Youth urgedand Consider religious life

MANILA — Halfway through the ongoing Year of Consecrated Life,” a religious priest has invited young Catholics to open up to God, and to include the religious life among their vocation options. Listen Listen to His call. Do not ignore it. Do not set it aside. Once you hear it, plant it in your hearts,” Fr. Dexter Toledo, O.F.M., reminded the young faithful in Filipino.Talking over Know The Truth” on Thursday, Aug. 20, the Franciscan, who was also the former executive secretary of the Association of the Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP), shared that openness is key to determining and to understanding the path God wants to lead them to.Francis effect After Pope Francis’ visit to the country, I am positive that many of our youth are considering embracing the consecrated life. Most of them probably ask themselves, ‘Am I being called to the priesthood? Am I being called to become a sister, a nun?’ I invite them all to entertain this possibility,” he said. Listen to it. Discern it. Nurture it. Allow it to grow,” he added.Spiritual directionBut besides receptivity to the Divine invitation, Toledo went on to stress to young Catholics the importance of having a spiritual director who will help them clearly see their vocation.According to him, it is always good when there is a person who will regularly guide aspirants in their discernment, making it easier for them to experience firsthand and appreciate better God’s will at work in their lives.(Raymond A. Sebastián / CBCP News)