Signs

[strugglingalong]

I too struggled with impurity and chastity and was discouraged on my discernment of a vocation because of it. I am working currently at an outdoor program that helps troubled teenage boys right now, and it has helped me deal with this issue in more ways than one. One, it removes me from the temptation to begin with, yet on my time off I am in a place where I face it again, but I am not giving in to it now. The habit has been broken.

I am going to work there at least a year or two before while I am discerning a vocation in order to break my sin habits. Of course I am going to Mass and reconciliation when I can as well. I am reading and researching the priesthood and religious life on my time off.

Johnny,

Thank you for sharing all that you did. I understand and think you’re doing the right thing. I’ve found that structure helps me. When I wake up in the morning, no matter how I feel, the first thing I do is to turn my heart to God. I try to make as much time for prayer during the day, when possible 30 minutes in the morning and 30 more in the evening. Then I also try to do spiritual reading to help orient the mind and heart to what pleases God. We have to be willing to suffer and struggle too - never in our own strength but always having confidence in God alone. He has to be our strength, not ourselves. Holy Mass, Sacrament of Penance, all have to be a part of it for sure! The Holy Eucharist is such a strength! Also, ask Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Joseph, both of whom are a part of the Carmelite spirituality, to obtain the graces for chastity and purity for you and to protect your virtue. They will assist you!

It’s great the habit has been broken! Praised be God! He can do anything.

I do think it’s good to give some years to really solidify chastity and obtain it fully. I’m going down the same path. It’s difficult at times to be patient but we can acquire patience through it too. As a Benedictine brother told me, the time will just make you desire religious life more!

I’m going to make a special point to pray for you, especially since you’re considering the Carmelites Ask for St. Teresa, St. Therese and St. John of the Cross’ intercession.

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[JohnnyReb]

It’s great the habit has been broken! Praised be God! He can do anything.

I do think it’s good to give some years to really solidify chastity and obtain it fully. I’m going down the same path. It’s difficult at times to be patient but we can acquire patience through it too. As a Benedictine brother told me, the time will just make you desire religious life more!

I’m going to make a special point to pray for you, especially since you’re considering the Carmelites Ask for St. Teresa, St. Therese and St. John of the Cross’ intercession.

Thanks

I have taught myself that what happens day to day-if I have a good day and do all I can to be honoring to God-or a bad day, and fall to some sin, that I need to seek God, hold on to the desire to please him, and not get discouraged about any vocation that I may have. The desire to please God is pleasing to him in itself, and it is a sign that God’s grace is growing in you. Everyday will not be a good one or a perfect one. Absolute perfection is impossible to obtain. We still have human weaknesses.

Yes, I would rather not be a priest than not be a holy one. Holiness involves the desire to do the right thing for the right reasons. Its easy to get caught up in evaluating ourselves and our worthiness in terms of external manifestations of behavior and let that discourage us. Don’t let it do that. Seek the Lord, seek to do his will the right way, and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[GilChrist77]

I will be praying for all of you

Going back to the signs…

For me there was never a discernment process between Religous life and married life. My discernment happened in trying to find which order he wanted me in.
For the past year and a half-ish I was discerning between The Sister of Mary Mother of the Euchrist, The Servants of God’s Love and The Sisters of Life.
In January I went on the Right to Life march in Washington D.C. and going into the trip I was thinking “maybe this will help me decide if I want to spend my whole life for this.” I got home from the trip and spent about a month going back and forth between “Did something really happen or do I fell like something happened because I wanted it to happen?” I just could not figure it out, then I was at a retreat and I talked to my small group leader about what was going on and she said “Betsy, if you really think this is where God wants you then go for it and he will let you know if it’s not where he wants you” So for me God used my friend who invited me to the march and my small group leader to let me know where he wants me.

I hope this helps.
God bless
~Betsy

 

[strugglingalong]

I will be praying for all of you

Going back to the signs…

For me there was never a discernment process between Religous life and married life. My discernment happened in trying to find which order he wanted me in.
For the past year and a half-ish I was discerning between The Sister of Mary Mother of the Euchrist, The Servants of God’s Love and The Sisters of Life.
In January I went on the Right to Life march in Washington D.C. and going into the trip I was thinking “maybe this will help me decide if I want to spend my whole life for this.” I got home from the trip and spent about a month going back and forth between “Did something really happen or do I fell like something happened because I wanted it to happen?” I just could not figure it out, then I was at a retreat and I talked to my small group leader about what was going on and she said “Betsy, if you really think this is where God wants you then go for it and he will let you know if it’s not where he wants you” So for me God used my friend who invited me to the march and my small group leader to let me know where he wants me.

I hope this helps.
God bless
~Betsy

That’s great! I think the following is very true: “Betsy, if you really think this is where God wants you then go for it and he will let you know if it’s not where he wants you.”

Have you already decided which Order it will be?

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[Neal]

Struggling,

not trying to sway you either way (yeah right) but I want to let you know, I’m at Kenrick, the diocesan seminary in St. Louis, right now and it is AMAZING

May God guide your heart to making a good decision.

Peace!

 

[strugglingalong]

Struggling,

not trying to sway you either way (yeah right) but I want to let you know, I’m at Kenrick, the diocesan seminary in St. Louis, right now and it is AMAZING

May God guide your heart to making a good decision.

Peace!

Hi Neal,

What is so amazing about it? If you get a chance send me a message on her about it and let me know. I know that diocese has a lot of TLM’s too. Wait - are you at the FSSP seminary?

Thanks for thinking of me. I’m excited to hear of it.

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[strugglingalong]

Can I inquire as to how old you are Struggling?

I will be 31 in a few months.

I know for me, I have often struggled staying pure with my own sexuality.

However next week I will be starting school at a catholic University, and I expect that this surrounding is what I need to help me overcome. Just think of Jesus’ own words, “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”. We all want to change, but out human, worldly nature tells us no. And I can think of no better way to overcome this than to overwhelm that worldliness with the faith. Bombard it so that it can’t escape. Just think about Jesus, what did he do when he was struggling? he withdrew, and spent hours in prayer.

Also, take St. Paul as an example. He writes in one of his letters, I believe to the Romans, about a thorn in his side, that he prayed for God to take away, and God said no. There is a large amount of Theologians that believe this thorn to be a problem with purity. And yet Paul was possibly the greatest instrument in growing the faith

Yes! Thank you for your wise words. I agree. Prayer. We need to be close to Jesus. Whatever the sin is that appears to have us conquered, if we go to Jesus and seek His Kingdom first then He will overcome the evil in us. The problem is when we think, in our pride, that we have to or can do it in our own strength. Then we are overwhelmed. Surely we have to live a life with a focus on Our Lord and on heaven which means not living for this world. We need so much time in prayer each day, ejaculatory prayers throughout the day, spiritual reading, etc. - always trying to be near Our Lord and always having confidence in His might and His Divine Mercy.

Thank you for your encouraging words! Today especially I needed to hear them.

One of the greatest blessings to me of this Catholic Living section is the encouragement I’ve seen around here.

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[Nick9]

The problem is when we think, in our pride, that we have to or can do it in our own strength. Then we are overwhelmed. Surely we have to live a life with a focus on Our Lord and on heaven which means not living for this world.

This is where I am too. I am trying to trust the Lord and not my own actions. I too have felt overwhelmed when I look to myself. I think the Lord is purging me of idols and the biggest of them is women, but there are many others (maybe I am my own idol when I trust myself over God). Even friends can be idols if we rely on them too much. Whatever we think of the most is probably an idol if we put it in God’s place.

I am still on this journey where being purged of idols is concerned, but I am getting lots of consolation after keeping myself pure. I find that God chastises me when I get too close to women, which makes me renounce them straight away. I then go right back like a dog to its vomit, however (not comparing women to vomit, here!)

 

[strugglingalong]

This is where I am too. I am trying to trust the Lord and not my own actions. I too have felt overwhelmed when I look to myself. I think the Lord is purging me of idols and the biggest of them is women, but there are many others (maybe I am my own idol when I trust myself over God). Even friends can be idols if we rely on them too much. Whatever we think of the most is probably an idol if we put it in God’s place.

I am still on this journey where being purged of idols is concerned, but I am getting lots of consolation after keeping myself pure. I find that God chastises me when I get too close to women, which makes me renounce them straight away. I then go right back like a dog to its vomit, however (not comparing women to vomit, here!)

Yes of course the vomit you refer to is sin, not women. I follow you. I agree and it sounds like Our Lord is doing much in your soul. I am sure He will bless you as you trust in Him.

I have learned that all I have in myself is sin and misery, weakness and imperfection. I’ve tried on my own and fallen over and over. I cannot make it one day without my Lord saving me. One of my favorite prayers these days is simply: “Jesus, help me. Jesus, save me. Jesus, I trust in you and not in myself.” It is amazing how He comes to save the poor when they cry out for help.

Pax Christi tecum.