“Within the Catholic faith, all believers are summoned by God to serve Him in the world. This divine summons, referred to as a vocation deriving from the Latin ‘vocare,’ meaning ‘to call’ or ‘to invoke,’ commences with the Sacrament of Baptism. Discerning a religious calling is an intimate, lifelong voyage, offering profound spiritual rewards, facilitating the experience of God’s complete light and love. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines vocation as ‘the calling or destiny we possess in this life and beyond,’ emphasizing that its fulfillment leads to eternal happiness.

Each Catholic possesses a distinct vocation, necessitating exploration to foster a meaningful connection with Jesus Christ. Echoing this sentiment, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed, ‘Each of you holds a personal vocation bestowed by Him for your joy and sanctity.'”

What Is Vocational Discernment?

“While every Catholic’s primary calling is to holiness, the process of discernment leads individuals to one of five specific vocations:

  1. Priesthood: Often recognized as the most familiar vocation, priests are entrusted with proclaiming God’s Word and administering sacraments. Diocesan priests serve parishioners within a diocese under the Bishop’s guidance, typically assigned to a specific parish.
  2. Religious Life: Individuals pursuing a religious life, also called a consecrated life vocation, commit to following Christ through vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This vocation may be apostolic, involving communal mission and spirituality, or contemplative, emphasizing a life dedicated to prayer within a convent.
  3. Married Life: In Catholicism, marriage transcends a mere legal union, seen as a divine call to holiness and the establishment of a sacramental bond of love and partnership. This vocation fosters a deeper love beyond personal capabilities, transforming the marital contract into a path of discipleship and spiritual transformation.
  4. Single Life: Individuals in this vocation may devote more time to prayer, study, and mentoring others spiritually. They represent Christ in their daily lives, proclaiming His Word and serving as guiding lights towards God. The single life vocation can be temporary or lifelong, with some transitioning to other callings over time.”

What Are the Catholic Vocations?

Within the Catholic faith, followers discern their vocation among five primary callings:

  1. Priesthood: The most know vocation is Priesthood. Those called to this vocation bear the profound responsibility of preaching the teachings of God and overseeing the administration of the seven sacraments.
  2. Religious Life: Those in religious life take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, living apostolic (in the world) or contemplative (focused on prayer) lifestyles.
  3. Married Life: Marriage in Catholicism is a sacramental union, a call to holiness and building a life of love and partnership.
  4. Single Life: A vocation dedicated to prayer, study, and spiritual mentorship, representing Christ in the world.
  5. Diaconate: An ordained ministry focusing on service, charity, and proclamation of the Gospel.

Common Elements of Vocational Discernment

The vocational discernment deeply personal, shares common elements across individuals:

  1. Prayerful Contemplation: God’s intentions aren’t always explicit, requiring reflective prayer and contemplation. Daily sessions of quiet reflection and attentive listening to God’s voice are recommended. Some find support in journaling or Scripture reading to aid in this process.
  2. Guidance: Seeking guidance is valuable. Regular meetings with a trusted spiritual mentor can offer insight and direction in understanding God’s plan for one’s life.
  3. Exploration: Engaging with fellow parishioners can provide valuable perspectives. Connecting with those living in vocations that resonate with you can offer firsthand insights into their fulfillment. Reaching out to the Office of Consecrated Life within your diocese can provide information about available religious life opportunities.

How to Discern Your Vocation in the Catholic Church

Discerning one’s vocation involves:

  1. Healing Past Hurts and Overcoming Fear: Addressing emotional wounds and fears is crucial. These emotions can hinder openness to God’s calling and impede the ability to trust in His guidance.
  2. Active Participation in Church Life and Community: Active involvement within the church community offers valuable insights. Engaging in parish activities, volunteering, and attending spiritual events can provide a clearer sense of where one’s calling might lie.
  3. Developing and Utilizing Personal Gifts in Service: Recognizing and nurturing personal talents and strengths is pivotal. These gifts are often indicators of how one might best serve God and others within a specific vocation.
  4. Prioritizing Silent Prayer and Meditation: In the midst of a busy world, making time for silent contemplation and prayer helps in listening to God’s voice. Silence allows for introspection and a deeper connection with God, aiding in understanding His will.
  5. Creating a Discernment Timeline: Establishing a structured approach to discernment helps avoid feeling lost or stuck in perpetual uncertainty. Setting milestones or goals for discernment can provide clarity and direction.
  6. Embracing Sacraments for Spiritual Growth: The Sacraments are avenues through which Catholics receive God’s grace. Regular participation in Sacraments like Confession and Communion can deepen spiritual growth and discernment.
  7. Investigating Various Religious Orders: Exploring different religious orders and their charisms helps in understanding how one’s gifts align with the mission and spirituality of each order.
  8. Asking Introspective and Spiritual Questions: Self-reflection and seeking guidance through spiritual mentors are vital. Questions about motivations, desires, and alignment with God’s will aid in the discernment process.

Each of these steps contributes to a holistic discernment journey, enabling individuals to explore and understand their calling more profoundly.

Key Resources for Catholic Vocational Discernment

For those exploring vocations within the Catholic Church or lay life, the initial step often involves reaching out to the Office of Vocation within their diocese. The primary focus of the Director of Vocations revolves around individuals interested in diocesan priesthood, they possess valuable insights and may offer referrals to diaconate formation, religious life options, or connect those considering married life to the Office of Marriage and Family. The resources can be further explored :

  • An online community dedicated to aiding individuals in discovering and nurturing their vocation by engaging in discussions about God, faith, and religious life, particularly focused on Catholic sisters and nuns.
  • The Ministry of Nuns’ Life is an online sanctuary committed to nurturing and guiding individuals in discovering their vocational paths, with a particular emphasis on Catholic sisters and nuns. Through insightful discussions about God, faith, and the essence of religious life, this community offers a supportive environment for exploring the calling to a life devoted to spiritual service. Delivers lectures led by Dr. Juliet Mousseau, RSCJ, exploring the theological significance of contemporary religious life.
  • The VISION Vocation Network serves as a comprehensive platform designed to offer assistance and support to individuals at different stages of their exploration of religious vocations within the Catholic Church.
  • This network caters to those discerning religious life, providing invaluable resources, guidance, and insights to aid them in their vocational journey. Through an array of informative content, discussions, and connections, VISION Vocation Network plays a pivotal role in guiding individuals toward a deeper understanding of their callings and helps them navigate the various pathways within the Catholic vocation ministry.

Includes reflections, resources, and guides from different Franciscan Orders aimed at assisting individuals in discerning their calling and entering phases of vocational discernment.

About the Program

The online Master of Theological Studies – Franciscan Theology (MTS-FT) program, offered by the Franciscan School of Theology in collaboration with the University of San Diego, is designed for professionals and recent graduates. This program provides teachings from renowned scholars deeply rooted in active service, aiming to create a positive impact on local and global communities through faith studies. Learn more about the program.

To delve deeper into the program and its offerings, prospective students can explore additional details and gain comprehensive insights by accessing more information about the Master of Theological Studies – Franciscan Theology program.

Citations:

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Lane, C. J. (2021). Callings and consequences: The making of Catholic Vocational Culture in early modern France. McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Lovett, K., & Wilhoit, S. (2023). Engaging with vocation on campus: Supporting students’ vocational discernment through curricular and co-curricular approaches. Routledge.

Sholihin, M., Hardivizon, H., Wanto, D., & Saputra, H. (2022). The effect of religiosity on life satisfaction: A meta-analysis. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 78(4). https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v78i4.7172

Vu, M. C., & Burton, N. (2021). The influence of spiritual traditions on the interplay of subjective and normative interpretations of meaningful work. Journal of Business Ethics, 180(2), 543–566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04893-2