Crushes

[Lil'Monster]

double post yo

Edited August 23, 2012 by Lil'Monster

[Annie12]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1345662152' post='2472036']
You may not have been too far off on the cooties thing...


[/quote]

Wow! Nice!

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Annie12' timestamp='1345729715' post='2472595']
Wow! Nice!
[/quote]

I speak only truth.

[lmsb1231]

hello there!
i read a good book called "When God Asks for An Undivided Heart" by Fr. Apostoli (Franciscan)- it is EXCELLENT and i recommend it for anyone discerning! The book said- when following one's vocation to religious life, it means choosing Jesus with an undivided heart in love and freedom, and joyfully renouncing the joys of married life in order to belong totally to God and be completely available for His work for souls. It said we should try to keep chaste not only in mind and body, but in heart (meaning, not allowing oneself to fall in love with another person). so from this i took away- that it is normal to have crushes, but we should guard our heart from falling in love.

also, my spiritual director said it's completely normal to be attracted to another person, and even to have strong feelings.. but since we choose to love Christ with an undivided heart, we need to keep moving on when we feel attracted to someone and not dwell too much on that person.

another priest said if there was a feeling of tension with the decision to pursue religious life because i liked someone else, then to go on dates and live my life (because i was still pretty young).. and he said he had done the same to before deciding to be a priest. and if God calls one to religious life, it should be done in peace and freedom.

and another priest said once we have already made the decision to enter the convent, there might be the temptation to leave one's vocation if a person we are attracted to come's along. married life will suddenly seem very attractive. he said this is either 1)the devil trying to divert us from God's will OR 2) God testing our vocation

hope this is helpful!! God bless you on your discernment! =]

Edited August 28, 2012 by lmsb1231

[emmaberry]

Yes, to the above post. I have heard about 'last temptations' before entering the convent/priory/monastery..usually this involves a temptation concerning marriage. One girl received a dozen roses from someone she was attracted to right before entering, with a note asking her to wait to enter so they could 'try' their relationship. Dating is alright when one is still unsure, but it you have plans to enter a certain community and are drawn away by a temptation, you should probably have gone ahead and entered.

[AugustineA]

Happens all the time to me. Even today, someone posted a picture of a religious sister in Rome, and I was instantly attracted. She's attractive, cute glasses, obviously devout, kinda had a means business look on her face aka probably good wife/mother material. Then I was like Woah woah woah.. She's married to Christ. Shut that down.

 

But it's perfectly natural, if you consider how much we share in common. 

[MarysLittleFlower]

While having crushes is normal, like others said, I think it's best to avoid that particular young man if you're also discerning religious life at the same time. It could get really confusing. If you can't really avoid him, try to just speak to him less. It can really confuse a person to be really drawn to religious life but also thinking about a guy.. (or for a guy to think about a girl if he's discerning the priesthood).

Edited April 29, 2014 by MarysLittleFlower

[AugustineA]

Mary I resurrected like a two year old thread you know.. Unless you're talking to me, in which case.. you should probably re-read my post haha.  :smile3:

 

But you still have good advice.