James Martin, SJ, on possible indicators of a vocation to religious life

June 3, 2008

Hope: Fr. Martin, are there specific personality traits or threads that one discerning religious life should be aware of within herself? Are there any characteristics, thoughts, desires within a person that might be specific to religious life?
Father Martin: To answer your first question, I think that the most important thread in one’s life is that [...]

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James Martin, SJ, on whether Protestant churches recognize saints

June 3, 2008

Sylvester: Father, I’m not a Catholic but I’m fascinated by everything Catholic. What I want to know is whether or not Protestant churches recognize saints? If so, how do Protestants get to become saints if only the Vatican approves them?
Father Martin: Protestant churches do indeed recognize saints, and we only need to think of the [...]

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James Martin, SJ, on variety of religious communities and on fear discerning

June 3, 2008

hoyasaxa: Hi Father Martin, First of all, thank you for your visit to this blog, I’m looking forward to following the conversation throughout the day.
Based on Sister Julie’s question about your vocation to the Jesuits in particular, I was wondering if you had any advice on sorting through the truly vast number and variety of [...]

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James Martin responds to Sister Julie’s questions

June 3, 2008

Sister Julie: You write about Thomas Merton being asked by the Gethsemani monastery porter, “Have you come here to stay?” (page 57) When did you feel that this question was being posed to you as well? How did it feel to first get a glimpse that God might be calling you to religious life? How [...]

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