Reasons NOT to Discern Religious Life (feat. Stacey Sumereau)

What is my vocation? Am I wasting my life discerning a call to religious life if I am ultimately called to marriage?

Today, Stacey Sumereau breaks down why every Catholic who is not yet married should spend some time discerning a call to religious life and details what fruits can be born from that time of discernment.

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[karenrich]

My daughter had been trying to meet someone online with no success. So, she said, "God, tell me what you want me to do with my life. If you want me to get married, show me who I should marry. If not tell me what to do with my life." She met her boyfriend on Friday the 13th of January and they dated for several months. Then my husband died and her boyfriend waited a whole year to ask for her hand. Then, on The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, he proposed and she said yes. It's not often that a daughter gets to give her mother a son-in-law as a birthday present.
They've been married 2 years now.

[AbbyElizabeth]

Never dated anyone except for a quick stint in high school which wasn’t chaste. I spent most of my time being independent. Starting college I had this great conversion. I spent a long time alone and I was so happy in that. I was a little saddened by being alone but not very much. Last year I started getting a longing in my heart for a relationship. I kept my heart open but I didn’t know if or when I would find someone. I thought god was sending me someone my way so I really pursued him and was completely broken when he wasn’t interested. Little did I realize that I had been completely missing this awesome man that was walking into my life. Seven months later and I couldn’t ask for a better more fruitful and holy relationship.

[JM-ufki]

I’d like to add people should be careful about pressuring anyone else towards any vocation religious or otherwise. I know several cases where individuals were negatively effected by well meaning people who felt they needed to pressure every religious single person towards religious life. There are many ways the Spirit may call to serve.

[cecicvn]

I am a religious sister living in Vietnam, I just want to thank you for your words, for your testimony, sincerity and crazy love for God. Thank you, May God bless you.

[thepunkrockchristian]

I’m going on 24, don’t have any post secondary schooling, and just got baptized this year on the Easter vigil. The fear of wasting time is real, so hearing you mention that hit close to home.

[lemmdus]

I thought about the priesthood and I was thinking how does one live without a wife and children. It was at that moment I knew God was calling me to be a husband and father. I met my wife two weeks later.

[christiandpaul]

Start going to mass every day seven days a week and begin to do the office four times a day. Begin attending the holy Eucharist exposition. Do that as a start of discernment.

[bddulli]

Engaged people should NEVER discern religious life without breaking the engagement first.

[DELTA_]

*Prayer Request: My brother David is dying of cancer. He called today 11-18-21 and we talked about God. He is a person that has to see to believe, therefor he does not believe. I asked him for a favor as his brother and he agreed. I asked him to pray that God would give him a sign that he is real and that Jesus is his personal savior. God has no limitations, so I ask that you and all that read this will pray for my Brother David and that he will recieve a sign from God. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen praise God*

[zelie]

Lol, I went to adoration today and offered my vocation up to God. I asked Him for a sign because I am visiting a bunch of convents tomorrow.

I thought this was a sign in the opposite direction XD Made me laugh rly hard.

Keep me in your prayers!

[philipallard]

As you said, we are not here for ourselves, but for others. This is so counter cultural. We are told that we are free to decide everything but it is not about me, it’s about God.

[schoolofthehunt]

When I turned 18, I joined a benedictine monastery for 2 years. I am now 27 years old and happily married to a beautiful woman with 4 cute kids. I DO NOT REGRET A DAY I SPENT IN THE MONASTERY. I was given an opportunity to receive formation from holy monks/ living saints during my early adult life. I sincerely wanted to do Gods will but He made it obvious to me and my superiors that I was not called to the religious life. I am so grateful for my time in the monastery and I am definitely a much better father and husband because of the formation I received. I got to watch holy men during their last moments before their death and there courage and peace before meeting Jesus has left a lasting impression on me. NOW THIS IS MY WARNING. DO YOUR RESEARCH AND PRAY A LOT BEFORE SEEKING VOCATIONAL HELP. NOT ALL VOCATION DIRECTORS, PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES GIVE GOOD ADVICE. Unfortunately some people in the church are so bent on getting more religious or priestly vocations they can sometimes ignore whether it is a gift you have truly received. You need to ask for help in discerning your vocations from someone holy and unselfish who wants the best for you even if that means eventually telling you that you do not have a priestly or religious vocation.

[IONov]

I would love to be a nun. Just thinking of becoming one gives me peace and a goal to work towards. I need to visit a convent to further discern. How do people know the voice of God? I am shocked people think of God before they make choices like they live every day for God.I am impressed by how much people trust God. I need to be more selfless. I love the structure and self-discipline of religious life. I feel and fear that time is moving too rapidly. I am 31 already. I fear and feel I am too old to still be discerning religious life or marriage. Aging is so difficult for women. Feminine beauty is so valued and so fleeting.

[arelycruz]

I have been trying to discern my vocation for about a year now and I feel completely lost, I long to be a mother and wife but please pray for me to listen to the Lord’s voice.

[marykatepicard]

This video was so helpful as a single woman in her 20's. Thank you for sharing your story and giving me peace to discern and trust that God has a plan.

[MrSereeus]

I’m 25 and single, I love God and sharing my faith with others. Ive been pressured by many people in my life to become a priest just because I love God 😅🤣 but I don’t feel any calling or desire to become a priest. I’ve prayed about it often, even went on a 3 day vocational discernment retreat. But, I’ve always in my heart have wanted to have a wife and children, and if God wanted something else for me, I know he would have put a different desire in my heart as I have asked him.

[TheDSu-gqpr]

Going through a break up with a beautiful woman and God is testing me with what he’s given me with and outside of that too. Although I want to marry, I would be honored if I was called to being a priest. 🙏 pray for me y’all ❤

[Zelenka]

Thank you Stacey for such a wonderful video! Your lessons have reminded of the Serenity Prayer. "to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." I appreciate you!

[TheCatholicRose]

Please make a video on your discernment and how you knew you were called to marriage!

[TheCatholicRose]

This is excellent!! Wonderful! Thank you for sharing 🙏 agree 100% all young Catholics should discern religious life