3. I
like monastic life. I feel attracted to it, but I am
not a holy person. Is this a sign that it isn't for
me?
If you have a healthy understanding of what holiness is, the
answer is no! In reality no one is truly holy without
reliance on the grace of God and this is the key to living a
God-centered, happy and peaceful life. No matter what
vocation God gives a person, it is a means of strengthening the
relationship with Him. In monastic life, the members of
the community live together with the understanding that as
brothers they support, encourage and guide one another in
seeking to hear and respond to the voice of God. On a
basic level holiness can be described as a loving reliance on
God in order to have the strength and courage to do His
will. If a person comes to believe that it is God's will
for him to discern monastic life, he is obliged to do so
regardless of his own "evaluation" of his spiritual state.
However, this does not mean that someone whose life is devoid of
any expression of faith in God should suddenly come to the
monastery with his suitcase in hand. No one comes to the
monastery that way. It can mean that such a person should
pursue the tools of prayer, sacrament, the Word of God and good
works as well as the guidance of his pastor or a spiritual
director to heighten his awareness of God's voice in his
life. All of us must keep in mind that God's grace at work
in us can surpass the limits of what we think we are capable
of. So we must not allow our own self-doubts to interfere
with God's plan for us.