Dear Cathy —

First, I'd like to admire you for offering so much to the Lord. I wish more women your age would do so, especially in today's culture!

At your age, I would focus in on developing a prayer life. If possible, try to attend daily Mass, along with making your Sunday obligation. Also pray the Rosary on a daily basis.

I would also see if there were some Churches in your area where you could make periodic visits to the Blessed Sacrament. (a Holy Hour would be ideal.)

None of us can tell you whether the religious life would or wouldn't be too much. Without a religious life though, It would be more difficult keeping and offering your virginity to God.

Our culture is pretty rough these days. What we do know, is God made you for a specific purpose in life.

It is through living a sacramental-based life with daily prayer (like a morning offering and praying the Rosary) that you can ask Him:

• Lord, where are you calling me to?
• For what purpose was I created for in this life?

1. a married Catholic mother with children I can offer up for you?
2. a consecrated Catholic religious sister?
3. a single practicing Catholic woman, similar to St. Paul.

Only through a regular prayer life, where you ask the Lord this question, will He put something on your heart. You won't necessarily hear an audible voice, but there are many vocations that need a solid feminine Catholic witness including:

1. doctor
2. teacher
3. scientist
4. dentist
5. artist
6. builder
7. as well as a religious sister.

Remember, all your school studies and work, when done in a Christian manner, is a prayer unto itself, so keep offering it up!

Hope this helps,

Mike

Cathy —

I second all of Mike's recommendations, and would add that you should seek the Lord's will. He will make it known to you. You should offer your virginity to God no matter whether you plan to get married in the future or not, just as one should offer one's married state to God.

There is a rebirth of an old institution in the Church, that of consecrated virgin. These make vows to the bishop and live in the world on their own, not as part of an order.

In any case, the belief that you will not marry is not a sufficient reason to consecrate yourself as a virgin in a formal way. You would need to have a positive call from God, and the desire to do so, to make such a consecration. Otherwise, your vocation would be that of a single person in the world.

God bless you in your quest.

Mary Ann