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

[roselily]

O Christ, aid! O Christ,save !

 

[irisfromohio]

Sister Helena! You have me beat. I thought my 19 years and still going (like the Energizer Bunny)… but just not banging as loudly as you have?

I am asking the Holy Spirit to lead me to start my own congregation. I find it difficult to believe that I am the only one who feels the square peg round hole deal in this thing. I have a defacto private association called the Oblate Sisters of Mary Magdalene and I discuss it (when I am up to date) on my blog. our website is oblatesistersofmarymagdalene.org/. We are a work in progress, but if anyone wants me to fill in the blanks, I would be more than happy to. There is contact information there. Even in our early stages, we are experiencing the pain of the struggle. It is not in its final form yet, but it IS us in a nutshell.

If anyone had told me years ago that my discernment process would bring me to this point, I would have recommended a good therapist… for real!

 

[foolishmortal]

I was reading that Fr. Groeschel felt that St. Francis made the mistake of letting just anyone who wanted to follow him to join and it ended up leaving him and his closest out of the loop. Well, it’ll happen, anyway, despite the greatest efforts of religious communities to be almost scrupulously careful (well, criminal background checks and child/elder abuse would be necessary, as joiners of communities probably went after an adult of the opposite sex, if they had any sexual deviancies). Look at how the communities were that had been around for a century or two already, before he came to serve God, and just look at classic communities in the '60s and since.

I wouldn’t create a new community to do better than they, but, in order to follow in Christ’s footsteps without filling out forms, getting references, etc., like those who created the Franciscans of the Immaculata, maybe I’d create a community with nothing–one that would preach innocent entertainment, light-hearted humor and other simple joys. I would probably choose a different city as you know what Jesus said about prophets. It would probably just go to outside priests for the sacraments to keep costs for theological schools down. Maybe certificates would be gotten. Of course, maybe it wouldn’t be a religious community, but just a fellowship, as St. Francis intended.
Do you need theological training to remind others of simple spiritual and pure sensual joys (like beautiful music heard from an outdoor concert or seeing squirrels play) instead of the ones that enslave us to tv screens or radios or to that which must be protected by alarms? Have an authorized Catechism on hand for predicaments that come up. Add to the simple joys, ones who would be light-hearted enough to do silly things to amuse people in a stressed-out world. If people betray you and your vision, it would be God’s Will. Somebody would come along who’d like to do it with another group. Until then, if you ever see then, keep doing what you were doing. I would never have or allow a movement to be named after me, anyway, as it would eventually become corrupted.

 

[colliric]

I will be graduating in May with a BA in Theology and I was also a member of a religious order for three years(including posutlancy, novitiate, 1st year of vows) before leaving. I feel called to serve as a diocesan priest but I feel woefully inadequate. **Would God call someone if they aren’t meant to live that way? ** I know that there are many people in the same boat.

Yes, sometimes a stint in a seminary can allow someone to understand that they need to move on getting Married or living a cellibate pious single life instead. God can call them to get married, and allow them to “explore” the priesthood first, so they see why they would get to be married men instead. So that their doubt over “is it for me?” is erased and they choose marriage instead, or a pious single life.

 

[irisfromohio]

I keep hearing that old Led Zepplin song “Stairway to Heaven”… yes, I am old school. But I remember it as a long song. That is a long stairway…very long and difficult. Yet most of us manage to climb it. God works things out, but we need seat belts fastened for the ride. Bumpy. I like the community of jesters idea… not bad.

I am still resolved to see my charism through. Even if I end up a consecrated hermit, I am resolute. I will put on some good climbing shoes!

 

[John21652]

ooh oh pick me raises hand.

My first inclination when I read Dakotagirl’s post was to laugh. What an incredibly honest answer! However, we should all be raising our hands, because ‘discernment’ is an issue we all struggle with. I know that this thread is to do with those who are contemplating religious life, but in the process those who are doing so are destined to struggle with all those matters with which the rest of us must struggle. Questions about what we want out of life, whose counsel we should heed, what does God want of me, etc, etc, etc.

I sometimes wonder, and worry, that discernment is an art, or a form of intellectual enquiry that is being lost in a world where we are told that discrimination is not a good thing. In the process of being educated in this day and age, we are not taught how to ‘discern’ between people, situations and, dare I say it, vocations. In other words, our thinking is less critical than it was say a generation ago. I wonder if that is why people enter into bad marriages, bad friendships, do drugs and generally make a hash of things as they journey through life.

Discernment not only pertains to the religious callings that many are faced with, but it is also relevant to the life of anyone contemplating marriage, single life, or even work and civil vocations. The same focus on the spritual and temporal influences which lead us to do good or bad, or to be led into doing good or bad must be ‘discerned’ and our thinking requires ‘discrimination’. If we look up the dictionary meaning of ‘discernment’, we are given synonyms such as"discrimination", “penetration”, “insight”, “perception”, “acumen” and we see that it is a thought process and a spritual and emotional journey to figure out ‘what is obscure’, to see what is beyond the obvious and the superficial. Now take a look at the world around us and it becomes obvious that way too many people do not use these faculties when entering into marriage, friendships, or vocations. It could be argued that todays world of fast paced ‘in your face’ advertising simply encourages us to defer our critical thinking while we chase instant gratification. It could also be argued that education today does not place enough emphasis on developing these critical faculties, because once they are finely tuned and honed and put into practice, we then must start to discriminate against a whole raft of things, ideas and people and in the process give offence, both actual and percieved.

 

[CatholicGuy22]

Vocations to the priesthood has been a hard but rewarding. I have got closer to God becuase of this and no matter what i end up doing i thank God that he put me in this situation. Discerning a vocation is a struggle and prayer is a must.

 

[Sister_Helena]

I sometimes wonder, and worry, that discernment is an art, or a form of intellectual enquiry that is being lost in a world where we are told that discrimination is not a good thing. In the process of being educated in this day and age, we are not taught how to ‘discern’ between people, situations and, dare I say it, vocations. In other words, our thinking is less critical than it was say a generation ago. I wonder if that is why people enter into bad marriages, bad friendships, do drugs and generally make a hash of things as they journey through life.

Discernment not only pertains to the religious callings that many are faced with, but it is also relevant to the life of anyone contemplating marriage, single life, or even work and civil vocations. The same focus on the spritual and temporal influences which lead us to do good or bad, or to be led into doing good or bad must be ‘discerned’ and our thinking requires ‘discrimination’. If we look up the dictionary meaning of ‘discernment’, we are given synonyms such as"discrimination", “penetration”, “insight”, “perception”, “acumen” and we see that it is a thought process and a spritual and emotional journey to figure out ‘what is obscure’, to see what is beyond the obvious and the superficial. Now take a look at the world around us and it becomes obvious that way too many people do not use these faculties when entering into marriage, friendships, or vocations. It could be argued that todays world of fast paced ‘in your face’ advertising simply encourages us to defer our critical thinking while we chase instant gratification. It could also be argued that education today does not place enough emphasis on developing these critical faculties, because once they are finely tuned and honed and put into practice, we then must start to discriminate against a whole raft of things, ideas and people and in the process give offence, both actual and percieved.

Yes, discernement is primarily an act of the intellect but intuition also comes into it. Or in the spiritual language, faith: in your intuition, your awareness of God’s answer to a prayer.
In vocation discernment, too much of the analytical process can hamper the silent, subtle workings of the Spirit, who works without noise.

 

[foolishmortal]

ooh oh pick me raises hand. by DakotaGirl
What was she saying that about, exactly?

 

[irisfromohio]

I watched an episode of “Oprah” to see her do a segment on religious life, particularly some cloistered nuns in Michigan. One of the sisters said, “Being married to Jesus is to have the most difficult husband of all, because if something is wrong with the relationship, I know it’s me.”

 

[foolishmortal]

I heard about that. Oprah was stunned these educated, successful women chose such a life. She must not have heard of St. Benedicta (Edith) Stein, for example.

 

[John21652]

ooh oh pick me raises hand. by DakotaGirl
What was she saying that about, exactly?

DakotaGirl was doing what the thread heading asked…raising her hand.

 

[GilChrist77]

One of my friends who is also discerning and I always say “it’s hard because religious life is hard!” One time I was talking to another one of my friends and asked her “why is this so hard?” and she said “Because Christ died for you and is trying to teach you to die for Him”

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.
AMEN!! That is very true, but for some reason I have the hardest time remembering it.

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.

Yes, there is someone trying to stop you from having an answer. It’s Satan. Of course he doesn’t want you to find and embrace your true vocation. But that doesn’t matter because Jesus already won the battle so if you are open to Him then Satan can’t bring you down! Trust in the Lord’s gift to you whether it be the gift of marriage or the gift of religious life trust in Him and be open to Him and He will lead you were He wants you. He will never leave you hanging!

A good Priest has all of the qualifications to make a good Father of a family. Patience, forgiveness, discipline, courage, sacrificial love …etc. For any guys out there I would recommend going to a seminary or monastery even for a couple of days to really discern. 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

I agree!

(raising both hands)

Heck yes!! It’s been years and I still feel in shock.

My latest thought is how to deal with a spouse that is always right:shrug:

It’s so frustrating at times! Particularly because I really like a good debate but I can never win with Him. He just always makes perfect sense.

O Christ, aid! O Christ,save !

AMEN!!!

Vocations to the priesthood has been a hard but rewarding. I have got closer to God becuase of this and no matter what i end up doing i thank God that he put me in this situation. Discerning a vocation is a struggle and prayer is a must.

Congratulations! I will keep you in my prayers. Please know that you have a very special place in my heart and my prayers.

I watched an episode of “Oprah” to see her do a segment on religious life, particularly some cloistered nuns in Michigan. One of the sisters said, “Being married to Jesus is to have the most difficult husband of all, because if something is wrong with the relationship, I know it’s me.”

Again, it’s so true. But it’s also the most beautiful thing ever because I get to marry the King of Kings and my Lord and Savior and so I couldn’t be happier!

JMJ+
~Betsy

Totus tuus Maria!