Lover of Truth said,
I looked into the priesthood/religious life from 1994 - 2000. Carmalites, diocesan Priesthood, Oblates of the Blessed Virgin, Society of Saint John, Society of Saint Peter, The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (EWTN). Communion in the hand was an issue for me as was having to offer the Mass facing the people if it was televised.
I have also looked into the religious life. I'm a convert and this is my twentieth year in the Church. In my first year I discovered, quite by chance, the Traditional Mass and I can remember thinking - THIS is Catholicism. But it has taken me years to begin to understand what has happened to the Church. I have been through all the stages, from the Indult groups, to the SSPX and now to being almost certain that the Sedevacantists are right. But what now? All I know is that I cannot live without the Mass, the true Mass, that is, and the SVs advise against attending 'Una cuм' Masses. This is part of the reason I avoid Traditionalist groups, who seem to oppose each other as much as they oppose the Conciliarists, and instead I opt for independent priests who offer the true Mass.
As for vocations, thwarted or otherwise - we are in an emergency situation and I try to imagine what it must have been like for Catholics who lived through the Reformation and saw any hope they might have had for a restoration growing less with every passing year. In the meantime, what can Traditionalists without the marriage vocation do? Perhaps the first step lies in acknowledging this and then looking for ways to organise for mutual support and the support of others.
We have taken similar paths. As a rule I would say CMRI is best, then Independent, then the cult SSPV if you can attend the Mass and stay out of the firing line. Independent Priests can be quite good as they are not tied to any forced political agenda i.e. SVs are schismatic, CMRI and Thuc are schismatic etc. etc.
My thought in your regard is that God knew what would happen with the Church before it happened and knew you would not have a vocation despite having a vocation :smile: if that makes any sense. So this does not necessarily mean that you are not called to the marriage life. It is good you are resigned to not getting married but I would not close myself off to it entirely if I were you, but merely be resigned to God's will, whatever that is, even if His will for you right now is not to know His will. This truly could be His will for you right now so as to give you the opportunity to prove you desire His will alone no matter what it is.
Being single you have the opportunity to live the religious life in a sense. Going to daily Mass if possible, weekly Confession, to the same Priest if possible, as this is as close as one can come to having a spiritual director if you cannot have one. You can pray the Office and or the fifteen decade Rosary daily. Whatever your state in life reasonably allows. A certain amount of time for spiritual (and theological) reading and meditation (before the Blessed Sacrament if possible) each day. And some exercise and relaxation each day.
When considering the choices out their for marriage, even, and perhaps especially in traddie land, single is not so bad. I am quite serious. Most human beings will disappoint you. But don't close yourself off to marriage unless you are sure you are not called. Let things take there natural course.
Have certain standards for men below which you will not go in regards to Catholic marriage, children, how you educate them, how you dress, whether you will hold different opinions in regards to the crisis at all, and if so will you do so in front of your children or not, (whether you will have a live-in relative in your house (don't! [unless absolutely unavoidable, and lay down the ground rules for that person ahead of time and leave yourself an out, such as them not being able to live with you if you if they do not conform to acceptable behavior before your children for example, or if they side with him against you or vice versa and nose into things they shouldn't]). Go into potential relationships open to the best result but not counting on it. Don't make your happiness depend on whether you get married or not or if so and so really loves you or not. You know all this I'm sure, but sometimes it is good to hear or be reminded of it. People will eliminate themselves and you will know the right one when you find him.
In normal times you may have had a vocation but these, as you know, are not normal times. And God knows this, so in a sense you really did not have a vocation. Though you really can live a life consecrated to Jesus through Mary as a religious would without formally being a religious under one with habitual jurisdiction. And if the right man comes along, he was meant to come along. If he doesn't he was not meant to. When one is completely resigned to God's will one will not come off as to rigid to approach or to desperate to be worthy.
You could look into CMRI. They do have sisters and I believe they are relatively safe. Their official teaching on harvesting organs from the brain-dead is off, and they may be off a bit on NFP but I don't think that should prevent one, especially a sister who will not have to teach on those issues, from a formal religious life with them.
Organizing support and mutual support for others? Please know I am no expert and everything I have written should be taken with a grain of salt but verified or renounced in approved Catholic writings, but in my opinion, just because of the world and how even traditional Catholics are today, even those who go to daily Mass and weekly Confession and are supposedly in a state of sanctifying grace, they just disappoint. They will do more harm than good and be an occasion of sin to you. This is generally speaking, my experience, and the experience of my few close friends across the country. When God comes again He may find neither faith or charity. It is truly sad. Priests and laity alike will disappoint, but don't let it scandalize you. I feel like I'm talking to myself. You may not benefit from this advice as there could well be many good people who would offer beneficial support. Just don't be surprised if they don't after appearing like they would and showing initial promise.
I would just live my spiritual life alone, of course daily Mass is communal, and socializing can result. But God alone in the Blessed Sacrament is enough to prop you up in the spiritual life so as to persevere unto the end and die a happy death after a life of daily Mass, Divine Office and or Daily Rosary, spiritual (and theological) reading, rest recreation each day.
Again, for your personality, I may have given you the complete opposite of what is best for you in some aspects in regards to eternity, but if you go to Mass, Confession, and pray as much as is reasonably possible you will be guided correctly. Wear the brown scapular and miraculous medal and consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary by the way Saint Louis Marie De Monfort, the book can be obtained through Angelus Press. I'm sure you already know most if not all of this, but I throw it out there just in case one thing I say might benefit you.
If I were to follow my own advice I would stay away from this forum more as this can be a hindrance to the spiritual life and an occasion of sin against charity and for pride.
But if you keep posting here, can you let us know in a few years how your spiritual life has progressed?
Topic: Different degrees of immaturity and selfishness (Read 3682 times)