Hello,
I was wondering if someone could help me. I am a 29 year old Catholic convert (16 yrs. old) who struggled with and turned away from what I believe to be a calling to the priesthood and religious life. After the death of my mother, I fell away from the practice of the faith. I have come back praise the Lord and the feeling I am still being called is with me. My question is, should I try to find a priest or brother in the order I believed I’m being called to (Dominicans), or approach my parish priest to become my spiritual director to help with my discernment process? Is there a guide one should follow or certain questions one should ask of a potential spiritual director? If so where/what are they? God bless you all.
Praised be Jesus Christ that you have returned! May you forever be in the arms of our Lord! Hallelujah!
It’s wonderful that you are still experiencing the pull towards religious life. In answer to your questions, I believe that you should find a religious director. It doesn’t have to be a priest or brother from the order you are interested in, although if you did use them, it would help you gain insight to their order and you could ask them questions. Your parish priest may be the best start, though. He has seen you, and, if you have been in the same Church, he probably knows your history. He may be able to give you some direction as to which order you are definitely called to, and might even surprise you a bit. The best thing about asking priests to be your SD is that you can also do Confession with them, which is a very strengthening Sacrament. I have found that I feel reconfirmed in my faith and my calling to religious life after I’ve confessed.
As for the guide to Spiritual Direction, I have yet to find such a thing. There are very helpful resources here on the internet. I would suggest that you do some spiritual reading, and definitely read the Bible. What I have started doing is, after I found out that I was called to Carmel, I started reading Carmelite saint books. I’ve started reading “Story of a Soul” by St. Therese, which is a very good spiritual book for anyone. The foundress of the current Carmelite spirituality, St. Teresa of Avila, also has some very good books. I would suggest that you read about St. Catherine of Siena (a tertiary, or lay, Dominican). There is a wonderful book called “The Dialogue” about her conversations with a priest. Also, try to find St. Louis de Montfort’s autobiography. He is being considered as a Doctor of the Church, and he was Dominican as well.
Here are some websites that may help you out:
willingshepherds.com/Lives%20of%20the%20Saints.html
vocations.com/
vocation.com/
(The above is my favorite. Read the FAQs!)
vocation-network.org/
(On this website, you can fill out a questionnaire about your interests and send them to the various communities you are interested in. They also have a yearly “Vision” magazine that I subscribe to)
Please don’t hesitate to seek assistance with your discernment. There has been a shortage lately to the priesthood, and priests are vital to the Catholic faith. And never forget what Jesus said: “The work is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” He doesn’t call everyone to religious life, so those who are called are the privileged few. It is important that we follow Him if nothing is physically hindering us.
May God bless you! If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to respond!
