Thirty-eight years ago, a young woman made a decision that would define the rest of her life. She recognized within herself a call to a higher love - not the rejection of human love, but its transformation into something greater. Her story illuminates the profound mystery of religious vocation and the beauty of consecrated life.
The best spiritual directors emphasize an important truth: those called to a religious vocation should never have a dislike for marriage, but rather a natural appreciation for human love. This might seem counterintuitive to some, but it speaks to a deeper understanding of what religious consecration truly means.
The Nature of Religious Calling
Those with a genuine calling to the priesthood or religious life do desire to become a husband or wife, father or mother. They understand and appreciate the goodness of marriage and family life. Yet, they feel drawn to give up this good for something even greater - a total dedication to God and service to His people.
This is not about running away from love, but rather running toward a different expression of it. As Jesus said in Matthew 19:12, "For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven."
"The call to religious life is not about rejecting love, but about embracing a love so profound that it transforms our entire being and purpose." - St. Teresa of Avila
Recognizing the Call
How does one recognize such a calling? For many, it begins as a gentle stirring, a sense that God is asking for something more. It might manifest as an unexplainable attraction to prayer, to serving others, or to living a life completely dedicated to spiritual pursuits.
Our sister's recognition thirty-eight years ago likely came through prayer, spiritual direction, and careful discernment. The Church has developed careful processes for discernment precisely because this decision is so significant. It involves not just emotion or feeling, but deep spiritual reflection and confirmation from the community of faith.
Signs of a religious vocation often include:
• A deep, persistent attraction to prayer and spiritual life
• A strong desire to serve God and others in a radical way
• Peace and joy when contemplating religious life
• Confirmation through spiritual directors and community
• A willingness to sacrifice personal desires for a greater good
The Sacrifice and the Gift
Religious life involves genuine sacrifice. The vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience are not merely rules but profound spiritual disciplines that reshape the soul. Those called to this life give up the legitimate goods of material security, marriage and family, and complete personal autonomy.
Yet, paradoxically, in this giving up, they often find a fullness they never expected. St. Paul speaks to this mystery in 1 Corinthians 7:32-34: "The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided."
This doesn't diminish marriage - Paul affirms its goodness elsewhere. Rather, it highlights the unique freedom that celibate life can offer for complete dedication to God's service.
Fruitfulness in Consecrated Life
Those who embrace religious vocation discover a different kind of fruitfulness. Instead of biological children, they often become spiritual mothers and fathers to countless souls. Their communities become their families, and their service touches lives in ways that married life might not permit.
Consider the example of St. Teresa of Calcutta, who chose never to marry but became a mother to thousands of the poorest of the poor. Or St. John Vianney, who gave up the possibility of being a husband and father but became a spiritual father to countless souls through his ministry.
The Ongoing Journey
Religious vocation is not a destination but a journey. Each day brings new opportunities to live out this higher love, new challenges to embrace, and new ways to serve God's people. Those who have embraced this calling often speak of it as the most fulfilling choice they could have made, despite its difficulties.
The sister who recognized her calling thirty-eight years ago likely faced moments of doubt, loneliness, and challenge. Yet, she also experienced the deep joy that comes from knowing she was living exactly the life God intended for her.
Honoring All Vocations
It's crucial to understand that religious vocation doesn't make one superior to those called to marriage and family life. Both are sacred callings, both are paths to holiness, and both require sacrifice and dedication. The Church needs both married couples raising faithful children and religious communities dedicated to prayer and service.
What matters is not which calling is "higher" but whether each person is living their authentic vocation with integrity and love. Some are called to express their love through marriage and family; others through religious consecration. Both paths can lead to profound holiness and service to God's kingdom.
A Witness to the World
In our materialistic age, those who choose religious life offer a powerful witness. They demonstrate that there are values more important than wealth, pleasure, or even the legitimate goods of marriage and family. They point toward the eternal reality that awaits us all.
Thirty-eight years later, that young woman's choice continues to bear fruit, inspiring others to consider what God might be calling them to embrace. Her recognition of a call to higher love reminds us all that God has a unique plan for each life, and the greatest joy comes from saying "yes" to that calling, whatever it might be.
Comentários