tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post8148933070560295498..comments2024-03-05T14:07:28.062-08:00Comments on Ask Sister Mary Martha: Happy Thanksgiving!Sister Mary Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580244097177195453noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-47298882935631313932013-11-30T06:28:18.392-08:002013-11-30T06:28:18.392-08:00Hi Sister -
I hope you and your Sisters had a ver...Hi Sister -<br /><br />I hope you and your Sisters had a very nice Thanksgiving.<br /><br />I am a candidate for the Secular Franciscans, and I have been discerning since March. I am beginning to think about my profession, which should be in spring of 2015.<br /><br />Before I profess, I want to be very sure I have a true vocation as a Secular since I will be making a solemn promise to God. I am considering what draws me to the Franciscans, and I am not sure it is of God. I need to be sure, you see.<br /><br />I am in an area with no First or Second Order Franciscans - they are all at least an hour away. My pastor is a former Franciscan, but is now a Diocesan priest. He refuses to help me. My fault, not his - I have offended him in the past.<br /><br />I have begged his forgiveness, I have prayed countless novenas and rosaries for him, and have asked Jesus to direct the graces I receive at Holy Communion to my pastor so we can be on a friendly basis again. I really feel terribly about this. Father says he forgives me, but he will not speak to me, and as I said, he refuses to advise me spiritually.<br /><br />My fraternity's spiritual advisor is a fine Franciscan friar, but he is over an hour away. He also has a very heavy workload. He is the guardian of a shrine with a parish, he is the chaplain of four Franciscan fraternities spread over two states, and he is a concert cellist. At this time of the year, his time is especially spread thin, so I do not want to trouble him.<br /><br />To whom can I pray for guidance with my discernment of my vocation? And would you please pray very hard for me?<br /><br />Thank you and God bless you - SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com