Discernment
How do you know if you are being called to become a Franciscan
Friar?
How do you know what you are called to do?
The process of hearing and responding to God's invitation in your
life is called discernment.
We can tell you that you will not hear a loud voice telling you
to become a Friar but here are some sign-posts that may help you:
- To join us you need to be a Catholic - if you are a recent
convert to the Catholic Religion - you will need to have been
a Catholic for about 2 years.
- An inner desire to become a Friar. A vocation from God is
always one that calls a person to live a fulfilled and happy
life. For some, this desire can lay dormant for many years &
then an event or a chance encounter will set it alive.
- An attraction to the life and person of St Francis of Assisi.
If you are inspired by him and you wish to learn more about
him, that is a good signpost.
- Franciscans are naturally community people and live together
in communities. You should be able to foresee yourself living
and working with others.
- Franciscans pray together regularly each day, celebrating
the Eucharist and the daily Prayer of the Church. Are you a
person of prayer to whom this appeals? This too is a signpost.
- Franciscans have a tradition of work amongst the poor. Francis
cared for the lepers and others on the margins of his society.
Do you feel attracted to giving your life and talents in loving
service to people such as these?
- The Franciscan Friars are men of the Gospel, following in
the footsteps of Christ. A reliable signpost is a deep love
of the message of the Gospel coupled with a desire to live it
out.
- Franciscan Friars take the Vows of Poverty / Chastity and
Obedience. They pledge themselves to live as people of poorer
means do; to listen in a spirit of obedience to their Ministers
& to live chaste lives. Can you foresee yourself living
in this way?
Some of the values important to St Francis might already be visible
in your life :
- Simplicity in the use of material goods
- Love for nature & all creatures
- Awareness of justice and injustice in the world
- Empathy for the poor, the weak & vulnerable
- An ability to "travel lightly" through life
- An inner joy that comes from the knowledge of God & love
of Christ
- A personal relationship with Jesus
- A desire to read/ study & pray the words of Scripture
The next step.....
Some
signs of a vocation may have been evident in your life for many
years. Thus, if your life already displays qualities of simplicity
and peace, with a love of Jesus and his Gospel and your fellow
men and women, or if you are a generous person with an innate
sense of joy and have cultivated a personal prayer life, then
you may have an authentic vocation.
It is important to seek further advice and counsel. Some begin
by sharing with a good and close friend, just as Francis did.
Others might visit a priest or spiritual director. You can contact
the Friars and they too have men who can help you discover whether
this is the life to which God is calling you.
"O Great and glorious God and my Lord Jesus Christ,
enlighten I beseech You the darkness of my heart.
Give me a right faith; a certain hope and a perfect love;
So that I may always seek to do Your holy and most perfect will.
Amen."
