The thoughts of my vocation makes me sad

[Epistemes]

I just got off the phone with Natalie Smith, founder of Vocations Placement, and now I just feel like crying.

You see, I put my application into Vocations Placement a couple of months ago stating that I am interested in pursuing a call to religious life. I don’t know if I do have an honest call to religious life, but it does appeal to me, and I can’t help but think that I have certain gifts which might benefit a certain community. I, at times, also long for the companionship of a very faithful woman. In fact, there’s a couple of girls at my parish who I believe to be very good Catholics, and I find myself thinking, “I’d like a good Catholic girlfriend like that.” I’m rather ambivalent about what my vocation is because I truly don’t know.

Natalie gave me some *very *good advice – such as being able to discern your vocation by recognizing when a certain woman or community effects grace and conversion within you, living life one day at a time, love one’s self in order to best love Jesus and others, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you. I am living one day at a time, I try to let the Holy Spirit lead me, but day after day I wind up nowhere. I’m not in the same place where I was, but neither am I happy or at peace with where I’m at.

And I might as well fall down and begin worshipping Mammon, because my financial situation has ***so ***much control over what I’m able to do or commit to. I’ve got a car loan which I’m trying to pay down over the course of the next five years, I’ve got credit card debt which I need to pay down over the course of the next six years, and right now I don’t even know if I’m going to be employed at year’s end.

I feel so conflicted within myself right now that I just want to breakdown and cry. I don’t know why I’m being taunted by thoughts of a vocation to religious life or marriage when I don’t have the time or money to even consider either one of those options. I just fear that I’m going to continue being a lonely, bitter, confused almost-30 male wandering aimlessly in this world performing odd jobs in order to earn another paycheck just to have it wasted by week’s end anyway.



Blessed Mother, pray for me.
St. Gemma, pray for me.

 

[bilop]

I just got off the phone with Natalie Smith, founder of Vocations Placement, and now I just feel like crying.

You see, I put my application into Vocations Placement a couple of months ago stating that I am interested in pursuing a call to religious life. I don’t know if I do have an honest call to religious life, but it does appeal to me, and I can’t help but think that I have certain gifts which might benefit a certain community. I, at times, also long for the companionship of a very faithful woman. In fact, there’s a couple of girls at my parish who I believe to be very good Catholics, and I find myself thinking, “I’d like a good Catholic girlfriend like that.” I’m rather ambivalent about what my vocation is because I truly don’t know.

Natalie gave me some *very *good advice – such as being able to discern your vocation by recognizing when a certain woman or community effects grace and conversion within you, living life one day at a time, love one’s self in order to best love Jesus and others, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you. I am living one day at a time, I try to let the Holy Spirit lead me, but day after day I wind up nowhere. I’m not in the same place where I was, but neither am I happy or at peace with where I’m at.

And I might as well fall down and begin worshipping Mammon, because my financial situation has ***so ***much control over what I’m able to do or commit to. I’ve got a car loan which I’m trying to pay down over the course of the next five years, I’ve got credit card debt which I need to pay down over the course of the next six years, and right now I don’t even know if I’m going to be employed at year’s end.

I feel so conflicted within myself right now that I just want to breakdown and cry. I don’t know why I’m being taunted by thoughts of a vocation to religious life or marriage when I don’t have the time or money to even consider either one of those options. I just fear that I’m going to continue being a lonely, bitter, confused almost-30 male wandering aimlessly in this world performing odd jobs in order to earn another paycheck just to have it wasted by week’s end anyway.



Blessed Mother, pray for me.
St. Gemma, pray for me.

Don’t despair! Remember the most important vocation is the call to holiness. If you are living a good Catholic life, and are in the state of grace, then you are achieving the most important thing.

If you feel you have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, contact a vocation director and go for it. We need good priests and brothers, and there are lots of avenues for financial assistance (the Serrans, the KofC, etc.). If you can get accepted to a seminary or novitiate, I’m sure you can find a way to settle your debts, with some help.

As for marriage, I would say the same thing. If you meet a good catholic girl and fall in love, go for it. Don’t let money hold you back.

May God Bless you abundantly in your vocation! (whatever it may be)

 

[Epistemes]

I was just browsing through Ave Maria Singles and it made me cry to see those happy people respondings to their vocation…

 

[water]

I was just browsing through Ave Maria Singles and it made me cry to see those happy people respondings to their vocation…

May I suggest you this wonderful book - “Abandonment to Divine Providence”

penitents.org/giftshopabandonment.html

 

[bilop]

I was just browsing through Ave Maria Singles and it made me cry to see those happy people respondings to their vocation…

Epistemes,

Do you have a spiritual director? It sounds like you might need someone to help you figure out your path.

God Bless

 

[water]

Besides, you are near 30 - that’s not old. Considering that you are at this age and thinking about what God is calling you - about your vocation - that is a very blessing.

 

[Epistemes]

Besides, you are near 30 - that’s not old. Considering that you are at this age and thinking about what God is calling you - about your vocation - that is a very blessing.

I know that I’m not old – and I know I need patience – and allow the Holy Spirit to do his work. I sense that the Holy Spirit has been working in my favor *in a not so subtle manner *over the course of the past few days, but I’m still impatient, and I still seek answers and direction.

I don’t know – I think talking with Natalie made me “catch on fire,” so to speak, but immediately realize that I’m in no position to catch on fire.

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

I just got off the phone with Natalie Smith, founder of Vocations Placement, and now I just feel like crying.

You see, I put my application into Vocations Placement a couple of months ago stating that I am interested in pursuing a call to religious life. I don’t know if I do have an honest call to religious life, but it does appeal to me, and I can’t help but think that I have certain gifts which might benefit a certain community. I, at times, also long for the companionship of a very faithful woman. In fact, there’s a couple of girls at my parish who I believe to be very good Catholics, and I find myself thinking, “I’d like a good Catholic girlfriend like that.” I’m rather ambivalent about what my vocation is because I truly don’t know.

Natalie gave me some *very *good advice – such as being able to discern your vocation by recognizing when a certain woman or community effects grace and conversion within you, living life one day at a time, love one’s self in order to best love Jesus and others, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you. I am living one day at a time, I try to let the Holy Spirit lead me, but day after day I wind up nowhere. I’m not in the same place where I was, but neither am I happy or at peace with where I’m at.

And I might as well fall down and begin worshipping Mammon, because my financial situation has ***so ***much control over what I’m able to do or commit to. I’ve got a car loan which I’m trying to pay down over the course of the next five years, I’ve got credit card debt which I need to pay down over the course of the next six years, and right now I don’t even know if I’m going to be employed at year’s end.

I feel so conflicted within myself right now that I just want to breakdown and cry. I don’t know why I’m being taunted by thoughts of a vocation to religious life or marriage when I don’t have the time or money to even consider either one of those options. I just fear that I’m going to continue being a lonely, bitter, confused almost-30 male wandering aimlessly in this world performing odd jobs in order to earn another paycheck just to have it wasted by week’s end anyway.



Blessed Mother, pray for me.
St. Gemma, pray for me.

I understand how you are feeling. I am discerning a vocation to the religious life as a nun, and I have problems with patience. I have so much love that I want to give to Jesus right now, but I have loans to pay back and I also have to save up for health insurance in the convent. I have tried looking at Serra Club’s sponsorships and the like, but my loan is small, so I am not eligible. You, however, might qualify. If the loan is a factor in you not being able to pursue a vocation, I’m sure they would do their best to try to get you financial assistance.

fundforvocations.org/

ncea.org/departments/seminary/Vocations.asp

Some religious communities may even be willing to help you pay off your debt when you enter. So don’t get discouraged. Pray to God and the Holy Family to help you out. If God is truly calling you, He will find a way!

I would recommend that you find a spiritual director to get your emotions and feelings in order so that you can discern more clearly. It could be that the devil is trying to sway you into thinking that you are not worthy, or is trying to tempt you so as to make you confused. Either way, you must press on!

I am discerning life as a Carmelite nun, and I have taken a special devotion to praying for priests and those discerning their vocation. I will surely pray for you! Do not give up! There are many people like you, so you are not alone. You will not be forsaken! God loves you! Bless you!

 

[Adoro_Te_Devote]

There’s also the Laboure Society:

labouresociety.org/

Pray, hope, don’t worry ~ St. Padre Pio

 

[Doc2be]

Hey Epistemes,

I am a 22 year old medical student starting to think about God’s call in my life. You can imagine the loans I have from undergrad at a Catholic College and now for medical school which is very expensive.

One thing I have found is that through discernment we must, as the Gospel says today, give up everything and follow Christ. For me that is giving up my desires and giving up my worries of money and physical things. It has taken me a while (and I am still very young) to accept that God will help you get to where He wants you. We just have to open ourselves to His will and stop getting in His way.

I have been speaking with a good friend who is 1 year from being ordained as a Jesuit. He sent me an article that has helped me a lot and I just received it today. Look for it in the attachments area.

I think one of the greatest things for me is to know that we are not alone. All over the world and in every parish there is a young man or woman discerning their vocation. God is listening to our prayers and our hopes and dreams.

The greatest gift God has given us to help us is the Eucharist. Attend Mass as often as you can and pray for guidance and help. Attend a Holy Hour or find time to spend in front of the Eucharist. These hours and moments spent so intimately with our Lord are invaluable.

Attend Confession as well and find a priest or a spiritual adviser as someone said before. In college I had a wonderful spiritual adviser help me through some very rough times that sound very similar to what you are going through. Unfortunately I was not open to the priesthood at that time. You live and you learn.

Do not forget about our Holy Mother through devotion to the Rosary. I pray the Rosary everyday and it is amazing how much my life has changed in the year that I have been doing that. The Lord listens, but you need to ask.

I hope that God will Bless you in this time. Remember anything and everything is possible as long as we trust and hope in the Lord. It requires a faith born of divine inspiration, but the greatest part about our lives as Catholics is that God is constantly inspiring and guiding us!

 

[lavalamp]

Remember what Padre Pio often said: Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry
And Jesus:

And he said to his disciples: Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat; nor for your body, what you shall put on. 23 The life is more than the meat, and the body is more than the raiment. 24 Consider the ravens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, neither have they storehouse nor barn, and God feedeth them. How much are you more valuable than they? 25 And which of you, by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If then ye be not able to do so much as the least thing, why are you solicitous for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. 28 Now if God clothe in this manner the grass that is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink: and be not lifted up on high. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek. But your Father knoweth that you have need of these things. 31 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. -Luke 12:22-31

Know that you are in the prayers of many

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

Hey Epistemes,

I am a 22 year old medical student starting to think about God’s call in my life. You can imagine the loans I have from undergrad at a Catholic College and now for medical school which is very expensive.

One thing I have found is that through discernment we must, as the Gospel says today, give up everything and follow Christ. For me that is giving up my desires and giving up my worries of money and physical things. It has taken me a while (and I am still very young) to accept that God will help you get to where He wants you. We just have to open ourselves to His will and stop getting in His way.

I have been speaking with a good friend who is 1 year from being ordained as a Jesuit. He sent me an article that has helped me a lot and I just received it today. Look for it in the attachments area.

I think one of the greatest things for me is to know that we are not alone. All over the world and in every parish there is a young man or woman discerning their vocation. God is listening to our prayers and our hopes and dreams.

The greatest gift God has given us to help us is the Eucharist. Attend Mass as often as you can and pray for guidance and help. Attend a Holy Hour or find time to spend in front of the Eucharist. These hours and moments spent so intimately with our Lord are invaluable.

Attend Confession as well and find a priest or a spiritual adviser as someone said before. In college I had a wonderful spiritual adviser help me through some very rough times that sound very similar to what you are going through. Unfortunately I was not open to the priesthood at that time. You live and you learn.

Do not forget about our Holy Mother through devotion to the Rosary. I pray the Rosary everyday and it is amazing how much my life has changed in the year that I have been doing that. The Lord listens, but you need to ask.

I hope that God will Bless you in this time. Remember anything and everything is possible as long as we trust and hope in the Lord. It requires a faith born of divine inspiration, but the greatest part about our lives as Catholics is that God is constantly inspiring and guiding us!

*[What a great paper/article by Fr]- thank you for the link]

This is a great answer and I hope that" Epistemes" will find great comfort in it as well as all of the other posts with so much sound advice.
I can only add [not a new thought] get to a vocations director, discern your vocation and if it is to the “religious life” create a plan… if it is to "marriage " then find the things that will be necessary to have a stable marriage.

Then create a plan to deal with your debt… there are programs to help you to develop budgets and sound financial strategies.

You can work on both these things at the same time… I dare say if you can resolve the “Am I called issue?” and develop a plan to make headway on the financial issue you will feel more like you are doing something. Just remember that everyone’s vocation path is different and equally exciting and sometimes scary. How blessed we are today to have modern technology and aids such as this forum to obtain practical advice and prayers.
Either way once you have your life calling pathway I believe you will feel better because then you can work on the practical things .
Above all pray and don’t be discouraged… Blessings!*