Concidence or calling?

Dancelittleewok · #1 Aug 16, '07, 8:33 am

Please pray for me. After a couple months of not practicing the faith, I have returned to the faith and it was because of a dream. In this dream, I was entering a convent with a Carmelite or Franciscan habit with a crown on my head. I woke up with this intense inner peace and urgent desire to pray. This got me thinking about discernment and if I was indeed to be called to the religious life. I remembered these things...

-As a child, I'd prace around the room with a blanket over my head, saying, "Look at me! I'm a nun!"

-When I was practicing my faith, family, friends, and random people in line for the Confessional told me that I'd be a good nun.

-During the Mass, I heard a voice say "Marry him." I originally thought that it referred to my boyfriend at the time, but we eventually broke up. He was blocking a statue of the Holy Family. Mary was holding Jesus in her arms.

I've been praying hard core to guidance in my vocation, but my impatience seems to be getting the best of me and I have some questions.

1) Is this a sign of a calling or just concidences? How do you know it's God and not self-will?

2) Do you have any vocational tips?

Thank you for your help. You are in my prayers. God bless you!!!

theweeper · #2 Aug 16, '07, 8:40 am

wow no replies? i will pray for you but i dont have a clue about how to answer your questions. maybe a nun could help someone who has been where you are.

Scottgun · #3 Aug 16, '07, 8:44 am

Sure it could be a call, and I encourage you to explore it. The long discerning process of becoming a nun is in place precisely to sort out the calls from the coincidences.

Quote:

2) Do you have any vocational tips?

Only one: Make sure the order you are interested in is 100% orthodox Catholic with no modernist hoo-haw.

Scott

nkmeck · #4 Aug 16, '07, 9:07 am

There are no Concidences just Godidences. Remember His call is gentle but relentless. You'll never know for sure unless you actively and openly pursue it 100%.

God Bless

Dancelittleewok · #5 Aug 16, '07, 11:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottgun

Sure it could be a call, and I encourage you to explore it. The long discerning process of becoming a nun is in place precisely to sort out the calls from the coincidences.

Only one: Make sure the order you are interested in is 100% orthodox Catholic with no modernist hoo-haw.

Scott

I agree. I'm interested in Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration.

Dancelittleewok · #6 Aug 16, '07, 11:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkmeck

There are no Concidences just Godidences. Remember His call is gentle but relentless. You'll never know for sure unless you actively and openly pursue it 100%.

God Bless

I'm dense. HOW?

nkmeck · #7 Aug 16, '07, 12:24 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dancelittleewok

I'm dense. HOW?

In no particular order

1) GET A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR.
2) Go to Mass as frequently as possible
3) Daily Rosary for the intention of knowing your vocation. (if you're called to be a Bride of Christ you better get in good with His mom.)
4) Start doing spiritual reading
5) Get you're nose in scripture. If you wanna hear God's voice you gotta know his word.
6) Go to confession 2x a month (at least)
7) Do holy hours as often as possible
8) Find out if there are religious orders in your area that will allow you to go out for a "come and see" weekend.
9) Do lots of retreats (particularly vocations retreats)
10) PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
11) Be pacient and grow spritually. Remember it's impossible to steer a ship that's not moving. You may want your answer now but God's answers might be 20miles down the road. So keep moving!!!

Thanks for asking me to type it all out. It reminded me of some things i need to do

God Bless
Nate

Dancelittleewok · #8 Aug 16, '07, 12:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkmeck

In no particular order

1) GET A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR.
2) Go to Mass as frequently as possible
3) Daily Rosary for the intention of knowing your vocation. (if you're called to be a Bride of Christ you better get in good with His mom.)
4) Start doing spiritual reading
5) Get you're nose in scripture. If you wanna hear God's voice you gotta know his word.
6) Go to confession 2x a month (at least)
7) Do holy hours as often as possible
8) Find out if there are religious orders in your area that will allow you to go out for a "come and see" weekend.
9) Do lots of retreats (particularly vocations retreats)
10) PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY.
11) Be pacient and grow spritually. Remember it's impossible to steer a ship that's not moving. You may want your answer now but God's answers might be 20miles down the road. So keep moving!!!

Thanks for asking me to type it all out. It reminded me of some things i need to do

God Bless
Nate

Thank you, Nate! You've been a great help...

nkmeck · #9 Aug 16, '07, 12:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dancelittleewok

Thank you, Nate! You've been a great help...

You've been a blessing. I was happy to do it since I'm kind of in the same boat as you. Feel free to PM me if you like. God Bless

RobNY · #10 Aug 16, '07, 2:24 pm

Make your first point in life to keep God before all. That is the first commandment. Fulfilling it is the same thing as salvation-- union with God Himself.

This is the goal of each of our lives, and what we must put first.

I think our vocation follows from this. There is a way in which we are to live which will sanctify us the best. Our vocation follows quite naturally from giving ourselves completely to God, because we find that our vocation is the best way to do so.

So if you want to know your vocation, put God first and have no strange gods besides Him.

Here is a passage I was just reading from St. Bonaventure's Journey of the Mind to God, for guidance and inspiration.

Quote:

He, therefore, who wishes to ascend to God must first avoid sin, which deforms nature. He must bring the natural powers of the soul under the influence of grace, which reforms them, and this he does through prayer; he must submit them to the purifying influence of justice, and this, in daily acts; he must subject them to the influence of enlightening knowledge, and this, in meditation; and finally, he must hand them over to the influence of the perfecting power of wisdom, and this in contemplation. For just as no one arrives at wisdom except through grace, justice, and knowledge, so it is that no one arrives at contemplation except through penetrating meditation, holy living, and devout prayer. And since grace is the foundation for righteousness of the will, and for the penetrating enlightenment of reason, we must first of all pray. Next, we must live holily. Then we must gaze at the spectacles of truth, and by gazing at them, rise step by step until we reach the mountain height where the God of gods is seen on Zion [Ps 83:8].

St. Bonaventure was a great saint in the Franciscan tradition. In fact, he models his book on a vision of St. Francis, of a six-winged cherubim, which he takes allegorically to be the six steps to ascend before one arrives at contemplation.

If you're interested in prayer, it also can't hurt to read the great Spanish mystics, Sts. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila. I personally am working through St. John's the Ascent to Mount Carmel, but perhaps you'd prefer St. Teresa's books. (Beware going to them without any preparation, as they might confuse you a bit, although St. Teresa is generally easier to read.)

Take your time to read from the saints, as they are outstanding models of Christian life. Don't neglect to read from the saints of many traditions, not only Franciscan and Carmelite (as you mentioned), but also Dominican and others. This will certainly help to see what specific, 'flavor' of religious life attracts you the most.

In particular, I recommend the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower, called, "Story of a Soul."

God bless.

-Rob

writingluver5 · #11 Aug 21, '07, 8:53 am

What a wonderful calling! Yes, I firmly believe it is a calling, but it may not be the one YOU'RE chosen to follow. From what you've said, it sounds like Christ is trying to give you a few hints about possibly exploring the path of becoming a nun (or sister). I'd do what Nate suggested, but I really emphasize the point that you need to completely explore this path 100% in order to find out if it's God's call for you. If you find your heart not complying with this, or you just don't feel it's God's Will, then explore other possibilities. If you have any interest in any particular orders, go on some retreats they offer or visit or volunteer for them to see what their life is like.

Best of luck, and if you need to talk, feel free to pm me!

ChadS · #12 Aug 21, '07, 11:22 am

Another vocational tip I'd suggest is keeping a spiritual journal. Write in it frequently -- not necessarily daily but perhaps weekly. That way as you look back at it over time you can see visible progression as you deepen your faith and discern your call better.

ChadS