The Risk

Pope John Paul II
In My Own Words

"We must go to this Child, this Man,
the Son of God, at whatever inconvenience,
at whatever risk to ourselves, because to know
and love him will truly change our lives."

Looking back on my past, this quote of JPII speaks loudly of my discernment. The fear of rejection was a major obsticle in my discernment along with leaving a job I enjoyed. The difference with my discernment this time was I began with prayer. Fr. DeBlasio called together a small group to discern God's calling in our lives, weather to the priesthood, religious, married or single life. Our meetings began with Vespers (Evening Prayer) and closed with Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction. Over the five or six year period, I discovered the only reason I did not take the next step in my discernment was the fear of rejection.
As I began my second year of studies here at St. Joseph College Seminary, I am not the same person I was at the start of my discernment. As JPII says to know and love him will truly change our lives, my life has changed.

Prayer To Know and Love Jesus

My Lord Jesus, I want to love you but you cannot trust me.
If you do not help me, I will never do any good.
I do not know you; I look for you but do not find you.
Come to me O Lord.
If I knew you, I would also know myself.
If I have never loved you before,
I want to love you truly now.
I want to do your will alone; putting no trust in myself,
I hope in you, O Lord.

St.Philip Neri