A religious vocation comes from Christ. He calls some people to follow Him in the consecrated life by giving them the graces they need to recognize this call, respond to it, and remain faithful for a lifetime to the special call they have received. The call indicates the way in which God wishes us to use our life for His glory. We are in this world for a special purpose that no one else can fulfil. As St Paul says: You are not your own – you have been bought for a great price, the Passion and Death of Christ. For this reason, it seems only good sense to say “Yes” to God’s call even though it 'costs not less than everything'!

A vocation is the grace of invitation. But, like the rich, young man in the Gospel, those who receive the grace may refuse even to accept the invitation; or, like Peter, may struggle for a long time before they fully surrender to Christ. Commitment is the grace of vocation freely accepted and generously lived out. A vocation to be a nun comes from God's free choice of certain individuals; commitment comes from our free choice to cooperate with the graces received with His call and is the fruit of our loving self-surrender to God. When the going is difficult we remember that God can never be outdone in generosity!

“My grace is sufficient for you.”

Do you feel called or interested in the enclosed religious life?

Here are a few thoughts to help you focus your discernment:

1. Do you have a desire to live a more intense relationship with God?
2. Do you want to deepen your prayer life - to grow and expand your horizons inward as well as outward?
3. Do you have the courage to let God take over the control of your days? Your hours? Your minutes?
4. Are you willing to face yourself? To acknowledge your weaknesses and affirm your strengths honestly?
5. Are you able to forgive others who do not live up to your expectations?
6. Are you able to move past your mistakes and trust in God’s love for you?
7. Are you able to live with other women? Are you open to sharing, caring and giving yourself to others in a monastic community?
8. Do you have a sense of humor? Can you laugh at yourself without coming unglued?
9. Can you accept yourself where you are at this moment? Live with your imperfections and move beyond them?
10. Do you like adventure? Being open to new challenges, new ways of doing things, new areas of growth?
11. Can you accept responsibility? If you are given a job, can you complete it to the best of your ability without complaint?
12. Can you work with others? If you need help, are you open to asking for it? Can you let others help you?
13. Do you value a community life? Is the thought of working with others in many various activities something you would like?
14. Do you want to give it a try?

If you think God could be calling you to be a nun, feel free to contact us
at the address given under “Prayer Request”. We’d be happy to be of assistance.