Religious vocation for right reasons

[oksoitworked]

hello

long story short, God granted me this wonderful opportunity at redemption of my former unworthy life and i completely blew it (my pride got the best of me). as far as i’m concerned, it’s finished. game over.

i’ve always thought about becoming a priest / religious but never felt truly called. i’ve been thinking about it a lot lately but what worries me is that i might be becoming a priest for the wrong reasons. i feel like that i’m just running away from my problems (just as i ran away from my former life). in my mind, what would be ideal is to have this wonderful life and future ahead of me but to step away from it in order to completely devote myself to God because i love Him, not because i’m a coward. plus, it’s not like i can run away from myself.

in any case, what i’m really drawn to is living out my life in complete solitude with God in a monastic order, away from the world and all it’s troubles. any thoughts? thanks.

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

hello

long story short, God granted me this wonderful opportunity at redemption of my former unworthy life and i completely blew it (my pride got the best of me). as far as i’m concerned, it’s finished. game over.
Not so… It is never to late to turn ones life around or to find ones calling [or vovation in life] Thats whats so wonderful about our sacrament of reconciliation. May I suggest if you havent already encountered the divine mercy devotion and message? that it may be a good starting point?
i’ve always thought about becoming a priest / religious but never felt truly called. i’ve been thinking about it a lot lately but what worries me is that i might be becoming a priest for the wrong reasons.
*Here is where the practical advice posted in so many of the vocation forums comes in:

1. Pray
2. Go to Confession
3. To determine if you are truely called… seek a Spiritual Director
4. Pray some More… oh yes of course Attend Mass, Go to frequent confession
5. Not to be redundant but Seek a Spiritual Director*
   i feel like that i’m just running away from my problems (just as i ran away from my former life). in my mind, what would be ideal is to have this wonderful life and future ahead of me but to step away from it in order to completely devote myself to God because i love Him, not because i’m a coward. plus, it’s not like i can run away from myself.
   [Religious Life is never meant to be a running away from ones problems]
   Again a spiritual director can validate the call and direct your path
   in any case, what i’m really drawn to is living out my life in complete solitude with God in a monastic order, away from the world and all it’s troubles. any thoughts? thanks.

*Again validate your possible call by seeking spiritual direction. It is a noble thing to seek God in seclusion… However even those in Monastic Life still connect in some fashion with the world… as they also intercede for the many sins and needs of their fellow man.
Again a spiritual director can ensure

1. Is your call valid
2. What path might that call take
3. If you are not called to religious life the spiritual director can still help you to keep a healthy active Catholic Lifestyle*

Blessings and will be praying for you on your journey!

 

[Padilla7921]

You must make sure that this is God’s Will for you. To do something contrary to His desires is not a wise decisions. If you feel that you are running from your problems, or the past, or what have you, you must confront those issues first, then pray about what is best for you and for God.

Your intentions must be right and proper. They must be holy and just.

 

[bpbasilphx]

in any case, what i’m really drawn to is living out my life in complete solitude with God in a monastic order, away from the world and all it’s troubles. any thoughts? thanks.

**If you think this is what you’ll find as a monk, you’re in for a NASTY shock!

Trust me.**

 

[oksoitworked]

really? i think it was john corapi i heard who was describing his experience in a life of solitude prayer.

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

really? i think it was john corapi i heard who was describing his experience in a life of solitude prayer.

The point is that Contemplative life is not meant to be an escape.
Yes there is prayer and prayer is the basis of the daily life.

you posted the following … i’ve always thought about becoming a priest / religious but never felt truly called. i’ve been thinking about it a lot lately but what worries me is that i might be becoming a priest for the wrong reasons… i feel like that i’m just running away from my problems (just as i ran away from my former life).

*We of course do not know what issues you have to deal with… thats why I advised seeking spiritual direction to verify the call, (should there be one)… It is never to late to explore religious life or more specifically to return to Gods good graces.

However… what any religious will tell you is … Religious life is never an escape but a means to holiness. You may truely be called to Monastic Life… It never hurts to go visit various communities… In fact it may help you should you truely be called there… just understand it is not an escape…
Blessings of Peace and All Good!*

 

[water]

in any case, what i’m really drawn to is living out my life in complete solitude with God in a monastic order, away from the world and all it’s troubles. any thoughts? thanks.

**If you think this is what you’ll find as a monk, you’re in for a NASTY shock!

Trust me.**

really? i think it was john corapi i heard who was describing his experience in a life of solitude prayer.

The point is that Contemplative life is not meant to be an escape.
Yes there is prayer and prayer is the basis of the daily life.

and don’t forget that you will be living with human beings. This is the place where gold will be tested in fire.

 

[oksoitworked]

ty ty =] … i guess there’s no running from God’s purifying fire …

 

[bpbasilphx]

**… i guess there’s no running from God’s purifying fire … **

Nope. Better to embrace it here in this life.

 

[Trilor]

If you join a monastic order in order to escape the world you will soon have to escape the monastery. The hardest thing about ANY form of monastic life is that you live with the same people 24X7. There is no hiding from Br. Painintheass, OSB, and you need to have the humility to realise that you might be HIS Br. Painintheass, osb. Also, when you are alone with God you are also alone with yourself. You need to have the maturity to hadle that.

I’ve been in monastic life for 7 months. I speak from experience

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

If you join a monastic order in order to escape the world you will soon have to escape the monastery. The hardest thing about ANY form of monastic life is that you live with the same people 24X7. There is no hiding from Br. Painintheass, OSB, and you need to have the humility to realise that you might be HIS Br. Painintheass, osb. Also, when you are alone with God you are also alone with yourself. You need to have the maturity to hadle that.

I’ve been in monastic life for 7 months. I speak from experience

Truer words were never spoken Trilor.

I hope all is going well with your new [ish] vocation. What community?

One has to be well balanced and at peace with one self… keep working on your discernment “oksoitworked” if you are truely called it will happen… just know monastic life is not an escape.

[That is also one very good reason that communities screen applicants as much as applicants screen communities… one has to fit in with the individuals there and yes they do live with them 24/7…perhaps this part of the post belonged on another thread…still it is sometimes overlooked that one must find the “fit” that “fits” both ways]
In the community I am waiting to enter… all the sisters had to vote on accepting me…
blessed be God they did… now for the student loan part… only $8,000 left to go]
Blessings Of Peace and All Good!*

 

[simon_op]

If there is anything you are trying to get away form, you are to expects it in the monastery - and with double strenght!
You will have to face all your fears and troubles when you will get closer to God…