what to do??

[discerning92088]

I am what is called a “cradle-Catholic” by many. I was raised in a rather active Catholic household, went to PSR, VBS, LifeTeen, etc. and have felt a calling on and off for a while. I have always felt completely at home when I have been at Church. I find the most peace in times of Adoration and prayer. I am currently on a path in life where I cannot just up and leave. I do not have too much free time, and as such am not easily able to get out and attend Vocation descerning events. Does anybody have any help as to what I can do to further my discernment??

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

I am what is called a “cradle-Catholic” by many. I was raised in a rather active Catholic household, went to PSR, VBS, LifeTeen, etc. and have felt a calling on and off for a while. I have always felt completely at home when I have been at Church. I find the most peace in times of Adoration and prayer. I am currently on a path in life where I cannot just up and leave. I do not have too much free time, and as such am not easily able to get out and attend Vocation descerning events. Does anybody have any help as to what I can do to further my discernment??

Hmm… first some information perhaps???

How old are you??? Not exact age… More specifiacally or generally are you in high school??? college??? graduated from college?? under or over 30???

What types of religious life might you think you are being called to???

Some immediate things you might do are…

1. Talk to your parish priest/and or confessor for some guidance and support.
2. Find a good spiritual advisor.
3. Read some of the many posts here on site is a good start… as many posts here give general information and websites to start with …
   a) religiouslife.com/vocsearch/ and/or
   religiouslife.com/
   b) ncdvd.org/new/pages/direc…_directors.asp
4. Sorry can’t tell from your post??? Are you discerning for the priesthood or religious life???
5. one post that may help to jump start is one on chat entitled…
   " Letter to potential candidates for religious life"
6. Connect with sisters or priests as the case maybe…

There are many other things we might be able to suggest… but some additional general background might help???

Don’t be to concerned if you cant attend to discernment events at this time… as there may be other things you can do as listed above… please post more when you can… the folks here are awesome… blessings on your journey

 

[discerning92088]

Poor Clare Tobe,
Thanks for the links! I will be sure to check them out!!
Now here are the answers to your questions, as best as I can answer them:

I am almost 20 (will be on Saturday). I should be a sophomore in college, but I lost financial aid because the household income was too high last year after my parents cahsed in their 401k’s to help pay bills after my sister and I were in a severe accident. (Pretty amazing story! It is only by the Grace of God that I am still alive! I was on the way to a retreat when I was cut off by an Escalade… I was taken to the hospital and then when I got out I proceeded to head to the retreat anyways!)

I am discerning the Priesthood. Something I have been doing on and off for a number of years.

I have spoken with several Priests I know, to include the old Archdiocese Vocations Director (who is commonly referred to as “Father Teen” because he fits in with the teens so well).

I am not sure what other background you may need, but here goes something:
I am caught in a hard spot because I love kids, however if I am called to the Priesthood, I will never be able to have a kid of my own. I have never been in a really serious relationship because I cannot find anyone I can truly see myself with for the rest of my life…there has never been that magic click/connection, you know what I mean?
I have always felt at home at Church, on retreats, mission trips, etc. I especially love on mission trips seeing kids that have nothing at all, but live and act like they have everything just because they have Jesus. I think it is sad how we cannot find that joy in today’s world. I have a passion for learning about diferent religions and cultures accross the world.

Beannacht de Ort,
Jason

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

Poor Clare Tobe,
Thanks for the links! I will be sure to check them out!!
Now here are the answers to your questions, as best as I can answer them:

I am almost 20 (will be on Saturday). I should be a sophomore in college, but I lost financial aid because the household income was too high last year after my parents cahsed in their 401k’s to help pay bills after my sister and I were in a severe accident. (Pretty amazing story! It is only by the Grace of God that I am still alive! I was on the way to a retreat when I was cut off by an Escalade… I was taken to the hospital and then when I got out I proceeded to head to the retreat anyways!)

[That sounds like a good start. Keep up with schooling if you can, by what you have said thus far you have a growing relationship with Our Lord.]

I am discerning the Priesthood. Something I have been doing on and off for a number of years.

[Hopefully some young men can pop in with stories of their own journey, along with insights that they have gained …it sounds like you have started a process of asking your self questions…]

I have spoken with several Priests I know, to include the old Archdiocese Vocations Director (who is commonly referred to as “Father Teen” because he fits in with the teens so well).

That is a great starting point as the Vocation Director will be able to offer you concrete ideas suited to your own area. [ie retreat days, days of discernment, spritual directors who may be available] Also by getting to know different priests… they can share their own vocational journeys with you…A young vocational director may be a great help as he will, as you say relate to teens so well…

I am not sure what other background you may need, but here goes something:
I am caught in a hard spot because I love kids, however if I am called to the Priesthood, I will never be able to have a kid of my own.

[There is an American Priest… Fr Corapi he speaks of his early years in the priesthood and to paraphrase him??? You will have many many spiritual children… again you might need to weigh the Religious calling vs the calling to married life…]

I have never been in a really serious relationship because I cannot find anyone I can truly see myself with for the rest of my life…there has never been that magic click/connection, you know what I mean?

Here is where a spiritual director would be of immense help as they can help you to discern if you are truely called to the priesthood.

I have always felt at home at Church, on retreats, mission trips, etc. I especially love on mission trips seeing kids that have nothing at all, but live and act like they have everything just because they have Jesus. I think it is sad how we cannot find that joy in today’s world. I have a passion for learning about diferent religions and cultures accross the world.

I will be praying for you on your journey… now that we know more of your journey? Hopefully others will begin to share ideas and experiences with you. Also you might continue to read the many postings here in the forum… the ones related to other young [or older] mens journeys of discernment… Keep posting!
Beannacht de Ort,
Jason

 

[discerning92088]

So i haven’t been on in a while, but i just got back from an awesome weekend helping out on a retreat for the high schoolers at my church. While i was on the retreat, i was able to spend some time in prayer “alone” during Adoration. If you ask me Adoration is the most AMAZING experience in the whole world! To be sitting there in front of Jesus Himself, talking to Him, it’s just amazing and it’s so sad that we as Cahtolics are the only ones who have it!! But my ramblings about the gift of the Eucharist and Adoration are for another time…
Anywho, while i was in Adoration i was praying asking for guidance from God as to His will for my life. To be honest, it is not easy for me to follow God’s Calling. i have just given up my share in 2 restaurants. i was 20 years old and running the day-to-day functions of 2 restaurants, bringing home an expected annual pay of $40,000. That was my life, i was completely SET to be living the good life, then this Call i have been rejecting just comes out of nowhere and hits me hard. Giving up that future has been the hardest thing for me. i was praying constanly through the time of Adoration that God would give me some sign that i was truly on the right path.

Well, He did. During Adoration, a song came on, i can’t remember the name of it, but the song talked about following God’s call (if anyone knows what the song may be, please let me know!!). As i was praying during this song, several images flashed in my head. The first was of my Vocations Director, the next was an image of Jesus holding out His arms like we would to an old friend who is finally coming home, then came one of the Priests who i have spoken with several times, then again that Vocations Director. As Adoration went on, i continued to pray for guidance and direction.

As soon as Adoration ended, i received an email on my phone. Knowing that a good friend is going through some really hard times, i looked at the email. It was an email from my Vocations Director checking up on me and inviting me on a discernment retreat. This really hit me as i have been having the doubts about what His Calling really is.

i just ask everyone to pray for me as i continue my journey, especially over the next month as i have to set my college major in November. Also, please pray for one of the Priests who i spend a lot of time talking to as he will possibly be leaving soon to return to his home country (his visa is about to expire) that God will put him where he will be the most helpful.

Beannacht de Ort,
Jason

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

So i haven’t been on in a while, but i just got back from an awesome weekend helping out on a retreat for the high schoolers at my church. While i was on the retreat, i was able to spend some time in prayer “alone” during Adoration. If you ask me Adoration is the most AMAZING experience in the whole world! To be sitting there in front of Jesus Himself, talking to Him, it’s just amazing and it’s so sad that we as Cahtolics are the only ones who have it!! But my ramblings about the gift of the Eucharist and Adoration are for another time…
Anywho, while i was in Adoration i was praying asking for guidance from God as to His will for my life. To be honest, it is not easy for me to follow God’s Calling. i have just given up my share in 2 restaurants. i was 20 years old and running the day-to-day functions of 2 restaurants, bringing home an expected annual pay of $40,000. That was my life, i was completely SET to be living the good life, then this Call i have been rejecting just comes out of nowhere and hits me hard. Giving up that future has been the hardest thing for me. i was praying constanly through the time of Adoration that God would give me some sign that i was truly on the right path.

Well, He did. During Adoration, a song came on, i can’t remember the name of it, but the song talked about following God’s call (if anyone knows what the song may be, please let me know!!). As i was praying during this song, several images flashed in my head. The first was of my Vocations Director, the next was an image of Jesus holding out His arms like we would to an old friend who is finally coming home, then came one of the Priests who i have spoken with several times, then again that Vocations Director. As Adoration went on, i continued to pray for guidance and direction.

As soon as Adoration ended, i received an email on my phone. Knowing that a good friend is going through some really hard times, i looked at the email. It was an email from my Vocations Director checking up on me and inviting me on a discernment retreat. This really hit me as i have been having the doubts about what His Calling really is.

i just ask everyone to pray for me as i continue my journey, especially over the next month as i have to set my college major in November. Also, please pray for one of the Priests who i spend a lot of time talking to as he will possibly be leaving soon to return to his home country (his visa is about to expire) that God will put him where he will be the most helpful.

Beannacht de Ort,
Jason

Will continue praying most assuradly… blessings …*

 

[onetruechurch]

Right at this moment on EWTN TV there is a show about how to discern. The show’s name is Completely Christ’s
The show is on from 10 to 11AM pacific time.

 

[barb_finnegan]

Not only the young…‘older’ people ask the same question!

I’m 54 years old, currently ‘in-between jobs’. I was never very keen on the business world-I actually hate it!

I don’t have a spiritual director-they are few and far between here in Upstate NY. I go to the Latin Mass full time, but the priests don’t stick around, being always ‘on the road’ from one place to the next.

Most of the ‘good Orders’ don’t look at ‘older’ women. they only want the young ones!

I’m not much into ‘volunteering’-I keep mostly to myself. Not the ‘organizing’ type. I feel useless, that my so-called ‘best years’ are far behind me!

I want to serve God rather than man…but I guess I will never find my ‘place in life’…

 

[onetruechurch]

Barb, check out the thread here at Vocations Forum that has the heading Rosalind Moss, etc. I belive it is found currently on the second Vocations page.
Also, there are other posters who have been posting here with lists of communities and orders that accept older women. Don’t give up. There are also 3rd orders to look into if that interests you.

 

[barb_finnegan]

I’ve ‘been there, done that’ with Third Orders…two of 'em, as a matter of fact. The first one, the Franciscans, I walked out of 20 years ago when the ones leading the group wanted to ‘do their own thing’ and ignore any directives from the higher-ups. I stood up and said, ‘You can’t do this’, but they ignored me (and then called ME ‘disobedient’ over the small matter of a special dress I wore on a pligrimage).

Then after six years with the Discalced Carmelites, it was determined by the leadership in that group, that I didn’t have a vocation with them, either. I had to go through several grueling months of written and verbal evaluations…and I didn’t ‘measure up’ there, either.

So I’m rather ‘soured’ on Third Orders…