What is a Vocation? Vocation is a Latin word meaning "a call". It is important to understand that God calls us all to share in a common vocation to holiness. Therefore, every Christian is called to "belong to the people of God, to accept Jesus as Lord, to become a disciple, and to participate in his plan of salvation by giving witness and spreading the Gospel." However, this vocation can take on different shapes; marriage, holy orders, or religious life but no matter what shape it takes its "purpose is to build up the Church and to increase the kingdom of God in the world".
What is Discernment? How is God calling us to live out our vocation to holiness? Could it be that the Lord is calling you to marriage, holy orders, or religious life? These are questions that everyone has and why discernment is very important. Discernment is truly simply seeking God’s will. Scripture tells us that God dedicated us before we were born and had plans for us with a future of hope. God the Father knew who He was creating and why. In order to find the peace and happiness God created us to experience, we must enter into a vocational dialogue with him. “An inexpressible dialogue between God and human beings, between the love of God who calls and the freedom of individuals who respond lovingly to him.” It is our job to pray and to listen to His voice, discern His voice and not be afraid to embrace his mission for us.
So what is Vocational Discernment? Simple. It is to pray, listen, and discovery how is God calling you to live out your vocation to holiness!
God calls us all in a particular way, we just have to listen and not be afraid. Some of us are called to live our vocation through marriage, some through the priesthood, or some through consecrated religious life. Ask God the Father to guide you to do His will and not be afraid to answer Him.
Contact a member of Our Vocation Team to help you in your discernment process. We would be happy to hear from you and help you discern God's call.