Called Total Consecration?
"When the grace of vocation is freely accepted and generously lived out, this is commitment. Vocations come from God’s free choice of certain individuals; commitment comes from our free choice to cooperate with the graces received."
— SERVANT OF GOD, FATHER JOHN HARDON, SJ
Discernment
1
Hearing His Voice
You will be asked to share where you are in your discernment of His Voice in your daily life. This means sharing how you pray and spiritual reading. The role of the Sister in the Daughters of the Immaculata will be to simply support you in hearing and being faithful to the joy of obedience to His Voice and our Lady’s guidance. As you progress through this stage, you will be guided to develop a ‘Program of Life.’ This will be a beautiful, practical help to your spiritual growth as well as a beautiful way for you to experience the beginnings of an horaium.
At every step, we ask for the great grace of ‘holy indifference’ so that we can say to God and our Blessed Mother, ‘I want what You want.’ This is the beginning of the Marian alacrity and joy which is given to hearts called to the freedom of total consecration in religious life.
2
Personal accompaniment
This stage can happen concurrently with the previous one, but you will know you are in this stage when there will be a general movement towards a certain joy in specificity in the direction in which our Good Lord calling you to flourish. If you discern if you are called to be a religious sister, you will also begin asking for and looking for the Lord to guide and encourage you in choosing a certain kind of community. Some women will already have a clear sense of where God is calling them, but this is a good time to ‘test all things and keep what is good’ as Our Spiritual Father, Saint Paul, advises.
At every step, we beg God for the grace to cultivate hearts that are so in love with Him and our Lady that we live in continual dialog with them. This ‘Marian climate’ of pondering is the best way forward no matter where our discernment may lead.
3
Daughters of the Immaculata
Both you and the Sister will be asking our Good Lord for signs and confirmations that you are called to be a Daughter of the Immaculata of this first hour. To be called to this community now is a very specific call, one that will involve unique and profoundly beautiful sacrifices usually available only during times of the foundation. We will be called to be particularly good listeners with generosity and promptness of heart. Our Lady and Saint Maximillian Kolbe will be especially active in showing you whether you are called. She will teach and guide you.
At every step, we consecrate everything to our Most Blessed Mother. We entrust even the smallest details of our hearts and lives with great confidence to her tender and capable care. We especially encourage you to meet Her at the Holy Sacrifice, Eucharistic Adoration, the Most Holy Rosary (prayed in full, if possible), and the Acathyst Hymn.
FAQs
How might I know if I am called to be a Daughter of the Immaculata?
If you have a filial devotion to our Lady and the Church and a burning desire to bring souls to the heart of the Church where She is immaculate without spot stain or wrinkle, you may consider discerning the Daughters of the Immaculata. If you need to pray and feel like you can hardly get enough time in silent or contemplative prayer even after you’ve been able to make a Holy Hour, you may consider asking our Lady if She is calling you to be a Daughter of the Immaculata. If the thought of being a part of a new religious community at the foundations is exciting to you but you also sense a strong peace and stable, radical joy, you may be called. If you are particularly mature and integrated, have an aptitude for learning, are diligent yet humble, have good health, and are adaptable and generous with God and Our Lady, you may flourish as a Daughter of the Immaculata.
How do I discern a call to be a Daughter of the Immaculata while discerning different religious communities?
Take everything to Jesus and our Lady in prayer. Ask for the grace of holy indifference and seek to remain in that childlike freedom before God. As you bring everything to our Lord and our Lady, be especially attentive to surrendering your preferences and ask for the light of the Holy Spirit to teach you why and how you are attached. Then wait on our Lady to give you Her desire for your vocation. Ask for confirmations with confidence.
How do I open myself to God’s will?
Ask our Lady. Pray and allow Jesus and our Lady to teach you how to pray through every climate of your heart. Frequent the Sacraments and pray the Rosary with humility. The Lord will give confirmations and wants to you grow in your ability and ease in speaking with Him.