discerning vows

Now that I'm back at the Novitiate House for the "home stretch," I find myself shining the spotlight on the year and nine months of my Novitiate experience so far. In particular, I'm looking at where I was and where I am and at my readiness and desire to request to profess temporary vows.

Last week we had a great two-day discernment workshop. This week is fairly un-programmed, so I'm taking the opportunity for some quiet prayer days. I've been reading over my written reflections, spending some time with the input I've received from community members, and generally trying to listen to what my heart is telling me.

This afternoon I took the opportunity to see what the official documents have to say. In the Directives section of our Constitutions I found this:

Readiness for first profession is determined by a process of discernment which takes into account:

• the novice's willingness to dedicate herself to God by vows,
• her ability to live in community and to participate in our mission,
• her identification with the spirit of our congregation and its focal values of justice and peace,
• the requirements for the validity of first profession according to church law.

Those were pretty much the questions I've been sitting with, so it's good to know I'm on the right track! "The Letter" requesting vows is due by the end of next week.

Please keep me, my fellow 2nd year novice and our CSJP community in your prayers.