Perhaps you’ve had some deeply personal experience of God. Perhaps you’ve served in the Church and found the experience to be fulfilling. Perhaps you’ve observed a Religious Sister, Brother or Priest who appears genuinely happy in his or her vocation. You’ve begun to wonder, “Is it possible that God is calling ME to the Consecrated Life?” How exactly does one “know?”
Knowing if you have a religious vocation comes from discernment, a process of prayer and probing that gradually uncovers the deepest desires planted by God in a person’s heart. The process of discernment varies by individual, but there are several common elements to all discernment:
- PRAYER. You have to pray faithfully to discern a religious calling. That means setting aside time each day to sit quietly with God and let the Lord slowly reveal the plan for your life. Some ways that may help in discerning your call and listening to God’s voice; attending Mass frequently, Eucharistic Adoration and attending retreats and days of prayer. These help to come to an understanding of your spirituality and where God might be leading you.
- EXPLORATION. You have to ask questions, probe, investigate Talk to a Priest or Religious that you think you might have a call to the Consecrated Life. Ask them how they discerned God’s call in their life and if their vocation is fulfilling. Call the Office of Religious Life and learn about opportunities to visit a Religious Community. Be proactive as you explore the possibility of a vocation.
- GUIDANCE. You will need guidance as you discern a vocation. You will need someone to assess the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life. Find a spiritual directior to help you discern. If you need help in finding a spiritual director, the Office of Religious Life can help you find someone to accompany you on this part of your journey.
If you do these three things faithfully — PRAY, EXPLORE and SEEK GUIDANCE — one day you will “know” in your heart if you are called to a religious vocation. Then, it will be time to ACT and respond to God’s call to live entirely for Him.