Aislinn

religious studies classes offered glimpses into the richness of the Catholic religion, but they left me craving a deeper and consistent experience of that faith in my own life. Determined to fill this void, I embarked on a journey to explore the depths of Catholicism beyond the confines of the classroom. I delved deeper into the teachings and history of the Church and eagerly consumed any literature about Catholicism that I could get my hands on. I found myself drawn to the Church’s teachings and history. I sought to grasp not just the what, but the why behind these beliefs, hoping to grasp the profound truths that form our faith. This journey of exploration wasn’t merely an academic pursuit; it was me being drawn to deepen my relationship with God and discern my place within His divine plan.

I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the sacramental life of the Church when I went off to college. I was so hungry to deepen my faith and to receive Jesus in the Eucharist that, though over an hour away by foot, I joyfully make the trek a few times each week to attend Mass. I also found myself drawn to the contemplative silence of Eucharistic adoration. During this sacred time, I could unite with God in the quiet recesses of my heart. It was in those moments of stillness, gazing upon the Blessed Sacrament, that I felt the presence of God enveloping me. In those times with the Lord, I found solace, clarity, and the assurance that I was exactly where I was meant to be. Yet, I had a natural desire for marriage and family life. I faced an internal struggle—a battle between my personal desires and the subtle promptings of the Holy Spirit. As I continued to pray and discern God’s will for my life, I felt the walls of resistance crumbling around me, replaced by not only a profound sense of surrender and trust, but of absolute peace. This peace was absent whenever I imagined and prayed about a possible life as a mother and wife. It was a gradual process, but with each passing day, my resolve to trust the Lord grew stronger as my stubbornness faded, and my heart grew more attuned to the gentle working of His divine grace. Through my love for Jesus, I began to embrace the possibility of a vocation to religious life.

There was a period, however, when I stopped discerning entirely. As I learned more about my order’s age requirements and the reality of my student loan debt, I convinced myself that entering in time would be impossible. The numbers simply didn’t add up, and I feared I would reach the cutoff age long before my loans could be paid. Feeling trapped by circumstances beyond my control, I stepped away from discernment, believing, painfully, that the door to religious life had closed. Yet in prayer, the Lord gently reminded me that “nothing will be impossible with God.” Through trust, Scripture, and my desire for Him, I realized that I had been relying only on my own strength. Slowly, I surrendered this fear to the Lord, choosing instead to trust in His divine providence. With renewed confidence in His ability to provide what I could not, I returned wholeheartedly to discernment, trusting that if He truly desired this vocation for me, He would make a way.

I chose to discern with the Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for several reasons: Their traditional, balanced, Franciscan lifestyle of prayer and service offers an approach to religious life that deeply appeals to me. Their focus on education and catechesis aligns perfectly with my passion for sharing the faith with others through educational ministry, and their profound devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus mirrors my own spiritual devotion and provides a solid foundation for my journey.

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