The Bridegroom’s love, or rather the love which is the Bridegroom, asks in return nothing but faithful love. Let the beloved, then, love in return. Should not a bride love, and above all, Love’s bride? Could it be that Love not be loved?  Rightly then does she give up all other feelings and give herself wholly to love alone; in giving love back, all she can do is to respond to love. And when she has poured out her whole being in love, what is that in comparison with the unceasing torrent of that original source? Clearly, lover and Love, soul and Word, bride and Bridegroom, creature and Creator do not flow with the same volume; one might as well equate a thirsty man with the fountain.

What then of the bride’s hope, her aching desire, her passionate love, her confident assurance? Is all this to wilt just because she cannot match stride for stride with her giant, any more than she can vie with honey for sweetness, rival the lamb for gentleness, show herself as white as the lily, burn as bright as the sun, be equal in love with him who is Love? No. It is true that the creature loves less because she is less. But if she loves with her whole being, nothing is lacking where everything is given. To love so ardently then is to share the marriage bond; she cannot love so much and not be totally loved, and it is in the perfect union of two hearts that complete and total marriage consists. Or are we to doubt that the soul is loved by the Word first and with a greater love?"

God has given a special vocation, a unique mission, to each person. It lies within the soul, waiting to be discovered. The realization of one’s vocation can occur at different stages in one’s life. For some, it is an easy and almost effortless discovery. For others, it can be a long and arduous search. The word “discernment” comes from the Latin “discernere” which means “to separate.” When one is “discerning”, it means she is taking time apart in order to pray, think, reflect and discover the unique plan God has for her life. (CMSWR)

The vocation to the consecrated life is a special call from God. To begin the discernment process, it is important to follow a program of spiritual growth. Some points to include are daily personal prayer, increased attendance at Mass, reception of the Eucharist, more frequent confessions, involvement in some parish or other religious-sponsored activity, practicing the virtues, and speaking with a trusted Confessor or spiritual mentor who will guide you in the process.  (CMSWR)

All Catholics should be encourage from a young age to discern their vocation walking with the Lord.  Typically in our lifetime we will hear over and over, "what do you want to be when you grow up?"  In reality the question we should ask our young people is, "what does God want you to be when you grow up?"  In this context, a person will begin realizing their life was made more than to enter a career and they begin discerning their vocation to married life, religious life, or committed single life. We know Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh but this is where God desired for him to go. Jonah tried to avoid God's calling, but ultimately he was taken to Nineveh to fulfil the purpose God had planned for him. From the beginning God knew that He would create each person and He knew the circumstances that would exist around that person's life (the place we would live, the time period, the schools we would attend, the vocation He desired for us, etc). Our life is not random but has been planned by the Master Creator and we are called to play our role for the salvation of souls. If God is calling you to Religious Life be not afraid and do not delay like Jonah... Go where He calls you!

Every vocation is part of a divine plan. From the beginning, since we began to exist in the plan of the Creator, He also willed us to be "called." He prepared in us the gifts and conditions to be able to respond as Mary did with a total and free "Yes" to His call.  God is love and it is through His love that we are able to respond to Him in love to be His spouse and to serve His church.

"The first duty of the consecrated life is to make visible the marvels wrought by God in the frail humanity of those who are called.  They bear witness to these marvels not so much in words as by the eloquent language of a transfigured life, capable of amazing the world."  (Vita Consecrata)

Some Signs of a Call to Religious Life: