Is God calling me to be a religious sister?

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Shana

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I’m 20 and in college. For a year now, with increasing intensity the thought of being a religious sister has been on my mind and heart. I feel attracted to the Daughters of St. Paul for many reasons but I’m trying to stay open in case God is calling me to another community or not to religious life at all. This can be hard because I want it so bad. I get these intense feelings of being madly in love with Jesus and a pervasive thought that I won’t be satisfied unless I center my life daily around the Eucharist and have my work be His work. I spend an hour a day in Eucharistic adoration and don’t feel like I’d be satisfied unless I had time like that to be before the Eucharist everyday. I’m sick with love (in a good way!). How do I sort out God’s will from my own, especially reading the desires of my heart?
 
It’s very possible that you could have a calling to be a religious sister, but it’s not something that can be determined right away. I’ve been discerning for over 2 years now and I see myself continuing on a few years because I’ve been asked to by the community I am discerning with. I had a friend that discerned almost 9 years before she entered the community she is currently with as a postulant.

It would be very rare for God to just come out and call someone to religious life (although it is possible; nothing is impossible for God). Normally, it takes incessant prodding in the heart and great desires to do something radical for Jesus. I would recommend a spiritual director to help you discern what you are feeling and check out if these feelings are real or just a product of loneliness or something else.

Also, I would recommend that you contact the religious order you are interested in and start building up a relationship. Going on “Come and See” retreats and talking to the vocations director is very helpful. Discerning is much like dating. You wouldn’t date someone once or a handful of times and then marry them. This is a life-changing event. A very beautiful one.

Read up on the lives of the saints–especially St. Paul (my favorite saint, in fact). Read the Gospels. If you are going to live them, you should know them. 😉 It is also helpful to pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day. You can find a free website here:

universalis.com/

Also, continue spending time in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

One of the priests of the religious order I am discerning with (there are male and female members) recommended that I pray three Hail Marys each day for the purpose of consecrating yourself to the Blessed Virgin Mary and she will lead you to your vocation. Praying the rosary every day can do this too. She will obtain for you many graces.

I’ll be praying for you. God bless. :crossrc:
 
You may very well be called to religious life. If you are feeling a strong attraction the the Daughters of St. Paul, perhaps you are called to join them. Have you visited them? Are you in contact with them? If not, I suggest you write them or call them.
 
Yes, I am in contact with them and was able to visit them once just recently! Pray for me as I sort out God’s will for my life!
 
Shana said:
Yes, I am in contact with them and was able to visit them once just recently! Pray for me as I sort out God’s will for my life!
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That’s wonderful! Do you have a spiritual director yet? 😉
 
I’m working on it…

There’s a priest that I’m a aquainted with who’s an hour away from here (where I go to school) who I came across and think he may be a possibility. I need to get to know him a bit better I think before I know for sure I should do spiritual direction with him, but he did tell me that he does do it.
 
Thanks for your prayers! I’m going to go visit Jesus now! Do any of you know about contemplative prayer, especially as it relates to charismatic prayer? If so, we should talk. 🙂 (It’s a topic relating to my discernment).

Please check out my blog and let me know what you think! I just added it to my signature.
 
Dear Shana,
May the peace of Christ be with you.

I would recommend reading the personal diary of Saint Teresa of the Andes. She wrote this diary when she was 15 years old, before she entered religious life. What is so striking about the diary, is that it shows how this Saint prepared for religious life while she was still in the world. She writes about her daily struggles, and what she did to overcome them. And she also speaks continually on the love of God, and how ardently she longed to love Him and serve Him.

The book is entitled, “God the Joy of My Life” ($12.71 at Ignatius Press)
http://www.ignatius.com/Images/Products/gjl-p.jpg

I would also recommend reading the article;
Discerning Religious Life,
at www.religious-vocation.com.
It contains many great quotes by the Saints on religious life, and ways to prepare for and discern a vocation to the religious life.

.

.
 
Shana said:
Thanks for your prayers! I’m going to go visit Jesus now! Do any of you know about contemplative prayer, especially as it relates to charismatic prayer? If so, we should talk. 🙂 (It’s a topic relating to my discernment).

Please check out my blog and let me know what you think! I just added it to my signature.
Click to expand...
you’re most welcome.
I had never really thought much specifically about the relationship between contemplative prayer and charismatic prayer. But I do think sometimes prayer is forced into distinct little boxes that in realilty may not exist. I know there are differences in different types, manners and levels of prayer, but I don’t think they are as separate as some like to treat them.
On first thought, the contemplative/charismac prayer seems like the way I imagine St. Francis would have prayed.
I took a quick look at your blog but don’t have time enough today to really read through. Will come back to it later.
God bless.
 
Pace e Bene !
Our Founder (who is still alive and well at 39 years of age say’s:
“Adoration of the Holy Eucharist is a good thing, but even better is the Immitation!”

We are a Catholic Comunity of Friars and Nuns (Sisters) who want to live ALL of the Gospel with the facts and in the Truth. We also live with out wanting, asking or touching money, not that it’s bad to touch it as also the desciples had a safe keeping, but our hearts have greatly desired to live also as Jesus says: “go with out bread, back pack, cane or money” (Cf. Mk 6, 7-8).

I have attached a short film that partly expresses our Charisma and may also help you discover even better what Gods Will may be apon you. We hope you enjoy it…
For What ever your spiritual need be, with the Grace of God and within our limits, We are at your service !

Click on this photo to seeone of our vocational short films:
nuke.fratipoveri.net/Portals/0/preghiere/preghiera%20nel%20cenacolo.jpg

Best wishes of Holiness (Thes 4,3) and Beatific Immortality !
Ps.- The Website we use is:
www.poorfriars.net
 
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