|
Return
to Religious
Life For Women
|
Women:
Are
You Considering
The Religious Life?
Sources:
Various
Important
Notice: The following is provided for informational purposes
only and is not comprehensive. We make no guarantees regarding
any item herein. By using this site you agree to all terms. For
more terms information,
click
here
|
Note:
This page is for women. Men, please click
here.
Do
You Suspect That God Might Be Calling You to the Religious
Life?
Although
everyone has a vocation in life (for most women, their vocation is
marriage), God gives a higher calling to some women. Although God does not
force anyone to respond to His calling, He may invite them in
a variety of ways.
When
one feels called, discovering whether or not one truly has a vocation to
the religious
life ("discernment") may or may not be a difficult process. Even if one
does not have a vocation, the discernment process may benefit the
candidate by helping her to learn more about herself.
Although
God's choice of who to call is mysterious, there are some clear signs
that one may or may not have a vocation. If you suspect that you might
have a calling to the religious life, you should pray a
great deal and engage in appropriate introspection. You should also seek
guidance from the Church and follow the appropriate, required steps.
For
your convenience, we have included a short list of some
"positive" and "negative" signs as well as some
"introspection questions" and "words of advice". We
hope you might find them helpful.
God
bless you!
"O
Lord, grant unto Thy Church saintly priests and fervent religious."
(Raccolta)
Some
"Positive" And "Negative" Signs
First,
let's start with the basics...
|
"Positive
Signs" May Include... |
"Negative
Signs" May Include... |
|
You
have great love for the Lord. |
You
are lukewarm in your love for God. |
|
You
have a great love for others. |
You
find it difficult to love others. |
|
You
have a great zeal for Christ, the Church, and souls. |
You
have little zeal for Christ, the Church, and souls. |
|
Your
faith is very important to you. |
Your
faith is not all that important to you. |
|
You
love prayer. |
You
do not love prayer. |
|
You
love the Sacraments. |
You
do not love the Sacraments. |
|
You
are able to exercise self-control. |
You
are unable to exercise self-control. |
|
You
are certain that you can remain celibate/chaste until death. |
You
are certain that you could not remain celibate/chaste until death. |
Other
important qualities:
*
You are not married (except where allowed).
*
You have no physical or other impediments.
*
You have good "people skills".
*
You are emotionally stable.
*
You have an appropriate level of intelligence.
*
You are striving to live a virtuous life.
*
You desire to serve others.
*
You love the Blessed Virgin Mary.
*
You are an orthodox, practicing Catholic.
*
You are reliable.
*
You are mature.
*
You are psychologically stable.
*
You are not homosexual.
*
You have good manners.
*
You have good hygiene and a neat physical appearance.
*
You get along well with others.
*
You are able to handle being alone.
*
You have good conversational skills and speak English well (in English
speaking countries).
*
You are willing to talk about your faith.
*
You have an appropriate level of education.
*
You are willing to sacrifice material gain.
*
You have received all appropriate Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation,
Penance, Holy Eucharist).
*
You feel an attraction to the religious life ("an
attraction may be a sign, but it does not guarantee a vocation").
*
You have a proper motive.
Some
"Introspection Questions"
Next,
consider pondering questions such as those below. It is important to be
honest with yourself and to try to get to know yourself better. You
should also pray for guidance before engaging in introspection.
|
Question |
|
Why
am I attracted to the religious life? |
|
What
attracts me to this life? |
|
How
strong is this attraction? |
|
Do
I really desire to serve God and others? |
|
What
brings me the most happiness / joy? |
|
What
are my strengths? |
|
What
are my weaknesses? |
|
What
are my goals? |
|
What
makes me think I might have a calling? |
|
In
what concrete ways have I manifested my desire to serve others? |
|
In
what concrete ways have I shown that I am able to sacrifice myself
for God and others? |
|
How
long have I suspected I might have a vocation and what was the
first indication? |
|
What
gifts do I have? |
|
Do
I really love prayer and the Sacraments? |
|
Am
I good with people? |
|
Do
I really know my faith well? |
|
How
do I handle "alone time"? |
|
In
what ways is my present life compatible with the
religious life? |
|
In
what ways is my present life incompatible with the
religious life? |
|
How
well do I handle stressful situations? |
|
When
do I feel most at peace? |
|
In
what areas of my life have I been most successful? |
|
In
what areas of my life have I been least successful? |
|
What
social skills do I have? |
|
What
social skills do I lack? |
|
In
what ways have I manifested my concern for others' souls? |
|
What
will be required of me to honor the necessary vows I must take? |
|
Will
it be possible for me to honor all required vows until death? |
|
Do
I think I would make a good religious? |
|
Do
others think I would make a good religious? |
|
What
specific behaviors have I demonstrated that support a call to the religious
life? |
|
How
well do I get along with others? Do I get along well with all ages
and classes and races of persons? |
|
Do
I have a proper motive? Am I trying to run away from something? Am
I being pressured into it? Am I trying to please parents or
others? Am I "on the rebound" from a romantic
relationship? Am I considering the religious life because "nothing
else has worked out"? Am I interested in the religious life because of the status or for financial reasons? Am I considering
the religious life because I feel I "owe it" to God or
because I promised God I would if He did something for me? |
|
Have
I considered other avenues of service in the Church besides the religious
life (e.g. volunteer work)? If so, am I still interested in them? If
not, what turned me away from them? |
|
What
is causing me to consider the religious life at this
particular stage in my life? |
|
Am
I prepared for the great efforts and great sacrifices I will be
called upon to make? |
|
Do
I desire this life? |
|
Am
I really prepared to make this life-long commitment? |
Some
Words of Advice
Finally,
if you are considering the religious life, consider the
following words of advice.
*
Be sure to seek guidance from a trusted priest or spiritual director.
*
Be sure to contact your parish / diocese for guidance and other
assistance. You may also be able to contact communities
directly, but be sure to follow the proper procedures.
*
Take advantage of all appropriate resources the parish / diocese /
religious community may have to offer. You may wish to also consider any
online resources.
*
Do not neglect daily prayer. In fact, pray as much as possible
(especially ask for guidance and courage). Some helpful scriptural
prayers may include: "Speak, for your servant is listening" (1
Sam. 3:10) and "What shall I do, Lord?" (Acts 22:10). Also, be
sure you 'listen' to God.
*
Learn as much as possible about the life you are considering and about
the communities you may be interested in. If possible, spend some time
with members of the communities you are interested in (e.g. on retreats,
events, etc.).
*
Remember that just because you make inquiries or take steps towards the religious
life,
such actions do not commit you to this life.
*
Be willing to follow God's will. Be careful not to put your will
in place of God's.
*
Always trust in God and in His love for you.
Also
See:
Religious
/ Religious Life / Religious Institutes (Reflections)
Virgins
/ Virginity (Reflections)
Vows
(Reflections)
More
Reflections
The
Religious Life For Women
Top
Reasons Why Women Can't Be Priests
Misc.
Priests / Vocations Facts
Prayers
for Priests / Vocations
Catholic
Web Links
[top]
The
above is provided for informational purposes only and is not
comprehensive. We make no guarantees regarding any item herein. By using
this site you indicate agreement to all terms. For terms information,
see "Important Notice" above and click
here.
|
