Those who say religious discernment is hard, raise your hand!

[Sister_Helena]

My religious discernment started 25 years years ago. I enjoy reading threads of young people discussing their feelings and religious desires. I also went through some of the fears and anxieties. I remember the first time I told my parents and how angry my father was. I remember feeling confused of what religious order to join. I remember feeling homesick for family and friends. I remember feeling angry at God for making my life so complicated with this “call.” Religious discernment is hard but there is always light at the end of the tunnel. God does not abandon anyone who seeks Him and trusts in Him.

 

[Snerticus]

To some it’s easy, to others, it’s difficult. I’m still in the process, although I’m leaning toward a lay vocation.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

It is joyous but hard. I don’t know how to tell my parents and I probably won’t until I’m through with college. Just knowing that God is with me though is the ultimate joy. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

 

[littlecatholic]

I’ve been discerning for 4 years, and find it exciting and yet challenging. The hardest part is I go through my “Religious life” and “Marriage” phase on what seems like an hourly basis, and go back and forth between the two constantly. Even when I feel a significant pull in one direction, I try to remain open to all vocations as to do God’s will no matter what. Although frustrating at times, I am glad I haven’t found my vocation yet. If God were to tell me to be a priest, I would want to be a married man. If I was commanded to marry, I would want to be a priest haha. The grass is so beautifully green on either side, but each side makes the other look even more spectacular. My journey has been hard, but has shown me the absolute beauty in both sacraments!

I am thinking of Benedictine, Franciscan, Dominican, or Salesian as the religious orders I would choose. However, marrying a beautiful and loving wife awaits me either way

littlecatholic

 

[joamy]

It is hard!! I feel like I am racing the clock, as I am 43 years old. I’m a convert - have felt a pull towards the religous life since I was little, but have only been Catholic 3 years. God will get me where He wants me to be, though!!

 

[withwind]

I remember feeling angry at God for making my life so complicated with this “call.”

This is what my friend shared with me about her vocation. She was angry not only with God but with those around her when she felt God was calling her at the age of 17. Until few years later when she started to respond to the call and to God’s will, she is now a happier young lady. She is currently studying with some sisters at a convent and is also discerning to other religious order.

For me, things seem go in a way that I did not respect and so far it is been a blessing. I have anxities, worries, and doubt sometimes …but the big problem I think I dealt a lot with is beating myself up for things in the past, but I am learning to let go and let God’s mercy win over my own insecurity.

 

[Kathgirl]

To some it’s easy, to others, it’s difficult. I’m still in the process, although I’m leaning toward a lay vocation.

I just looked at the site you mention at the bottom of your posts…Did Bishop Olmsted recently change dioceses? TY! Kathgirl

 

[Snerticus]

I just looked at the site you mention at the bottom of your posts…Did Bishop Olmsted recently change dioceses? TY! Kathgirl

By recently, do you mean in the last 10 years or so? When I moved out here in 2004, he was a relatively new Bishop to the area.

 

[Kathgirl]

By recently, do you mean in the last 10 years or so? When I moved out here in 2004, he was a relatively new Bishop to the area.

Thank you Snerticus. I must be confused. Thought I had read somewhere that you had a new bishop.
Thanks for answering!
Kathgirl

 

[Snerticus]

Maybe you did. When I was in Scranton, PA, just before I moved, we just got a new Bishop - Bishop Martino. When I moved down here, I think Bishop Olmstead was relatively new as well, but I’m not sure about that now that I think about it.

 

[DebChris]

Growing up, I considered religious life. At the age of 14, I even sent away for information, the minimum age for entering many convents at that time. The maximum age was 30.
Instead I turned the head of a young man still considering the priesthood. He had even spent a year in seminary. We married.
I currently have friends pushing me toward religious life, although I have a number of impediments that keep that from being possible. It was a nun thought that led me back to college. There even are a few places that will take women my age although most set the maximum age at 45.
Even for those who know they have been called to religious life making that final decision can be difficult. I know there is a place that helps young women discern the order that is right for them. I think it is in NJ.

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

Growing up, I considered religious life. At the age of 14, I even sent away for information, the minimum age for entering many convents at that time. The maximum age was 30.
Instead I turned the head of a young man still considering the priesthood. He had even spent a year in seminary. We married.
I currently have friends pushing me toward religious life, although I have a number of impediments that keep that from being possible. It was a nun thought that led me back to college. There even are a few places that will take women my age although most set the maximum age at 45.
Even for those who know they have been called to religious life making that final decision can be difficult. I know there is a place that helps young women discern the order that is right for them. I think it is in NJ.

If there was a possibility of considering religious life for yourself, would you still be interested? Provided that you were interested in formation and you still felt the call, I can find some information for you. It would not be a problem. Please let me know.

 

[Lainey63]

I’ve been discerning for 4 years, and find it exciting and yet challenging. The hardest part is I go through my “Religious life” and “Marriage” phase on what seems like an hourly basis, and go back and forth between the two constantly. Even when I feel a significant pull in one direction, I try to remain open to all vocations as to do God’s will no matter what. Although frustrating at times, I am glad I haven’t found my vocation yet. If God were to tell me to be a priest, I would want to be a married man. If I was commanded to marry, I would want to be a priest haha. The grass is so beautifully green on either side, but each side makes the other look even more spectacular. My journey has been hard], but has shown me the absolute beauty in both sacraments!

I am thinking of Benedictine, Franciscan, Dominican, or Salesian as the religious orders I would choose. However, marrying a beautiful and loving wife awaits me either way

littlecatholic

I am going through the same thing-and I find it frustrating & maddening. I am older 46 years old-right now my great idea is to open a home for unwed mothers here. I have the right people in my life to guide me through the legal & accounting aspects ( I work for a CPA firm)and my best friend is a grant writer. I’m a single mother of 2 grown children and I’m a recovering alcoholic. From what I have gone through I would like to set up services that would help these mothers mentally, spiritually & physically…especially so they don’t feel like they need to accept any man so they can survive or be drawn to men who are no good for them. At the same time-I feel a pull to become in full union with God & my interpretation of that is becoming a spouse of Christ. But I only feel that pull or rather my heart melts when I pray or think about it, then I would want to just pray & contemplate. But, my reasoning tells me that opening the house is more in line with what I am capable of doing & I get excited about that. To me that is getting your hands dirty-working & helping others who are suffering. On the other hand if its not God’s will-it will fail. Then I just go round & round like a hamster on a hamster wheel.

 

[vince2paul]

I feel the call to the priesthood/religious life but examining my background, it is almost impossible, But then with God nothing is impossible.

So I’m still discerning and hoping for the best. Apparently, I realized that it doesn’t matter the outcome, the most important thing is that I answer His call.

 

[DebChris]

If there was a possibility of considering religious life for yourself, would you still be interested? Provided that you were interested in formation and you still felt the call, I can find some information for you. It would not be a problem. Please let me know.

Although I now have the right reason for going into religious life I also realize it is not an option. I have been in touch with vocations.org and have worked with a spiritual director.

I am going through the same thing-and I find it frustrating & maddening. I am older 46 years old-right now my great idea is to open a home for unwed mothers here. I have the right people in my life to guide me through the legal & accounting aspects ( I work for a CPA firm)and my best friend is a grant writer. I’m a single mother of 2 grown children and I’m a recovering alcoholic. From what I have gone through I would like to set up services that would help these mothers mentally, spiritually & physically…especially so they don’t feel like they need to accept any man so they can survive or be drawn to men who are no good for them. At the same time-I feel a pull to become in full union with God & my interpretation of that is becoming a spouse of Christ. But I only feel that pull or rather my heart melts when I pray or think about it, then I would want to just pray & contemplate. But, my reasoning tells me that opening the house is more in line with what I am capable of doing & I get excited about that. To me that is getting your hands dirty-working & helping others who are suffering. On the other hand if its not God’s will-it will fail. Then I just go round & round like a hamster on a hamster wheel.

It is easy for me to go into hiding for long periods of time, to “live as a hermit.” For most of us who are older, the communities that are available are primarily cloistered. There actually are a few places who will take women to the age of 60.
I find that I am more often called to work in the vineyard of the world. I do not have a car which means I meet many different people while riding the bus or walking home. God often uses me in these encounters. I may do nothing more than say hello or help a person navigate the bus system. I have had individuals thank me months later simply because I showed them respect rather than shunning them, because I have listened to their stories. When I still had a job and a vehicle, I even had one man thank me because I had provided him with a ride a year earlier. It was not surprising when he told me his brother had not survived living on the streets.
There are many ways that God uses our gifts and talents.

 

[joamy]

I find that I am more often called to work in the vineyard of the world. I do not have a car which means I meet many different people while riding the bus or walking home. God often uses me in these encounters. I may do nothing more than say hello or help a person navigate the bus system. I have had individuals thank me months later simply because I showed them respect rather than shunning them, because I have listened to their stories. When I still had a job and a vehicle, I even had one man thank me because I had provided him with a ride a year earlier. It was not surprising when he told me his brother had not survived living on the streets.
There are many ways that God uses our gifts and talents.

That sounds a lot like Rosalind Moss’s community… .

 

[Bebekoualy]

It is hard, indeed.
It seems so abstract, and so unbelievable that I might be called. I see it as pretension… I feel guilty when I try to discern.

Everything seems to be on our way to prevent us from having the answer… I’m afraid there might be nothing at the end but… illusion.
I’m attracted by Religious Life.

 

[joamy]

It is hard, indeed.
It seems so abstract, and so unbelievable that I might be called. I see it as pretension… I feel guilty when I try to discern.

Everything seems to be on our way to prevent us from having the answer… I’m afraid there might be nothing at the end but… illusion.
I’m attracted by Religious Life.

Bebekoualy;
You will get there, yet (God willing)!!!

 

[iamMyBeloveds]

Religious discernment is so difficult, especially in our secular, relativistic, materialistic, and media-inundated society! On a brighter note, lol, there are so many options out there of what to do with your life, and it was difficult for me to sort through these.
It was a challenge to know if the peace I felt after being accepted into the convent was true peace of doing God’s will and not just the great relief one feels after making a big decision. I have finally prayed through all this and sorted those feelings out.
Now, I am so happy! I’m entering this fall, and the discernment for religious life continues until Final Vows, one day (God-willing!)

 

[patrickp200]

A good Priest has all of the qulifications to make a good Father of a family. Patience, forgivness, discipline, courage, sacrificial love …etc. For any guys out there I would recommend going to a seminary or monastary even for a couple of days to really dicern. The best way to find out if you are called to the priesthood is to live and work like a priest. A good way to find what you are called to do is to find out what you are not called to do.

God Bless and Mary Keep,

-Patrick,
-www.ourladysyouth.com