“Dear God, Please Let Me Hate It” (The Mark Swartzberg Show)

Sister Katie Flanagan knew she wanted to be a teacher. Becoming a religious sister? That wasn’t even on her radar. Speaking with Mark on The Mark Swartzberg Show, she recalled how friends first introduced her to the Salesian Sisters, whose charism of loving and educating young people immediately resonated with her. Then, during prayer near the end of college, an unexpected thought entered her mind: “Maybe you're supposed to be a nun.” She resisted. For six years, while teaching, the possibility kept returning in prayer. Eventually, a friend convinced her to visit the Salesian Sisters in New Jersey. On the flight, Sister Katie offered God an unusual prayer: “Dear God, please let me get there and hate it.” She knew God would not call her to a life in which she would be miserable. But when she arrived, joined the sisters for prayer, meals and chores, the opposite happened. “I felt at peace. I felt at home.” Even then, fear remained. After several visits, Sister Katie finally decided to request an application. Weeks later, before daily Mass, she texted the vocations director to say she was ready. Then Mass began. The priest announced that it was January 31 – the Feast of St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesians. “I just started crying,” Sister Katie recalled. “I was like, okay, Lord, this is it.” Her story is a beautiful reminder that discerning God’s call does not always happen instantly. Sometimes He patiently works through our desires, fears and circumstances until we become willing to say yes. The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.