90-day journey
Discerning Your Vocation
A prayerful guide to discovering God's particular call — to marriage, consecrated life, priesthood, or dedicated single life.
Every baptised Christian has a universal vocation to holiness (Lumen Gentium, 40). Within that, God calls each person to a particular state of life. Discernment is the prayerful process of listening for that call.
Steps
- 1
Establish a prayer life
Daily Mass, Rosary, and examination of conscience create the interior quiet in which God's voice can be heard.
- 2
Know yourself
What gifts, desires, and natural inclinations has God given you? Vocation often builds on these, not against them.
- 3
Learn the vocations
Read about married life, priesthood, religious life, and the dedicated single life. Speak with those living each vocation.
- 4
Seek a spiritual director
A wise priest or religious can help you interpret what you hear in prayer and weigh consolations and desolations.
- 5
Pray the 'vocation prayer'
Lord, I want what you want. Show me the path. Give me the courage to take the first step.
- 6
Act and observe
Visit a seminary, make a vocations retreat, or serve in a parish ministry. Act on the promptings you receive and note the fruit.
- 7
Trust and decide
God does not torment souls he calls. At the right time, with peace and counsel, make your choice and trust in his providence.