My Discernment with Catholic Spiritualities

[Melchior_1]

Last night we had a Life Night on devotional practices within the Catholic Church. There was four workshops during the evening, which the youth could attend two of them (two of them ran simultaneously at two separate points).

1. Introduction to Prayer.
2. Devotions to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Saint Gianna Beretta Molla.
3. Liturgy of the Hours.(led by our young Parish Priest)
4. Different Rites and Spiritualities (Dominican, Franciscan, Ignatian etc) within the Catholic Church.

I led the fourth session, in large part because I’ve done a fair amount of research on it over the last few months.

You see, I’ve always tried to model myself in a Franciscan fashion. Living a simple life, showing faith by wait your do. There’s also the Franciscans who run the University of Steubinville, which is where I came back to the Church. For the greater part of seven years or so I’ve felt the call to join the Secular Franciscans, which I thought I’d be doing at some point in the future.

But now I found myself in a situation where I need to re-think this and offer it up in prayer. I’ve been studying Dominican Spirituality, and I’ve noticed that my life is patterned after their’s as well. I have a thirst to learn, I enjoy discussing and thinking about God/the Church, and above all I have a huge love of preaching. Huge. And the fact that it’s an primarily an Order of Preachers, which also extends to their tritary members, is something which has been weighing on me. I’ve taken on a lot of instructional/speaking roles within out youth ministry, which makes me think I’m sliding more towards a Dominican line of thinking.

Both spiritualities place an emphasis on poverty, penance, preaching, and good works. There’s a lot of similarities between them, it’s just that one or two items are placed in a higher priority than others. And it wouldn’t affect myself working in youth ministry, I’d still be doing that extensively.

There’s also the issue however, if myself having no attention span. I don’t mind sitting around talking, but there’s a good chance I’ll have issues paying attention. This includes deep contemplative prayer for extended periods of time, and for sitting down listening for extended periods of times as well. There used to be a part of me that questioned if I truly have a love of preaching/instructing or if it’s merely my lack of attention which is driving me to want to talk. After some time in prayer I have come to the conclusion this is not the case, but it was something to consider.

So I come here to ask for prayer, and to also ask if anyone here has thoughts/opinions on this matter. For seven years or so now I’ve been on a certain path, and now I find I may not be. It’s a bit disconcerting.

 

[puzzleannie]

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So I come here to ask for prayer, and to also ask if anyone here has thoughts/opinions on this matter. For seven years or so now I’ve been on a certain path, and now I find I may not be. It’s a bit disconcerting.

it may be time to share your discernment with a spiritual director, preferably one associated with those you are attracted to. First, is there a group of Secular Franciscans or Dominican Tertiaries in your area you can explore? That factor alone may be a limiting one. Begin with the Franciscans first, if you can, because that is where your heart lies at least now. None of these spiritualities is exclusive, as all embrace the basics–poverty of spirit, prayer, charity or hospitality, stability or obedience, etc-- they put them to work in different ways, however, and they interpret that for lay associates in different ways as well.