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Why is my family against my vocation?

Gina asks:

Dear Father,  

I know that I want to serve God to the fullest but people around me have doubts whether or not this is God's will. I wish to serve God, but why all the controversy about it? Shouldn't my mother and father be proud? I was, in the beginning of my life a person who didn't know who God was and I did not care about the enormity of my sins. Then I had a complete conversion. Is it the sudden change, or me being 14 that throws my parents and all my family against me? I don't want to seem stubborn but, despite my families pleas for me to get married, I wish only to be married to Christ. Why should I serve a creature of God when I can serve God Himself? I just don't understand why my family is in a sense so ashamed. Help me Father. Thanks. 

 

Dear Gina,  

I am not sure if your family is ashamed. You don't tell me if they are practicing Catholics, and that would have a bearing on their reactions.

Here are some alternatives for you to consider:

You are only 14, you do sound like you have a stubborn streak, and you already (from what you say) have made your mistakes. I would guess you were pretty rebellious then too. So maybe your parents think that this is just another instance of your trying to get your own way, rather than a change of life. Or it may be they are not sure about the change you have made, if it is complete; it might seem to them more like an emotional urge than a deep change of heart, and that is something you will have to examine and make sure it goes deeper. Or they may think that with your character you would not fit into consecrated life. Or they may think it is just a phase you are going through, that it will wear off and they don't want you to do something rash right now.  So you see, what you are reading as opposition may really be the level-headedness of parents who really love you. It may have nothing to do with their attitude toward God or toward a vocation as such.

Now, what can you do? First of all you have to get closer and closer to Christ. Your ambition to serve God alone is good; you now have to mature in it. Get to know Christ, spend time each day in prayer (pray the Rosary, especially), go to Mass and Communion as often as you can.

At home you will have to be your best, helping out, doing your studies , so that your constant actions show that the change you have made is for good and lasting.

Then you have to do something for others. For example, do something for younger kids, help with CCD, or visit the sick, or speak to your pastor and get something going for girls your age in your parish (a club, choir, Christian Life group, help in the youth work, etc...).

If your parents are not practicing Catholics and do not understand their faith, you will have to pray for them and let your actions convince them.

God bless.

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