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 | A vocation is much more than something you choose!
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I was greatly heartened to hear of Pope Francis' recent talk to novices, seminarians and young persons at the Vatican recently. Our Holy Father touched on a great problem that I see so often: the difficulty of young people to commit. In other words, there is a tendency to "try" religious life for a few years and then change their mind.
Pope Francis did not blame the novices, or the young persons, or the seminarians gathered there that day. He said that a "provisional" culture is to blame. That is, a culture that fails to see the good of making a lifetime commitment. A culture that says, "I will choose this vocation
provided that everything goes OK."
He warned, "This is dangerous!" and explained,
I marry as long as love lasts; I will be a nun but for a "short time," for "some time," and then I'll see; I will be a seminarian to become a priest, but I don't know how the story will end. This is not right with Jesus! My friends, I can add to the Pope's words by saying that this kind of thinking makes us fall far short of what brings us happiness, and far short of what God is calling us as sons and daughters of God. I have talked with young ladies who have fallen victim to this mindset. Are you are one of them? Like the Pope, I will not blame you. But I will say that the normal way of discovering one's vocation is to 1) learn about religious life and celibacy, 2) pray about your vocation, seeking the guidance of your parents and spiritual advisor, and 3) plan to eventually arrive at a firm commitment towards your calling - before too many years slip away.
Lastly, Pope Francis emphasized that one's vocation is truly a calling from God, not something that you decide. In his talk, he said,
To become priests [or] Religious - is not primarily our choice. I don't trust the seminarian, the novice who says: "I have chosen this path." I don't like this. It's not right! But it is the response to a call and to a call of love. I hear something within me, which makes me restless, and I answer yes. The Lord makes us feel this love in prayer, but also through so many signs that we can read in our life, so many persons that He puts on our path.
So, my friends: pray to find God's will for you, and fix your mind on making a commitment to your vocation in the eyes of God. He will reward you.
* * * Are you called to become a Mercedarian Sister of the Blessed Sacrament? Take our short Test Your Call survey. You will receive a personal response from Sr. Jeanette Marie. Also, you can follow us on Facebook.
If you have any questions or would just like to talk, email me at eucharistvocations@yahoo.com. Yours in Christ, Sr. Jeanette Marie Vocation Director Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament | 
