Lay vocations: third order religious and/or permanent deacon?

[silentium]

Many thanks to all of you who so kindly took the time to reply to my question. I very much appreciate your words of wisdom and guidance.

I do have a couple of follow-up questions for those of you who have taken one or other vocation (third order religious or deacon):

• What was the defining aspect of your calling? By this, perhaps I mean: what charism related to your vocation do you think is particularly important?
• Did you consider an alternative, and how did you discern (if I can put it somewhat crassly: what ‘clinched it’ for you to pursue one rather than an alternative path)?
• How has taking up that vocation altered you?
• Can you recommend any books for someone trying to discern if they have a vocation to a third order or permanent diaconate?

Thanks again in advance!

[EDIT: sorry, I should clarify that by ‘third order’, I refer not only specifically to the third orders, but include also the closest equivalents in other orders, such as oblates or seculars]

 

[pulchraesamicamea]

I’m thinking of joining the OCDS and I feel really drawn to it. I decided not to join a religious order due to the nature of my disability. I’m still keeping the religious orders in mind though