| Home - Latest News | Introduction | Bayside Prophecies | Directives from Heaven | Order Form | Testimonies | Veronica Lueken | Miraculous Photos | Bible | Radio Program |

Religious Orders and Consecrated Life:

What is a vocation?...

"My child, I wish you also to make note in your heart and the hearts of all mankind that I am much despaired, as Theresa, Our Little Flower, is much despaired at the lack of numbers in the nunneries. Vocations are needed for the priesthood, and also for the nunneries.
     "Are there not any who care to come forward and dedicate their lives to save Our young children? Please, My children, surely among you, those who hear My voice or will read this written word, can you not give your life to win your reward forever in Heaven? And perhaps also, those you love you can bring with you. So many little souls are crying. They thirst for the knowledge of Jesus and all of Heaven. Will you not solace them and comfort them in their loneliness? They are like sheep out in the wilderness, astray with no leaders. They are wandering. And what do they feast upon but weeds. No good nourishment is being given them. Will you not, My children, you who are children of the light, come forward and become nuns, nuns with good hearts, with a good foundation of the Faith and the truth, and nourish Our sheep?” - Our Lady of the Roses, June 18, 1982 

The following is taken from the book, The Practice of the Vows by Louis Colin, C.SS.R.

     In the etymological sense of the word, vocation means “call.”  The religious vocation, therefore, might be merely a call to leave the world, to enter a religious Order, and there to consecrate oneself for life to the service of God.

     In fact this call, when it concerns the priesthood or the religious state, is twofold—a call of grace and a call of Authority; the latter being merely the official verification and, as it were, the authentic confirmation of the former.  The first comes directly from God, the second from God’s representatives.  Together, they make up a true vocation in every sense of the term.

     Considered under its ascetical and mystical aspect—for there is nearly always, in the history of a soul, a share of mystery—the vocation is the echo of a divine choice.  From all eternity, God has determined a state of life for man created by Him; marriage, celibacy, ministry, or religion.  It is the duty of each one to keep watch for the message.

     The spiritual and physical world is composed of a countless number of beings, each of which has its nature, its place, its function and its end.  The daisy blooms in the meadows, the bluebell in the woods, and the edelweiss near the snowy summits of the mountains.  One flower is grown for its beauty, another for its scent, yet another for its healing properties.  In the sky we see an amazing variety of wonders; sun, planets, satellites, stars lying thick as dust.  Heaven too, has its hierarchy rising from the Angels to the Seraphim, through the Thrones, Powers, Dominations and Cherubim.

     Diversity within unity is found again in the Church.  While all baptized souls have a common origin and an identical destiny, nonetheless, each has its own particular perfection, its special place and its part to play.  Pilgrims of eternity, all are making their way to the Father’s House, but not along the same road.  Every Christian has his special vocation.

     This vocation is the natural issue of the act of creation.  When He drew us out of nothingness, God traced our life’s progress in advance, and it is up to us to carry it out to the best of our ability.  He is the Absolute Lord of our being, His is the right to use us, according to the designs of His Providence, for the glory of His Name.

"Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called." - 1 Corinthians 7:20

     How indeed, could man possibly be entitled to organize his existence to suit himself, according to the whims of his own will and the fantasy of his passions?  The Creator has in no wise relinquished His sovereign rights, and He intends to govern His people, mildly, it is true, but nonetheless strongly, determining for each of His subjects his rank, his position and his work.  For a Christian, perfect and loving conformity with the divine plans constitutes the fundamental law and the sole labor of his sanctification: to be where God wants him to be, and to do always what God wants him to do.

     What will become of this newborn babe? Will he found another family?  Will he become a religious, a priest? None knows, save God who has chosen: and of all possible choices, His is the best, inspired as it is by infinite knowledge, wisdom and goodness.

     The vocation is the masterpiece of Providence.  God knows His creature through and through, with its qualities and defects, its aspirations and leanings, its aptitudes and failings, and He knows to what use it can be put in the workshop of the world.  He knows what we are, better than we do ourselves; He has weighed our physical, intellectual and moral assets, and measured our potentiality of output.  The nobleman in the parable did not commit the same number of talents to each of his servants. Taking into account our worth and our ability, God, like a good captain, determines for each his occupation and his task.

     This is both sensible and wise.  If Providence has care of the sparrow, the lily of the field, and the hair of our heads, how can man, the child of Providence, be abandoned?  With greater solicitude than that of a mother bending over the cradle of her babe, the Heavenly Father looks after us, our temporal and eternal destiny, our labors, sufferings and needs.  Nothing escapes Him.  Not content with showing us our destination and our road, He becomes the faithful companion of our pilgrimage; He is the sun that shines on us, the spring that refreshes us, the bread that nourishes, the arm on which we lean, the smile that cheers our hearts, the grace in a thousand different forms which preserves, forgives, purifies, sanctifies and, at the end, saves.

     Happy the man who puts his trust in Providence, and follows its guidance blindly, lovingly, step by step, without evasion or encroachment.  Our vocation is the invention of a love that is infinite and eternal.  It is a free gift, above price, and comes directly from the heart of God.

     However, in certain cases, this choice requires a necessary complement, i.e., the recognition and ratification of legitimate authority.

     The religious life and the ministry constitute, in the Church, a public and official state of life, upon which none has the right to enter of his own volition, even though he be personally aware of his vocation.  The Bishop and religious Superiors have both the right and the duty to examine candidates, to establish the validity of their aspirations, and finally, to grant or refuse admission.  This explains the existence of seminaries, novitiates and scholasticates.

     It must be repeated that in its origin the vocation is essentially a call from God, but in order to obviate dangerous illusions, selfish ambition and future scandals, this call needs to be verified and controlled.  No enlistment in the arm of the priesthood or religion is valid, unless it be countersigned by the commanding officers; none mounts the steps of the altar, nor crosses the threshold of the convent, save by official invitation….

     Finally, there remains the psychological study of inclination, aptitude and intention.  Whether natural or supernatural, inclination alone is not the infallible sign of a vocation.  It would be wrong, however, to ignore it; in default of proof, it often provides valuable indications.  It is an occurrence so common as not be extraordinary for a soul, called by God, to feel for the religious life repugnance, aversion, even revolt.  Might this not be caused by the instinctive reaction of nature to the idea of sacrifice, or the subtle suggestion of the Evil One?  It is a simple temptation, which must be overcome.

     More usually, a vague attraction or infinity is felt; a sort of pre-established harmony, causing a relaxing and unfolding of the soul at each contact with the religious life.  While the agitation and tumult of the world jars and upsets, the peace of the cloister brings calm and delight.  This symptom is often enough accompanied by supernatural inclination.  At a First Communion, a mission, a retreat, a profession or an ordination, Our Lord’s words to the rich young man have been heard deep in the heart.  The invitation has been renewed again and again, gentle but insistent, and the soul, amazed at first, finally responds with gladness.  Little by little, under the influence of grace, a deep and pious inclination toward the religious state is formed, along with the ardent desire to consecrate oneself to God therein.  It is for the director to verify the origin, nature and validity of this attraction.

     Without either under—or over—estimating the importance of inclination in the discovery of a vocation, the most vital factor is the study of the general dispositions, that are requisite for one entering religion, and the special aptitudes demanded by different Institutes.  Before setting out on the conquest of an ideal, it is surely wise to ask oneself if—considering one’s spiritual strength—this ideal is not a mirage and its conquest a dream.  Who would undertake to build a palace when he has barely the materials for a shack? Am I made for the religious state?  Have I all the qualities I need, if I am to fulfill its obligations worthily?  This is a question of the first importance.  One the answer depends the direction of a whole life.  St. Francis de Sales says, “For it is certain thereby, according to His Divine Providence, to supply him with all the aids necessary for the perfecting of himself in his vocation.” The entry into the religious state demands, therefore, a certain fund of qualities and dispositions, the absence of which would be evident proof that there is no vocation.  No one can form a serious judgment as to the existence and quality of this fund, unless he knows at least in broad outline, the religious state, its spirit, its duties, its virtues and its demands.

     To this general survey, must be added a closer knowledge of the Order, to which one is attracted. Each Order has its own Rule, its characteristic spirit, its apostolic works.  It is the duty of the aspirant to ascertain whether he can adapt himself to the mold.  Those are few and far between, whose natures are rich enough, and whose temperaments are supple enough, to adapt themselves successfully to every form of religious life, and to wear equally well the habit of a Capuchin or a the cassock of a Jesuit, the veil of a Carmelite, or the coif of a Sister of Charity.  An excellent foot soldier does not necessarily make a good calvaryman.  The religious army, too, has its different weapons, which are in no way interchangeable, one must study them, then make the best choice in accordance with one’s physical, intellectual and moral aptitudes….

     Characters that are irresponsive, hypocritical, uncontrollable, unsociable; temperaments inclined to neurasthenia, flabby or sensual; wills that are spineless, capricious or stubborn; souls that are without ideals, material, eaten-up with egoism, that offer little hope of amendment are, in general, unsuitable for the religious life.  Such are barren lands, from which it is vain to hope for a rich harvest.  Above all, it is essential to repulse those who are known to have inherited vicious tendencies, particularly concerning chastity and temperance.  These passions, which may be dormant in youth have, later, sudden and terrible awakenings.  Poverty, chastity, obedience, humility, self-denial, love of the Cross; these are virtues essential to the religious state.  Shall I be able, with God’s help, to practice them generously and with perseverance?  If the sincere examination of one’s aptitudes has led to a firm and favorable conclusion, there is excellent proof of a vocation.  In case of doubt, there is no harm in making an experiment, and in letting the novitiate, with added light, provide the definitive reply.  One the other hand, it would be the height of imprudence to admit to the perpetual vows, those candidates whose vocation has for years been mediocre and unsure.

     By its nature and object, the religious life is essentially supernatural, therefore, one should not enter it with an eye to human advantage, such as “solitude, quiet, freedom from the troubles caused by relatives, from strife and other disagreeable matters, and from the cares consequent on being obliged to think of one’s lodging, food and clothing,” but from higher and disinterested motives, such as the glory of God, love of Jesus Christ, one’s personal sanctification, and zeal for souls.  The religious state is not a sinecure, a disguise for a comfortable life, in which one may, without worry or danger, work out one’s salvation.  Are not the words of the Gospel, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,” addressed particularly to priests and religious?

     Before departing to the convent, then, it is quite unnecessary to have recourse to “ten or a dozen doctors to see if the inspiration was good or bad, if it was to be followed or no.”  If there be established aptitudes, a right intention, a call from those authorized, and no moral or canonical impediment, the existence of a true vocation can be diagnosed with every assurance.

     Once the vocation is recognized, it becomes a duty and a right to respond.  The right is primordial; no entreaty or menace can prevail against it, for it is founded on the sovereignty of God, and on the liberty of every man to choose and make his own life.

     If fidelity to the vocation were merely a right, it would be lawful to reject it, but it is, besides, a moral obligation of conscience.  It is a duty of obedience to God, whose providential designs must be respected; a duty of charity to ourselves, for our gravest interests are at stake; a duty of zeal toward a multitude of souls, whose salvation depends, to a greater or lesser degree, on our correspondence with grace.  To Our Lord’s “Veni, sequere me,” let us respond with a spontaneous, prompt and generous “Ecce ego.”

     God loves a cheerful giver, and to enter His service reluctantly would take from the beauty of the gesture and the value of the gift.  Most perfect is the sacrifice which is accomplished with a smile on the lips and a lifting of the heart.  If there is in life one action which should not be botched, but performed freely and generously, surely it is this initial action, which is the foundation of and prelude to the total and irrevocable oblation of the soul.  Let us not wait to be pushed or dragged on this royal road; let our departure be a noble one. Let there be no regrets, no hesitation, above all, no retreat. 

"Where have the hearts from your vocation gone? You have sold your souls to get to the head! For what? Each and every one of you must answer for your time upon earth. Many of you will come over the veil in a short time. Shall you be ready? Have you prepared My sheep, My children?
     "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth if they have not listened to the counsel from Heaven!” - Jesus, July 25, 1978 

Our Lady of the Roses awesome Bayside Prophecies... https://www.tldm.org/../Bayside/
These prophecies came from Jesus, Mary, and the saints to Veronica Lueken at Bayside, NY, from 1968 to 1995.

PURPOSE OF LIFE
"While you are upon earth you are there to do honor and glory to your God in Heaven. You must know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world, so that you will be happy with Him forever in the next." - Our Lady, June 1, 1978

THE  DEDICATED  ARE  LEAVING
"My child, We watch and see the houses of My Son crumbling, being destroyed throughout your world. Doors are closing, convents are emptying, and the dedicated are leaving and falling into all manner of sin and abominations. Who shall be in the remnant? Only a few will be saved." - Our Lady, May 26, 1976 

INFILTRATED
"Yes, My child, I spoke to you of the evil ones who have infiltrated into the clergy. They are not entering with dedication and spirits of light, but they are bringing in the spirit of darkness. By their fruits will you know them, My child. I have asked you to be not fooled by those who wear the garments of the dedicated but have fouled their garments. You must pray more for the light and recognize the faces of evil about you, My child." - Jesus, June 5, 1975 

OBEDIENCE
"In the cause of obedience, pastors and Our dedicated nuns, remember this: you cannot be obedient to one who has defamed his habit, to one who has cast aside his Faith, to one who goes forward as a destroyer of souls. The rabat is the teacher of life, but do not be fooled by those who foul these habits." - Our Lady, August 5, 1976

COME  FORWARD
"Will you not, My children, you who are children of the light, come forward and become nuns, nuns with good hearts, with a good foundation of the Faith and the truth, and nourish Our sheep?" - Our Lady, June 18, 1982

JESUS  MADE  THE  RULE
"Jesus the Lord, your Lord, my sisters and brothers, has made the rule. You cannot change it to suit yourselves. You have been blinded by satan. The liberation in your hearts has been placed there by satan. You gain nothing but your own destruction. Nuns, those who have accepted the rule and taken the habit, must remain in the habit." - St. Theresa, October 2, 1975

GARMENT  OF  PURITY
"Holiness and piety! Man—men of God, you must wear your garment of purity, dedication, and piety. What manner of foul deeds do you perform for the destruction of your sheep! For what? Material gain and pride and arrogance? You shall be cast into the abyss! Rank shall give you no advantage when you come over the veil." - St. Michael, December 24, 1975

WOE
"And woe to the clergy who has given himself over to worldliness and sin! Woe to the clergy who rejects his vocation and chooses a life upon earth after he has taken his vows! I say unto him: the judgment will fall great upon him." - Jesus, August 4, 1979 

MOCKED
"Know now, my brothers and sisters of religious orders, you will be mocked, you will be scorned, but you will please the Eternal Father and receive your reward in the Kingdom." - St. Francis, May 28, 1975

THE  "BUCK-PASSER"
"I see, My children, a great evil transpiring upon earth. Those who have the power to stop the evil have chosen to go downstream like ducks upon water, letting everything slide off their backs, neither caring nor visualizing the future. And why?  Because they have given themselves to the world.
     "Just as My Son stood before Pilate and he washed his hands and said: 'This man is innocent; I see no wrong in him,' however, in his heart he knew of innocence but he feared reprisal from the crowd, My children; he valued his life, he loved his sin, and he was too much involved with the pleasures of this life and the world.
     "You see, My children, it is taking place all over again for those in command in rule. They go along 'passing,' as you say, 'the buck,' each one not willing to admit his error or his participation in evil, but only too willingly allowing others to take the blame or the responsibility. And I assure you, My children, if evil is being allowed, the 'buck passer' is just as guilty as the original one who had started the evil.         
     "If you know in your hearts, O pastors, that souls are in danger of being corrupted, misled, and even destroyed, and you do nothing about it, because you do not wish to offend your superiors, because you value your life in this world too much and your good living; I assure you, O pastors, you shall stand before My Son and He shall not know you. You will be disowned, banished from eternal life in Heaven, and you shall join your father who is the father of all liars, satan, and the prince of darkness." - Our Lady, March 18, 1977

DO  NOT  LEAVE
"Do not leave when you are discouraged by those who satan has sent into your convents. Stand forth as an example of purity and godliness. You will not be cast aside by your God, as you will by man, as you stand to defend your God. Pick up your cross and carry it." - St. Theresa, November 20, 1972

TELEVISION / RADIOS
"Modernism must not be a way of life for Our dedicated. Our nuns have to have discipline, My children. Do not bring the world into the convents. I ask that the convents remain free of all television and radios, and return to their prayer life." - Our Lady, June 18, 1990

FOR  GOOD
"Pastors, you shall be called and shall you stand before, in judgment, the Eternal Father and say that your teaching has been pure in His sight? Better that you fear your God than man! Obedience? Obedience is commanded by the Eternal Father for good, not for evil!" - Our Lady, May 26, 1976

Directives from Heaven...  https://www.tldm.org/directives/directives.htm 

D31 - Love of God   PDF
D32 - Love of Neighbor   PDF
D78 - Charity  PDF
D159 - Religious  Orders  and the  Dedicated: Part 1   PDF
D160 - Religious  Orders  and the  Dedicated: Part 2   PDF
D233 - Vocations, Part 1   PDF
D234 - Vocations, Part 2  PDF

Articles...

The sources of growth and decline in religious orders
https://www.tldm.org/news7/Foley1.htm

Pope Pius XI warned religious orders to maintain rigorous discipline
https://www.tldm.org/news7/Foley2.htm

The new Commandment of Jesus
https://www.tldm.org/News7/Colin1.htm

Love of God and love of neighbor
https://www.tldm.org/News7/Colin2.htm

Beware of groups forming that have alienated themselves from their hierarchy
https://www.tldm.org/News7/AlienatedFromHierarchy.htm

We have dialogued enough! We have experimented enough!
https://www.tldm.org/news7/Timlin.htm 

"What is a priest?" by St. Theresa the Little Flower
https://www.tldm.org/News7/WhatIsAPriest.htm