HEED.THE.CALL
Discernment
& Prayer
How to Discern a Vocation?
A vocation is God’s invitation to man to choose a specific path in life. However, it is not always easy to discern God’s voice. The discernment of a vocation is often accompanied by doubts and anxiety expressed in the question: Will I make the right choice?
STEPS FOR DISCERNMENT
Steps for Discernment
Basing your discernment on a few important steps can help you to dispel some of these doubts when trying to discover your calling in life.
Prayer – prayer is an important factor in discerning any vocation, because in it we come directly to God and ask for light and certainty in making the final decision. It also helps to calm our spirit and to strengthen ourselves in the face of uncertainty and fear.
2.
Sacramental life – when discerning one’s vocation, it is important to have a pure heart, that is, sustained by sanctifying grace. We obtain this grace during the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and we sustain it by receiving the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. A heart that is burdened with sin and lives apart from God, deprived of His grace, will certainly not be helpful in choosing the right path in life. Regular confession and participation in the Holy Mass will certainly help you discern your calling.
Conversation with other people – it would also be good to have a regular confessor, who, as a spiritual father, will help you to choose the right way in life. Any conversation with another person who is already following a specific vocation path (a priest, religious, nun, parent) helps in discerning the way of life, because we can draw from someone’s life experience.
Interests – that is something that attracts me, makes me feel good, and ultimately makes me happy. For some, it is service in the church as an altar boy or a lector, for others it is work with children or helping the sick in a hospice. My interests, talents and hobbies also have a significant impact on my personality and can contribute to discovering the right way in life.
5.
Getting to know a place – seeing and coming into contact with a specific place and reality, getting to know the customs or daily program prevailing in a given place allows you to tangibly touch a specific type of calling. For example, it is fruitful to participate in a diocesan or religious vocational retreat, or to come and stay for some time in a monastery.
COME & SEE
Jesus said to his first disciples: “Come and see” (John 1:39). If you are hesitating before making a decision, and you are wondering whether the religious life is right for you, come to us for a few days and see how the religious life looks like from the inside!
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN MAKE A ‘COME AND SEE’
VISIT AT OUR MONASTERY IN DOYLESTOWN, PA.
PRAYERS:
Intercessions for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life – PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
to the Priesthood and Religious Life – MORNING PRAYER & EVENING PRAYER
PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA FOR PRIESTLY VOCATIONS
PRAYER TO St. Paul the First Hermit
Discover
FIND MORE
About
COME & SEE
Admission
