For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ---Ephesians 6:12


"The age of casual Catholicism is over; the age of heroic Catholicism has begun. We can no longer be Catholics by accident, but instead must be Catholics by CONVICTION." ---Fr. Terrence Henry TOR, Franciscan University of Steubenville

Saturday, December 4, 2010

To My Readers, Or To Whom It May Concern...

Image From INTO GREAT SILENCE
An explanation as to why I haven't been posting much lately is owed to the many readers who visit this blog, in spite of the fact most of them don't leave comments ;-}.  As for the few who do, I owe you as well.

For over a year I've gotten a nagging inclination, or perhaps...dare I say...a "calling" to a monastic life of prayerful reflection that appears to be growing steadily inside my soul.  For the past few months I've been trying very hard to discern whether or not I should, or even could "leave it all behind" and join a cloister somewhere.  There are an awful lot of them from which to choose:  Benedictine, Franciscan, Dominican, Augustinian, Cistercian, etc...  The list is almost endless.  Most of them have age requirements that I will never meet.  I'm 46 years old and climbing....or descending, whatever your point of view.  But a good number cut off at 50 or even 55.  A couple of them don't have any age limitations at all.

Last week I found a link at The Crescat, which led me to a site with a survey, that would measure my vocational aptitude.  I scored well.  And as a result I've heard from several Abbots via email, inviting me to investigate further and visit their monasteries.  So this is been the subject of my preoccupation of late.

On occasion I may blog about something...or not.

7 comments:

SlantRight 2.0 said...

Good for you friend. Peace with God is more important than blogging.

Rick said...

Huge step Matt... praying that God will lead and direct you and that you will have the clarity you seek in determining His will for you...

Matt said...

A huge step that I believe God may have been leading me toward for several years. Thank you for your continued prayers. I will follow the Spirit wherever it leads me.

Darrell Michaels said...

I will be praying for you, Matt, that you will always be a vessel for God's will in whatever path he wants you to travel.

LibertyAtStake said...

Find your peace, your way. And I know of no Catholic canon that forbids blogging. Both worlds will be richer for the combination if it should be so.

http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
"Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive"

Anonymous said...

Matt, I just found your blog and I promise to pray for you and your discernment. I have a very dear friend who is a Trappist and I can only say that he is the most spiritual man I have ever met. I am so blessed to have him in my life. Monasteries are very special places. I remember when I was on retreat there once I commented to one of the monks that there it was such a prayerful place and he commented, 'there's so much prayer here that even the walls pray'. I will keep watching for your posts.
Andie

Kevin Gleeson said...

This comes as great news, Matt! Go where the Spirit leads you, and first be sure to listen.