Ave Maria!
Although these are directed at men considering the priesthood, I think it applies also to anyone discerning religious life.
“Am I allowed to date while in the seminary?
The seminary is like the engagement period for a couple: you do not date others if you desire to create a true relationship with your intended. Likewise, to truly prepare for and discern the calling to priesthood in the seminary, you should not be dating.*” **-From the
Celibacy FAQ at the diocese of Bridgeport.
**
“My first advice is that if the young man wants to discern priesthood, then he cannot date, because you cannot “date” two women at the same time, i.e, both the girl and the priesthood. He must make a choice of which one to discern—priesthood or marriage.” **-
from a priest from the diocese of La Crosse.
Spiritual direction - you can always receive direction by phone, email, or letter if distance is a problem.
Guard and protect this special calling or else it will be snatched away. In time God will reveal to you if He really wants you to be a religious or to be married, in which case God will be preparing a husband for you, but in due time. You must be patient and surrender to Him completely. In either case, you want to pursue holiness by trying to go to daily Mass, meditation, Rosary, confession, reading the lives of the saints and imitating their virtues, especially purity and chastity, etc. (Remember your job is to become a saint, whether as a religious or married, and there are many saints from both states to inspire you.)
**"A religious vocation is the greatest grace God can give a soul after holy Baptism,” **-St. Mary Magdalen di Pazzi
“The Religious State is like the Promised Land; it is Paradise on Earth; it is a great Grace.” -St. Alphonsus de Liguori
"Is not that a holy state in which a man lives more purely, falls more rarely, rises more speedily, walks more cautiously, is bedewed with the waters of grace more frequently, rests more securely, dies more confidently, is cleansed more quickly, and rewarded more abundantly?" -St. Bernard
**“The vocation is a grace not given to everybody. But it can be, even today, given to many: to many strong and pure young people, to many souls longing for a higher beauty in their life, longing for perfection, with a passion for the salvation of their fellow man. We pray that it be so. Is there perhaps someone listening to our humble talk now, who hears within him Jesus’ majestic voice?” **-Pope Paul VI
Consecrate yourself to Our Lady, and put your vocation in Her most loving hands. She, who is the Seat of Wisdom, will guide you more effectively and perfectly to Her Son, than anyone else who ever lived or will live on earth.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us! Ave Maria!
fra John Paul
