Answer to a young man who asks counsel on the choice of a state of life

(By St. Alphonsus de Ligouri)

I read in your letter that some time ago you felt inspired by God to become a religious,and that afterwards many doubts arose in your mind, and especially this one, that, withoutbecoming a religious, you might sanctify yourself also in the world.I will answer your letter briefly, for, should you wish to read something more complete,you can read a little work of mine, which has already been printed, under the title “Counselsconcerning Religious Vocation,” in which I have treated this matter more fully. Here I will onlysay, briefly, that this point of the choice of a state of life is of the greatest importance, as upon itdepends our eternal salvation. He who chooses the state to which God calls him will save himself with facility: and for him who does not obey the divine call it will be difficult yes, morallyimpossible to save himself. The greatest number of those who are damned, are damned for nothaving corresponded to the call of God.In order, therefore, that you may be able to choose that state which will be the surest forattaining eternal salvation, consider that your soul is immortal, and that the only end for whichGod has placed you in this world was, not certainly that you may acquire money and honors onthis earth, and thus live a comfortable and delightful life, but that by holy virtues you may meriteternal life. “and the end life everlasting” (Romans 5:22). In the day of judgment it will avail younothing to have advanced your family, and to have made a figure in the world; it will only availyou to have served and loved Jesus Christ, who is to be your judge.You have a thought which tells you that you will also be able to sanctify yourself byremaining in the world. Yes, my dear sir, you will be able; but it is difficult, and if you are trulycalled by God to the religious state, and yet remain in the world, it is, as I have said above,morally impossible, because those helps will be denied you which God has prepared for you inreligion, and without them you will not save yourself. To sanctify yourself it is necessary for youto employ the means, such as, to avoid evil occasions, to remain detached from earthly goods, tolive a life recollected in God; and to maintain this, it is necessary to receive the sacramentsfrequently, to make your meditation, your spiritual reading, and to perform other devoutexercises every day, otherwise it is impossible to preserve the spirit of fervor. Now, it is difficult, not to say impossible, to practice all this in the midst of the noise and the disturbances of theworld; for family affairs, the necessities of the house, the complaints of parents, the quarrels andpersecutions with which the world is so full, will keep your mind so occupied by cares and fearsthat you will barely be able in the evening to recommend yourself to God, and even this will bedone with many distractions. You would wish to make your meditation, to read spiritual books,to receive Holy Communion often, to visit every day the Sacrament of the altar; but from all thisyou will be prevented by the affairs of the world, and the little you do will be imperfect, because it is done in the midst of a thousand distractions, and with coldness of heart. Your life will thenbe always unquiet, and your death more unquiet still. On one side, worldly friends will not fail toinspire you with a fear of embracing the religious life, as being a hard life and full of troubles.On the other, the world offers you amusements, money, and a contented life. Reflect well, and donot allow yourself to be led into error. Be persuaded that the world is a traitor that makespromises and does not care about the fulfillment of them. It offers you indeed all these earthlythings, but suppose it should give them to you, could it also give you peace of soul? No, Godonly can give true peace. The soul is created only for God, to love Him in this life and to enjoyHim in the next, and therefore God only can content it. All the pleasures and riches of the earthcannot give true peace; nay, those who in this life abound the most with such goods are the mosttroubled and afflicted, as Solomon confesses, who had them in abundance. “All,” says he, “isvanity, and affliction of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). If the world, with its goods, could make ushappy, the rich, the great, the monarchs, who are in no want of wealth, honors, and amusements,would be fully contented. But experience shows how it is with these mighty ones of the earth: thegreater they are, the greater are the vexations, fears, and afflictions they have to suffer. A poorCapuchin lay brother, who goes about girded with a cord over a sackcloth, who lives on beans,and sleeps in a small cell on a little straw, is more contented than a prince with all his gildedtrappings and riches, who has every day a sumptuous table, and who goes half sick to bed undera rich canopy, unable to sleep on account of the anguish which drives sleep away. He is a foolwho loves the world and not God, said St. Philip Neri; and if these worldlings live such anunquiet life, much more unquiet still will be their death, when the priest, at their side, willintimate to them that they are about to be chased away from this world, saying: “Depart hence,Christian soul, from this world. Embrace the crucifix, for this world is at an end for you.” Themisery is, that in the world they think little of God, and just as little of the next life, where theymust remain forever. All, or almost all, their thoughts are given to the things of this earth, andthis is the cause that their life is so unhappy, and their death still more.Nevertheless, that you may ascertain what state you ought to embrace, imagine yourself at the point of death, and choose that one which you would then wish to have chosen. Should youhave erred, by neglecting the divine call, in order to follow your own inclinations, and to livewith more liberty, there will then he no longer time to remedy the error. Consider that everythinghere below will come to an end. “The fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Corinthians 7:31).The scenes of this world must finish for each one of us. Everything passes, and death draws near;and at every step we take, we approach nearer to it, and, through death, nearer to eternity. Forthis we are born. “Man shall go into the house of his eternity” (Ecclesiastes 12:5). Death will beupon us when we least think of it. Alas! When death draws near, what will then appear all thegoods of this world, but the unreal pageantry of a theater, vanities, lies, and foolishness? Andwhat profit will it then be, as Jesus Christ warns us, “if we should have gained the whole worldand lost our souls”? (Matthew 16:26) It will help us only to die an unhappy death.

On the contrary, a young man who has left the world to give himself entirely to JesusChrist, how contented will he feel, as he passes his days in the solitude of his cell far from thetumult of the world and the dangers of losing God, which are in the world! In the monastery hewill not have the entertainments of music, theaters, and balls, but he will have God to consolehim and to make him enjoy peace. I mean all that peace, which is possible in this valley of tears,into which every one is sent to suffer, and to merit by his patience that full peace which isprepared for him in heaven. But in this life even, far from the pastimes of the world, one lovinglook cast from time to time on the crucifix, one “Deus meus, et omnia,” pronounced withaffection, one “my God” said with a sigh of love, will console him more than all the pastimesand feasts of the world, which leave only bitterness behind them.And if he lives content in such a life, more content will he be still at his death at havingchosen the religious state. How much will it then console him to have spent his life in prayer, inspiritual reading, in mortification, and in other exercises of devotion, especially if he has been inan Order employed in saving souls by preaching and hearing confessions, things which at hisdeath will all increase his confidence in Jesus Christ, who is truly grateful and liberal inrewarding those who have labored for His glory!But let us come to a conclusion with regard to your vocation. Since the Lord has calledyou to leave the world, and to be entirely His in religion, I tell you: Rejoice and tremble at thesame time. Rejoice, on the one hand, and always thank the Lord, because to be called by God toa perfect life is a grace which he does not give to all: “He hath not done in like manner to everynation” (Psalms 147:20). On the other hand, tremble, because if you do not follow the divinecall, you will put your eternal salvation in great danger. It is not my intention here to relate toyou the many examples of young men who, because they made no account of their vocation,have lived a miserable life and died a horrible death. Hold for certain that, as God has called you,you will never have peace, if you remain in the world, and at your death you will be veryunquiet, on account of the remorse that then will torment you, for having neglected to obey God,who had called you to the religious state.At the end of your letter you express a wish to learn from me whether, in case you shouldnot have the courage to enter religion, it would be better to marry, as your parents wish, or tobecome a secular priest.I answer: The married state I cannot recommend to you, because St. Paul does notcounsel it to any one, except there be a necessity for it, arising out of habitual incontinence,which necessity, I hold for certain, does not exist in your case.With regard, then, to the state of a secular priest, take notice that a secular priest has onhim all the obligations of a priest, and all the distractions and dangers of a layman; for, living inthe midst of the world, he cannot avoid the troubles which arise from his own household andfrom his parents, and cannot he free from the dangers to which his soul is exposed. He will havetemptations in his own house, being unable to exclude women from it, whether relatives orservants, nor prevent other strangers from coming to see them. You should then stay therealtogether retired in a separate room, and attend only to divine things. Now, this it is verydifficult to practice; and therefore small, and very small, is the number of those priests whoattend to their perfection in their own houses.On the contrary, entering a monastery of strict observance, you will be freed from thedisagreeable duty of thinking about your food and clothing, because there the Order provides youwith all, there you will not have your parents to come and continually trouble you with all thedisturbances that happen in their house; there no women enter to disturb your mind; and thus, far from the tumult of the world, you will have no one to hinder you in your prayers and yourrecollection.I have said a monastery of strict observance; because if you want to enter another, wherethey live more freely, it is better for you to stay at home and attend there to the salvation of yoursoul as well as you can; for entering an Order where the spirit is relaxed, you expose yourself tothe danger of being lost. Though you should enter with the resolution to attend to prayer and tothe things of God only, yet, carried along by the bad example of your companions, and seeingyourself derided and even persecuted, if you do not live as they do, you will leave off all yourdevotions, and do as the others do, as experience shows it to be commonly the case. But shouldGod give you the grace of vocation, be careful to preserve it, by recommending yourself often toJesus and Mary in holy prayer. I know that if you resolve to give yourself entirely to God, thedevil from that moment will increase his efforts to tempt you to fall into sin, and especially tomake you entirely His, and to remain His.I conclude by offering you the assurance of my respectful consideration; I pray the Lordto make you belong entirely to Himself, and remain, etc.

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Advice to a young person in doubt about the state of life she ought to embrace

(By St. Alphonsus de Ligouri)

My Dear Sister In Jesus Christ: You are deliberating about the choice of a state of life. Isee that you are agitated because the world wishes you to belong to itself, and to enter themarried state; and, on the other hand, Jesus Christ wishes you to give yourself to Him bybecoming a nun in some convent of exact observance.Remember that on the choice which you make your eternal salvation will depend. HenceI recommend you, as soon as you read this advice, to implore the Lord, every day, to give youlight and strength to embrace that state which will be most conducive to your salvation; that thusyou may not afterwards, when your error is irreparable, have to repent of the choice you havemade for your whole life, and for all eternity.Examine whether you will be more happy in having for your spouse a man of the world,or Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the King of heaven; see which of them appears to you thebetter spouse, and then make your choice. At the age of thirteen, the holy virgin St. Agnes was,on account of her extraordinary beauty, sought after by many. Among the rest, the son of theRoman Prefect asked her for his spouse; but looking at Jesus Christ, who wished her to belong toHim, she said. I have found a spouse better than you and all the monarchs of this world; thereforeI cannot exchange Him for any other. And rather than exchange him she was content to lose herlife, and cheerfully suffered martyrdom for Jesus Christ. The holy virgin Domitilla gave a similaranswer to the Count Aurelian; she, too, died a martyr, and was burned alive, because she wouldnot forsake Jesus Christ. Oh, how happy do these holy virgins now feel in heaven, how happywill they feel for all eternity, at having made so good a choice! The same happy lot awaits you,and wilt await all young persons who renounce the world in order to give themselves to JesusChrist.In the next place, examine the consequences of the state of the person who chooses theworld, and of the person who makes choice of Jesus Christ. The world offers earthly goods,riches, honors, amusements, and pleasures. On the other hand, Jesus Christ presents to youscourges, thorns, opprobrium, and crosses; for these were the goods, which He chose for Himself all the days of His mortal life. But then He offers you two immense advantages, which the worldcannot give peace of soul in this life, and paradise in the next.Moreover, before you decide on embracing any state, you must reflect that your soul isimmortal; that is, that after the present life, which will soon end, you must pass into eternity, inwhich you will receive that place of punishment or of reward which you will have merited byyour works during life. Thus you must remain for all eternity in the house either of eternal life orof eternal death, in which, after your departure from this world, it will be your lot first to dwell:you will be either forever saved and happy amid the joys of paradise, or forever lost and indespair in the torments of hell. In the mean time, consider that everything in this world mustsoon end. Happy all that are saved; miserable the soul that is damned. Keep always in mind thatgreat maxim of Jesus Christ: “What doth it profit a man if lie gain the whole world and suffer theloss of his own soul?” This maxim has sent so many from the world to shut themselves up in thecloister, or to live in the deserts; it has inspired so many young persons with courage to forsakethe world in order to give themselves to God and to die a holy death.On the other hand, consider the unhappy lot of so many ladies of fortune, so manyprincesses and queens, who in the world have been attended, praised, honored, and almostadored; but if they are damned, what do they now find in hell of so much riches, of so manypleasures, of so many honors enjoyed in this life, but pains and remorse of conscience, whichwill torment them forever, as long as God shall be God, without any hope of remedy for theireternal ruin.But let us now cast a glance at the goods which the world gives in this life to itsfollowers, and to the goods which God gives to her who loves Him and forsakes the world forHis sake. The world makes great promises; but do we not all see that the world is a traitor thatpromises what it never performs? But though it should fulfill all its promises what does it give?It gives earthly goods, but does it give the peace and the life of happiness which it promises? Allits goods delight the senses and the flesh, but do not content the heart and the soul. Our soulshave been created by God for the sole purpose of loving Him in this life, and of enjoying him inthe next. Hence all the goods of the earth, all its delights, and all its grandeurs are outside theheart; they enter not into the soul, which God only can content. Solomon has even called allworldly goods vanities and lies, which do not content but rather afflict the soul. “Vanity of vanities and affliction of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). This we know also from experience, for wesee that the more a person abounds in these goods, the greater her anguish and misery of mind. If by its goods the world gave content to the soul, great indeed should be the happiness of princesses and queens, who want neither amusements, nor comedies, nor festivities, norbanquets, nor splendid palaces, nor beautiful carriages, nor costly dresses, nor precious jewels,nor servants, nor ladies of honor to attend and pay homage to them. But no; they who imaginethem to be happy are deceived. Ask them whether they enjoy perfect peace, if they are perfectlycontent, and they will answer: What peace? What content? They will tell you that they lead a lifeof misery, and that they know not what peace is. The maltreatment which they receive from theirhusbands, the displeasure caused by their children, the wants of the house, the jealousies andfears to which they are subject. make them live in the midst of continual anguish and bitterness.Married women may be called martyrs of patience if they bear all with resignation; but unlessthey are patient and resigned, they will suffer a martyrdom in this world, and a more painfulmartyrdom in the next.The remorse of conscience, though they had nothing else to suffer, keeps married personsin continual torment. Being attached to earthly goods, they reflect but little on spiritual things; they seldom approach the sacraments, and seldom recommend themselves to God; and, beingdeprived of these helps to a good life, they will scarcely be able to live without sin, and withoutcontinual remorse of conscience. Behold, then, how all the joys promised by the world becometo married persons sources of bitterness, of fears, and of damnation. How many of them will say,unhappy me, what will become of me after so many sins, after the life which I led, at a distancefrom God, always going from bad to worse? I would wish for retirement in order to spend a littletime in mental prayer, but the affairs of the family and of the house, which is always inconfusion, do not permit this. I would wish to hear sermons, to go to confession, to communicateoften; I would wish to go often to the church, but my husband does not wish it. My unceasingoccupations, the care of children, the frequent visits of friends, keep me confined to the house;and thus it is not without some difficulty that I can hear Mass at a late hour on festivals. Howgreat was my folly in entering the married state, when I could become a saint in a convent! Butall these lamentations only serve to increase their pain; because they see that it is no longer intheir power to change the unhappy choice they have made of living in the world. And if their lifeis unhappy, their death will be much more miserable. At that awful hour they will be surroundedby servants, by their husbands, and children, bathed in tears; but instead of giving them relief, allthese will be to them an occasion of greater affliction. And thus afflicted, poor in merits, and fullof fears for their eternal salvation, they must go to present themselves to Jesus Christ to beudged by Him. But, on the other hand, how great will be the happiness which a nun who has leftthe world for Jesus Christ will enjoy, living among so many spouses of God, and in a solitarycell, at a distance from the turmoils of the world, and from the continual and proximate danger of losing God, to which seculars are exposed. How much greater will be her consolation at death,after having spent her years in meditations, mortification. and in so many spiritual exercises; invisits to the Holy Sacrament, in confessions, Communions, acts of humility, of hope, and love of Jesus Christ! And though the devil should endeavor to terrify her by the faults committed in heryounger days, her Spouse, for whom she has left the world, will console her; and thus, full of confidence, she will die in the embraces of her crucified Redeemer, who will conduct her toheaven, that there she may enjoy eternal happiness.Thus, my dear sister, since you must make choice of a state of life, make the choice nowwhich you shall wish at death to have made. At death, every one who sees that for her the worldis about to end says, Oh that I had led the life of a saint! Oh that I had left the world and givenmyself to God! But what is then done, is done, and nothing remains for her but to breathe forthher soul, and to go to hear from Jesus Christ the words, Come, blessed soul, and rejoice with mefor eternity; or, Begone forever to hell, at a distance from me. You, then, must choose the worldor Jesus Christ. If you choose the world, you will probably sooner or later repent of the choice;hence you ought to reflect well upon it. In the world the number of persons who are lost is verygreat; in religion, the number of those who are damned is very small. Recommend yourself toJesus crucified, and to most holy Mary, that they may make you choose the state which is mostconducive to your eternal salvation. If you wish to become a nun, resolve to become a saint; if you intend to lead a loose and imperfect life, like some religious, it is useless for you to enter aconvent; you should then only lead an unhappy life and die an unhappy death. But if you resolvenot to become a religious. I cannot advise you to enter the married state, for St. Paul does notcounsel that state to any one, except in case of necessity, which I hope does not exist for you. Atleast remain in your own house and endeavor to become a saint. I entreat you to say thefollowing prayer for nine days: My Lord Jesus Christ, who hast died for my salvation, I imploreThee, through the merits of Thy Passion, to give me light and strength to choose that state which is best for my salvation. And do thou. O my Mother Mary! Obtain this grace for me by thypowerful intercession.

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To sanctify my life to God

A young Italian woman wrote me a wonderful letter. She titled it: “To sanctify my life to God” and I would like you to read it in order to edify your spiritual life. Here is the translation:

Dear Brother,

                       this week I had wonderful news! In spiritual direction, my director has joyfully welcomed my insistence in wanting to consecrate my life to God. He had recommended me some “time for a proper discernment”. In these three months I have not missed a day of going to Mass and to pray fervently to understand what the Lord wants from me, so I could accomplish His will in the best way. It is now clear to me the awareness of having to be all His.

Jesus seduced me with his extraordinary beauty, and with the words that He gives me every day through Holy Mass, He has conquered in Communion, took possession of my heart and my soul. Day after day he is courting me in a thousand ways. Sometimes takes over my human frailty and my boundless misery. He tests my loyalty, but Satan tries in every way to sow doubt in me. It happens especially during the Eucharistic adoration, the moment you look forward, as a fiancée who wants to run and keep from falling in love with him. He tries to destroy me with the suspicion that they are my wishes, that I'm too stupid and weak to join and consecrate my life to Jesus. But the good Lord knows our hearts and our fragility and He doesn’t make us do more than we are capable of.

With His grace, I'll get, stronger than before and even more convinced. So I understand that the test is a great grace that God gives us, because, clenching his hand and through His strength, we come out stronger than before. I fall in love with Him every day. In the morning I feel as close as only a lover can be. He fills me with attention during the day. His tenderness comes over me whenever I think of him and say his sweet name. So, you might be wondering what this “good news” is. I told the spiritual director that I cannot stay long in the world, so called for the establishment of the new congregation, we were talking about. And he said that before the summer they will start to build the church in the center of [...] and the monastery will be built close by there. The Heavenly Mother will let him know how this congregation will be. I'm so happy not to stay longer in my skin; literally, at times my soul seems to soar toward the heavenly homeland. At the moment no one knows my vocation, but the director and the friend I was telling you about, she has also received the call to consecrated life.

My mother is going to suspect something, but I have not said a single word on the subject. A few mornings ago, she wondered what these "secrets" were that I have with Father A., given that for three months we talked more often. She asked me if I wanted to become a nun, and I suggested to her that she asks God. She is doing the same journey of faith I am, with the difference that she has always been close to God and thanks to her prayers, God attracted me to him. She also always wanted a son, a priest, so I expected a very different reaction. She said that I should not become a nun (when people say "become a nun or a monk," they say it contemptuously), that I must have a family, who are not apt to live “shut in” and that we can love God even in this way. I waited until she went away, to hide tears. I didn’t say a single word to her about the issue, but now I am concerned for that day when I will talk about this to my parents. My friends certainly will laugh in my face and turn their backs; my relatives won’t understand and will tease me. Perhaps Jesus wants it. I am a very sensitive person and I hate in having to feel pain at every little foolishness, but with Jesus I am ready to face all the foes. If He wants me as his spouse, no one in the world can oppose His will.

For me and this project of life, I ask you for lots of prayers. I will return it certainly.

Best wishes in Jesus and Mary

(Signed letter)

The Happiest Woman in the World

We commonly think that nuns from enclosed orders have a boring and unhappy life. This is because the world has very little understanding of the spiritual forces.

A few years ago, I visited the enclosed female branch of the Servidoras. It was a moving experience to speak through the grid. Most of them were very young and their faces displayed a wide joy from inside. The time flew very fast and it was interesting to talk to them. They were very nice and kind. However, their charisma is to pray and do penance for the souls of everybody. Their apostolate is important for the Church, the mystical body of Christ. I think that even if it is difficult to understand, these nuns are the happiest Woman in the world.

Ser monja

¿Cómo llegar a ser monja? Consejos de escribr a las "Servidoras del Señor y de la Virgen de Matará". Entre las congregaciones religiosas en fuerte expansión está la de las “Servidoras del Señor y de la Virgen de Matará”, rama femenina de la Familia Religiosa del Verbo Encarnado, que en pocos años ha superado las mil y continúa suscitando más interés en las religiosas atraidas por la vida consagrada, basta pensar que tienen alrededor de 100 novicias y postulantes (por año), sin contar las aspirantes. Es un crecimiento en verdad extraordinario. Solo Dios puede ser el artífice de tal triunfo del amor.

Ser monja, el nuevo blog sobre la vocacion religiosa.

I think that I will not marry

A girl wrote me a letter...

Dear brother in Christ,

I am writing to you to share with you my story, a story of God's infinite Mercy and Love full of delicacy... You can publish it if you want, changing my name... but I have to sing the Mercies of the Lord, because He has liberated me from great evil. I have been in convent, not very observant in fact, even if sisters had good heart. Somehow suddenly I got very sick and demanded them expressely to go home. Than my spiritual suffering started. I was close to suicide, so strong was this interior suffering and noone could help me, neither priests nor doctors. I could not pray and finally, exhausted, I abandonned the prayer. But deep in my heart I loved God. I do not know how... Than I also abandonned good moral, unfortunately, falling in love in man who did not observe commandements. It was strange because deep in my heart I had this feeling that even than Jesus was the Spouse of my soul and therefore I should return to Him... many struggles came between this time and now... when some feeling told me to go to south of Poland, change environment, start over, return to God... I did so... and suddenly Jesus made that the boy who I was in love in felt in love with someone else... I felt so free when I told him that I will certainly pray for him and wish him luck, but also wish him God's love... since a little while we were not a couple any more and more and more I was telling him about God... he told me that he became a better person because of me and that there is something extraordinary in me... actually Jesus put a border between me and men so I cannot cross it any more... He saw my weekness and provided me help... and I actually think that I will not marry, Cordialiter. I think to remain single because I feel Jesus' call... I felt in love again with Him. I always think about HIs Heart, and want to dwell in it, and to console Him, and to be close to Him... I found inner peace while renouncing to idea of marriage... Everything became light again... I know that I am a sinner and feel unworthy to become a nun, even if strict closter attracts me so much, but I want to offer my penance and life to Jesus for souls who are maybe the most lost... Because I know that His Hand took me from the middle of sin. Actually my state became better when I have tried to pray again... and I feel so happy, and can't understand how is it possible to be loved so much by God... I would like to love Him now and during eternity... He really became my best friend, my Spouse, my Father, my everything...

I would like to tell everyone - it is never to late to come back to Him. And actually we only have to have this will - He will do the rest.

Because He is Love... Without limits, pure and holy...

May He bless you, dear Cordialiter...

(signed letter)

Entering the Monastery

Here some fragments of a interesting work of Saint Alfonso Maria de Liguori entitled “familiar speech  to a girl who is going to take the religious habit”. I suggest the reading of this speech to all the girls who are still looking for their vocation.

Devout damsel you must keep alive the memory of this lucky day in which you are going to marry Jesus Christ to thank him for this great favour. Don’t think that Jesus owes a debt of gratitude because you leave the world for you love him; but you should have eternal gratitude for the grace of being called to renounce the world. Today you renounce the world: do you believe to lose such a big thing? Earth of thorns, tears and sorrows. The world promises big things to his followers; pleasures, delights and peace: but all ands in deceptions, bitterness and vanities. The same wealth, honours, pleasures become pain and sorrow. Extrema gaudii luctus occupat. May the Lord have mercy on all those blinds who love the world and let their mourning not be an everlasting mourning; because in the world the danger to lose the soul Heaven and God are many, big and inevitable. Poor those girls who deceived by the false promises of the world, leave Jesus Christ and follow the world. They hope to find there pleasures and joy but, poor ones! I say, because they found nothing else than bitterness and thorns, as the experience shows. […] Ask, ask all the married women if one of them is happy. From my experience I say I never found happy one married woman but all of them unhappy and in troubles. But ask those nuns who renounced the world for God and you will see that they want nothing but God, ask if they are happy and they will answer that they always thank god who freed them from the world.[…] In short, if you would have remained in the world, do you think you could get a more powerful spouse than a knight or a noble or a monarch? But you are going to marry the King of Heaven and of all offer the reigns of the earth. How many holy virgins have renounced the weddings with the firsts lords of the earth to be brides of Jesus Christ! […] Leave my dear doughter, leave the young ladies who love the world, all the amusements, vanities, beautiful dresses, comedies, banquets and parties, enjoy Jesus Christ. He, in your cell will make you happier than any of those pleasures, luxuries and richness whom belong to the queens of the earth. There, in your solitary cell, you will enjoy Heaven and a continuous peace. If you love Jesus Christ, you will love the solitude of your cell. In it, your crucified Spouse will intimately speak to your heart; from his cross he will send to your mind, rays of light and burning arrows of holy love to your heart. And têt à têt in your cell with him, you will show him the love you bear him, you will unceasingly offer him yourself and all which belongs to you.You will ask him to grant you the graces you need .You will  tell him your anguishes, fears which make you suffer and He will console you. Do not doubt, the divine Spouse will always console you in life and much more at the hour of your death[…] I said that the women who gave themselves completely to the Lord, enjoy a continuous peace; I’m speaking of the peace which is possible to enjoy on earth, which is called Vale of tears. In Heaven God prepares for us the perfect and fully peace, deprived of any troubles are theubles. This world is for us place where we can earn merits, that’ s why place of sorrow trough which is possible to earn heavenly joys. And truly the Spouse this morning you are going to marry with, although the noblest, the richest, the most powerful you could chose, is called Spouse of blood[…]. He shed all his blood because of scourges, thorns and cloves, to save your soul and all the other souls. Here, now, the lover Jesus goes ahead and calls you to follow him as the bride does. Look at him how he appears: not crowned with flowers but thorn; not robbed with golden precious dresses but with blood and wounds: look at his regal throne where he lies, nothing more than a hard cross where he is on the point of death and where in deep sorrows and disgrace dies for love of you.[…] something else I ask you, when you will take the religious habit to renew every day the promise which you have done, to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Love and fidelity the previous qualities of a bride. For you will receive a ring, sign of fidelity to the love you have promised Jesus But to keep faithful do not trust yourself, your promise; you need to pray always Jesus and His Holy Mother to grant you the holy perseverance; trust with confidence in Mary’s intercession, as she is the Mother of Perseverance. And when you find yourself cool in the divine love and attract to love something else which is not God, remember this other warning: to avoid to fall in tepidity or love of earthly things, say to yourself: why did I renounce the world, my home, my family? Perhaps  to be damned? This thought used to strengthen Saint Bernard,  to take again the way of perfection, when he felt himself tepid. But now it’s time to stop speaking because it’s your Bridegroom who wants I stop. He is longing to see you entering his home. Here, look  his jubilant waiting, listen his loving call, so you can enter in His Royal Palace, which is this monastery. Go and enter joyfully  for your Bridegroom’s welcomes of this morning in receiving you in His home is like a deposit of the welcome at the hour of your death when he will receive you in his heavenly Reign.

Vocation nun

One of today's new religious order that is fast increasing is the "Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará" (also called " Servidoras"). In just a few years this community counts more than 1,000 members and the demand to enter this order continues to grow in girls that feel attracted to the consecrated life. One must look at the fact that they have over ninety novices and postulants without counting the numerous requests that pour in from those who aspire to join. This expotential growth is truly extraordinary. Only God could be behind this triumph of love!

The majority of the Servidoras work in the active life, however they also have the cloister for those girls attracted by the contemplative life. Those who work in the active life fight daily the good battle of faith in many fronts: working in apostolates amongst the youth and the elderly, charity towards the poor, apostolates of culture in teaching in foreign missions and local parishes. They work in pre-school nursery, in schools and in publications, they offer spiritual retreats, assist in vocations, summer camps, they assist the sick and disabled and provide material sustenance to the hungry poor and destitute. In other words anywhere there is a need for evangelizing the Servidoras are present with their joyous fervent zeal with their apostolate.

Their founder Fr. Carlos Miguel Buela is also the founder of the priests of the Religious Family of the Word Incarnate ( the Servidoras is the female branch). He imparted to these nuns his catching"'apostolic" and "missionary" spirit and by which one can be easily moved. In the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará one can see the same "thirst" to save souls like in St. Ignatius of Loyola and St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.

Most religious orders will not accept girls that are over 35 years old, the Servidoras accept candidates of all ages but they must have clear signs of a vocation. Girls that have been unable to find a good spiritual director will be equally able to test their vocation in the convent where they will be assisted through a healthy discernment process. It is also possible to find a good spiritual director amongst the many priests that belong to their male branch  the Religious Family of the Word Incarnate. These priests receive a good spiritual and doctrinal preparation. Those who have a desire to embrace the consecrated life in this order must take the vows of poverty,chastity and obedience and also take a fourth one, that of "slaves of Mary" after the teachings of St. Louis Mary Grignion de Monfort. This vow consists in a loving slavery to which one offers herself totally to Jesus through Mary.

The apostolic zeal of this young religious order is hartening. I hope that the Lord will continue to flood it with numerous vocations. There is a great need of souls dedicated to the apostolic work not only in  mission lands but also in the United States of America and Europe where there is an advanced secularizzation and materialistic neo-paganism. Those who would like to experience their vocation with the Servidoras or simply request more information on the consecrated life they can contact these nuns directly at: ssvmvocations@servidoras.org

Do not refuse the calling

Some time ago I received a letter from a tearful girl wishing to launch a heartfelt appeal…

Dear brother in Christ,

                                     I am writing to offer my experience which I hope can be of help to all those girls who feel the calling to a religious life. I am a 20 years old girl who, despite such a young age, has lived intensely and enjoyed every minute, with no regrets.

When I was only 12, I started almost by chance to attend a strict order which led me to love Christ and his Church immensely. Since I was a little girl, I have always thought that one day I would give myself to Christ […] and live in what I called my true home: a convent of my order. My parents never gave me permission to enter a convent and so I waited in trepidation to reach the age of 18. Then, while everybody was busy organising a party for my special birthday, I started in great secret to prepare my soul to donate myself to my beloved. A few months after my eighteenth birthday, I left home telling my parents that I was going on a retreat like no other, and that I would be back in a month or two. And so I started my journey under the guidance of holy sisters: loyal to the order and observant people who would donate their own lives to remain faithful to their creed. I felt such a joy inside that I thought nobody would ever be able to take it away from me. I was aware that I would meet some difficulties on the way but also aware that this equally happens to two people who are in love. Soon my parents realised that mine would have been a journey with no return and so, heartbroken, they came to see me and with tears in their eyes begged me to come home […] I went home but with the hope that I would be leaving again soon. And indeed, only after a few weeks, I left home again to get back to the same order but, this time, to its enclosed section. And I am talking about a strict and truly enclosed order: the nuns of the Poor Clares of the Immaculate Conception, whom you also mentioned in your blog. I have never felt such an immense joy in my whole life and I am sure I will never experience it ever again. Despite being behind the grille, I felt free, which may be difficult to believe, but that was the way I felt and for me it was the antechamber of Heaven. And even today, I would give anything to be able to go back there. I am writing with tears in my eyes and heartbroken to beg you not to spur anyone to abandon their path of consacration to Christ because by doing so, believe me, one dies for real. Currently I am engaged and live in a wealthy family. I am studying and I have everything one could wish for… yet, I am missing everything and I would give my own life to turn back time by a few years. But unfortunately this is not possible. I carry on living in the hope of being able to experience once again at least a little happiness. I beg you in the name of Christ and of the Virgin Mary to do anything to encourage and help those who are tempted to give up and leave. Please tell them that happiness lies only in the path which Christ has chosen for us.

Thank you for your blog.

Dearest sister in Christ,

                                      Thank you for your testimony which I believe will be helpful to all those people who are unsure about which way of life to choose.

But in your letter, I noticed some discouragement. Dearest, every Christian must have hope in God and so one will not be afraid of anything, and spiritual happiness must always harbour in one’s soul. So, cheer up! Even though your situation may appear jeopardised to you, you must hope against hope. Are you sure you are not able to embrace a religious life with the Poor Clares of the Immaculate Conception or in another religious order? And what if perhaps God wants you to be the new Zélie Guérin (mother of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux)? But anyway, you can not live the rest of your life in regret, entrust yourself to Mary, Mediatrix of all graces, and you will be able to see that there is a solution.

Should you wish to write to me again, I hope with all my heart to hear you in a cheerful mood and full of spiritual joy. I care very much for the eternal salvation of your soul, because Christ paid on the Cross a dear price for you. Be always confident in Jesus and in the Virgin Mary!

I encourage you to embrace God’s will and I greet you fraternally in Cordibus Jesu et Mariae,

Cordialiter

Can you help me?

You know French or Spanish or Italian? Do you want to help me to translate into English some posts on the religious vocation?

Write me at: cordialiter@gmail.com

New religious community of Benedictine nuns in Quebec

A very small group of ladies attached to the Tridentine Latin Mass would like to found a new religious community of Benedictine nuns in Quebec, with the help of God, and their Bishop's support.

It's too soon at the moment to tell more about it, but it would be Benedictine nuns with a TLM, a bit like the Benedictines of Mary Queen of the Apostles (USA), or the Benedictines of Le Barroux (France). There isn't any other religious community with a regular TLM in Canada. All ladies who are interested have to travel to the US. and ask for a Visa or other things. It makes it complicated. A lot of vocations get lost due to that, as most communities refuse the TLM. Solid and steadfast vocations end up with giving up. These young ladies are willing to help those vocations, God willing, and to live their Benedictine ideal that has always been the best for them, though they never found what they were looking for in Quebec.

If you were ever interested in this project, to help, to support them, to take part it it, contact Cordialiter (cordialiter@gmail.com) and he shall put you in touch with them. They need prayers.

Dolores Hart, from movie star to spouse of Jesus christ

All stories about vocation are beautiful because they all are love storie. Some of them, though, provoke astonishment as they involve characters “beyond suspicion”.

Dolores Hart was a young Hollywood star, whose beauty pulled huge crowds to cinemas, and directors were willing to pay anything to have her starring in their films. Success, jewellery, pleasure, fun, amusement., she basically had all that anybody could wish for on this earth. Vanitas vanhtatum, vanity of vanities, all is vanity except to love God and serve Him alone. Earthly goods cannot satisfy the human heart, which has been created only to love God and becomes restless when not resting on Him.

Mary, Mediatrix of all graces, was watching over Dolores whom the Lord wanted as his chaste spouse. The young, blonde actress played Saint Clare in a film about Saint Francis ofAssisi (the two photos on this post are from the film), and had the opportunity to meet his Holiness the Pope. With time she realized that Jesus was calling her to the cloister life of the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut, USA. Between the general astonishment and outcry from the media and the international public, she left everything behind and decided to wear the Benedictine habit. In the silence and concentration offered by the cloister life, she finally found herself truly happy.

The gate of convent is closed for me forever

A Polish girl wrote me a letter

Dear,

          I write to you to share my joy with you. Little by little, my health goes better, and I am able not only to work, but also to pray, which was impossible for much time. This time with Jesus is sweet as never before. I am able to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, finding peace of heart and goodness of Lord. But also strength to be full of charity and compassion for others. You see, my sickness is a gift of the Lord, a cross, but so long I did not have the courage to love it really deeply. Than I understood how little I have to be to live, as Sainte Therese says, not as an adult, but as a child, and find little ways to console Jesus, as I am unable to do these that are great. I can't fast, I can't say long prayers, I can't even go for the Mass every day. So, I asked little Therese what to do... and she gave me the answer, answer is LOVE... wise, sweet and never tired. This love is a center of our religion, a heart of Church... love going through silent immolation of our own will to fulfill the Will of God... I found a good priest who even believed that I could go to Carmel, he is so good. But I know how Sainte Therese of Avila judged admission to such convents... I have no illusions.

Dear D., I found a lot of joy reading your blog, even if I know that the gate of convent is closed for me forever. But I also know that THE SPIRIT of religious life can be lived even in the world, if we have straight intention. It is of course better to live in a convent, it is simpler, when we are called... but how sweet is to abandon in the Heart of Jesus all our dreams, even the most noble. And to live in the world not being from it... as St John the Apostle teaches.

I pray for you... may Divine Heart grant you a lot of consolation for the work that you are doing for souls seeking the top of the Mountain of Perfection...

Your sister in Jesus,

(signed letter)

Looking for the Happiness

Every human being wants to find her/his own happiness. However this good could be given only by God. A blog reader was overwhelmed by sadness, until she found the joy of life thanks to Jesus Eucharist.

Dear Cordialiter,

                            How are you? I have just come back from a wonderful experience. I had volunteered in a camp for kids organized by a parrish which was in great need of help. I must say that I really needed it. It was the greatest gift of the Lord. When I first arrived, I was sad and listless. I came back happy and willing to shout loud the love of our Lord with everybody. Many things happened. The Lord spoke to me in every possible way through the questions to the kids, through the various activities and games, through the people I met, through the Eucharistic adoration. I would have stayed for hours by contemplating my Beloved. The Lord made me meet a group of nuns who were always very welcoming and nice to me. They asked me if I never thought to dedicate my life to the Lord. A seminarian, who is just one year older than me, made me feel every day the embrace of our Father.

It was a wonderful experience. It was a camp of ongoing sharing among the other educators and it was the camp where my Beloved was with me every day and let me touch Him by hand. I still have a lot of fear to dedicate myself to Him, but I am happy now and I want to understand more in depth if I will become engaged to Him in order to become His bride. [...]

A hug, let's keep united to Christ and Mary,

(signed letter)

Dear sister in Christ,

                                  I am so happy you found the serenity of the Christian life. It is encouraging to know that the nuns noticed your potentiality for a religious life. I have understood from what you wrote that you feel very unconfortable in the secular world. I can't wait to know that you have abandoned this treacherous world to join an ardent and devout religious order, where you could live with the good Jesus for the rest of your life.

In Corde Matris,

Cordialiter

Can you help me?

Dear, questo blog riporta tradotti nella vostra lingua alcuni post del mio blog italiano sulla “Vocazione religiosa”. Se tra voi c'è qualcuno che comprende sufficientemente bene l'italiano ed è disposto a tradurre in inglese alcuni brevi post, è pregato di contattarmi all'indirizzo: cordialiter@gmail.com

Grazie per la collaborazione!

Help vocations

A Polish girl wants to help me...

Dear Brother in Jesus,

                                      Thank You for writing to me. It is my dream to return to the convent but unfortunately it is not possible... but instead, I pray for holy vocations, for the souls who would console Jesus and His sweet Heart with their love. He has come to put the fire of love on earth, and what is His desire, if not that this fire burns? My Mother is 76 now and I have to take care of her, I'm her only daughter. It is sweet to love Jesus together - we join our prayers often. And the charity between us is growing. It is my big consolation, that, in the middle of the world, we are living a little bit like sisters. Besides, I'm seriuosly sick right now. I will have to be on medications until the end of my life. But how good is to offer everything... to leave my will and let the Will of God become reality in my life!

I would like to help You with the translations in Polish. This would be a honor for me to help You... and You are so right - it is no use to enter the falling convent... and to help a vocation, what a joy! It is like the mission of saint John the Baptist, to prepare the road for God... and then, when He arrives, we shall become little, and He should grow...

God had certainly inspired You to promote religious life... You are in my prayers... friends of the Lord are mine :)

Me too, I'm 32... and so many things I have to learn... for exemple, how to love Jesus... I do not know why I am opening my heart to You, somehow I feel You would understand... if I take Your time, please forgive me...

I love gregorian... it is so peacefull and full of deep respect towards God.

May the Lord bless You,

Kind regards,

(signed letter)

Catholic websites

The Consecrated Life, deeply rooted in the example and teaching of Christ the Lord, is a gift of God the Father to his Church through the Holy Spirit. By the profession of the evangelical counsels the characteristic features of Jesus — the chaste, poor and obedient one — are made constantly "visible" in the midst of the world and the eyes of the faithful are directed towards the mystery of the Kingdom of God already at work in history, even as it awaits its full realization in heaven.

In every age there have been men and women who, obedient to the Father's call and to the prompting of the Spirit, have chosen this special way of following Christ, in order to devote themselves to him with an "undivided" heart (cf. 1 Cor 7:34). Like the Apostles, they too have left everything behind in order to be with Christ and to put themselves, as he did, at the service of God and their brothers and sisters. In this way, through the many charisms of spiritual and apostolic life bestowed on them by the Holy Spirit, they have helped to make the mystery and mission of the Church shine forth, and in doing so have contributed to the renewal of society.

[Text from "Vita Consecrata, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation", John Paul II, LEV]


Spanish's blog on the religious life: Monjas de clausura.

Italian's website: Diventare prete.

Becoming a nun

Becoming a nun? One of today's new religious order that is fast increasing is the "Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará" (also called " Servidoras"). In just a few years this community counts more than 1,000 members and the demand to enter this order continues to grow in girls that feel attracted to the consecrated life. One must look at the fact that they have over ninety novices and postulants without counting the numerous requests that pour in from those who aspire to join. This expotential growth is truly extraordinary. Only God could be behind this triumph of love!

The majority of the Servidoras work in the active life, however they also have the cloister for those girls attracted by the contemplative life. Those who work in the active life fight daily the good battle of faith in many fronts: working in apostolates amongst the youth and the elderly, charity towards the poor, apostolates of culture in teaching in foreign missions and local parishes. They work in pre-school nursery, in schools and in publications, they offer spiritual retreats, assist in vocations, summer camps, they assist the sick and disabled and provide material sustenance to the hungry poor and destitute. In other words anywhere there is a need for evangelizing the Servidoras are present with their joyous fervent zeal with their apostolate.

Their founder Fr. Carlos Miguel Buela is also the founder of the priests of the Religious Family of the Word Incarnate ( the Servidoras is the female branch). He imparted to these nuns his catching"'apostolic" and "missionary" spirit and by which one can be easily moved. In the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará one can see the same "thirst" to save souls like in St. Ignatius of Loyola and St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.

Most religious orders will not accept girls that are over 35 years old, the Servidoras accept candidates of all ages but they must have clear signs of a vocation. Girls that have been unable to find a good spiritual director will be equally able to test their vocation in the convent where they will be assisted through a healthy discernment process. It is also possible to find a good spiritual director amongst the many priests that belong to their male branch  the Religious Family of the Word Incarnate. These priests receive a good spiritual and doctrinal preparation. Those who have a desire to embrace the consecrated life in this order must take the vows of poverty,chastity and obedience and also take a fourth one, that of "slaves of Mary" after the teachings of St. Louis Mary Grignion de Monfort. This vow consists in a loving slavery to which one offers herself totally to Jesus through Mary.

The apostolic zeal of this young religious order is hartening. I hope that the Lord will continue to flood it with numerous vocations. There is a great need of souls dedicated to the apostolic work not only in  mission lands but also in the United States of America and Europe where there is an advanced secularizzation and materialistic neo-paganism. Those who would like to experience their vocation with the Servidoras or simply request more information on the consecrated life they can contact these nuns directly at: ssvmvocations@servidoras.org

Letter of encouragement

A Polish girl wrote me a letter of encouragement ...

Dear Friend!

I have read your blog with joy - it is a great and beautiful work to encourage to follow Jesus. I have spent some time in different congregations and still have a beautifull memory of them. Unfortunately, my health does not permit me to be a sister. Every time I was in convent I was sick, and sickness was dissapearing when I came home. It was a difficult experience... my greatest dream was to become a cloistered dominican, but I am not worthy of this vocation... still, I look Jesus into His Heart and know He loves me... and I desire to answer that Love... With time, I have learned to accept my humble vocation in the world... but still I have contact with dominicans, they are a sign for me, a sign of brightness in the middle of incredulity so much present today... and I pray for holy vocations, hoping that in Heaven we will all meet in the Love of God, sisters and me... and the souls.

I wish I could return to the convent!

Your friend in Jesus,

(signed letter)

Dear sister in Christ,

                                  I'm glad you like the blog on the religious vocations. I'm italian, do you speak my language?

I really hope you can return to live in a convent, if this is the will of God.

Sincerely in Jesus and Mary,

Cordialiter

Confession

The enemy of human kind tries to keep souls away from Jesus Christ by instilling absurd fears in us such as an exaggerated worry of not being able to confess properly. Here is a passage from a letter I received from a girl:

One of my main problems is that I am not sure whether I do things in the right way: whether I confess correctly or whether I receive Communion the way I should or whether I pray well and so on… and this uncertainty makes me avoid taking Communion, praying and so forth. If I only knew that the Lord would be happy with my confession, even before starting, I would run and do it. Unfortunately, I halt in front of a God of Love, who is perhaps calling me to dedicate myself to Him but I am afraid of approaching Him. Pray for me, that the Lord will give me the courage to do what He is expecting of me!

Dear sister in Christ,

                                   We have been in touch by email for the past few months and I am glad that during this time you have kept following the path of spirituality and of vocational discernment. You must never give up and always progress on the path of Christian perfection. Do not worry excessively about the sins you have committed because the Lord is kind and willingly forgives us when we confess with sincere contrition. Nobody is worthy to become Jesus’s bride, because He is God and we are Eve’s children and therefore sinners. When the Lord grants the gift of vocation to someone, He doesn’t choose according to that person’s merits, it is just a gift of pure love. If you are to become a sister (and I do hope you do), it won’t be because of your merits, but only because this is what Jesus wants, because He is Good.

The devil does not want you to live according to Christianity and so he tries to keep you away from Jesus by making you sad and discouraged. When people are discouraged and demoralised, the devil finds it easy to keep them away from praying and from Communion. You must not fall into this trap!

You cannot live without Jesus anymore because, if your love for him is cold, you will experience much suffering in your heart. You must love Jesus even if the world is full of distractions and temptations; this is why I hope you will enter a monastery. There, it will be easy for you to live in Christian fervour and concentrate on loving Jesus with all your heart, without being distracted by the pointless earthly things.

You must try to live Christianity with joy and stay away from unnecessary fears. You must pray every day without being afraid of “praying wrongly”, the only important thing is not to let your mind wander during prayer. It would also be good if you start a dialogue with Jesus and Mary. Yes, you can talk to them frankly, telling them your problems, your sorrows and your wishes but, most of all, telling them that you love them and that you will love them for the rest of eternity. Saint Alphonsus wrote a very nice booklet explaining how to have a dialogue with God.

Do not be afraid of Confession; the important thing is to be truly sorry for the sins one has committed, and whilst it is sufficient to confess only the mortal sins, one can also mention the venial ones. To commit a mortal sin one must have followed this path: “this thing that I am going to do is a serious sin which will certainly offend God and I am fully aware of it and I accept that I am totally responsible for it”. If you are not aware of the seriousness of the sin or you are not fully aware of your actions or if it is something which happens against your will, then you can be certain that you haven’t committed a mortal sin.

If you are not absolutely sure that one of your actions is a mortal sin, you do not need to confess it. Absolution has the power to forgive all sins, even the ones you haven’t confessed because you were sure they weren’t mortal. Anyway, if your confessor is a good clergyman, you can talk to him and tell him your doubts and what is on your conscience and he will help you to understand whether what you have done has to be considered a mortal sin, a venial one or even simply a minor worry.

The devil does not want you to take Communion, because this is the way you become one with Christ: He becomes yours and you become His. When Jesus is inside you, you must talk of love to Him, tell Him that you love Him and that you will love Him more and more because He deserves so. You must tell Him that you are prepared to offer your life to Him, that you love only Him and that you wish that everyone would love Him and that He could reign in everybody’s heart. Tell Him that you wish for all souls to be saved and that they join Him in the sky, loving Him to eternity and tell Him that you would prefer to die than commit even one single conscious sin.

Your conscience is very delicate and so, if you are not sure whether you committed a mortal sin, you should assume that you have not. People with a delicate conscience like you, do indeed know when they commit a mortal sin, they are absolutely certain about it, with no doubts whatsoever.

After you have confessed your sins, you can keep receiving Communion until you are sure you haven’t committed any mortal sin. Theologians teach us that if you are in doubt whether you committed a mortal sin or not, you can still take Communion but you should recite beforehand an act of contrition. This is a prayer with which you ask God forgiveness for all your sins, not because you would deserve a punishment, but because you have offended Him who is infinitely good and worthy of our love beyond anything else. Taking Communion will keep away all your doubts and worries but, most importantly, will keep away the temptations of the devil who wants to prevent you from taking Communion and therefore keeping you away from Jesus Christ. Taking Communion will give you strength to resist temptations, will give you more fervour in praying and will make you more charitable towards God and your fellow man.

I hope I have been of some help to you but I am always available for any further clarification.

In Jesus and Mary,

Cordialiter

Communion in the hand

"Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand".

(Mother Teresa at St. Agnes Church, New York in 1989)

Vocation priest

Dear Cordialiter,

                              [...] I often visit your interesting blog!

It does my soul good to know that there are so many witnesses of people (also young people) who do speak about spiritual things, while everything which surrounds us so superficial is. Thank you also for your answers which arrive directly to my heart.

Because your blog treats vocations and because I thing that wittiness’s of holy priests are necessary I would like to remember Father Angelo, since a year has passed from his death, happened 21st November 2010. He was always available for everybody, always ready to comfort those which were in suffering, with little words but with a huge charity. One glance, one word from him and difficulties seemed easier to overcome. Coherent in everything he taught and indicated: he was the first to practice what he said. Patience, discreetness, mildness and humility were his characteristics. He has totally lived the charisma of Don Bosco. Father Angelo has never spared himself and he knew how to involve and interest people. He was animated by a strong spirituality, by love to Our Lord Jesus, to Mary Help of Christians, to Don Bosco and to the Catholic Church.

Thank you for everything,

(signed letter)

Dear sister in Christ,

                                   I am happy to know that you continue to follow my blog. It’s a joy for me to know that there are other people who still interest themselves in spiritual arguments.

Don Bosco said that a Priest never alone goes to Paradise or hell: with him always go a lot of souls, or saved by his holy Ministry and his good example, or lost with his negligence in fulfilling his duties and with his bad example.

Therefore we have to pray the Lord that He sends us many and holy Priests who zeal for the goodness of the souls.

I greet you cordially in Corde Regis,

Cordialiter

Soeurs de clôture

I thank Our Lord that He let me find nothing but bitterness in human affections. I should have been caught easily, and had my wings clipped...Our Lord knew that I was far too weak to face temptation; He knew that I would certainly have burnt myself in the bewildering light of earthly things, and so He did not let it shine in my eyes. Where stronger souls find joy but remain detached because they are faithful, I found only misery.

[Quoted in "The Hidden Face", Ida Gorres]

Blog in French Marie de Jésus Deluil-Martiny and Soeurs de clôture.

Roeping

New Dutch blog about religious vocation: Roeping.

For contacts, write to cordialiter@gmail.com

Vow to Mary

The Servants of the Lord and of the Virgin of Matarà profess the traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience plus a forth vow of servitude to Mary, according to the spirituality of Saint Louis Marie Grignon de Monfort, the great apostle of the devotion to Mary. The vow to Mary means that the Servants do belong entirely to Mary Queen of the Sky, who will use the servants, by making herself present in their apostolate. The Servants make available all their talents to Mary's saving mission. The result of this practice is to make your life more close to the path of Mary's life.

The ultimate goal of our life is God, and it is easier to reach him by following the path and the prayers of the Virgin Mary. If you want to bring souls to God, you have to spread the devotion to Mary. She has participated fully in the redemption of the world. She is mediator between the grace of God and us. The vow to Mary is a vow to her love to all the human beings and those who profess that love will find fullfilment and joy by Her, who is a Mother.

Numerous Vocations to the Servidoras Order in the United States

In the United States, it is surprising to see how many vocations the Servidoras Order receives as a gift of God. There are currently 5 postulants and 13 novices. This is extraordinary!

Several American religious orders have not attracted any vocation for the past 40 years. How could it be possible for the Servidoras Order to get so many vocations? First of all, this is merite and gift of God, for He calls people to the religious life. Second, I think that those graces have been generated by the contemplative branch of the Order, the enclosed nuns. Third, the vocational success also depends upon the life style conducted by the active branch of the Order. A life style which is fervent, joyful, and apostolic. The nuns' good example is a powerful magnet drawing young girls in vocational discernment.

I hope that the "Servants of God and of the Virgin of Matara'" will continue to grow and to spread widely. The world is in great need of apostolic nuns working ardently to safe the souls for the greater glory of God.

Institute of the Incarnate Word

One of the blog's main purposes is to give the broadest possible publicity to the best religious orders. Among the male orders, I personally deem particularly well the Institute of the Incarnate Word, which was set up in 1984 by Fr. Carlos Miguel Buela.

I do appreciate very much the devotion whom the affiliates celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with. I do also highly esteem their faith to the Pontifical Ministry, their adherence to St.Thomas of Aquinas' doctrine, and the frequent use of cassock. I also like very much their missionary spirit, as they have sent missionaries in very difficult scenarios, i.e. Irak, Palestine, Egypt, Kazakstan, Albania and other countries where the priests' life is in constant danger. The Fathers of the Institute of the Incarnate Word are mainly employed in the apostolate of the parish activities.

Their apostolic zeal attracts many young men. The Institute gathers many new vocations and it is nowadays one of the few expanding religious institutes. I hope that the vocations will keep increasing, because the Catholic Church needs new priests and consacrated father endowed with a good ascetic and doctrinal preparation, with fraternal charity, and strenous dedication to the salvation of the redeemed by the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

Young men and boys interested in the Institute may contact the American community for a vocational experience. Their e-mail address is prov.immaculate.conception@ive.org