Book review: Discernment and preparation for religious or married life

By Mrs. Adfero

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Called by God: Discernment and Preparation for Religious Life is an extraordinary guide to the discernment of the vocation God calls us into with Him that we may achieve our eternal destiny. 

The author, Rachael Marie Collins, writes that in the hierarchy of importance in discerning what you are called to be in this life, occupation or employment is one of the last things to consider. In fact, it is our vocation, our intimate relationship with God – whether in the religious state or the married state – that takes priority because it is our call to sanctity.  We are replaceable in our occupations or employments, but in our relationships in the religious or married state, we are irreplaceable.

The book is a beautifully written and very well-researched compilation of letters from Mrs. Collins to a young lady who is discerning the religious life.  It is a handbook on discernment replete with quotations from Saints and extensive references to many of the best spiritual works that any Catholic should be familiar with to help them on the road to holiness. 

This comprehensive book on discernment is highly recommended for any young woman who believes she may have a call to the religious life.  Mrs. Collins takes the uncertainty out of discerning a religious vocation with her invaluable and detailed advice.  She also addresses many of the issues a pre-vocational young woman may face in the process.

Mrs. Collins guides the reader through a very thorough process of practical and spiritual preparation. Anyone who follows the masterful advice in this book will have comprehensively discerned their vocation.  For those who discern, like Mrs. Collins herself, that God is not calling them to the religious life, Mrs. Collins also examines the vocation of the married state and how this preparation also pertains to the challenges of marriage and raising children.

                                               

Her compiled letters are written to a young woman and focus on certain issues particular to a young woman discerning a religious vocation filling a vital need on guiding young women in discernment.  God-willing more women will answer His call on account of this remarkable book.  It is worth noting, however, that much of the spiritual guidance regarding preparation and discernment could be relevant to young men discerning the religious vocation. 

NEW SERIES: Vocation stories (part 2)

We recently asked our readers to send us vocation stories to help parents inspire religious vocations in their children. Today, we post our second set of stories. You can find part 1 by clicking the tag "Vocation stories" below. 

We asked our older readers who have produced a priest, a monk or a nun, and did so deliberately (not just lucked out!), to send us their stories. We want to pass on to our readers what they did on a daily basis to foster that vocation that our younger parent readers can emulate. And for our priest, monk or nun readers whose parents led them to their vocations, to send that story to us as well. 

Please consider sending us your vocation story as well! These submissions can but don't have to be terribly long -- but should be lengthy enough for our readers to take away concrete ideas and wisdom to get to work on real, tangible action items. We're looking more for "we talked to them every day about how to discern a vocation and to say this prayer" than "we kept the faith in the home." Be specific! 

Send your submissions to athanasiuscatholic AT yahoo.com and we will consider them quickly. And, if needed, we will post them anonymously. Just indicate that in your email.

Story 1: Submitted by Fr. Albert Marcello, III, who serves as the Chaplain of the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society, and is a priest of the Diocese of Providence, R.I.

Our diocesan holy card for vocations, dating from the 1950’s, states in bold letters: “A religious vocation is a precious gift from a family to God for His Church.” 

NEW SERIES: Vocation stories (part 1)

We recently asked our readers to send us vocation stories to help parents inspire religious vocations in their children. Today, we post our first two stories.

We asked our older readers who have produced a priest, a monk or a nun, and did so deliberately (not just lucked out!), to send us their stories. We want to pass on to our readers what they did on a daily basis to foster that vocation that our younger parent readers can emulate. And for our priest, monk or nun readers whose parents led them to their vocations, to send that story to us as well. 

Please consider sending us your vocation story as well! These submissions can but don't have to be terribly long -- but should be lengthy enough for our readers to take away concrete ideas and wisdom to get to work on real, tangible action items. We're looking more for "we talked to them every day about how to discern a vocation and to say this prayer" than "we kept the faith in the home." Be specific! 

Send your submissions to athanasiuscatholic AT yahoo.com and we will consider them quickly. And, if needed, we will post them anonymously. Just indicate that in your email.

Story 1: Submitted by the parents of Sr. Gabrielle of Our Lady of Sorrows Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Elysburg, Pa.

From the very beginning my parents tried to surround me with good and truth. Being homeschooled, I always had my mother’s virtuous example before my eyes. After her conversion, soon followed by my father’s, the dual impact of my parents’ good example increased.

NEW SERIES: Tell us your vocation stories!

A few years ago we ran a short, but very popular, series of posts called "The joy of big families" (we've tagged it in the labels below for our readers to easily find and read). Now, we want to do something similar, and are asking you to send your stories to us. 

As the faith has collapsed since the wretched Council, so too have vocations collapsed, due in much part to the contraceptive mentality most Catholics today happily embrace. However, our readers, and the remnant of traditional Catholics left, are embracing large families -- and they do pray for vocations from their children. 

But many do not really know how to produce those vocations beyond their prayers. As St. Benedict says, pray like it all depends on God, work like it all depends on you. But what does that work look like? 

Here's what we're asking for: For our older readers who have produced a priest, a monk or a nun, and did so deliberately (not just lucked out!), please send us your story! Let us know what you did on a daily basis to foster that vocation that our younger parent readers can emulate. And if you're a priest, monk or nun whose parents led to your vocation, you can send that story to us as well. Tell us what they did to prepare you to offer your life for Christ and His Church (note: We will keep you anonymous if you ask).

These submissions can but don't have to be terribly long -- but should be lengthy enough for our readers to take away concrete ideas and wisdom to get to work on real, tangible action items. We're looking more for "we talked to them every day about how to discern a vocation and to say this prayer" than "we kept the faith in the home." Be specific! 

Send your submissions to athanasiuscatholic AT yahoo.com and we will consider them quickly. 

While many people today try to create a vocation to match whatever people want to do with their lives, traditionally we know there is only one true vocation -- to the religious life. So let's all do our part to bring about those much-needed vocations that bolster the Church like nothing else can outside of God's grace.