To you who are at the crossroads of life; you who are seeking what to do with your life and to know which vocation is yours.

Pope John Paul II said:

" I would like to ask each one of you; What will you do with your life ?
  What are you plans ?
  Have you ever thought of committing your existence totally to Christ ?
  Will you offer yourselves to Christ, telling Him you are available ?.

Today there are many voices trying to gain your attention. How, then, is the Voice ( Christ ) which alone gives true sense to your life to be distinguished ?. "

Recognising the Call

I get the idea that I might have a religious vocation - that God might be asking me to become someone special and to do something special for Him - someone I couldn't be as an ordinary member of the Catholic laity, something that I could only do with great difficulty, if at all, as an ordinary member of the laity, single or married. Deep within me - and not just emotionally, or on the surface, I experience a desire to give Him all my love, to belong wholly to Him, to have Him use me, soul, mind and body in His ongoing work of loving and praising the Blessed Trinity, of saving others unto life everlasting.

This divine love desire may be more or less explicit, depending on circumstances like up-bringing, education, employment, experience / maturity, and , above all religious practice, fidelity to daily prayer. Why do I rather than some of my close friends who seem to be far better Christians than I, who probably never committed some of the sins I committed, and of which I am not truely repentant ... Why me ? Why does this desire to become a religious persist - refuse to go away, keep coming back to me particularly when I want to be as beautiful and as attractive as ever I can, whatever the cost and effort, when I would give anything to have a good social life, even do a steady line and be able to look forward to a happy marriage, my own home and children ?

God's path for your life is made especially for you and no one else but you can travel it.

How can I be sure it is for me.

The Answer Is

One cannot be certain. The Church only acknowledges that there is a true vocation when a person has been through the Novitiate, and has been received by a Religious Order for Profession.

God is inviting me even as He invited Mary, the Apostles and so many others, to become someone special, to do something special - out of the ordinary, for love of His Love. He does not, never will, compel me - because not even God can force me to love Him, because there can be no love without freedom, without preference, without choice - without self-giving and sacrifice.

What should I do about this extraordinary persistant desire that for no apparent reason has taken hold of my heart, my life ?

Firstly, I should pray about it, and not resist or regret it, even though God will continue to love, bless and protect me even if I do, even if I opt not to become everything, to do everything He invited me to be, to do. I should ask our Lady to obtain for me something of her openness, receptivity to the Holy Spirit. Perhaps, the most appropriate time for me to make this heart felt request of Mary is at the Consecration of the Mass. I will get no audible reply but I will get the necessary courage or fortitude to continue my vocational discernment process.

Secondly, I will get the advice of a competent, understanding priest and come and talk to the Poor Clares, if I feel attracted towards that particular way of life. A visit to the Poor Clares does not mean that I have in any way committed myself to their way of Life. A particular way of Life cannot be expressed on paper, one would need to come and see for oneself, by that I mean a visit.

Words to Inspire

Carry out steadfastly the work you have begun. ( Saint Clare to Ermentrude of Bruge )