A year ago in this space, I wrote a post praising Danielle Rose Skorich, a Catholic folk musician known professionally as Danielle Rose. What struck me about her music was its mix of orthodoxy and soulful folksiness. After a brief career as a musician of international renown, Danielle Rose Skorich (pictured at left) entered a Charismatic and Franciscan community near Amarillo, Texas, forsaking her musical career for a lifetime of prayer and missionary work.
In August 2008, she was accepted as a novice and received the religious name Sister Rose Therese. And that was that. Or so I thought.
What I didn't realize when I wrote that post is that Danielle Rose had left the convent. Her updated website (which features this photograph) tells us she has determined the life of a religious is not her calling. After more than two years of formation in the convent (it’s a six to ten-year process of discernment before final vows), Danielle came to a successful discernment with her community: the Lord was calling her to follow Him in a different way. Seeking at every turn only to heed His voice and to do His will, Danielle left the convent in November 2009.
This journey of surrender and obedience taught her more deeply than ever that loving God and doing His will is more important than anything else. With this new understanding, Danielle has joyfully accepted Jesus’ invitation to continue sharing His Song for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
So, what does it mean to discern a vocation? A beautiful website called Paths of Love tells us: "Love alone gives meaning to life and vocation...The Catholic Church teaches that the primary vocation of every person is the vocation to holiness, to the perfection of love."
It takes a brave heart, a heart open to the overwhelming love God has for us, to follow His call where it leads us.
