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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Discerning (again)	Kayla	Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Question: Dear Brother, Thank you so much for your previous reply to my question. I was wondering if you could answer another question and shed some light on my situation.. As I mentioned I have been discerning for some time and have doubts often as to whether or not I have a vocation. Usually when I give in to these doubts(?), I also seem to struggle extremely in other areas of my spiritual life, and its a struggle just to remain faithful. When I do surrender myself to the idea that I do have a vocation I have a much stronger sense of Jesus's presence, and prayer etc is much easier for me. Do you think this means that my vocation is genuine, or rather that my doubts may not be? I did recieve a word from a charismatic Catholic person . This person told me that (and I hadn't told them the nature of my doubts, but simply asked for prayer) that one does not have to be perfect or free from imperfections to become a religious. Thank you and God bless you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Kayla: This experience may be a clue, but do not rely upon such subjective experiences. If you feel a call to a vocation, then pursue it rather than fret over it. Your calling will be confirmed or not years from now. If you were to enter a convent today it would be perhaps five years before you take final vows. That five years is all about discernment. If one had to be perfect and free from imperfections to become a religious there were be no religious orders. You have the information you need. As Shakespeare (if I remember correctly) said: "Get thee to a nunnery." Find a convent or monastery that interests you and talk with the vocations director. Do not fret. Do. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Discerning (again)

Kayla

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Question:

Dear Brother,
Thank you so much for your previous reply to my question.
I was wondering if you could answer another question and shed some light on my situation..

As I mentioned I have been discerning for some time and have doubts often as to whether or not I have a vocation.

Usually when I give in to these doubts(?), I also seem to struggle extremely in other areas of my spiritual life, and its a struggle just to remain faithful. When I do surrender myself to the idea that I do have a vocation I have a much stronger sense of Jesus's presence, and prayer etc is much easier for me.

Do you think this means that my vocation is genuine, or rather that my doubts may not be?

I did recieve a word from a charismatic Catholic person . This person told me that (and I hadn't told them the nature of my doubts, but simply asked for prayer) that one does not have to be perfect or free from imperfections to become a religious.

Thank you and God bless you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Kayla:

This experience may be a clue, but do not rely upon such subjective experiences. If you feel a call to a vocation, then pursue it rather than fret over it.

Your calling will be confirmed or not years from now. If you were to enter a convent today it would be perhaps five years before you take final vows. That five years is all about discernment.

If one had to be perfect and free from imperfections to become a religious there were be no religious orders.

You have the information you need. As Shakespeare (if I remember correctly) said: "Get thee to a nunnery."

Find a convent or monastery that interests you and talk with the vocations director.

Do not fret. Do.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum