Jesus saw Matthew and commanded him, “Follow Me.” Matthew immediately rose, abandoned everything, and followed Christ. For most souls, however, discerning and living a religious vocation unfolds gradually through prayer, formation, testing, failure, perseverance, and grace.

Preached on the Feast of St. Matthew for religious sisters and new candidates, this Catholic sermon explains why following Christ takes time. God ordinarily does not force a vocation or demand an instant profession. He leads a soul gently and deliberately, allowing room for freedom, humility, obedience, self-knowledge, and the guidance of superiors.

Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we may need Christ to walk beside us, unfold the Scriptures, and gradually reveal Himself. This patient formation develops a deeply rooted Benedictine rhythm through study, meditation, Eucharistic adoration, the exercise of virtue, and daily perseverance.

Religious formation also brings us face-to-face with scrupulosity, pride, vanity, sensuality, fear, and weakness. Yet these trials are not signs that Christ has abandoned the soul. They are part of learning how to die to self and belong entirely to the Divine Bridegroom.

Consecrated life is a loving wound from the wounded Heart of Jesus. The soul passes not into destruction but through the Sacred Heart—into an intimate union no other creature can occupy. Christ loves every soul personally and uniquely, as no two snowflakes share exactly the same design.

May St. Matthew obtain for every sister, candidate, and discerning soul the courage to hear Christ’s call anew: “Follow Me.”

00:00 St. Michael Comics
00:26 “Follow Me”
00:35 Opening prayer
00:44 Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle
00:48 A message for sisters and new candidates
01:05 Hearing Christ’s call for the first time
01:11 Matthew rises and follows Jesus
01:31 Learning to follow Christ takes time
01:45 Matthew’s extraordinary response
01:58 Religious formation cannot be rushed
02:07 God gives grace one piece at a time
02:23 Failures, successes, and daily virtue
02:40 Developing a Benedictine rhythm
02:49 Christ meets the disciples on the road to Emmaus
03:04 The women encounter the risen Christ
03:22 The gradual formation of Cleopas
03:39 Spiritual growth through graduality
03:50 St. Matthew’s immediate conversion
04:06 How Christ ordinarily calls a soul
04:14 Freedom, humility, and obedience
04:36 Following Christ forever
04:49 Study, meditation, testing, and perseverance
05:05 Adoration in the middle of the night
05:21 Memories of all-night adoration in Ireland
05:37 Meditating upon “Why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
06:06 Christ speaks like heavenly dew
06:22 A vocation is not a game of chance
06:37 Let time pass profitably
06:45 Learning our strengths and weaknesses
06:55 Overcoming scruples, pride, and sensuality
07:05 The patient alligator
08:11 The frightening image of dying
08:26 Jesus will wound the soul
08:40 Wounded by the wounded Heart
08:49 The death blow of religious profession
09:08 Dying to self and the world
09:32 Giving everything to the King of Kings
09:49 Passing through the Heart of Jesus
10:12 Entering Paradise with Christ
10:27 Christ’s unique love for every soul
10:48 Every soul is like a unique snowflake
11:06 Setting aside earthly marriage
11:22 “Jesus doesn’t bite”
11:31 Union with the Divine Heart
11:45 Closing prayer
12:00 Real Estate for Life
12:15 Download the Sensus Fidelium app

For more please visit http://reginaecclesiae.com/ & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest

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