Comments on: James Martin, SJ, on variety of religious communities and on fear discerning http://anunslife.org/2008/06/03/james-martin-religious-communities-and-fear-while-discerning/ Catholic Sisters and Nuns in Today's World Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:00:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Father Martin http://anunslife.org/2008/06/03/james-martin-religious-communities-and-fear-while-discerning/#comment-4193 Father Martin Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:09:36 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=496#comment-4193 <font color="blue">Well, you know, I think that depends on the college student! A more contemplative college student might like St. Therese of Lisieux or Blessed Julian of Norwich. Amore active college student might light Dorothy Day, who is in the saint-track now, or St. Francis Xavier. Some students might like saints that come from their ethnic background. But some good younger saints, beside St. Therese, would be people like St. Aloysius Gonzaga, who died while caring for plague victims; Saint Francis of Assisi, who had to make some important decisions in his youth; and Pier Giorgio Frassati, one of our newest saints. But I think, most of all, it depends of your temperament!</font> Well, you know, I think that depends on the college student! A more contemplative college student might like St. Therese of Lisieux or Blessed Julian of Norwich. Amore active college student might light Dorothy Day, who is in the saint-track now, or St. Francis Xavier. Some students might like saints that come from their ethnic background. But some good younger saints, beside St. Therese, would be people like St. Aloysius Gonzaga, who died while caring for plague victims; Saint Francis of Assisi, who had to make some important decisions in his youth; and Pier Giorgio Frassati, one of our newest saints. But I think, most of all, it depends of your temperament!

]]> By: Tina http://anunslife.org/2008/06/03/james-martin-religious-communities-and-fear-while-discerning/#comment-4186 Tina Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:17:43 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=496#comment-4186 It is so ironic that you use the phrase "What now?" I attend Mass at the Newman Center of the university I attend and at the last Mass before the semester ended, Father B's gospel question was "What now?" which is what started me on the idea that maybe God had called me and in typical clueless fashion, I missed it. So your answer makes me feel a great deal better. So what are some good saints for college students? It is so ironic that you use the phrase “What now?” I attend Mass at the Newman Center of the university I attend and at the last Mass before the semester ended, Father B’s gospel question was “What now?” which is what started me on the idea that maybe God had called me and in typical clueless fashion, I missed it. So your answer makes me feel a great deal better.

So what are some good saints for college students?

]]> By: Father Martin http://anunslife.org/2008/06/03/james-martin-religious-communities-and-fear-while-discerning/#comment-4173 Father Martin Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:05:20 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=496#comment-4173 <span style="color: #0000ff;">I think that it is possible to believe that one had, earlier in life, felt a call to a particular vocation, like the priesthood or religious life, and moved away from it. But it is important to recognize that God’s call remains throughout our whole life. In fact, God is calling us to something new every day. So the more important question is not so much, "What if?" but rather "What now?" What is God calling me to, in my current situation, and current circumstances, today? For example, if you are married, or too old to enter a religious order or the priesthood, then the question is: How is God calling you to be a good Christian in your current life? Because it is very easy for all of us to get stuck with thoughts of "If only," and miss the call that God has for you today, in this moment. I think that it is possible to believe that one had, earlier in life, felt a call to a particular vocation, like the priesthood or religious life, and moved away from it. But it is important to recognize that God’s call remains throughout our whole life. In fact, God is calling us to something new every day. So the more important question is not so much, “What if?” but rather “What now?” What is God calling me to, in my current situation, and current circumstances, today? For example, if you are married, or too old to enter a religious order or the priesthood, then the question is: How is God calling you to be a good Christian in your current life? Because it is very easy for all of us to get stuck with thoughts of “If only,” and miss the call that God has for you today, in this moment.

]]> By: Tina http://anunslife.org/2008/06/03/james-martin-religious-communities-and-fear-while-discerning/#comment-4168 Tina Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:29:37 +0000 http://anunslife.org/?p=496#comment-4168 Hi Father Martin, what does one do if they have "missed" God's calling? Is it possible to be called and not recognize it until it is too late? Thanks Hi
Father Martin, what does one do if they have “missed” God’s calling? Is it possible to be called and not recognize it until it is too late?

Thanks

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