be figuring out whether or not to say YES to his call. The hard part should be figuring out what his call IS.

I certainly struggled with it as I believe every catholic should. The best time to do so is when you are young and emotionally unattached. For me, I spent a year doing traveling youth ministry and came to a level of peace that huband and father was my calling (though it was years later that I actually found her). Rarely does anybody get a burning bush though. You need quiet time and prayer to hear the voice.

Thanks, Manualman, for your reply. I’ll stick with complicated for now, along with messy and difficult.

Peace,
Teri