Pathways: Spring 2001
Signs of a Religious Vocation
- By S. Ileana Fernandez,CSJ
Sisters At Baptism we are called to be children of God. It is a call received by all of us Catholic Christians. The call to religious life is a different kind of call. It is a call to a very counter-cultural way of life. The ways of society today draw people towards money, sex and power; the call to religious life draws people toward the opposite: poverty/simplicity of life, celibacy and obedience. By responding in this way we give witness to a different lifestyle, a way of life that brings about the Reign of God.
The first sign that one has a religious vocation is in the desire, the inclination. One is drawn to the lifestyle with a sense of joy, enthusiasm or some kind of positive feeling. It is also possible that one may feel drawn, pursued by God and not have a natural desire for religious life. It is similar to the call of Jeremiah when he says: "You have seduced me Yahweh and I let myself be seduced, you were the stronger."
The second sign is to want religious life for the right reason, to have the right motivation. There can be many reasons for an attraction to religious life and usually they are linked to the drawing power of the spirituality and mission of a particular congregation. In the case of the Sisters of St. Joseph it would be a desire to bring GodÍs great love into the world, to reconcile and unite people that are at odds with one another and with God.
The third sign is fitness, i.e. the ability to live religious life graciously, cheerfully and generously without going to pieces in the face of difficulties; without a constant drain on your inner resources or energies, or without a lot of tensions. Somehow the community life itself must suit you and you must suit the life without paying a great price to remain faithful. There must be a mutual fit of your interests, competencies and abilities with those of the Sisters.
That is why the process of entering religious life takes time (see last issue of Pathways). God calls you, but God allows the time to test out that call, to see if this is really what you want, to see if this is really what God wants of you and to see if this is the right community for you. By testing oneÍs vocation through time, trial and error Æ both you and the community can see if the fit is right.
The vocation to religious life is worth pursuing. Take the risk of trying it out. A good discernment will be very helpful as you continue on the journey.
Decision Making a Helpful Tool for Discernment
- By S. Ileana Fernandez,CSJ
Every one makes choices and decisions. At this time in your life, you may be called to make some very important decisions. As a faith-filled person, you are also called to make decisions in the light of faith. St. Ignatius Loyola, bequeathed to the Jesuits an invaluable process called discernment. As Sisters of St. Joseph, we claim our Jesuit tradition and spirituality. We were founded in Le Puy, France in 1650, by a French Jesuit, Jean Pierre Medaille; therefore Jesuit spirituality and practices are very much a part of who we are.
The purpose of this essay is not just a "nice reading" but an invitation to engage yourself, with the help of a spiritual guide, in the exercises of spiritual discernment.
Some decisions may take a shorter time, and you may make them intuitively, by habit, or by testing them against the interior movements of your heart. The more you use discernment in your life, the more you will grow in the skill of knowing where God is leading you. As you begin just remember that both you and God want the same thing, your
happiness. Therefore you and God are not working at odds but with and for one another.
Steps for Discernment:
Place yourself in GodÍs loving presence. As you begin this exercise remember that you seek to be in a place of harmony with God.
Walk around the issue to be solved. Think about the background facts: your aptitude ƒ your feelings ƒ Ask yourself the questions regarding the issue: what, why, how, where, when, so what? Get the feel for the general issue in different ways. Separate the key issue from the less important ones.
Pray for freedom. Choose what is most in harmony with GodÍs design for you at this time in your life. Pray for freedom throughout the process. This is the greatest goal: To become interiorly free to follow GodÍs call.
Use the four column method. Apply one set of alternatives to your decision (for example, my entering religious life) and in GodÍs presence make a list of the reasons and other aspects of the matter according to the diagram. Then take each of
the other alternatives in turn and make a similar chart. For example: "I should enter the Sisters of St. Joseph", etc. After all the data has been collected and the decision seems evident, move to the following step.
Bring your choices to prayer in your heart. Wait in prayer for the solution to emerge. Some Scripture passages that may be helpful to pray with are: Deuteronomy 30:11-14. Luke 9:57-62. Jeremiah 1:4-8. Matthew 22:1-14. Hosea 2:16-17; 21-22. Luke 10: 38-42. Luke 12:22-34. Philipians 1:9-10.
If after a time in prayer, the correct alternative is not clear, then look over all the advantages and disadvantages of the chart and weigh them from the viewpoint of quality of reasons,those reasons that will lead you to GodÍs service, and the reasons that are consistent with the best use of your gifts and talents.
Make a choice.
Pray for confirmation. After making the "I am quite sure this is what I ought to do" choice, offer it to God and ask God for confirmation. If confirmation is not received repeat the entire process or part of it.
On Becoming Spiritually Free.
We are usually unfree because of attachments or addictions that keep us tied up to persons or things. To recognize how God is moving in oneÍs heart, one needs to be spiritually free-free from the influences of self-centeredness, prejudices, fears, anxieties which block the movements of GodÍs Spirit in oneÍs being. This freedom is experienced in times of "consolation", which also involves a sense of harmony with GodÍs perspective. This stance of freedom is a gift; GodÍs gift of the Spirit.
It is important to seek spiritual guidance in times of major decisions. A trained spiritual guide is an invaluable resource and support in times of discernment. At times it is difficult to find a spiritual guide in your city. If this is your situation, feel free to write or call me and I could assist you in finding one.
Spirit
of God,
You bathed me in the image of Jesus Christ,
And called me to live the Gospel,
Through the lifegiving waters of Baptism.
Enflame my heart and guide me with wisdom
That I may know the path of life
Which best calls forth the gifts
Which God has given me.
Breathe in me your peace
That strengthens and refreshes the heart.
Bless me with the courage to say
"YES" to GodÍs call for my future.
AMEN