In college, I was confronted by two different world views: either God existed and my life was a gift from Him, or God didn’t exist and my actions didn’t matter. I saw the emptiness that some of my friends were experiencing, and, as I came to know the truth of God as Father, I longed to tell everyone how good they were, how deeply loved they were, and that their life was a gift. It was around that time that the thought of a religious vocation first crossed my mind. I had the witness of faithful friends and priests. When I saw that they could find joy and fulfillment in giving themselves completely to the Lord, a desire was sparked in my heart.
I first met the Sisters of Life during my junior year. They visited our Newman Center for the weekend, and I remember being struck by their joy. But there were fears, hesitations, and places in my heart that were not free. As I learned to listen to His voice, He began to speak light and truth into these places, cast out the fears, and open my heart to receive the gift of my vocation. Two years later, I attended a retreat with the Sisters. There, I felt I had found the Lord’s resting place, my home, and He was inviting me to stay with Him.
While discerning a religious name, I was growing in devotion to St. Joseph. In prayer, Jesus showed me how spiritual fatherhood had helped foster my faith and vocation. The name “Josephine” is a continual reminder that I am a daughter of the Father. “Rose” reminds me that I am a gift from the Father to the Son.
Our hearts search for a place to belong, a place where we can give our love. Ultimately it’s a place to be who we truly are. Through my vocation, I have found the freedom to live in the truth that I am His daughter and that He has called me to love in a way that only I can. My deepest identity is found in Him.
Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Fall 2019.
