Here.
It is a big decision to enter the religious life or to begin training for the priesthood. The person entering makes a decision that they feel called to this way of life; and the religious order or diocese makes a discernment of that calling. As the story indicates, this decision might well be mediated through a lot of everyday circumstances (on the part of the one called) and a lot of administration and human examination (on the part of the religious order or seminary). The trust on all sides, however, is that this process is undertaken in obedience to the gift of God's grace shared by them in the life of the Church.
Sometimes another big decision will be made. The first years of religious life are a period of formation, and most of the years in seminary training are undertaken before diaconal ordination. During this time, it might become clear that, after all, this is not the vocation for me. No final commitment has been made, only preparation for that commitment. Sometimes it will be the person themselves who comes to this decision; sometimes it will be the religious order or the diocese.
I think it is important that someone who is trying a vocation, perhaps particularly to the religious life, can feel completely comfortable if they later decide to come away again. This is not an unusual experience in the Church. The measure is not that of "did I make it to permanent vows" but that of "am I doing God's will at this particular moment"? And that might change and grow with time and human circumstances.
The person entering does so with a conviction of their vocation born of God's grace, and quite rightly so. It is those around them - friends, family, parish - who need to make sure that someone who enters religious life can feel comfortable if they later come away. I think the correct pastoral attitude is one of expressing support for the person entering, yes with excitement at the fact that they are entering, but trying to say at the same time that you would be equally supportive if they were choosing a lay vocation in life.
1 comment:
Thank you for linking, and for that reflection! It is very important to realize that the novitiate period is required by canon law, and for good reason.
I know several other young women for whom it was completely obvious they should enter a convent, and several months to a year later, it was as obvious that they should leave again. But that was not "lost time" - they had something to learn there, and then they were ready to leave again. It can be very painful and difficult, but that doesn't make it less normal.
I don't know where I will be in one, two, or three years, although my ambitions do run in a certain direction, of course :)
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