Ave Maria University |
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Students speak
Questions and Answers from the Girls in the Discernment Program
"Lord, what do you | How did you decide to join the Discernment Program? "In prayer I kept asking, "Lord, what do you want from me? What can I give you?" If you ask, He will answer. And if he answers, it is because He is expecting a response. This is what He asked of me, to sacrifice my security and abandon to Him alone, to become vulnerable to His actions in my life." " When I was first looking for a college, I wanted a place where I could discern my vocation. When I saw that Ave Maria had a discernment program, I knew I had to come here and be in the program." "Sometimes the answers to very important questions are simple. I knew I had to join the program because I really had no reason not to. I had nothing to lose. My relationship with God was almost non-existent, so when I was given this opportunity to get that much closer to God under the direction of those whom I could trust, I knew I had to take it." "I realized that I needed to re-evaluate the priorities in my life and mature as a young woman in order to carry out whatever God's will is for me in my life, whether it be a vocation to the married, single, or religious life." |
How has moving up to the Discernment floor helped you in your spiritual life?
"Living on the discernment floor almost spoils a person with the spiritual growth that's available. One of the things that some ladies have a hard time adjusting to is waking up for Lauds, but this has been one of the best things I've ever had to do. To start the day with prayer rather than rushing to class, puts thing sin perspective. What better way to start the day than praising God! There's not reason why one can't spend a few minutes every day with Our Lord and His Mother. The chapel becomes the center of discernment, hence the center of one's daily life. There's a constant prayer throughout the day."
"The discernment floor has helped me to build up the right kind of habits: Morning prayer, daily adoration, Mass, rosary, frequent confession, and spiritual direction. I tried to live out my faith in these practices before, but it wasn't until I joined the Women's Discernment Program that I was really able to commit myself. I'll need these habits of prayer and communicating with God for whatever vocation He calls me to."
"I'm in the process of learning that little sacrifices and penances are good for the spiritual life, such as waking up for morning prayer at 7:25AM. The Sisters and the other girls on the floor are very supportive and encouraging in each other's spiritual growth."
| What is it like living on the discernment floor? "It is a community of girls who live together, striving for holiness and trying to accomplish God's will. Even though God has different plans and actions in each soul, there is a special unity that He grants to such a diverse group of girls." "It's great! I love living in community with other girls who are striving for the same goal-to follow God's will no matter what! It really is such an encouragement. In addition, I feel I have drawn closer to my friends who aren't in the Discernment Program. It just goes to show that the closer you are to God, the closer you draw to others in the Body of Christ." "Living on the discernment floor teaches you to how to order your life with prayer, school, and friends so you can discover God's will." | 
"There is a special unity |
How do you actively discern what God is asking of you without being too anxious?
"I think that responding to God's love with love in each moment of daily life is important to discerning. God only gives us light for the next step and He is the one who chooses when to reveal each step. By responding with love to God's will for us each day we allow Him to shape and form our hearts, minds, & wills to His. Mother Teresa said, ‘Where you are is your vocation.' By responding in little matters daily and by growing in love God prepares the heart with graces to respond lovingly to His call either to Marriage or Religious Life. ‘He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much.'
"Ask Him for strength and constantly ask Our Lady for security in her mantle."
"Prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament and spiritual direction."
"God will never give you more than you can handle. The most important thing I have to keep in mind in my discernment is that God is my Father. He will never do anything to lead me astray, yet when I fall, he has mercy when I am remorseful. He loves me as a father loves his son. This, of course, implies responsibility in my part as His daughter, and I must act accordingly in chastity and obedience."
"It's a scary thing opening yourself up to the will of God- He might ask us to do things that are difficult and that we don't particularly want to do. But I think it is important to keep in mind that by doing God's will is the only way we will be truly happy. It's scary at times, yes, but God does not leave us alone. God wants our happiness and it is in that we will find it."