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Frequently Asked Questions About Consecrated Life:
What does "vocation" mean?
It is Latin for “vocare” which means to call.
How do you know what your vocation is?
In order for you to know how the Lord wants you to make a gift of your life, you must spend time with Him in quiet prayer. In this prayer, you are able to pour out your heart and express to Him all the desires of your heart. But more importantly, He wants to speak to you about His love and His plan for your life. It is also helpful to share with someone older and wiser (i.e. your parish priest, a Religious priest or Brother, etc.) about the promptings the Lord has been putting on your heart so that they might be able to help you understand and respond faithfully to the vocation you are being invited into by the Lord.
How do you feel when God calls you to be a priest, Brother, or Sister?
There are many different ways God calls one to be a priest, Brother, or Sister. Often it is in the secret recesses of your heart that you hear the Lord call you to Himself through the priesthood, Brotherhood, or Sisterhood. This is why we must cultivate silence in our lives, so that we might hear the Divine Savior speak our name.
What happens if I don't follow God's plan for my life?
Remember the rich young man? Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”
The Lord reveals to us through the rich young man that He offers eternal life to all who follow the commands of God. But to those who have been invited to leave all and follow Jesus, they have a choice to say yes or no. If they say no, they do not lose salvation, but they do go away sad. Why? Because the Lord has extended to them a great gift to follow Him in a particular way, and they chose not to receive the gift. Although they choose not to respond to the call to be an intimate companion of Christ, they still receive the grace of eternal life in the world to come.
How do you make up your mind to devote your life to God?
We make up our minds to devote our lives to God through prayer and love. As we hear the Lord’s voice calling us to Himself, we respond in love to the voice of the Beloved. It is only through the grace of God that we respond to the grace of our vocation, and it is with His help that we persevere in our call.
Is a religious vocation greater than being married or being single?
God calls only a few to embrace a life of consecrated, celibate love for the Kingdom. He does this so that those who are in the world can be continually reminded of where we are going, that heaven is our true homeland. Because it is a supernatural vocation, the Church upholds the great dignity that Religious Life and Priesthood is. Because marriage is a natural vocation, it is upheld with the great sacramental dignity in the Church, it will be the way of salvation and sanctification for most of the Church. The vocations of Religious Life and Priesthood compliment the vocation of Marriage. God wants both to be present in the Church; our task is to fulfill His call for us personally.
Is there a difference between "Sisters" and "nuns"?
Yes. A Sister is a consecrated woman who is actively involved in the lives of the People of God. A nun is a Sister who lives her life in a cloistered convent where she remains within the walls of the convent and prays for the salvation of souls.
What is a "Brother"?
A Brother is a consecrated man who is dedicated to the Lord through prayer, penance, and active works of charity. A Religious Brother is a man called by God to freely embrace the call to the consecrated life through the profession and living of the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. A Religious Brother lives out his consecration to Christ through prayer, community life, and apostolic works, and would not minister the sacraments proper to the priesthood.
How old do you have to be a priest, Brother or Sister?
Priest – a young man can begin preparation for the priesthood at the age of 18 years.
Brother or Sister – depending on the Religious Community, a person could begin formation to become a Brother as early as 18 years old.
What must you do to become a priest, Brother or Sister?
Meet with either the vocation director of the diocese or the Religious Community and continue to take the next steps laid out for you through the diocese or the Religious Community.
Do you have to be Catholic to be a Sister or Brother?
To embrace a life of consecrated love and to forgo the good things of this world, such as marriage, family, and riches, a young person must have a deep love for Christ and His Church. To be a part of a Religious Community of Catholic Sisters or Brothers, clearly you would need to be Catholic. There are a few Communities that have developed over the past several decades that are ecumenical. This is where you have a Community of Sisters or Brothers who live in community with each other but are of all different Christian faiths.
If you are called to the Religious life in the middle of marriage, can you switch?
No. When you commit your life to another person, it is until death. This is why it is very important to discern your vocation well before you get married so that you might really be faithful to the call the Lord has given you in the married vocation.
If you realize you weren't really called to be a priest, Brother or Sister, can you quit?
To become a priest, Brother or Sister takes many years of formation and discernment. It can take anywhere from 5-8 years before one would make a final commitment to the particular vocation they have received. Up until this point, if it does not seem to be where the Lord wants this person, they can leave at any time. After they make final commitment to their vocation, they are then expected to persevere in the way of life the Lord led them to. |
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