OnlySunshine Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 [quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1264916934' post='2048079'] I've discerned to become a religious sister (active/contemplative). There is one order I am especially fond of, but at this time, the vocation director thought it best that I spend a few more years out in the world before seriously discerning. After hearing this advice and finally accepting it as God's will, I have decided to return to school to get my Bachelor's degree even though it is not a requirement for entrance. I hope that if God is pointing me in a different way than religious life (like married life or single life), that my major will give a good start in a lucrative career that I love. I am very interested in becoming a social worker for Catholic Charities in the future and I'm taking up a volunteer position with them very soon. I don't know what the future holds. At this point, I'm decidedly putting my vocation discernment on hold to concentrate on school. Meanwhile, I'm staying close to the Sacraments in case God tells me something different. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif[/img] [/quote] I totally forgot about this thread until someone bumped it up this morning. I changed my vote since my discernment has changed. I was discerning to be a Sister in an active/contemplative order but, through prayer and the help of God's grace, I discovered that I am not called to religious life. This was discovered through much heartache and was not without pain. For 4 years I truly thought that I was called to religious life. However, the last order I visited opened my eyes. Although I love that life very much, it was more of my desire after seeing the religious on retreat in 2007 that prompted my search. I think God allowed it so that I would know what was out there. Now, I'm feeling the pull to discern marriage. I'm not ready to date anyone yet, but the desire for marriage and family is very strong. I am also planning to go back into nursing after being scared away by an unsympathetic unit manager when I worked as a CNA in 2010. I know she was very wrong and I will not let her -- or anyone else for that matter -- take that dream away. God blessed me with a keen knowledge of healthcare, so, instead of becoming a Social Worker for Catholic Charities, I want to study to be a Labor & Delivery RN (after getting my Associates and Bachelor's in Nursing since it's required for that field) and then working my way up to the Master's program to become a Certified Nurse Midwife. I might even open my own Catholic Birthing and Fertility Center in the future that will allow pregnant mothers and those trying to conceive meet with an NFP teacher, priest, midwives, doulas, etc. I am also intrigued by water births. Home births are very neat, in my opinion, too. I'm very excited!
marigold Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 MM that sounds like an amazing idea. I seriously considered midwifery a few years ago - in my opinion it's one of the top amazing 'living saint' jobs a person can do! I picked 'cloistered nun' - we don't have this distinction since every monastery is unique, but my monastery is very rural and we don't leave the (admitttedly very spacious) property except for necessary shopping or appointments. Speaking of cloistered, I've noticed that in monasteries where there are a lot of guests, the nuns' own interior sense of boundary and 'cloister' is much much stronger than in places where the rules are stricter but there aren't as many people. Let it not be said that the fewer outsiders you meet, the stronger you are. Some of the best and strongest monks and nuns I know are the ones who have to deal with guests and parishioners all day long. And then I picked '3-5 years' and 'a good example'. While there was a nun theme in my life for the longest time (remember I got my dad to take me to see some sisters when I was 7 or 8? ) it wasn't until I got to know the folks at St. John the Baptist in Essex that I realised it was a real possibility for me.
FutureSister2009 Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 I had a couple of answers in this because I wanted to be honest
i<3LSOP Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) [b] • Which of these are you discerning (or have discerned)?[/b] Religious Sister... (I just know and have received some roses from the Little Flower) Holy Matrimony... (I am always open and would like to be married) [b] • How long have you been seriously discerning your vocation?[/b] 0-2 years... (I've only been discerning 8 months) [b] • What provoked your initial step into discerning your vocation?[/b] I just "knew"... (I feel that Religious Sister is God's plan for my life and have received a few roses from the Little Flower) [color=#000000][size=4][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] A good example of a holy vocation being lived out... (From the Sisters I see at least once a week working joyfully and being kind [/font][/size][/color][color=#000000][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]and loving...)[/font][/color] Edited January 24, 2012 by i<3LSOP
Divine Mercy 9999 Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 I'm discerning to a cloistered vocation. I took a break, but am slowly starting to discern again. I've been discerning for about 4-5 years. I'm a convert and nuns/sisters have always had a "pull" for me. I posted this in the "you know you are a future nun when" thread, - I've had a couple of people approach me after mass or at adoration and ask me what order I'm part of .
Oremoose Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 I was decerning Religious Preist for a good 4 3/4 Years but God showed me my Desire to Change the world was not going to be fullfilled as such and that I needed to take another road.
Sarah147 Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 I'm not sure if called to RL or marriage...day by day I'm more drawn to marriage.
Lil'Monster Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 [quote name='Oremoose' timestamp='1327458821' post='2374793'] I was decerning Religious Preist for a good 4 3/4 Years but God showed me my Desire to Change the world was not going to be fullfilled as such and that I needed to take another road. [/quote] So who are you interested in?
PhuturePriest Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 (edited) [quote name='laetitia crucis' timestamp='1263589288' post='2037862'] I recently came across [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=22082&view=&hl=poll&fromsearch=1"]this post[/url] which has a poll asking "Which of these are you discerning, or already have chosen?". It originated in 2004, so I thought it'd be nice to see how the Vocation Station is doing five years later - with more choices listed. (Hope I covered them all..) And it's also [url="http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-255.shtml"]National Vocations Awareness Week[/url]! [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/priest_halo.gif[/img] [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/sword.gif[/img] (Hmmm.. there should be a "nun/religious sister" icon, too!) I thought this would be a nice way to "celebrate". So... anyone wanna take a survey/poll? [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/D.gif[/img] [/quote] I feel so alone knowing that only about twenty other guys are here discerning the Religious life and Priesthood like me, and there are about eighty women discerning the Religious life. I'm not Napoleon Bonaparte. I feel very uncomfortable when outnumbered four to one... Edited January 25, 2012 by FuturePriest387
PhuturePriest Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 (edited) But onto a more serious note, I'm discerning the Diocesan Priesthood, Franciscan Brothers Minor, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (Don't be fooled: They're not technically Missionaries. They film at EWTN and go out on pilgrimages, but not in Africa or some place like that), the Franciscan Brothers of Peace, Knights of the Holy Eucharist, the Dominicans, Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (F.S.S.P.), and the Benedictine Monks at Clear Creek. At the moment I'm just not sure. I've been doing karate for eleven years, and if I join the Religious life I'll basically be giving it up, however, if I decide to do the Diocesan Priesthood I can be a black belt and have my own class. But, the Religious life is just so razzle dazzle. The Orders I list above are definitely worth the sacrifice, but the Diocesan Priesthood is so appealing in the first place. I know some Orders do karate, but the Orders I list above have a pretty tight schedule (Except for the Knights of the Holy Eucharist. They just about get weekends off!). A conundrum indeed... Edited January 25, 2012 by FuturePriest387
marigold Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 [quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1327475771' post='2374907'] But onto a more serious note, I'm discerning the Diocesan Priesthood, Franciscan Brothers Minor, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (Don't be fooled: They're not technically Missionaries. They film at EWTN and go out on pilgrimages, but not in Africa or some place like that), the Franciscan Brothers of Peace, Knights of the Holy Eucharist, the Dominicans, Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (F.S.S.P.), and the Benedictine Monks at Clear Creek. At the moment I'm just not sure. I've been doing karate for eleven years, and if I join the Religious life I'll basically be giving it up, however, if I decide to do the Diocesan Priesthood I can be a black belt and have my own class. But, the Religious life is just so razzle dazzle. The Orders I list above are definitely worth the sacrifice, but the Diocesan Priesthood is so appealing in the first place. I know some Orders do karate, but the Orders I list above have a pretty tight schedule (Except for the Knights of the Holy Eucharist. They just about get weekends off!). A conundrum indeed... [/quote] It is a conundrum, I've felt the same way myself. Should I go by things I'm good at? Should I definitely not look into anything that does stuff I'm good at/enjoy? Does doing work I love mean I'm being selfish and not leaving all to follow Christ? Eventually I realised that loving a certain kind of lifestyle and/or work was a gift, not a temptation. I also realised that all choices have a sacrifice attached - you will have to give up stuff, whether that's karate or something else. The way, for me at least, to not get tied up in knots was to JUST focus on where I would be able to live the Gospel as perfectly as I'm capable of. The rest falls into place. [quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1327475484' post='2374905'] I feel so alone knowing that only about twenty other guys are here discerning the Religious life and Priesthood like me, and there are about eighty women discerning the Religious life. I'm not Napoleon Bonaparte. I feel very uncomfortable when outnumbered four to one... [/quote] Oh, deal...
PhuturePriest Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 [quote name='marigold' timestamp='1327496301' post='2374940'] It is a conundrum, I've felt the same way myself. Should I go by things I'm good at? Should I definitely not look into anything that does stuff I'm good at/enjoy? Does doing work I love mean I'm being selfish and not leaving all to follow Christ? Eventually I realised that loving a certain kind of lifestyle and/or work was a gift, not a temptation. I also realised that all choices have a sacrifice attached - you will have to give up stuff, whether that's karate or something else. The way, for me at least, to not get tied up in knots was to JUST focus on where I would be able to live the Gospel as perfectly as I'm capable of. The rest falls into place. Oh, deal... [/quote] I know. I am completely willing to give up karate for the Religious life. I just don't want to is all. But that's normal, I think. Nobody wants to give up vacations, the internet and other things like I would be if I joined the Franciscan Brothers Minor. And yet, their life is so great and so holy. I just wish I didn't have to give up vacations to Disney World. Isn't wearing a karate gi with a black belt a simple enough request? But no, apparently you have to actually *wear* the Habit at all times or something... But seriously, I wouldn't like Communities if they didn't wear the Habit that often.
HopefulBride Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 (edited) [quote name='marigold' timestamp='1327496301' post='2374940'] It is a conundrum, I've felt the same way myself. Should I go by things I'm good at? Should I definitely not look into anything that does stuff I'm good at/enjoy? Does doing work I love mean I'm being selfish and not leaving all to follow Christ? Eventually I realised that loving a certain kind of lifestyle and/or work was a gift, not a temptation. I also realised that all choices have a sacrifice attached - you will have to give up stuff, whether that's karate or something else. The way, for me at least, to not get tied up in knots was to JUST focus on where I would be able to live the Gospel as perfectly as I'm capable of. The rest falls into place. Oh, deal... [/quote] Nevermind Edited January 25, 2012 by HopefulBride
maximillion Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 It was lovely to see this, started by LC, and know she is now Clothed............
Guest hermanita Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 [quote name='marigold' timestamp='1327496301' post='2374940'] It is a conundrum, I've felt the same way myself. Should I go by things I'm good at? Should I definitely not look into anything that does stuff I'm good at/enjoy? Does doing work I love mean I'm being selfish and not leaving all to follow Christ? Eventually I realised that loving a certain kind of lifestyle and/or work was a gift, not a temptation. I also realised that all choices have a sacrifice attached - you will have to give up stuff, whether that's karate or something else. The way, for me at least, to not get tied up in knots was to JUST focus on where I would be able to live the Gospel as perfectly as I'm capable of. The rest falls into place. That's it. When I met my Sisters vocation became quite specific: When I "grow up" I want to live the gospel as well as these particular women, following this charism and serving God and the Church in this community. Will there be sacrifices? Of course. But that comes to all of us as we live into (in my case rather awkwardly) "Thy Will, not mine, be done." Oh, deal... [/quote] Que lastima,
FutureCarmeliteClaire Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 This is a razzle dazzle poll! So, I have wanted to be a Carmelite basically since I was 7 (it is a really long story), but I didn't start seriously discerning the religious life until about two years ago.
Oremoose Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 [quote name='Lil'Monster' timestamp='1327460804' post='2374818'] So who are you interested in? [/quote] God's Will.
Fr. Antony Maria OSB Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) What about semi-contemplative monks? I voted for religious priest and monk, but the Benedictine community I'm joining teaches high-school boys, so not exactly fully contemplative, but definitely not active (they still pray in community 4-5 times a day, silence within the cloister, not to mention the whole vow of stability thing and why isn't there a monk emoticon? Edited January 27, 2012 by NazFarmer
HopefulBride Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 [quote name='NazFarmer' timestamp='1327645146' post='2376077'] What about semi-contemplative monks? I voted for religious priest and monk, but the Benedictine community I'm joining teaches high-school boys, so not exactly fully contemplative, but definitely not active (they still pray in community 4-5 times a day, silence within the cloister, not to mention the whole vow of stability thing and why isn't there a monk emoticon? [/quote] A lot of us have been asking the same question. I think the demand isn't high enough.
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