The Right Motivation

Okay, so you passed the first test.

Undercover, when no one is looking - you really would like to be a Sister or a Nun.

Or maybe the desire doesn't scare you and you tell people all about it.

So the next question is: "How come?"

Why are you drawn?

• To love?
• To give?
• To save?
• To pray?
• To make up for sin?

Those are all the good reasons. If you want to run away, to be safe, to hide, to get away from... Those are all bad reasons. Look at your heart and see what it says - but don't overthink it. If you see a desire to love God and his people, you are seriously on the right track.

Sign one: Desire for the Life

Do you want to be a religious Sister or Nun?

Some people experience a bit of interior conflict with this one - I want it (or I have a strong hunch God might be calling me) and yet...

If the conflict expresses itself as a desire for husband and family, it really isn't a conflict. Marriage remains the normal state in life - desire for it merely demonstrates a healthy female nature.

And most young women do not even have the idea of being a religious.

One sign of a vocation can be the idea wandering regularly through your mind.

• Are you haunted by the thought that you might be called?
• Does the idea sometimes seem really appealing?
• Do you have interest (or even a fascination) with things religious?

So this is the first sign that it might be your way.

We are rarely attracted to something to which we are...not attracted.

Anti-Signs

God never calls us to do or to live something that we cannot do or live. Always he gives the necessary gifts and talents, abilities and graces we need to accomplish the tasks to which we are called. 

Sometimes, we're not sure about it. I may not think that I have a particular gift or ability and he, in his providence, draws it out, forms the skills and ta-da! I am able to serve in some way I could never have imagined.

There are, however, things that are simply "given" in my life. They cannot change.

Since religious life requires physical, mental and moral strength, some signs indicate that one is not called to the life. These people may still serve God, become amazing saints and assist in the salvation of the world, just not in the religious state.

Those with severe physical handicaps or illnesses; those suffering from severe mental or emotional illness; those whose moral life is fragile - these all will find their service of God in another way. The life is difficult, and can cause serious hardship to one ill-prepared to face this way.

Some other "anti-signs" or impediments to following a religious vocation:

• young children
• advanced age 
• large debts
• addictions 
• a marriage that's not annulled

In these cases, the woman should seek another path to holiness.

Although there is no "test" to help you determine a vocation, the questions in the list here can give an indication....

So how do you know?

The question comes up again and again: "How do you know if God is calling you to be a Sister or a Nun?"

There is no test that you can take. There is no inventory that you can fill out that will allow you to say for sure "God is calling me."

Some things point in the direction, though.

The video linked here is a fun exploration of the "Warning Signs." In a couple of days, we'll look at some things to consider.

Signs of a Religious Vocation

So often, people ask me: "How do you know if you have a religious vocation?" And there is a lot of force behind the question. 

It makes sense, entering the convent is a major life decision. Women fear "making a huge mistake" with their lives. 

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting meditations examining this question. There is no one easy answer (Wouldn't it be nice if you could just take a test and if you got a certain score, you'd know?) But there are some things that point in the direction.

Purity of Heart

In order to serve the Lord, we must have great purity of heart. 

Essentially, to know God's will our hearts must be clean and clear, able to see directly in the light of the Gospel. This does not happen over night, nor is it entirely our work. But we can set up structures to support the seed of holiness planted in our hearts.

Regular examination is key. Not neurotic navel-gazing, nor the narcissistic self-perfecting of our ego, it remains the sole means of clarifying our thinking. Quiet reflection on the grace of God in my today teaches me who I am and who he calls me to be.

It can degenerate. It can become destructive. But the power of self-knowledge empowers me to choose minute by minute to give my life over to God’s direction. 

The Holy Spirit then takes over the process. We cannot cleanse our hearts from the darkness that hides in the corners, behind the scenes, in the background. Only his light penetrating into every part of our lives can begin to illumine and then purify our hearts completely. 

Miserere nobis, Domine...

Taking God at his word

It seems that he means it.

God, if he is indeed God, cannot change, cannot lie - and, I'd be willing to bet, he doesn't even exaggerate. Well, I suppose that the Lord did, a bit, or used exaggerated language in order to get across some very serious points, but, in himself, I don't think he does.

So when he says he calls...he calls.

If the saints tell us that he chooses people, they mean real people, people who have a certain height, a certain hair color, noses and hands and fingers of a certain shape. People who like pizza - or don't. People who have amazing talents ... and equally amazing blind spots. In short, if God says he calls people, he calls people - real, live, flesh and blood people... like me, like you.

And we sort of cringe at that. "I'm not worthy." Check. "I've done stupid or sinful - in a really big way." Check. "I'm not holy enough." Check. "Who, ME?!?!?!" Check.

It's not about us. It's about him. He loves. You. Me. His Church. All the people of the world. He looks at individuals, real people, and just loves. And so he calls. We're NOT worthy, but that love loves us into worthiness, not because of any gifts or talents we already have, but out of the extreme prodigality of his gifts. Love makes worthy the beloved.

So, don't be afraid or balk or worry. Because yes, he is calling you to some great thing. What it is - well, figuring that out is discernment. The call is there, go for the gold.