Discernment. What exactly is it? When talking about Church vocations, discernment means the process of discovering whether or not God calls a person to priesthood, religious life, or other ministry.

How do we decide what our vocation is? We are all called to share our gifts for the service of others and live a life of holiness. How we respond to this call differs from person to person. Some of us choose a life of marriage; some remain single; while others choose to find fulfillment choosing a vocation as a priest, sister, brother or deacon. Choosing any vocation should never be entered into lightly or impulsively. Today most adults choose to be married, some stay single, with only a few choosing the religious life. However, before choosing any vocation, it is important to learn how to discern what God may be calling you to do through prayer.

How do we know if God is calling us to live a life in a religious vocation? As we develop a prayer life, we wade deeper into our relationship with God. His voice will become more apparent to us as our union with Him manifests. We may find ourselves with an insatiable desire for His presence and His word; the longing to experience God in all we do.

What do we do if we think we are being called into the religious life? Sometimes, when trying to understand where God is leading us, the guidance of another can be very helpful. You can speak to the priest who serves your parish, or seek out spiritual direction. The Office for Vocations in the Diocese of Springfield is also an excellent place to start.