The following is summarized from "Is This a Call?", by Sr. Clare Matthiass, CFR:

1)  God Created You with a Purpose in Mind
      - God created you out of love and in His Own Image!  He has a purpose and mission in mind for you. How to discover it?

2)  Discernment Flows from Relationship
      - If you want to konw God's Will, you must have a relationship with Him.  Spend some authentic time with Him and get to know Him.

3)  Love Comes First
      - Do you know that God loves you?  Love comes first.  "The God who loves you wants only your good, your happiness, and your joy. Do you trust Him?"

4)  Developing a Daily Personal Prayer Time
      - If you are not doing so already, spend time with God every day. You can be wtih Him at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in reading and meditating on the Scriptures, by talking with Him in your own words, by using your imagination, and other ways that are personal between you and Him.  

5)  Accompaniment
      - It is important to have someone as a competent spiritual mentor to help walk with you and guide you along the way.

Come, Holy Spirit!  Fill the hearts of your faithful,
and enkindle in them the fire of Your Love.  Jesus, I Trust in You!

6:00 a.m. Rise
6:35 a.m. Meditation
7:15 a.m. Morning Prayer
   * Mass - depends on what time the parish or visiting priest has Mass
   * Breakfast
   * Work, errands, apostolates, ministries, etc.
12:00 Noon Prayer
    * Lunch
    * Short rest (if desired)
    * Continue work
    * Other activities could include music practice, exercise, study,       correspondence, free time, etc
5:00 p.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
5:30 p.m. Holy Rosary
                 Evening Prayer
                 Dinner
7:30 p.m. Recreation
8:15 p.m. Night Prayer - Rest in God (Grand Silence until breakfast)‍

Schedules for Mission Sisters and for young women and Sisters in formation will vary.

". . . let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16

A Prayer Life is essential for discerning a vocation. Whether one is called to Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, religious life, or to a consecrated single life, God is first calling us to belong to Him in a daily relationship of friendship and love. Then it will be much easier to discern God's loving promptings. Having a Spiritual Director / Mentor can be very helpful.

COMMUNITY PRAYER

Prayer is the life and soul of our Community. The daily schedule includes the Divine Office in common, the celebration of the Eucharist, the rosary, meditation, and spiritual reading. Private devotions include the Stations of the Cross, which are an integral part of our Franciscan heritage. As a Eucharistic-centered community, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is our daily privilege.

We share our life of prayer with all those we serve and strive to integrate our Franciscan spirituality into every phase of life. Devotion to Mary is also a primary characteristic of our life of active contemplation.

Intimacy with God enables and strengthens us to be faithful to our daily apostolates. It is only through a spousal relationship with Jesus in the interior life that we can be instruments in His hands.

"God's very being is love.... God has revealed his innermost secret: God himself is an eternal exchange of love. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and he has destined us to share in that exchange."  - Catechism of the Catholic Church #221

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A Little Reflection from Sr. Mary Michael from her personal story:

"It's This Good"

Wow! When I felt God nagging at my heart as a teen, I was afraid.

I was afraid that being a Sister would be contrary to my personality. Me being a very fun-loving person, religious life couldn't be for me (so I thought).

Then my eyes were opened. Many things happened that helped open my heart to God's Will for me. One of the most important was meeting young, fun, and happy Sisters. It made me realize that there's a lot more to consecrated life than prayers and penance. These people have fun! And they chose this life over marriage. Why?

What clenched it for me was the realization that a vocation to the consecrated life is really a LOVE STORY. Talk about a new realization. It's all a love story! It's God wanting us totally for Himself. It's God calling us to have a special relationship with Him. What a privilege! (see Mt. 19:8 and 1 Cor. 7:32-34)

And you know what? I didn't know that a vocation could be this good!

Your vocation (or calling from God) is this good, too. Ask Him to show you exactly which life He's calling you to, then put your seat belt on for the ride. Sure, there will be ups and downs (just like every life), but there is a great joy in the journey!

- Sr. Mary Michael
 

"Sometimes the very thing we're afraid of is what we're looking for."