Discernment: Brief Look at the Vows

THE VOWS of poverty, chastity and obedience  are essential dimensions of religious life.  As one contemplates entering a religious community, an inquirer needs to  look briefly at each of the three vows.  Concerning poverty, the discerner might ask herself:  Can I live a life of poverty, where I pool all my resources in a common fund for mission, ministry and communal living? Can I live on a very limited budget for personal needs?  Concerning obedience: Can I live a life of obedience as modeled by Jesus, who said, “…I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of the one who sent me” (Jn 6: 38).  That is the foundation of a Sister/Brother/Priest’s obedience to their superior.  Will I be open to seeking  God’s will above my own?  How would I respond to a request to take on a ministry for which I certainly am well qualified but one that would not be my first choice of service? Would I be able to endorse a final decision when the outcome  of communal discernment is not what I wanted it to be.  Concerning chastity: From this point forward,  can I live a celibate life and am I willing to grow in intimacy—into-me-you-see?   Is my loving inclusive of others? Am I willing to deepen my ability to identify with the needs of another, the sorrows and the joys of another on an affective as well as on a cognitive basis? Am I willing to grow in my ability to listen actively?  Am I willing to become an even more  generous person, willing to be available to help people on their terms, willing to serve others?  Am I willing to strengthen my skills for being other-centered, for appropriate confiding, interpersonal trust, loyalty, appropriate expression of affection, commitment to long-term, life-long ministry? Am I willing to deepen my ability to be faithful to one’s commitments? (Source: Adapted from Rev. Raymond Carey, Behavior Assessment I Workshop, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL, July 14-16, 2008)