Reasons NOT to Discern Religious Life (feat. Stacey Sumereau)

[@karenrich9092]

My daughter had been trying to meet someone online with no success. So, she said, "God, tell me what you want me to do with my life. If you want me to get married, show me who I should marry. If not tell me what to do with my life." She met her boyfriend on Friday the 13th of January and they dated for several months. Then my husband died and her boyfriend waited a whole year to ask for her hand. Then, on The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, he proposed and she said yes. It's not often that a daughter gets to give her mother a son-in-law as a birthday present. They've been married 2 years now.

[@bigbrowntabby118]

She met her bf on Friday the 13th? 😳

[@SicilianCuisine]

such a great story, thanks for sharing. I am in the same situation, but God has not showed me anything yet, and I have been waiting a long time!

[@caribaez5711]

Lovely

[@caribaez5711]

If I marry someone, I want someone who is religious

[@caribaez5711]

Catholic

[@AbbyElizabeth03]

Never dated anyone except for a quick stint in high school which wasn’t chaste. I spent most of my time being independent. Starting college I had this great conversion. I spent a long time alone and I was so happy in that. I was a little saddened by being alone but not very much. Last year I started getting a longing in my heart for a relationship. I kept my heart open but I didn’t know if or when I would find someone. I thought god was sending me someone my way so I really pursued him and was completely broken when he wasn’t interested. Little did I realize that I had been completely missing this awesome man that was walking into my life. Seven months later and I couldn’t ask for a better more fruitful and holy relationship.

[@piratekid1]

Thank you so much for your comment, it gives me hope

[@amyroopnarine7489]

This is beautiful ❤️

[@mathiasbustos5261]

God*

[@JM-uf6ki]

I’d like to add people should be careful about pressuring anyone else towards any vocation religious or otherwise. I know several cases where individuals were negatively effected by well meaning people who felt they needed to pressure every religious single person towards religious life. There are many ways the Spirit may call to serve.

[@angrypotato_fz]

That's true! As a single I often felt treated as a failure or absent minded person who unaware of consecrated life "oh, you're single? So, going to be a priest? Which religious orders do you consider?...". Most people assumed I never had any thought, although being Catholic since the childhood. It's better to talk to someone first, understand at what stage of life they are at the moment and what are their concerns about their vocation (in general) than treating them as recruitment target ;)

[@IONov990]

The rose in your profile picture is so beautiful.

[@JM-uf6ki]

@@IONov990 thank you I digitally painted it. It has three dew drops that for me represent the Trinity and the waters of baptism

[@IONov990]

@@JM-uf6ki how beautiful. Symbolism is cool. I cannot see the water drops on the rose from my phone. I love roses, especially pink roses. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the mystical rose.

[@JM-uf6ki]

@@IONov990 I do too

[@cecicvn3589]

I am a religious sister living in Vietnam, I just want to thank you for your words, for your testimony, sincerity and crazy love for God. Thank you, May God bless you.

[@paulsmith1690]

Xin chào chị.

[@cecicvn3589]

@@paulsmith1690 Da em chao Anh

[@schoolofthehunt8927]

When I turned 18, I joined a benedictine monastery for 2 years. I am now 27 years old and happily married to a beautiful woman with 4 cute kids. I DO NOT REGRET A DAY I SPENT IN THE MONASTERY. I was given an opportunity to receive formation from holy monks/ living saints during my early adult life. I sincerely wanted to do Gods will but He made it obvious to me and my superiors that I was not called to the religious life. I am so grateful for my time in the monastery and I am definitely a much better father and husband because of the formation I received. I got to watch holy men during their last moments before their death and there courage and peace before meeting Jesus has left a lasting impression on me. NOW THIS IS MY WARNING. DO YOUR RESEARCH AND PRAY A LOT BEFORE SEEKING VOCATIONAL HELP. NOT ALL VOCATION DIRECTORS, PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES GIVE GOOD ADVICE. Unfortunately some people in the church are so bent on getting more religious or priestly vocations they can sometimes ignore whether it is a gift you have truly received. You need to ask for help in discerning your vocations from someone holy and unselfish who wants the best for you even if that means eventually telling you that you do not have a priestly or religious vocation.

[@brenda.pereira24]

Great advice. Thank you very much, God bless you always.

[@thepunkrockchristian]

I’m going on 24, don’t have any post secondary schooling, and just got baptized this year on the Easter vigil. The fear of wasting time is real, so hearing you mention that hit close to home.

[@EJ-gx9hl]

I don’t think you’re wasting time. 24 is young and you still have a lot of years ahead of you (then again I’m not God so I don’t know how many years exactly)

[@a_jt96]

I feel the same way..its not about you or me its about Our Lords church

[@arryserrano4373]

GBU PRC🙏🏼❤️ Do the highest possible Good🕊🙏🏼 Pray, Study all Catholic Principals and put them into action🕊 Never forgetting The Lords commandment to Love Him first, and Others not just Catholics 🕊🙏🏼❤️❤️❤️✌️🦋

[@maritamuras8978]

You’re a 24 (now 25?) year-old man. You have lots of time, especially since it’s always been culturally appropriate for the man to be older in marriage. I’m 38 and fear I have wasted some of my best dating and marriage years on discernment. I feel like by the time I figure this out, the only men available will be really old men with gray hair because once most men hit a certain age, they want someone nearly 10 years younger. Some men live in such a fantasy world that they make it nearly impossible for women over 35 to ever get married. If God wants me to discern, who knows how old I’ll be before I find the man I will marry, and I shudder to think how old HE will be. 🤮

[@lemmdus2119]

I thought about the priesthood and I was thinking how does one live without a wife and children. It was at that moment I knew God was calling me to be a husband and father. I met my wife two weeks later.

[@user-uj5pc7dy2j]

Why did my comment get deleted?

[@DELTA_77805]

*Prayer Request: My brother David is dying of cancer. He called today 11-18-21 and we talked about God. He is a person that has to see to believe, therefor he does not believe. I asked him for a favor as his brother and he agreed. I asked him to pray that God would give him a sign that he is real and that Jesus is his personal savior. God has no limitations, so I ask that you and all that read this will pray for my Brother David and that he will recieve a sign from God. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen praise God*

[@GarciaVideoProductions]

Any update?

[@christiandpaul631]

Start going to mass every day seven days a week and begin to do the office four times a day. Begin attending the holy Eucharist exposition. Do that as a start of discernment.

[@IONov990]

Dude, who has time for that?

[@EJ-gx9hl]

@@IONov990 at some parishes, daily mass is only 30 minutes so that’s feasible. He didn’t say how long to spend with the Eucharist. Maybe 15 minutes? As for the office four times a day, I don’t know because I don’t even know how long once a day takes.

[@IONov990]

@@EJ-gx9hlI should not have been so negative. Daily mass is not always at convenient times for people who work full time

[@EJ-gx9hl]

@@IONov990 it all depends on the parishes. Fortunately I have various parishes near my home that offer it once in the morning and once in the evening. Personally, I go twice a week to the morning ones and then head to work. Since I can’t always make it to the sacred sacrament, or some parishes don’t have an adoration chapel where it’s perpetually exposed, you can always go to an online exposition and just meditate with it on your device.

[@christiandpaul631]

@@IONov990 You want to be sure.

[@bddulli]

Engaged people should NEVER discern religious life without breaking the engagement first.

[@zelie1155]

Lol, I went to adoration today and offered my vocation up to God. I asked Him for a sign because I am visiting a bunch of convents tomorrow. I thought this was a sign in the opposite direction XD Made me laugh rly hard. Keep me in your prayers!

[@michaelroy6630]

LOL same here. I'm discerning as well and genuinely thought this would list some actual signs that one might not be called. Looks like I'll be keeping at it. Praying for your discernment!

[@marykatepicard3065]

This video was so helpful as a single woman in her 20's. Thank you for sharing your story and giving me peace to discern and trust that God has a plan.

[@IONov990]

I would love to be a nun. Just thinking of becoming one gives me peace and a goal to work towards. I need to visit a convent to further discern. How do people know the voice of God? I am shocked people think of God before they make choices like they live every day for God.I am impressed by how much people trust God. I need to be more selfless. I love the structure and self-discipline of religious life. I feel and fear that time is moving too rapidly. I am 31 already. I fear and feel I am too old to still be discerning religious life or marriage. Aging is so difficult for women. Feminine beauty is so valued and so fleeting.

[@IONov990]

@Daniel Patterson I think 40 is age when it's considered too late.

[@honeykai8274]

Hey girlie. I'm also discerning being a nun. For me, The voice God is a thought of image that comes into your head. First you deny that thought to see if it will go away or this curiosity you have for it will go away. Also determine will you have peace if you ignore this thought, if you will not have peace throughout your day uf you dismiss this thought, then say yes then venture into this thought/image and imagine more the images and thoughts that follow the beginning image. Then as you practice do this, a conversation with God will unfold through Him organizing and filling in the details of your thoughts/feelings/emotions. Honestly it's a little difficult to explain. But definitely work on getting used to Hearing Gods voice for a couple months before deciding you're vocation. Practice hearing his voice by talking to him about a new emotion you are feeling this day when for example last night you bumped into someone who made you sad. I think having those conversations are easiest at first because you've identified the new emotion/feeling which can jumpstart your conversation with God that day

[@IONov990]

@@honeykai8274 I'm scared to be honest. I have difficulty trusting God and I like to do things my own way.

[@jesusgirl3256]

I have trouble with that too, but God loves you! (Romans 8:38-39). He wants what is best for you, not to harm you (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28). In surrender, he gives us peace. He is capable of all things! He turned a torture instrument, the Cross, into a bridge for our salvation! There is no one more trustworthy than our all knowing God. He accepts us with all of our brokenness. God doesn’t expect perfection from you. That’s why he died to save you. What he wants is an open, honest, genuine relationship with you. I’m struggling alongside you, but I know God has us in His hands.

[@jesusgirl3256]

Praying for you

[@philipallard8026]

As you said, we are not here for ourselves, but for others. This is so counter cultural. We are told that we are free to decide everything but it is not about me, it’s about God.

[@TheCatholicRose]

Please make a video on your discernment and how you knew you were called to marriage!

[@israeliana]

Yes please!

[@MrSereeus]

I’m 25 and single, I love God and sharing my faith with others. Ive been pressured by many people in my life to become a priest just because I love God 😅🤣 but I don’t feel any calling or desire to become a priest. I’ve prayed about it often, even went on a 3 day vocational discernment retreat. But, I’ve always in my heart have wanted to have a wife and children, and if God wanted something else for me, I know he would have put a different desire in my heart as I have asked him.

[@ifeomaoluhara9421]

Hi Jose! Getting married does not mean you will serve God less. If your heart is calling you to the vocation of marriage, then that's what it is. God help us all🙏🙏.

[@annelsbethpeer]

Jose, I’m 28 yr old single. I’ve never seriously discern towards religious life. I had a parish Priest tell me & my sis that we may be called to that life.I feel called to marry, start a family & have children (lots). But I feel as though I need to to seriously discern before going any further in finding the 1 (dating, online dating). Idk 🤷🏻‍♀️ #GodsWill

[@MrSereeus]

@@annelsbethpeer If God wants us to be religious sisters or brothers then he will guide us in the right direction that will leave no doubt in our hearts he is calling us.

[@amyt5596]

I believe God always speak in clarity so as long as we keep our hearts open, pray often and surrender to His Will, then guidance will be provided.

[@michaelrepman5161]

Hello Jose. I resonate with alot of what you just said. The only difference I might say about myself is that I have had occasions when I have felt called to the priesthood. The desire to have a wife and children is natural and many seminarians and priests I have spoken with have had that desire but they also have the desire to be a priest. So it isn't that the desire for a family necessarily just goes away. I just ended a relationship not too long ago because it seemed that we were not meant to be married. I'm going to be going on a mission. There I will be able to focus on listening to God more and seeing where I can serve best. A book I would recommend is "to save a thousand souls." It really helped me to see how I had been ignoring God's voice, and it gave me some information that I never got from people who did pressure me about the priesthood, It was good practical and spiritual advice. Another book I like is "the priests we need to save the church." God works in everyone in different ways, but I believe that for most men, one can not say that he has truly discerned the priesthood if he has not spent at least some time at the seminary and if he has not read some priestly discernment literature. Another great book is "the priest is not his own" by Fulton Sheen. Sorry, this is so long. If would ever like to get in contact, message me.

[@arelycruz9517]

I have been trying to discern my vocation for about a year now and I feel completely lost, I long to be a mother and wife but please pray for me to listen to the Lord’s voice.

[@herlocksholmes9369]

I can relate. I will pray for you right now.

[@SicilianCuisine]

I am in the exact same situation and it's incredibly hard not knowing and not understanding what His plan is.

[@TheCatholicRose]

This is excellent!! Wonderful! Thank you for sharing 🙏 agree 100% all young Catholics should discern religious life

[@Zelenka888888]

Thank you Stacey for such a wonderful video! Your lessons have reminded of the Serenity Prayer. "to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." I appreciate you!

[@adacathy3018]

I would really love to discern religious life…but at this time I truly feel like I should be there for my parents and be their support which I feel like I can’t if I enter religious life. I pray for vocations!! We need priests and religious members 🙏🙏

[@sofiarose6039]

These comments are just so beautiful! Lol! You guys are all so supportive of each other. Will pray for you all. Please pray for me! I’m discerning religious life too. I click on videos like this to make sure I’m motivated by the right reasons. God bless!!

[@WojciechPawlowski-wy9he]

Pressuring perhaps not but understanding the importance of femininity in it's reality of life. Thank You.

[@messii_9966]

Don't get mixed up with dreams vs disposition. Our disposition is a critical motive to where God may want us in our life. She made a good point about being careful with following our dreams which technically holds true to anyone because it may have an inordinate attachment to it. But if you are detached yourself from the world ( doesn't mean to remove everything in your life, but to not hold more value to it then your relationship with God) likely your inclination to one or the other vocation will be a telling sign. Don't confuse the two

[@bigWheath]

This video would be much more accurately titled "Why it was important for Stacey Sumerau to discern religious life". On one hand, I think there is a lot of truth to what she is saying. I went through a 3 month period of seriously thinking about religious life, and it gave me a much deeper appreciation for both marriage and consecrated life. But what I ultimately got from it was: Follow your heart. There is no magic formula to finding your vocation. Only God can put someone in a certain vocation. While it is enlightening to hear others' vocation stories, doing so must be tempered with the firm conviction that your path is a unique one. After watching a lot of these kinds of videos, I realized I was trying to knit my vocation together with bits and pieces of others' stories. The truth is, God's call for you is incredibly unique. And his call for you might involve discerning religious life, or it might not. It is very possible that God will lead you down the path of discerning religious life before you enter into another vocation. It is also possible that he does not. What I learned from my discernment is that, I just don't feel like going on monastery websites and e-mailing vocation directors. There are so many other ways that God is calling me to spend my time. He is infinitely more creative than you and me, and while religious life is a beautiful way to serve God, it isn't the only way. So, if the thought of actively discerning religious life kind of makes you go "Meh, I'd much rather do x", I don't think you should worry. Just make sure you're praying and frequenting the sacraments, and He will show you your mission.

[@Hazeldabomb]

In need of all your prayers for I am discerning🙏🏻

[@archsword2446]

im praying you enter the Hieronymites

[@valeriacastrosalazar3741]

"I should never put you in a box of my own making" That hit me hard 😅

[@shreyajollyvellankal2681]

#AskAscension. Can u make a video on discernment of consecrated single life.

[@richardsantiago7374]

Please pray for me. I’m discerning my vocation in my midlife stage. I probably need a spiritual director to help guide me through the process of discernment.

[@archsword2446]

Late have I loved Thee O Beauty Ever Ancient and Ever New- St. Augustine of Hippo

[@TheCatholicRose]

This video was PERFECT! So needed today.

[@mathurm100]

i'm married but called... somehow. i'm having trouble with how i'm called... i just know its there... i think my inherited family needs some push back into the faith. maybe that's why i'm here, to help guide them back to the faith in a traditional way. that's terrifying. it's a lot of responsibility.

[@maryritatrzybinski3836]

Hi, Stacey!! I met you at the Schmiedicke's fourth of July get together! Hope you are well! And hope baby Honora is doing well too!!

[@paulmaxey7334]

Awesome video! And I'm a seminarian. God bless you Stacey and your family.

[@thecolorfulchristian]

What a blessing this video is!

[@hifiunicorn]

Haha that’s me, lighting a candle and listening to Gregorian chants and asking God if I should be a nun 😂😂😂

[@norala-gx9ld]

This is an excellent video, and very well timed for me. Thank you

[@mystearicanohr9521]

I am 36F, virgin, been single my whole life. I always wanted to get married but that dream is dying as the years pass. I’ve lived with bad social anxiety, so whether it’s meeting men or meeting with nuns, it’s hard.

[@zakosist]

Dont know what options you have, but maybe you could get some help from friends/family, even if you have to do the main work and choose for yourself who is right for you (remember to not have too unrealistic standards, and consider whats really important). They may guide the process to make it less scary and maybe give some advice. Maybe it helps to start a dating profile, and be clear about what you want in life and what kind of person you are on the profile, so it attracts the right people and hopefully help the wrong people move on. Dont move too fast forward in dating, get to truly know each other. Having time shows actual commitment, and someone really impatient probably wants nothing long term. Take care of your health as well as you can, both for your own sake and because it actually makes one more attractive. Your time may be short, especially if you want kids, and even if you dont want them, because we gradually become less attractive (on instinctual level) as we age. I think if you consider becoming a nun because you could not get married, its probably for the wrong reason. I hope you can still find and marry someone you love and who loves you too. Even if its not very likely, dont give up hope yet.

[@cxthsripps691]

Sometimes your vocation may just be to be single and have to deal with the worst pain that is of being alone and feeling like you belong nowhere. There was St Gemma galgani, Ven Marthe Robin.

[@ev_green_]

I don't think God would call someone to the single life just to be miserable 😕 there should definitely be peace

[@relentlessrhythm2774]

My vocation director told me the convent wouldn't be a good fit for me because of my sensory differences but suggested secular institutes.

[@joshuaneace6597]

I’ve been told no by both the Order of Friars Minor and the Diocese of Covington because I have bipolar disorder. I might be able to to be married if a potential wife agrees to be married. I’m on disability, but as of 2022, I can make up to $970 per month in addition to my disability check before taxes without entering one’s trial work period. It was $940 this year.

[@RocknRoRose]

sadly totally attached. I mean I am attached to heaven just like a married woman or a child who is underage. Or even like a super elder. I have had to take care of my mom since the death of my grandparents, so I still have am an emergency contact to my mother. So my dream is kind of like a no go. I'm very happy not living with my mom because I could not have my mother attached to me, but I have her when worse comes to worse for her. I had a wedding date in the past, the wedding is getting re-planned, and we've been together for almost 10 years. Apparently my mother and my mental illness that is sort of recently diagnosed but have had these mental illnesses since my grandparents died and since I have had to take care of myself and make sure my mother is safe as well. So no religious life for me unless my boyfriend, myself and my mom do it together, all 3 of us. And not go separate ways. If we are living in the end times as the other half of our Catholic Faith tells us, we will all be entering religious life very soon. And it would be much larger than we think it is. Religious life as I have been able to go to day retreats on religious life and healing retreats. I love hanging out with religious life people and clergy, so no matter what I still get to spend time with them. I still think we will all have eternity together, even if we don't make vows just through the clergy here on earth, because Jesus Christ is the sole clergy when He comes on His second coming. :-) So this is good. When I discerned religious life and even clergy life as I do believe there have been female deacons in the past before the Renaissance, I was about 7 years old, my mom lived in a convent but was being taken care of by sisters yet was still asked to become a missionary nun. It would have been easier for her if she did choose that but when I was 8 years old I didn't like that idea for her. I had already been in foster care, but I was able to stay the weekend and holy days at the convent and stay over :-) It was fun and very religious to me. I still enjoy visiting the convent and helping them out. Love watering their plants etc. I have more friends in religious life and clergy than I do in society which is weird. So I hope more people choose religious life and clergy life. God bless.

[@nicoleyoshihara4011]

I really enjoy the topics on this channel ^_^❤

[@user-lt1wx5bb8b]

Grateful for this video Amen. PRAISE GOD

[@antothomas8814]

Please pray for me and that the LORD will reveal my vocation and give me the strength to be committed and faithful to it.

[@MissPopuri]

I should have done this a decade ago when I was 26. My life feels so bad right now that I don’t think I could give a year knowing that I’m wasting my fertility.

[@eveh3028]

I’m really sorry to hear that. Discerning vocations is hard and the fear of time being wasted, never being able to get back, is more common than you think. God has a plan for you and if he wanted you to be set in a journey I think He would have not let the time pass. God’s time is not our own, and the plan He has for you will come in His time. God bless you.

[@isabelrinon]

I can give all my life to God being a not married lay. I can discern the will of God each day speaking to him. I don't understand that I should think that I have failed the Lord because I'm not a nun or married. And I'm not going to visit all the different kinds of religious life because I don't see that the Lord asks me this. I understand it was good for you. I'm a not married lay, not a single.

[@didicita100]

Amazing video, thank you! Needed it

[@saraab67856]

Thanks for this! NEEDED IT 🤍🙌🏽

[@BlessedisShe]

Really enjoyed this!

[@lp8838]

You should know that you can be called to marriage and never have biological children. A vocation to marriage is different to a vocation to biological motherhood. God's plan is different for all of us, and assuming all married people have, or will have, biological children can be deeply upsetting for those experiencing infertility, recurrent child loss or any disagreement between them and their spouse that prevents them from having biological children, whether they still long for them or not.

[@catsanddogs8983]

You are right and not only this, what about the many believers who desire marriage and family but never do find a suitable spouse and end up alone, life us not so cut and dried as "what is my vocation"

[@timothyfrancisfrancis]

Solid video 👍

[@nahbios]

St. Alphonsus: "It is evident that our eternal salvation depends principally upon the choice of our state of life. Father Granada calls this choice, the main wheel of our whole existence. If the principal wheel of a clock is deranged the whole clock is out of order. So it is with the business of our salvation; a mistake with regard to our state of life, says St. Gregory of Naziansen, will disturb our whole career. If then, we wish to secure our eternal salvation, we must embrace that state of life to which God calls us, and in which alone, God prepares the efficacious means, necessary for salvation. St. Cyprian says: “The grace of the Holy Spirit is given according to the order of God, and not in accordance with our own will” (1) Therefore St Paul writes: “Everyone hath his proper gift from God” (2) This means as Cornelius a Lapide explains, that God gives to every one his vocation, and chooses the state in which He wills him to be saved. “Whom He predestinated, them He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified and them He also glorified.” (3) There are many in the world today who give this doctrine of vocation little thought or consideration. They think it a matter of indifference whether they live in the state to which God calls them, or in that which they choose themselves. As a result we find so many leading wicked lives, and hurrying along the road to destruction."

[@CatholicCampfire]

THANK YOU I NEEDED THIS!!

[@RethaMash]

beautifully spoken.

[@77agape]

Stacey ! I somewhat disagree with your extremely classical view, it's rather standard and goodie goodie. Good but doesn't go deep enough. I believe nowadays in a paradoxical view of discernment, and I discerned and got stuck in it for an exhausting 5 or so years and found it ponderous and also the guidance was ok but not great, since I think our Church is in unusual times, extremely liberal unlike others, second, I think the classic view is a consequence of clericalism, the idea that implicitly or not priesthood or religious life is hint hint superior to marriage (w a damning w faint praise, "marriage is a sacrament! etc.), that it's more the real deal, place of real holiness. And your strong push towards it reveals this attitude. We need to transform this view of vocation radically, switching the emphasis from religious vocation to lay vocation, not excluding the former, but when we teach the laity that their marriage or single life is a high vocation to holiness, blast this from every pulpit, then in today's world a refreshing wind will charge through the Church and paradoxically religious and priest vocations will at least stay the same but likely leap up... laity are everything in this sense, that they will be forever the pool to get religious (that's simple logic), yet if treated that way, as merely that pool, they will stay passive and shallow. The worst of Catholicism is a laity staring at the priests and nuns at Mass on Sunday like they're watching television trying to decide how holy they are, as if they're the only real catholics in the Church. SO: young people, discern your life!!!! You have a high vocation whatever you do, God IS calling you, and living life as vocation honestly will be so hard either way, that that should be enough to get you over that fear that religious life is too hard (since married life is probably tougher), a fear that is understandable in an overly liberal culture that encourages the easy road and that married intimacy is 'nicer'. VOCATION is hard anyway you go !!!! Preach this, i say... Stacey's view has wisdom, it's right so far as it goes, but there's more insight needed today i think... we need to get a larger fired up laity, not just ascension presents freaks (kidding!!!!;) but ordinary joes all over serving the Church with zeal, then this obsession with religious orders will heal itself, but only then. Also, last point, religious vocation ought be preached as HARD, TOUGH, HEROIC, not nice, beneficial, then you'll get more numbers coming in, it's a big bloody painful but noble sacrifice!!!!! Not a way of life 'with great benefits', nobody today will get that, since they'll just calculate its benefits as they do other products in the market and find more in marriage... you wont get youth to give up intimacy today easily just by saying the other way is 'really great'... tell them the truth, make them want a tough adventure, then they'll listen and get the real inspiration.

[@johnmacias2650]

What if I feel no desire for religious life?

[@zakosist]

Then it clearly isnt for you. I think it actually needs a pretty strong desire. And there are a whole bunch of different purposes one can have in life

[@messii_9966]

Well then it's probably not for you. as long as you've made yourself unattached from the world to so as that nothing is worth more then God, then if your disposition is not leaning you towards the religious life, then don't sweat it. It's not your calling. No need to overthink it. This video is just there to make people aware of the vocation out there and not jump to conclusions about marriage, but with the natural order for which God made us, most people are ordered towards marriage.

[@martinweber202]

I am a 63 yr old male finishing upmu career as a teacher in saudi arabia needless to say i havenot been able to practice my faith I would like to attend some sort of spiritual retreat to shake offthe smell of islam. anybodyhave any ideas? I am finished this next June GOD BLESS

[@gerrylieu]

Wow 😯 This is beautiful

[@notoscam8406]

I'm genuinely losing my hope on finding a relationship with the right person after praying for more than 10 yrs. I just want to live my life as best as I can. I'm trying to live a good life accordingly for those past years and it feels like I'm just limiting myself on doing what I want because of waiting for this right person that I think will come. I've been trying to preserve myself for my future wife but it seems like I'm just living in an in an illusion. As a man sex and intimacy is important to me but I'm failing to hold myself. I'm tired of hoping for nothing.

[@philippierangeli4412]

Don’t give up brother. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). I too have been praying for a spouse and have been waiting for quite a while. But during this time of waiting and suffering, the Lord is expanding our hearts’ capacity to love. Ask God for the grace to love like Him and to be the man and saint you were created to be. He hears you brother. Wait on the Lord and persevere until the end. If you do this, God will bless your patient heart. I will pray for you brother, and please pray for me too. God bless you

[@HeavnzMiHome]

Some of us are not called to be married or to be a religious.

[@messii_9966]

Absolutely. Not everyone is going to be dispositioned towards one or the other. God's not gonna throw you aside because of that. He can absolutely use a single person for just as much if not more in world for his glory. Ultimately, God has plan A, plan B, plan C to plan infinity. The lord can use you in anyway state in life, even if you fall off track a bit. There are countless ways to please him 🙏

[@elisabetta8680]

Sangat bagus video anda, apa lagi dengan situsi dunia seperti ini. Sangat baik untuk anak muda untuk bisa memberikan mereka pengarahan ke jalan hidup yang baik dan tidak takut untuk menentukan suatu pilihan dalam hidup.mereka.

[@dranerane4912]

wow, I'm so touched

[@clarissa5060]

Thank you! Lovely video (:

[@AnaClaudia-zr7zk]

Great video!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thank you!!!

[@frantracey8737]

I started watching this, but I have already discerned to be a lay Carmelite. You can be married and be a lay religious.

[@Fury1757]

I'm think about the priesthood and have gone through the process, but I feel like God wants me in the single life.

[@csongorarpad4670]

Wonderful advice and video!

[@SoulfulRose]

Thanks for sharing 🙏🏿

[@TMPSpodcast]

I’m an opera singer. I knew from your speaking voice you were a stage performer

[@caribaez5711]

Excellent video 🎉❤

[@worldview730]

6:42, Wow, talk about trip planning, you were on the (Religious) clock

[@dulcemariatovar9744]

omgosh! I am a musical theatre catholic actress and im like...do i marry? OR ACT? LOL lovely video

[@caribaez5711]

Sometimes I want to discern religious life; I get stressed and tired of my life 🧐

[@messii_9966]

I think this video has its place and there's no doubt the church needs good and faithful servants. But at the same time, regardless of our state in life we are called to be servants. Actually when you think of it, after the mass is done, the priest is technically sending us all into the world as lower case priests to do the work of God, so the lord can use us all in this manner without having to actually be consecrated and going to seminary and school to get well educated. Well a very few amount of us may be called to the religious life, At the end of the day, the majority of us all going to be called to marriage just with the given nature for which God created us. For every 1 priest that is ordained, there should be a parish full of thousands of families. After all, if we don't even have good families whom want to have children, then without children being born, then no child is entering the world to fulfill that calling in the first place. So yes of course we need people to take on the role of religious life, but during this age and time in life especially with horribly low birth rates, I think faithful marriages need to be emphasized just as much if not more.

[@ScrapperSays]

One very critical thing that doesn’t seem to have been addressed here is that it’s better to marry than to burn with lust.

[@messii_9966]

Oh for sure. We'll the reality is that the majority of us are ordered towards marriage anyways, that's the way God created us. Not to take away from this video though, we of course need religious leaders too. But regarding your comment, its not nessisarly lust on all instances, it just means you have a strong inclination to the procreative way in which God created us. As long as you order it properly. But that in itself could be a good sign that God gave you that disposition to be ordered towards marriage.

[@KurffyOfficial]

0:48 What did you mean by "Single and Unattatched"? Does that mean Single and not believing you're called to marriage?

[@anonymoush9418]

Meaning single and not being in any outside-of-family relationship that requires you to be responsible for. Example:boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. You would have to discern, explain and maybe break up first. Doesn’t mean that u aren’t called to marriage, but at the moment u aren’t say, engaged or anything. Idk is this helpful? Hehe

[@itskay9099]

Where can I go to be surrounded by a support group to help me start this progress?

[@johnanthonylupton]

Thanks, please say a prayer 4 me

[@laceyschroyer5807]

What do you mean by 'single'? Do you mean single as in not married or single as in not in a dating relationship?

[@kikifiat5021]

I don’t have a boyfriend yet. 🤣 And nobody ever ask me out lol.

[@dora2497]

That’s such a blessing!

[@saoirseryan2546]

Dang it. I really thought she would tell me I don't need to 😒

[@Seraphicallia]

Gotcha ;)

[@mykllvillas1]

I recently reverted to the Catholic Church. I just turned 37. Am I too late for discernment for religious vocation?

[@archsword2446]

no!

[@archsword2446]

Hieronymites accepts 60

[@antoninoskomnenos1022]

I've only been Catholic for a year, but when I was a Protestant, I thought about being a pastor. I came to the firm conviction that God wants me out in the world making a difference in the world around me, not closing myself off in the purely spiritual life.

[@pikachuuprising637]

Honestly I want to get married but I want to serve God at the same time.

[@messii_9966]

That's great, you can get married and serve God at the same time. We usually have this idea that we need to put all down and serve in the consecrated life, but you can serve God just as well in many ways without even being a priest or sister. After all, when the priest sends us after mass, we are all technically called to be lower case p priests going into the world.

[@caribaez5711]

Good video

[@1406Pictures]

I actually laughed out loud at God sounding like Morgan Freeman hahaha :)

[@catholicfemininity2126]

I think a great way to discern marriage or religious life is to experience that life yourself via a family with kids or a convent/monestary......... sitting in your room is not as helpful xD

[@jovieangel17]

What if you live in a country where there are no opportunities to meet convents and sisters?

[@archsword2446]

visit philippines

[@cj7girl280]

When? 😯😥

[@rachelgomes6470]

could you pls tag your medal brecelet?

[@arnoldmite780]

I struggle with SSA, can I join religious life?

[@MrSereeus]

Im 99% sure you could. Everyone one has their own internal struggles, doesn’t matter the sin or temptation is

[@arnoldmite780]

@@MrSereeus thanks for the advice 🙏

[@arnoldmite780]

@aheadfullof amen😊

[@Lisanne3]

Asking for a friend, what if one is bisexual but is more attracted to men?

[@VitorGomes9]

@aheadfullof Canon Law doesn't say that. In fact, that discernment will vary according to the religious order and the particular case. The document called "Directives on Formation in Religious Institutes" from 1990 only asks that those who can't dominate their homosexual tendencies should be dismissed. Meaning that those who can dominate their tendencies and live chastely may, in theory, be admitted to the religious life. The priesthood is a whole different history, of course.

[@DistributistHound]

Vocación director... that's hard to come by even in catholic schools and environments

[@MariaPullatt]

The only reason why I am not discerning religious life anymore is because I've been rejected by the nuns I had approached for advice, one of them is literally my aunt lol. If neither of them thinks I can do it, maybe God doesn't either.

[@costamel8221]

Hi Maria, I would like to pray for you. May God reveal his will for you in your life.

[@michaelargenta3856]

I heard something calling my name . What that mean???

[@181asma]

❤❤❤

[@deepnair4795]

I feel so lonely, I need a human female wife who is alive and kind and honest

[@LadyK007]

Find peace with Christ first. A wife won’t necessarily be a cure all to loneliness. Tons of married people are lonely.

[@thomasburridge8776]

God loves you greatly!, regardless of whether you’re single or not, God will be with you always and wants to fill you with his immeasurable love always. Never forget to abide in his love that he offering you. God bless you and keep you!

[@charlenesoares1367]

Been there, done that but too old. Lol

[@amenamen5204]

You amazing👌

[@oonwing]

👍

[@jtec99]

If I've been married, am I allowed to become a priest later after divorce?

[@MrSereeus]

Marriage is valid until death. So, if you were married within the Catholic Church then no.

[@kaylajay741]

If you've received a Declaration of Nullity, then yes. If not, then no. You're still married in the eyes of the Church.

[@naelpo]

And if you are still maried in the eyes of the chruch, you can be a deacon , but not a priest

[@thomism1016]

Married men can discern a vocation to the permanent diaconate.

[@edouardmarcelin2374]

people tend to forget that

[@gregsebastien9487]

It really is an under appreciated and under rated vocation by most dioceses. It needs to be recognized and advocated more seriously. I actually think it could be a potential saving grace of the Catholic Church as fewer men contemplate the Priesthood.

[@thomism1016]

@@gregsebastien9487 Quite right 👍🏾

[@sunyrodriguez]

In my hometown, there's only 1 Parish, and we love our dear Deacon, and his family! he is in his senior years, sometimes I see him at the supermarket and I see a happy soul living out his calling :)

[@franciscojuan4551]

I'm engaged and my fiance and I agree when the time comes I will seriously pursue this. Also my spiritual director is a marries Deacon and I've learned so much