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Vocations and Priestly Formation >
Consecrated Life for Women
Each woman is called by God to participate in the mission of the Church and to live God’s love for all people. She may fulfill this mission in a variety of ways. One of those ways is through the consecrated life. In this vocation, she lives her life in total, undivided dedication to Christ, her spouse, and to God’s people, her spiritual children, for their spiritual and moral growth.
Specifically, a consecrated woman is a Christian who commits herself to Christ and his Church through vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. She lives in a religious community patterned on the life and teaching of the founder/foundress of that community. Religious and consecrated life is characterized by community life, simple and celibate lifestyle, public or private vows or promises, and dedication to the service of God and His people. Prayer and work are part of the tradition of all communities. Depending on the vision of their founders, the charism of the Congregation, and the gifts and talents of their members, each community accents them differently. Thus, some communities are primarily contemplative while others are more active.
Apostolic work also varies among communities. Frequently addressed areas are education, social work, administration, communication, healthcare, etc.
There are many religious communities to choose from. Each woman needs to find the one to which she senses God calling her. Personal contact is one of the best ways to gain knowledge of a community and find out about its spirituality, apostolate, and life-style. Some communities offer live-in experiences or weekend retreats for discernment and exploration.
If you have a desire to find out more or an interest in the possibility of religious life, you should seek additional information. Ask for advice. Seek the guidance of competent people, especially religious, priests, and vocation directors. A good spiritual director may be very helpful in giving objective advice. The most important thing you can do is to pray to the Lord for wisdom and courage to discern and do His Will.
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Signs of a Religious Vocation
1. A desire to have a religious vocation, together with the impression that God is calling one to His service. This desire is most strongly felt when the soul is calm.
2. A growing attraction for prayer and holy things in general, together with a longing for a hidden life and a desire to be more closely united with God.
3. A conviction of the emptiness of the world and of its insufficiency to satisfy the soul. This feeling is often strongest felt in the midst of worldly amusements.
4. A longing to sacrifice oneself and abandon all for the love of Jesus Christ.
5. A longing for God's glory, a realization of the value of immortal souls, and a desire to cooperate in their salvation.
6. A willingness to be received in any capacity is a proof of a real vocation.
7. The happiness which the thought of religious life brings, its helps, its peace, its merits, and its reward.
8. A desire to atone for sin, to make reparation.
9. A desire to devote one's whole life to obtain the conversion of sinners.
10. It is sometimes the sign of a vocation when a person fears that God may be calling her; when she prays not to have it and cannot banish the thought from her mind. If the vocation is sound, it will eventually give place to attraction. Though St. Thomas explains that one need not have a natural inclination for the religious life; on the contrary, a Divine vocation is suitable with a natural distaste for that state.
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