How would I know if I am called to be a Fraterna?

There are many communities in which you can live a

consecrated life. Amongst these different spiritual paths,

the Marian Community of Reconciliation is a specific one.

If you want to find out if you are called to be a Fraterna,

you first need to learn and deepen in our charism and

spirituality as well as to listen to God's calling in the silence

of prayer.

What is the daily life of a Fraterna?

We try to make of our active life a prayer. Therefore we give central importance to our life of prayer, both personal as well as in community, in order to be able to witness the Lord Jesus throughout our day. Apart from our varying apostolic missions and jobs, our usual day will also include: exercising, daily Mass, Adoration, Rosary, Lectio Divina, morning and night prayer, spiritual reading, time to study, and time for community life in which we share, discuss and reflect upon our mission. In our community life, with the Lord Jesus as the center, we find the joy of real friendship, the necessary rest for our souls, and the love to continue with our mission.

Are there specific characteristics that I must have to be a Fraterna?

There are no "universal" characteristics amongst Fraternas, in our communities we are blessed to have many different personalities, cultures, and gifts which enrich each other. However, you need to have certain gifts from God that would allow you to be totally available for the apostolate, by living obedience, celibacy and detachment of goods. Also, you must have a strong desire to live in community.

How old do I have to be to join the community?

There is no "expected" age to respond to your vocation, but you must be at least 18 to enter community life. You must consider that God acts in mysterious ways and he has a particular path for each one of us, therefore His calling is heard by people at different moments in their lives.

If I want to get married or have children, does that mean I am not called to be a Fraterna?

No it doesn't. Most Fraternas wanted to get married before they discovered their calling. It only means you are a normal young woman that likes young men and that you have a call to live motherhood. As a Fraterna we are called to live a "spiritual maternity", having Holy Mary as our guide and model. We are called to accompany many people in their faith and in their love to Jesus.

Why don't Fraternas use habits?

We do not use habits because we are laywomen who consecrate our lives to the apostolate. We are not religious. We are in the midst of the world and we want to transform the world from the inside and reach out to the laity, and in a special way to the youth. Despite this, we are not of the world; we've given all our lives to Christ and that is witnessed in the way we dress, in what we say or don't say, in what we do or don't do.

Can a Fraterna go to the movies, do sports, go to the opera, or go out for a pizza?

Of course she can!! We do all of these things as a community, and also as part of our apostolate.

How often can a Fraterna see her parents?

There is no "rule" on how often a Fraterna can see her parents, because it depends on many factors such as where she lives or what her mission is at that moment. However, our families are very important for us, and in addition to keeping in contact with them frequently by phone and email, they are also in our hearts and prayers in a very special way. If a Fraterna lives in a different country than her parents, she sees them once a year.

What should I do if I think God might be calling me to be Fraterna?

Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors of your heart to Christ. Trust that God has a loving and beautiful Plan for you that responds totally to who you are and to the particular gifts He has blessed you with. He is a loving Father who created you out of love so that you may be completely happy.

The first step you should take is to contact us, and to pray if God is asking you to make a promise of discernment as an AMI (CLICK HERE).

Some general guidelines for discerning your vocation may include the following:

1. Start to develop an intense life of prayer and frequent reception of the sacraments.

2. Be attentive to the signs God is sending you, in prayer, through people and in your heart.

3. Deepen in the knowledge of yourself.

4. Learn more about the vocation by actively participating in it's mission

5. Entrust to Holy Mary your discernment, so that She may guide you to answer with generosity to your calling.