 |
 Some
receive a calling from God to a life lived
in community, one that witnesses strongly
to God's love. We have called this way of life
religious or consecrated life, and the groups
who live it are called Religious Communities
(or Congregations or Orders). There have been
Religious Communities in the Catholic Church
almost since its beginning. There are many today.
Does
religious life choose you or do you choose religious
life?
Yes!
God
chooses you for religious life.
The word vocation comes from the Latin vocare,
to call.
You
choose religious life.
Implicit in this call is freedom. An invitaton
leaves you free to say yes or no.
But
how do you listen to the call and how do you
make the choice? You can begin this process
of discernment by following these simple...
First
Steps *
- Pray!
Expose yourself in a conscious way to God's
presence. God is bombarding us with blessings
and presence everywhere and at all times
but we are often closed. Relax...Open up...Give
God some quality time. If the recommendation
for good health is a minimum of 20 minutes
of exercise three times a week, then spend
a similar amount of time listening to God
for your spiritual health.
- Get
a notebook. Start writing down what
you experience. When did you first notice
this call? What comments, encouragement,
or invitation have others given you? What
"nudges" has God given you? Are there any
particular events that started you thinking
about a vocation to religious
life? Any Scripture texts that struck you
to the core?
- Remember.
Recall your personal faith history. Where
have you been? When did you first experience
God? How has your image of God changed since
you were a child?
- Talk
to someone you can trust. Talk to one
person. In the early stages of vocation
discernment, don't tell your family and
friends. They may start treating you differently
and not give you the freedom to genuinely
discern your call.
- Start
looking around. Gently start looking
around at the priests and religious people you
have known.
Pick up your local Catholic newspaper, magazine,
or directory to notice ads for vocation
events, retreats and other activities. Some
people begin writing seminaries or religious
orders and keep a hidden stash of vocation
literature under their bed or in a closet.
[See some links below.]
- Get
involved. Get involved in some form
of service or parish ministry (teaching
a religious education class, serving as
lector, minister of the Eucharist, visiting
the elderly, feeding the homeless.)
- Enlist
the support of prayerful people. Ask
people to pray for you. You don't have to
specify an intention. You could suggest
that you are trying to discover God's will
for your life or that you are trying to
make a decision. Consider asking for prayer
from your family, close friends, a prayer
group at the parish, a rosary group or cloistered
contemplative men or women. (Call them on
the phone and ask!)
- Pay
Attention! Notice and pay attention
to what is life giving, energizing for you.
What sparks fly out at you in your life?
Where's the passion? The attraction?
Write any incidents, relationships. Scriptures,
etc. in your notebook. They are all pointers
and clues.
*excerpted from
Vocations Anonymous: A handbook for adults
discerning priesthood and religious life
by Sister Kathleen Bryant, RSC c. 1996 NCCV.
Used with permission.All rights reserved.
Order
Vocations Anonymous
To purchase a
copy of Vocations Anonymous contact NCCV
or call 1.800.671.NCCV.
Other
steps you can take
Pick
up a book from a
recommended reading
list. Visit
one of the many
ministries
sponsored by Religious Communities.
Ask
a Sister
about her life choice. Find
out about Religious
Communities in South Texas
through RECAST.
In
a world that cries out for God's love and direction,
life as a vowed religious is an exciting and
challenging choice for those seeking lives of
greater meaning and service.
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