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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Warfare and Vocation	Kayla	Sunday, January 11, 2009
Question: Dear Brother, I wrote you previously regarding some spiritual warfare issues and my vocation- I am hoping to enter a community of cloistered nuns soon. My question is: What level of spiritual warfare is normal re a religious vocation? Several months ago I received a grace which allowed me to say yes regarding my vocation. For several days I was very prayerful, and for several weeks afterwards I found prayer and the practice of some virtues much easier. Shortly after this time of greater prayerfulness I began to feel a repugance for prayer; several times I even felt a hatred for God during prayer. Some time after this I went on a live in aspirancy to the community I have been discerning with. While I was there I experienced a spiritual attack: I had a feeling of intense restlessness(to the point I almost couldn't sit still), and all I could think about was leaving and all the reasons I shouldn't/couldn't become a nun. Towards the end of my aspirancy this attack intensified until it reached an intensity where i couldn't pray and didn't want to. This was just a few days before the end of my aspirancy. Finally, during Holy Communion, a deep peace filled my soul and lasted through the rest of my time there. (My vocation contact in the community agreed that it was a spiritual attack). . Since my return from my aspirancy, I have experienced other types of attacks: struggles with over eating and food addiction, scrupulosity, hatred of co-workers because of my vocation. Three days ago I was off work and had planned to go to Mass. I had to overcome a very strong reluctance to get out of bed and go. I hit a deer with my car about a mile from my house and almost totalled my car. Needless to say I didn't go to Mass that day. Is this normal? My pastor told me that now that I'm serving the Lord the devil will try to take me out. Yours in Jesus and Mary, Kayla
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Layla: Your pastor is correct, the vocation director is correct, and yes, this is normal. The great advantage of being part of a community is that you have the support of the community to help you deal with any spiritual attacks that take place. I would advise you not to think about potential spiritual attacks. Rather, think about God and serving Him according to your vocation. If and when spiritual attacks occur you deal with them, but your focus of mind and spirit needs to be on Christ. Remember when St. Peter walked on the water toward Jesus. He was able to walk on water until he noticed the storms around him; then he began to sink. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, instead of the storms raging around us, we can walk on water into the arms of our Lord. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Warfare and Vocation

Kayla

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Question:

Dear Brother,

I wrote you previously regarding some spiritual warfare issues and my vocation- I am hoping to enter a community of cloistered nuns soon.

My question is: What level of spiritual warfare is normal re a religious vocation?

Several months ago I received a grace which allowed me to say yes regarding my vocation. For several days I was very prayerful, and for several weeks afterwards I found prayer and the practice of some virtues much easier. Shortly after this time of greater prayerfulness I began to feel a repugance for prayer; several times I even felt a hatred for God during prayer. Some time after this I went on a live in aspirancy to the community I have been discerning with. While I was there I experienced a spiritual attack: I had a feeling of intense restlessness(to the point I almost couldn't sit still), and all I could think about was leaving and all the reasons I shouldn't/couldn't become a nun. Towards the end of my aspirancy this attack intensified until it reached an intensity where i couldn't pray and didn't want to. This was just a few days before the end of my aspirancy. Finally, during Holy Communion, a deep peace filled my soul and lasted through the rest of my time there. (My vocation contact in the community agreed that it was a spiritual attack). . Since my return from my aspirancy, I have experienced other types of attacks: struggles with over eating and food addiction, scrupulosity, hatred of co-workers because of my vocation. Three days ago I was off work and had planned to go to Mass. I had to overcome a very strong reluctance to get out of bed and go. I hit a deer with my car about a mile from my house and almost totalled my car. Needless to say I didn't go to Mass that day.

Is this normal?

My pastor told me that now that I'm serving the Lord the devil will try to take me out.

Yours in Jesus and Mary,
Kayla

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Layla:

Your pastor is correct, the vocation director is correct, and yes, this is normal. The great advantage of being part of a community is that you have the support of the community to help you deal with any spiritual attacks that take place.

I would advise you not to think about potential spiritual attacks. Rather, think about God and serving Him according to your vocation. If and when spiritual attacks occur you deal with them, but your focus of mind and spirit needs to be on Christ.

Remember when St. Peter walked on the water toward Jesus. He was able to walk on water until he noticed the storms around him; then he began to sink. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, instead of the storms raging around us, we can walk on water into the arms of our Lord.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.