The only way you can be sure as to where God is calling you to be is to actually visit and stay with the community. Only then will you find that ‘coming home’ experience many of us have felt and knew from our hearts that this is where we are suppose to be.
YES. I agree with this here 100%.
As for some of the other things the original poster addressed:
“a large majority of members within the order are faithful to the teaching of the Church”
- This is and should be true with any community you look at. In fact it should be true of all Catholics, whether in religious life or not.
“they are striving to become saints”
- Again, should be true of everyone.
“a love for Mary and the Eucharist”
- Some communities do have more of an emphasis on Mary than others. Marians of the Immaculate Conception come to mind. You’ll find a strong devotion to Mary among many Franciscans as well, and the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, plenty of others too. Eucharist is and should be central to all of our lives, it is our “Source and summit” as they say.
“zeal for God, the Church and souls”
- Becoming a Religious doesn’t happen by accident, anyone who chooses this way of life does so because of a zeal for God, the Church, and for Souls (and feeling of being called, among other things too). Its how that zeal is expressed that will be different in different communities (this is more or less what we mean by “charism” of a religious order…how that love for Christ is lived out) . Would you want to express that zeal in a more active or contemplative manner? combination of the two? If active, what sorts of ministries could you see yourself called to, and working with what types of people and in what circumstances? feeding homeless? educating high school students? College professor? University Chaplain? Parish priest? Social worker? Missionary? (the list is honestly endless…create your own ministry if you want) Where do you see yourself ministering? This could help us come up with some better suggestions a little easier. It’s also OK if you don’t have an answer yet… but it’s something to think about.
“and with a strong masculine identity”
- I’m not really sure what is meant by this, sorry.
There are other communities who are not Jesuits who have an Ignatian (Jesuit) spirituality as a central part of their charism. I can’t recall them off-hand, but will try and find out and post again.
When it comes to a particular spirituality, yes, that’s a great place to start I think. But my advice is don’t make that the be-all and end-all. Spirituality is a very personal thing, and you’ll find Franciscans with a strong Ignatian Influence. You’ll also find Jesuits with a Franciscan influence (e.g. Pope Francis). So while the spirituality of a community IS very important, it doesn’t exclude you from making another a big part of your own life as well. I find the spirituality of the community kind of becomes the lens through which the others are viewed, if that makes any sense. This goes for devotions to Mary as well, make that part of
your own charism, and take it with you wherever you go.
As HumbledSinner pointed out, visit communities, and see how it goes, it’s really the only way to do it. I really can’t stress that point enough. You may visit a Trappist monastery or Dominican Priory and realize that is “home”. You honestly won’t know until you go visit communities.
