By Sister Shirlee Tremont, M.P.F.
A VOCATION TO religious life becomes a reality in one way: We respond “yes” to the proposal or invitation of Christ to follow Him in a “spousal covenant” of love. A religious vocation gives birth to a heart that is so filled with love for Jesus that the only response that will suffice is to totally and exclusively give ourselves to the Beloved.
Being a consecrated woman religious is, at its very core, being a woman of prayer – who becomes prayer, that is, becomes an offering to our Beloved. With love for Christ etched clearly upon our hearts, we are called to give living witness to the poor, chaste and obedient Jesus.
Society may look at a religious vocation and say, “You have to give up so much.” But nothing is farther from the truth. We do not give up – we give to and we open up our hearts. In giving – and in opening – we become free, and freedom manifests joy.
Consider the invitation to the Blessed Mother. She was called upon to allow the Word to become flesh. She was not asked to renounce, but rather to receive. When we welcome the fullness of God, the unrelenting, all pursuing love of the One who first loved us – that’s Grace at work! And as Matt Maher sings, “Your Grace is Enough.”
“We come into this world to live, Jesus came into the world to die,” the late Bishop Fulton Sheen once said. We are made for more than this world. Heaven is our goal and we want to take as many people with us as we can. As such, there is a conversion of sorts that happens. We turn, not from, but toward Christ. And what might start as a loving gaze, turns to passion and the spirit that prompted us to turn toward Christ, now compels us to run toward Him. And oh, what joy we experience on the journey, as we strive each day not only to live as a good person, but also as God’s person.
So how does this translate into a “yes” for someone discerning religious life?
First, you must trust. God loves us infinitely more than we can imagine. He desires only what is good for us.
Then, you must pray. Carve out uninterrupted time each day to be with Jesus. The more we spend time listening in the ‘cloister of our heart,’ the more familiar and more clear the voice of Jesus becomes. When possible, pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Attend Mass daily, if possible, and celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation with a regular confessor and spiritual director.
If it seems that a religious vocation is a possibility, look for discernment or attend a ‘Come and See Retreat.’ Visit local convents and spend time with the sisters at prayer, recreation and in ministry. Talk with the sisters. Get to know them and welcome them to come to know you.
When I was getting to know the Filippini Sisters, I thought, “Wow, they are so normal, and they are so not normal.”
What was both different and attractive was the joy and enthusiasm with which they did, well, everything!
I observed them and said, “They have ‘something’ I want.”
I later came to realize it was not ‘something,’ it was ‘Someone,’ and that Someone was Jesus. I felt like I was at home with them, and Jesus placed a seal of approval on my heart. When I was there, I found Jesus, I found joy and peace with the sisters. More importantly, I let Jesus find me.
One caution if I may: Be careful not to fall victim to CDD, which is Chronic Discernment Disorder.
Will you have some doubts? Yes! Will you have some questions? Yes!
But Jesus is the perfect gentleman. He will open each door for you to walk through. Smile, say thank you and follow where He leads. Think about those early fishermen disciples who left everything comfortable and familiar in order to follow Jesus. They didn’t know what they were getting into, but their hearts were on fire! How about you? If you want to walk on the water, you need to get out of the boat.
Sister Shirlee, the vocation director for the Religious Teachers Filippini, may be reached at stbernadetteconvent@gmail.com
