It Pains Me So . .

[Friend_Of_Rome]

I’m a high school student, at a jesuit High School. As many of you probably know, the Jesuits are renowned for their rigorous studies. The also foster the growth of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. However, I have a growing dilema.

I have been continuously cleansing myself of things that are “Less than Christian” and I am making great strides through prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, the rosary, the mass, and often, simply being in Church. However, I have no time to deepen my spirituality. i really and immensely regret this. one would hope that a Catholic school would nurture one’s prayer life, but in my case, it actually somewhat limits it. I need to deepen my spirituality, my prayer life etc, and yet I haven’t the time or support to do so. You see, in my case, people really doubt my fervor for my vocation. Many say, “you’re too young. You haven’t even discovered girls.” Well, I’m old enough to know what i am to do in life. A this stage though, sophomore year of high school, I need more support than i do curently. My mentor is a military chaplain deployed in Kosovo, and I have a Jesuit to talk to. however, The prior has little connection to the outside world, and the latter often doubts my resolve.

If anything, prayer for my vocation would be greatly and ardently appreciated. Rest assured, all of you in this faith community are in my prayers. Please post or email me with any ideas to help.

 

[ctos]

Hello Friend! Many seminarians enter right out of high school, so there must be a way to do it.

 

[kell0618]

Hi David!

Funny that we should meet in this forum as I think I know you. I would love to support your faith journey in any way that I can. We are blessed to live near some wonderful religious communities. Even if you are not called to join one of them, you will find much peace, encouragement and joy if you participate in some of the opportunities they offer to visitors.

35 miles south of Rochester, you will find the Abbey of the Genesee where you may participate in many of their prayer times and Masses.

Closer to Rochester than that is the Order of Mercy (Order of the Blessed Virgin of Mary of Mercy, founded in 1218) where you could join their Third Order (for laypersons) or attend Mass/prayers/rosary or walk their beautiful grounds in the warmer weather.

Ever been to Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Lewiston (near Niagara Falls)? It is a phenomenal place for spiritual growth!

You are doing what you are supposed to, David. May you be an inspiration to more young people! A ride a problem? Let me know and I’d love to help you with arrangements.

God bless you and you may send me a personal message if you’d like. I am praying for you!

Kelly

 

[Friend_Of_Rome]

Kelly, I think perhaps I know you as well.

Funy you mention those places, because I’m actually going to one today. The Vocations Office is taking us to the Abbey of the Genesee for vespers/compline. It should be great fun. Also, the Fatima shrine is my favorite place in NY (thus far). Who knows what other unknown treasures lie out there?

 

[BobP123]

I’m a high school student, at a jesuit High School. As many of you probably know, the Jesuits are renowned for their rigorous studies. The also foster the growth of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. .

I’m sorry but I don’t share that sentiment. The Jesuits have not been at all friendly towards the traditionalist movement so I don’t know how they foster any such growth. But if you can show me otherwise, I’d be willing to listen or read.

 

[puzzleannie]

However, I have no time to deepen my spirituality. i really and immensely regret this. one would hope that a Catholic school would nurture one’s prayer life, but in my case, it actually somewhat limits it. I .

this could be said by any student, HS or college, or any one who has a job, or anyone busy with housework and children. It is ultimately an excuse, not a reason. We are all obliged by virtue of our baptism to give a tithe of our time to God each day. If you are in Catholic school there is probably some time devoted to group prayer even if it is a few minutes. How you carve out an hour a day for God is up to you, but there is no such thing as not being able to do it if you want to. Mother Teresa did and taught her sisters who still do the same, spend an hour with the Blessed Sacrament. In a Catholic school you should have access to a chapel for this purpose, but if not, spend the time with the Scripture even if you cannot be before the tabernacle.

If you do not form this habit now of reserving an hour for God, you will find constant difficulty in school and later in whatever work you do–including and especially a religious vocation–finding time to do what you have to do. If you form this habit now, you will find God will always return the gift and give you time for all that is essential.

Essential is of course the key work, as you have already perceived. Bear in mind that some recreation, quiet time, think time, and sleep time is an essential as well, but set priorities. Some secular time management specialists have pointed out that 80% of our time is spend on doing non-essential “busy-ness” tasks but only 20% on essentials. we need to learn how to prioritize. do not confuse “busy-ness” in the spiritual life with true spiritual growth, multiplying rosaries, chaplets etc.

Don’t worry too much at this stage about trying to “convince” anyone that you have a vocation. Prove it to yourself by ordering your time, talent and activities toward discerning and doing the will of God. Your duties for your state in life–study, chores, participation in the community life of school, parish and family are part of his will for you at this time.

 

[Friend_Of_Rome]

I already have more than an hour for God each day. I’m no novice

I just meant that i feel I need more, and I have no extra time. I’ve already prioritized and done all to consolidate that I can.

Just out of curiosity, do you have a jesuit education?

 

[Mintaka]

Well, if you’re already spending more than an hour a day in prayer, and you’ve consolidated all you can, that’s all you can do. Welcome to the human race, and its limitations on time.

It’s good that you long for more, but you should offer up that longing and not fret about it so much. If you can’t do anything about it, you just have to accept it. Keep an eye out for more opportunities, but no more. Don’t eat yourself up over it uselessly; that’s not having detachment.

 

[Friend_Of_Rome]

Thank you all for the keen insight. I deeply appreciate it. I suppose the basic underlying term is “patience.” I think that things will be better for me in future years i.e. after ordination, after I can drive, after 7:30 to 3:00 school hours.

 

[puzzleannie]

I already have more than an hour for God each day. I’m no novice

I just meant that i feel I need more, and I have no extra time. I’ve already prioritized and done all to consolidate that I can.

Just out of curiosity, do you have a jesuit education?

why do you feel you need to do more? If you are already doing this much, ask your spiritual director for permission before you take on any more.

with regard to discerning your vocation, you are ready for each step toward that goal, if it is truly the one God has for your, when not only you but those in authority over you and responsible for your spiritual direction say you are. That includes your current spiritual director, director of vocations for your diocese, bishop, laws of the church, etc. Work on learning humility and obedience, the pre-requisite for all vocations. The rule of St. Benedict is the best guide I know for this.

 

[Friend_Of_Rome]

To put into words the driving force of my vocation would be to deface it. To harness an emotion driving my life and explain every aspect would fill volumes and volumes.

I have numerous vocations advisors, all around. I even have a seminarian friend in Africa. They all help immensely, and they all say “pray and seek guidance.” As I said, I can’t truly describe the profundity of my feelings. If I were to try to do so here, I would be doing a severe injusitce to the issue. The colsest I could come to pointing you in the direction I feel would be to have you read, if you haven’t already, the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux. I once wrote to Rome, seeking guidance. I received it, and the pope himself answered. He said that he would gladly admit me to seminary as soon as possible, however, my bishop thinks differently. The diocese of rochester is not run well. The bishop ahs actually been called to Rome for issues over disobedience. people scream for his resignation. This is why the diocese is lacking in vocations, because if people obey the bishop, they go against Rome, but if they go against the bishop, difficulties arise in daily Church life. I have two jesuits as mentors, both of whom feel as certain about my ordained future as I do. I have a Franciscan (conventual) also helping me. He believes that if I were to not be ordained, I would be missing my true calling. My pastor is away indefinately, but his second in command (pastoral associate) has taken me under his wing. I am well on the way to the priesthood, even if some among us feel my enthusiasm is hokey, immature, dare I say premature. If it were up to me, I would live a life of complete prayer starting now. However, a little something called school gets in the way This is no “excuse” as you claim it to be. My school assigns at least two hours of homework+ each night. I wake up at 4, get ready for school, then help in my parrents’ bakery fro about 6:30 to7:15. School lasts from 8 till 2:30, with a communion service and rosary within that time frame. I get home at 3:00 and do two+ hours of homework. That takes me to 5:00 and dinner. 5:45 is vespers, and then some relaxation until 7:30. 7:30 is Compline for me. Bed at 8:00. Then the cycle repeats.

Please, don’t be so swift to judge me as an arogant, over anxious teen who is simply acting upon emotion.

Then again, look where youthful emotion got JPII, Joan of Arc, Maria Goretti, francis of Assisi, and, yes, even the Blessed Virgin.

Youth are needed by the church. We need the help of people such as yourselves. Help is what we want, not adults pushing us away from the altar saying, “you don’t know what you’re saying, tihnking or doing.”

Like it or not, my generation and others around it are the hoep for the coming Church. I pray we can do well.

 

[puzzleannie]

fine, you still have to finish your education, then apply to seminary, so one thing at a time. finish high school and do your best in doing so, and continue to help your family, which are your duties for your current state in life. you may have to narrow down to one spiritual director, even tho you have other mentors, when it comes to the nuts and bolts, you can’t be taking conflicting advice from all sides. If you have read Therese then you already know there is as much spiritual progress in doing humble daily duties with love and willingness as their is in prayer and fasting. If you have bad vibes from the diocesan vocations director etc the work with one from a religious order. Would it not be exciting to be part of the reform of the “reformed Jesuits” because it truly seems that for this order the pendulum has reached its arc and is swinging back the other way. I see this in its schools, colleges, publishing arms since other than Benedictines it is the order with which I have most contact.

 

[Kevin42]

God will not expect from you today what you will only be able to do tomorrow. Just be patient, and fulfill your responsibility to your parents as their child. Besides that, all I have to offer you is my prayers. Pax Dòmini sit semper vobìscum!