Temptations against one's vocation

  • Thread starter Thread starter strugglingalong
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

strugglingalong

Guest
I had stopped discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life years ago. It wasn’t for me, I thought. Because of my sinfulness, because of my weaknesses, because of my struggles it couldn’t be for me. Yet it never went away. And now God is showing me why and He is showing me that I can’t let it get away because in His love He has a beautiful calling for each of us where we can love Him and be faithful to Him.

But I’ve realized that those who consider the priesthood and religious life face a lot of difficulties. Fears come up. Doubts appear. Temptations arise whereby the evil one tries to lure the soul away. There is the excitement and the joy and the peace when we realizes Jesus is calling them but those experiences, in time, fade and the trial begins. What appears to be most needed is perseverance, a realization that the vocation isn’t all excitement but rather is a road also of trials, sufferings and testing.

I’ve just been told, and I believe it is God’s will, to follow a possible call even when that call appears hopeless, even when logically you think it couldn’t be for you (I’m not speaking of objective issues that would hinder one from religious life). Why does God call sinners to Himself? Why does He continue to love even when we’ve so very often rejected Him? He is so very good and so very loving even to us His wretched, poor children. In embracing this vocation I have seen hope grow in my heart; something has “clicked” and it is just right although I could never really explain why. I don’t know why He calls. He just calls because He is good, because He is mercy, because He is love.

All of that to say - sorry, I didn’t intend to write so much! - that I think those who are open to the priesthood or religious life need to realize the important of persevering in discernment even when you have fears, doubts and sufferings; even when it seems like it isn’t for you. If it’s not for you God will make it known to you. If it is for you, there is nowhere else for you to go…except into the arms of Divine Love.

I realize it now: there is nowhere else for us to go but in God’s will, there we’ll find all He has for us in His immense love for us. His vocation for us is so very good.

Our enemy will fight us whenever we commit to God’s will. He will seek to destroy us, cause us to doubt, try to tempt us to sin. But we must always trust in Divine Love and Divine Mercy even when it seems ridiculous and difficult.

Pax Christi tecum.
 
strugglingalong said:
Our enemy will fight us whenever we commit to God’s will. He will seek to destroy us, cause us to doubt, try to tempt us to sin. But we must always trust in Divine Love and Divine Mercy even when it seems ridiculous and difficult.
Click to expand...
Yup, yup, yup.

Sirach 2:1 when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials.
 
MarcoPolo said:
Yup, yup, yup.

Sirach 2:1 when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is what I am learning - slowly. I’m so stupid in that way. I never quite learn.

In my mind, vocation was easy. It was exciting and lovely and full of consolations and joy and happiness. When the trials came, I’ve taken them to mean I was wrong, there is no call, I was mistaken. That has caused a lot of difficulty, pain and loss of graces.

Pax Christi tecum.
 
strugglingalong said:
I had stopped discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life years ago. It wasn’t for me, I thought. Because of my sinfulness, because of my weaknesses, because of my struggles it couldn’t be for me. Yet it never went away. And now God is showing me why and He is showing me that I can’t let it get away because in His love He has a beautiful calling for each of us where we can love Him and be faithful to Him.

But I’ve realized that those who consider the priesthood and religious life face a lot of difficulties. Fears come up. Doubts appear. Temptations arise whereby the evil one tries to lure the soul away. There is the excitement and the joy and the peace when we realizes Jesus is calling them but those experiences, in time, fade and the trial begins. What appears to be most needed is perseverance, a realization that the vocation isn’t all excitement but rather is a road also of trials, sufferings and testing.

I’ve just been told, and I believe it is God’s will, to follow a possible call even when that call appears hopeless, even when logically you think it couldn’t be for you (I’m not speaking of objective issues that would hinder one from religious life). Why does God call sinners to Himself? Why does He continue to love even when we’ve so very often rejected Him? He is so very good and so very loving even to us His wretched, poor children. In embracing this vocation I have seen hope grow in my heart; something has “clicked” and it is just right although I could never really explain why. I don’t know why He calls. He just calls because He is good, because He is mercy, because He is love.

All of that to say - sorry, I didn’t intend to write so much! - that I think those who are open to the priesthood or religious life need to realize the important of persevering in discernment even when you have fears, doubts and sufferings; even when it seems like it isn’t for you. If it’s not for you God will make it known to you. If it is for you, there is nowhere else for you to go…except into the arms of Divine Love.

I realize it now: there is nowhere else for us to go but in God’s will, there we’ll find all He has for us in His immense love for us. His vocation for us is so very good.

Our enemy will fight us whenever we commit to God’s will. He will seek to destroy us, cause us to doubt, try to tempt us to sin. But we must always trust in Divine Love and Divine Mercy even when it seems ridiculous and difficult.

Pax Christi tecum.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you’ve achieved a lot of wisdom.

May God Bless your vocation abuundantly!
 
Have you got a spiritual director to talk to about your vocation?
 
water said:
That’s good for you. I asked because if you didn’t have one, pray for one. 🙂
Click to expand...
Yes, it took awhile and I did pray for one. Our Lord has blessed me with a very holy priest to help me. A good spiritual director is rare, at least I’ve found that to be the case.

Pax Christi tecum.
 
strugglingalong said:
I had stopped discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life years ago. It wasn’t for me, I thought. Because of my sinfulness, because of my weaknesses, because of my struggles it couldn’t be for me. Yet it never went away. And now God is showing me why and He is showing me that I can’t let it get away because in His love He has a beautiful calling for each of us where we can love Him and be faithful to Him.

But I’ve realized that those who consider the priesthood and religious life face a lot of difficulties. Fears come up. Doubts appear. Temptations arise whereby the evil one tries to lure the soul away. There is the excitement and the joy and the peace when we realizes Jesus is calling them but those experiences, in time, fade and the trial begins. What appears to be most needed is perseverance, a realization that the vocation isn’t all excitement but rather is a road also of trials, sufferings and testing.

I’ve just been told, and I believe it is God’s will, to follow a possible call even when that call appears hopeless, even when logically you think it couldn’t be for you (I’m not speaking of objective issues that would hinder one from religious life). Why does God call sinners to Himself? Why does He continue to love even when we’ve so very often rejected Him? He is so very good and so very loving even to us His wretched, poor children. In embracing this vocation I have seen hope grow in my heart; something has “clicked” and it is just right although I could never really explain why. I don’t know why He calls. He just calls because He is good, because He is mercy, because He is love.

All of that to say - sorry, I didn’t intend to write so much! - that I think those who are open to the priesthood or religious life need to realize the important of persevering in discernment even when you have fears, doubts and sufferings; even when it seems like it isn’t for you. If it’s not for you God will make it known to you. If it is for you, there is nowhere else for you to go…except into the arms of Divine Love.

I realize it now: there is nowhere else for us to go but in God’s will, there we’ll find all He has for us in His immense love for us. His vocation for us is so very good.

Our enemy will fight us whenever we commit to God’s will. He will seek to destroy us, cause us to doubt, try to tempt us to sin. But we must always trust in Divine Love and Divine Mercy even when it seems ridiculous and difficult.

Pax Christi tecum.
Click to expand...
Dear Friend Strugglingalong,

I am discerning to priesthood and… that post really helped me and filled me with hope! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

… et cum spiritum tuo!
 
WH1988 said:
Dear Friend Strugglingalong,

I am discerning to priesthood and… that post really helped me and filled me with hope! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

… et cum spiritum tuo!
Click to expand...
WH1988,

You’re welcome. I’m glad it could help you and give you hope! We must always hope even when it is easier to be hopeless. Jesus will guide you even when all you see is darkness around…if He wants you to be a priest He’ll lead you there. Don’t give up seeking His will!

Pax Christi tecum.
 
For me it seems ridiculous that I’m called to Religious Life, and when in the Darkness, I think there’s no hope, I’m tempted to stop praying, to “have fun” and to “bury” my discernment…😦 😦 😦 and I feel filled with despair, and I lack love… Monasteries repulse me, I dunno what to do. That’s awful.
But when I pray a lot, to find out, I’m filled with love, and I just say: “You know what I’m called for, and I trust You.” I’d like to be so optimistic all the time. I often feel guilty because I think about Religious Life. Sometimes I’ve got the impression that it’s pride & in fact I might have no vocation at all. But I know it all comes from the enemy. 🤷
 
Bebekoualy said:
For me it seems ridiculous that I’m called to Religious Life, and when in the Darkness, I think there’s no hope, I’m tempted to stop praying, to “have fun” and to “bury” my discernment…😦 😦 😦 and I feel filled with despair, and I lack love… Monasteries repulse me, I dunno what to do. That’s awful.
But when I pray a lot, to find out, I’m filled with love, and I just say: “You know what I’m called for, and I trust You.” I’d like to be so optimistic all the time. I often feel guilty because I think about Religious Life. Sometimes I’ve got the impression that it’s pride & in fact I might have no vocation at all. But I know it all comes from the enemy. 🤷
Click to expand...
I KNOW! Wow, I’ve experienced a lot of the same. I get the whole “it’s not for me so I might as well indulge in the world like everyone else” or the guilt of thinking I am being prideful in thinking I - me! - could be called by God to such a place. It’s difficult. Our enemy is tricky, which is why we need to stay near Our Lord.

I know for me too I can fall into the, “Yes I am called to religious life so everything is wonderful” mindset and then I slowly start to drift from prayer and things, thinking everything is now perfect. That’s a danger for me too.

I think you’re right - it is in prayer where His Divine Majesty develops His call in us and where we hear Him. And we’ll have times of darkness, of repulsion and of difficulty but we just have to trust Him. Those times are the most important of all!

Pax Christi tecum.
 
Bebekoualy said:
For me it seems ridiculous that I’m called to Religious Life, and when in the Darkness, I think there’s no hope, I’m tempted to stop praying, to “have fun” and to “bury” my discernment…😦 😦 😦 and I feel filled with despair, and I lack love… Monasteries repulse me, I dunno what to do. That’s awful.
But when I pray a lot, to find out, I’m filled with love, and I just say: “You know what I’m called for, and I trust You.” I’d like to be so optimistic all the time. I often feel guilty because I think about Religious Life. Sometimes I’ve got the impression that it’s pride & in fact I might have no vocation at all. But I know it all comes from the enemy. 🤷
Click to expand...
Just remember, a lot of great Saints have been initially rejected from orders and monasteries.

Just one from France off the top of my head is Ste. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church.

So keep praying and don’t give up!

May God Bless your vocation abundantly!
 
Hi Strugglingalong,

I’m discerning a vocation to the the Sub-deaconate in the Orthodox Church. Your remarks strike close to home in what I feeling at this time as I’m discerning religionist life.

I’ve used the same words that you have used before and I quote you here “Because of my sinfulness, because of my weaknesses, because of my struggles it couldn’t be for me.”

I’ve asked GOD for a test about my vocation to the Sub-deaconate. I said that I need HIM to prove it to me, so that I would know it was HIS for me to be one.

My Priest told me the other week that I would have to be able to do my duties with out using my Divine Liturgy book. I feel that this is the test GOD has given me, in order to show me HIS will in all of this.

One deacon told me that he was able to uses his book being new to it when he first started. I felt that it was strange that I would be trained different then other Sub-deacons would have learned it the past.

I hope and pray that I past the test here.

Thanks for you statement

Frank J
 
Frank_J said:
Hi Strugglingalong,

I’m discerning a vocation to the the Sub-deaconate in the Orthodox Church. Your remarks strike close to home in what I feeling at this time as I’m discerning religionist life.

I’ve used the same words that you have used before and I quote you here “Because of my sinfulness, because of my weaknesses, because of my struggles it couldn’t be for me.”

I’ve asked GOD for a test about my vocation to the Sub-deaconate. I said that I need HIM to prove it to me, so that I would know it was HIS for me to be one.

My Priest told me the other week that I would have to be able to do my duties with out using my Divine Liturgy book. I feel that this is the test GOD has given me, in order to show me HIS will in all of this.

One deacon told me that he was able to uses his book being new to it when he first started. I felt that it was strange that I would be trained different then other Sub-deacons would have learned it the past.

I hope and pray that I past the test here.

Thanks for you statement

Frank J
Click to expand...
Thanks Frank for your comments. It’s good I think for us to share with each other the difficulties so that we’re not so alone. I think that if you trust God, He’ll show you. Hopefully if you do all you can to pass the test with the book then that’ll be one more encouraging step along your path.

Pax Christi tecum.
 
Hi strugglingalong,

Yes it is good to talk about our fears and our callings in life. So far so good in my learning the Divine Liturgy. My Priest has told me that I’ve improved in my serving skills as an Acolyte.

He told that even though it will be hard he said to me that I would learn. He told me that after I been with him for sometime and that I learned from all that he could teach me. He said that when I get my own Church I’ll be ready. Maybe he see me becoming a Priest in the future someday. All I know is that I want to serve GOD with all my heart.

I hope I can live up to my vocation with GOD help I know I can.

May GOD bless you in your future as a Priest.

GOD bless you.

Frank J
 
I feel the same way! I visit the websites of a few orders that strike a chord with me and envision a life with them and get those same feelings. But then the trials begin and I fail. And get this, I’m not even Catholic, which makes it all the worse (?). I was in RCIA for a while but ended up leaving. I’ve ventured around to other religions and “spiritualities” and always find myself coming back to the Catholic Church (still float between western and eastern rites, especially with religious orders).

I guess one of the most difficult parts to deal with is the “new” appearance of the Church, at least around the area I live. There’s not much for “traditional” practices, rather, I’ve found a lot of chit-chat masses, “praise and worhip” music at mass, etc.

But like I said, I keep coming back to it. I’m supposed to be starting college in Feb. but almost feel like I should wait. Like I should not get into debt “just in case” I am being called to a religious vocation (which of course means I should get back on the “RCIA ball”!). The thing is I’m 26 right now, will be 27 in a few months and don’t want to wait until I’m in my 30’s to start college or religious life…ya know?

Anyways, thanks for the original post again, it was very comforting in a way to know I’m not the only person who has had the “high” and then slipped into worldliness only to constantly come back to the right path.
 
northstar3 said:
I feel the same way! I visit the websites of a few orders that strike a chord with me and envision a life with them and get those same feelings. But then the trials begin and I fail. And get this, I’m not even Catholic, which makes it all the worse (?). I was in RCIA for a while but ended up leaving. I’ve ventured around to other religions and “spiritualities” and always find myself coming back to the Catholic Church (still float between western and eastern rites, especially with religious orders).

I guess one of the most difficult parts to deal with is the “new” appearance of the Church, at least around the area I live. There’s not much for “traditional” practices, rather, I’ve found a lot of chit-chat masses, “praise and worhip” music at mass, etc.

But like I said, I keep coming back to it. I’m supposed to be starting college in Feb. but almost feel like I should wait. Like I should not get into debt “just in case” I am being called to a religious vocation (which of course means I should get back on the “RCIA ball”!). The thing is I’m 26 right now, will be 27 in a few months and don’t want to wait until I’m in my 30’s to start college or religious life…ya know?

Anyways, thanks for the original post again, it was very comforting in a way to know I’m not the only person who has had the “high” and then slipped into worldliness only to constantly come back to the right path.
Click to expand...
Yes, well it is easy for us to keep going, keep discerning, when we are living in the “high” but the true test - the true test of our love of God or lack thereof - is what we do when that “high” is gone and the trial begins.

I’d encourage you to try to find a more traditional Catholic parish. Are there none near you? No traditional Latin Mass parishes? I attend the traditional Mass and I too tired of praise and worship, chit-chat, weak if not heretical homilies, and dissent. The traditional Latin Mass is so beautiful and seems to me to more perfectly represent the Faith than the New Mass. Usually the TLM parishes are more traditional and more orthodox. It’s a trying time in the Church for sure but Christ is with us! The Catholic Church truly is Christ’s Church. It’s tough at times but I firmly believe the Church is the one Church Christ intends for the world.

I would consider the debt issue. Maybe if you go to school, try to find a way to pay as much of it off as you go as possible. One of my biggest blocks to religious life are the huge student loans I acquired in college. I’m not saying its not wise to go to college but just be careful with the debt!

Pax Christi tecum.
 
I found a small oratory that is headed by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (institute-christ-king.org/greenbay/) which is about a 40-45 min drive from where I’m at. I have to admit, I’d be rather nervous going to a Mass there…not being familiar with the TLM and all, but will consider it for sure!
 
northstar3 said:
I found a small oratory that is headed by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (institute-christ-king.org/greenbay/) which is about a 40-45 min drive from where I’m at. I have to admit, I’d be rather nervous going to a Mass there…not being familiar with the TLM and all, but will consider it for sure!
Click to expand...
Go, definitelly.

They are an awesome group. Totally orthodox and faithful.

Just get a Latin-English Missalette and study it a little beforehand.

unavoce.org/ttmass.htm

This link has the ordinary of the Mass with transalation.

God Bless
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top