What To Do, What To Do.....

[i<3franciscans]

[quote name='beatitude' timestamp='1322410791' post='2341177']


Those are wonderful saints you drew there. Is it St Damien of Molokai? I love him too. He had a very profound influence on me as a young Catholic. We were taught about him in our religious studies class when I was thirteen years old (this wasn't a Catholic school, but we spent a term looking at Christian figures picked out by the teacher) and I can remember being moved to tears by what Damien did with this life. When I heard what had been inscribed on his tombstone - "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends" - I saw the connection very clearly between what Damien had done for those sick people who had effectively been kicked out of life, and what Jesus did for us on the cross. I celebrate his feast day every year.

St Joseph and St Damien will love and pray for you no matter what you do, but I would caution you against using them as proof that you are called to religious life.[b] It isn't sensible to look for signs like this, and being too attached to signs can actually hurt your faith and your understanding of Our Lord. [/b]The three things Barbara listed are the only signs accepted by the Church of someone being called to religious life - and as you can see, they are very practical and down-to-earth! For now, I think it's wisest just to concentrate on your life as it is, and have a beautiful and blessed Advent. The future is with God. Try and give him the present too.
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I have really come to realize how true this is the past year. My faith and trust has grown since I stopped asking for "signs" and just trusting God would take care of everything. It made life (generally) more peaceful and it gave me a sense of freedom. I was no longer clings to signs to keep my faith strong; now I only cling to Jesus.