a) Why is it important
that I question myself about my specific vocation?
b) What are the “signs” that may help
you recognize that you might have a vocation to the consecrated
life?
c) How would I know if I have a calling to be a
Fraterna?
d) Are there specific characteristics that one must have to
be a Fraterna?
e) How
old do you have to be to join the community?
f) If I
want to get married or have children, does that mean I don’t
have a vocation to the consecrated life?
g) What should
I do if I think God might be calling me?
h) What are the steps
you have to follow to become a Fraterna?
i) How
is the daily life of a Fraterna?
j) What is the formation
period?
k) Why don’t Fraternas use habits?
l) Can a Fraterna go
to the movies, do sports, go to the opera, or go out for a
pizza?
m) How often can a Fraterna see her parents?
a)
Why is it important that I question myself about my specific
vocation?
Every person has been called to be a disciple; we all have a
specific vocation, that’s why it is important to ask oneself
this question and to respond to it consciously. This question
is not about what I would like to do with my life, nor what
others expect of me, but it is a much more fundamental question:
it is all about whom I am and for what God has created me.
Knowing what God wants from you is not an easy question to answer,
but asking this question is a very important first step. God
is always lovingly ready to answer us. He talks through several
means: people, signs, situations in our life and in a special
way he always speaks in the silence of our heart.
The question about your vocation is directly related to the
question of who you are. It is important that you know yourself,
that as you deepen into yourself you let God reveal your own
identity, because it is Him who created you and only He knows
what vocation will fulfill you and make you happy.
The calling is never an imposition; on the contrary it is an
answer to the most profound longings of your being. Therefore,
the question about your vocation is really a question about
your happiness, here and in eternity.
b)
What are the “signs” that may help you recognize
that you might have a vocation to the consecrated life?
1. A special sensitivity towards wanting to change the world,
to help others, and to make a difference.
2. A desire of giving of self totally, in an unconditional
love.
3. Discover that God is asking you a total commitment and
love.
4. Friendship has a very important role in your life.
5. Other people have suggested to you that you may be called
to a religious life.
c)
How would I know if I have a calling to be a Fraterna?
There are many communities
in which you can live a consecrated life. Amongst these different
spiritual paths, the Marian Community of Reconciliation is
a specific one. If you want to find out if you are called
to be a Fraterna, you need firstly to learn and deepen in
our charism and spirituality as well as to listen to God’s
calling.
d)
Are there specific characteristics that one must have to be
a Fraterna?
There are no “universal”
characteristics amongst Fraternas, in our communities we are
blessed by many different personalities, cultures, and gifts
which enrich each other. However, you need to have certain
gifts from God that would allow you to be totally available
for the apostolate, by living obedience, celibacy and detachment
from goods.
e)
How old do you have to be to join the community?
There is no “expected” age to respond to your vocation,
but you must be at least 18 to enter community life. You must
consider that God acts in mysterious ways and he has a particular
path for each one of us, therefore His calling is heard by people
at a different moment in their lives.
f)
If I want to get married or have children, does that mean I
don’t have a vocation to the consecrated life?
No it doesn’t.
Most Fraternas wanted to get married before they discovered
their calling. It only means you are a normal girl that likes
boys and that you have a call to live motherhood. As a Fraterna
we are called to live a “spiritual maternity”, having
Holy Mary as our guide and model. We are called to accompany
many people in their faith and in their love to Jesus.
g)
What should I do if I think God might be calling me?
First of all, you need to remember
that He who is calling you is the same one who created you out
of love so that you may be fully happy. He has a very special
Plan for you, it responds totally to whom you are and to the
particular gifts he has blessed you with. To confirm this calling
we suggest you:
1. Start to develop an intense life of prayer and frequent reception
of the sacraments.
2. Be attentive to the signs God is sending you, in prayer,
through people and in your heart.
3. Ask someone who has a more mature life of faith to help you
discern your calling.
4. Deepen in the knowledge of yourself.
5. Learn more about the vocation you feel called to, and actively
participate in their mission
6. Entrust to Holy Mary your discernment, so that She may guide
you to answer with generosity to your calling
7. Do not be afraid, open the doors of your heart to Christ,
he takes nothing away and gives you everything. Trust that God
has a loving and beautiful Plan for you. He is a loving father
and will never remain silent if you ask him sincerely.
h)
What are the steps you have to follow to become a Fraterna?
If you think you might have a vocation, and wish to make a serious
discernment, we invite you to make a promise to dedicate some
time to discern your calling. Through this promise, you enter
the Association of Immaculate Mary and you make a commitment
to deepen your relationship with Jesus and your knowledge of
the vocation and of yourself. During this time you also receive
spiritual direction and spend time with the community, participating
in
their life and apostolate. After this period, if you discover
God calls you to consecrate your life to him, you’ll follow
a series of steps through several promises once you have joined
the community. After at least 7 years of responding to the progressive
promises and commitments, you might be ready to make your Perpetual
Profession, which is final definite promise, in which you publicly
profess your total apostolic availability for life, through
the commitments of obedience, celibacy and sharing of goods.
i)
How is the daily life of a Fraterna?
We try to make of our active
life, a prayer. Therefore we give central importance to our
life of prayer, both personal as well as in community, in order
to be able to witness the Lord Jesus throughout our day. Apart
from
our jobs, our usual day will also include: exercising, daily
mass, rosary, lectio divina, morning and night prayers, spiritual
readings, adoration, time to study, as well as apostolate, and
free time for community life in which we
share, discuss and reflect upon our mission. In our community
life we find the joy of friendship, the rest for our souls,
and the love to continue our mission.
j)
What is the formation period?
It's the period in which the
Fraternas prepare themselves for their
mission. It's a time to deepen in the knowledge of oneself and
of the
spirituality, to grow more and more in the love to the Church
and of the
vocation. It is a time where they don't work outside the community,
but
totally dedicate time to pray, to do exercise, to study and
to learn how to
live in community. It is a very special and blessed time that
gives solid
foundations to be prepared for the future mission!
k)
Why don’t Fraternas use habits?
We don’t use habits because
we are laywomen who consecrate our lives to the apostolate.
We are in the world, we want to transform the world form the
inside and reach out to laity, and in a special way to the youth.
Despite this, we are not of the world; we’ve given all
our lives to Christ and that is witnessed in the way we dress,
in what we say or don’t say, in what we do or don’t
do.
l)
Can a Fraterna go to the movies, do sports, go to the opera,
or go out for a pizza?
Of course she can!! Leisure
time is important for every human being!
m)
How often can a Fraterna see her parents?
There is no “rule”
on how often they can see their parents, because it depends
on many things such as where they live or what their mission
is at that moment. However, they are very important for each
one of them, and as well as keeping frequently in touch, they
are in a very special way in their prayers.
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