Hearing the Call

Thinking about religious life? These may be a help.

Discernment Questions: to make this more practical, here are some questions to help you:

WHO AM I?

What are my gifts and talents? What interests me?
What energizes me? What are my hopes and dreams?

Am I an active member of my local Church community?

WHO IS GOD?

What is my personal experience of God? How do I relate to God?
How do I feel God is attracting me?
Do I feel drawn to spend time with God in prayer?

HOW CAN I BE CERTAIN OF MY DECISION?

Do I feel abiding peace, strength, enthusiasm and joy?
Will it bring out the best in me? Am I free of obstacles?
Are my hopes and dreams realistic? Is my vision broadened?

Do I feel directed beyond myself? Does it lead me to true freedom?
Do I find myself opened to the world and to God?
Have other people seen this possibility in me?

How do I know I have a vocation?

Maybe the question can be re-phrased as "What is God's heart's desire for my life?" God has a desire for each of us. No one is excluded. God's desire is revealed to us in Scripture, which challenges us to go beyond; in prayer, which helps us hear God speaking to us in the depths of our hearts; in the events and experiences of life, which opens us up to an awareness of where God is present in our lives; in the needs of the Church and the world, which invite us to respond.

Knowing is so often a 20-20 hindsight. About the only thing we can know up front is that if we are faithful to the process, listening to what both head and heart tell us about our experiences, then the choices we make, whatever they are is what God's heart's desire is for me. The challenge is to pay attention also to what I desire and resonates with me and together with God we discover out vocation.

The Importance of Personal Prayer

Relationships are essential to our growth and development as a human person. Time spent together, conversation and self-revelation are all elements of a healthy relationship. They are also the elements of personal prayer that are part of an on going relationship with God. Most people would agree with this. Then the questions arise: "What is prayer?" "How do I pray?"

Simply stated personal prayer is a conversation with God. It can take place on the beach where I am caught up in the sound of the waves and beauty of the sun on the water, or when I see a leaf fall, or the first snowflake or the crocus in early spring. I see these wonders; I am filled with awe; I express this to my God sometimes with words, sometimes in silence. Maybe I find myself facing the loss of someone I love, or my own fragility, and deep in my soul the question, "Why" surfaces. In each of these situations I am in conversation with God: I am praying. There are times when I walk down the street and I see or hear something and I am aware of God and I say nothing but I do know that God is with me.

These are the times of prayer. As I mature and develop spiritually, I realize that this is not enough. I need to set time aside, to be intentional about my prayer and my relationship with God. I set a regular time for prayer, a time when I won't be interrupted. Sometimes I light a candle, play music, pray a familiar or favorite prayer, read scripture or a spiritual book. Then I take time in the quiet, often I journal at the end of my time with God. It is amazing how when I take time for personal prayer, I seem to be better able to face all of the events of the day. It is so much easier when I am not alone.

Personal prayer is a conscious decision that I make to get to know God and let God into my everyday life.

What is Discernment?

Discernment is rooted in the understanding that God is ever at work in our lives-inviting, directing, guiding and drawing us into the fullness of life. Its central action is reflection on the ordinary events of our lives. It seeks to discover God's presence in these moments and to follow the direction and guidance He gives us through His grace. It is not the events themselves that are of interest, but rather the affective responses they evoke in us- feelings of joy, sorrow, peace, anxiety and all the indefinable 'somethings' that arise and stir within us. It is precisely here that through faith we can discover God's direction and guidance in our lives.

Discernment presupposes an ability to reflect on the ordinary events of one's life, a habit of personal prayer, self-knowledge, knowledge of one's desires and openness to God's direction and guidance. Discernment is a prayerful pondering or mulling over the choices a person wishes to consider. In his/her discernment, the person's focus should be on a quiet attentiveness to God and sensing rather than thinking. His/her goal is to understand the choices of the heart: to see them as God might see them. In one sense, there is no limit to how long he/she might wish to continue in this. Discernment is a repetitive process, yet as the person continues, some choices should of their own accord fall by the wayside while others should gain clarity and focus. It is a process that should move ultimately toward a decision.

St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, observed that the Spirit of God works to encourage and give joy and inner peace to the person who is trying to respond generously to God's love; the spirit of evil, on the other hand, interjects discouragement, anxiety and fear. In other words, the person honestly seeking God can discover God's direction and guidance by being sensitive to the affective response his/her consideration evoke. Does one option evoke a sense of peace? Perhaps God is affirming it. Does another leave the person unsettled? Then perhaps God is directing him/her elsewhere. In all of this, the individual must be sensitive to where he/she experiences peace and joy, inspiration and hope. Our minds may offer us great advice, but discernment ultimately happens in the heart.

What is Prayer?

"Prayer... a conversation with one whom we know loves us." (St. Teresa of Jesus)

Prayer seems to be a need for every human person. Deep within each of us is the desire and the capacity for worship. All through the ages, we hear of the various ways men and women have lifted their hearts in tribute and petition- often to an unknown God. We Christians have a gentler entrance into the life of prayer through Jesus. Because of Jesus, God is not an unknown deity, but a loving Father, a kind friend, a reliable support. Because of Jesus, we are able not only to worship God, but also to enter into relationship with God. Made in God's image and likeness, we believe that God lives deep within us, bringing us to life every minute. One of the best ways to begin prayer is to picture that place where God lives and sustains us. It is here that the conversation begins...

Prayer sometimes comes very easily- great joy brings with it spontaneous gratitude and a desire to praise the God who we believe has blessed us. At times like this, words tumble from our lips, songs lift our hearts, everything is alive with the presence of a loved one. At other times, overwhelming sorrow or feelings of desperation bring us to our knees pleading for the intervention-or at least the benevolent presence-of a merciful God. Perhaps words won't come so easily, but grief has a language of its own and pain forces us to reach out to the other.

There are many methods of prayer, as many as there are people! Most people begin by saying familiar prayers- the Our Father or perhaps one of the Psalms-and reciting them quietly and thoughtfully. As they reflect on these words, they begin to understand them more deeply and appreciate the opportunity to enter into dialogue with God. And God responds. However, we need to become attuned to the way God responds. At some times, God may seem very present and at others, very absent. There will be days when prayer comes easily and days when it seems as though we are wasting our time. We need to persevere until prayer becomes a habit.

The habit of prayer is nourished by good reading: Scripture and books explaining the Scriptures are key resources. There is a wealth of good books written by people who have learned the ways of prayer and have the gift of sharing their expertise. Most people who are serious about prayer find spiritual direction a great help (and there are priests religious and lay people who minister as spiritual directors). One of the biggest helps is perhaps the simplest-friends. Friends with whom you can share your spiritual journey are good friends indeed!

We won't see visions or hear voices but we may receive an unexpected inspiration in the course of an ordinary day. Or we may suddenly become aware that we are in the presence of the Divine. Gradually, God becomes our constant and well-loved companion. Then no matter how we feel, we will know God's faithfulness.

The choice is ours. The Scriptures (and our own Hearts) tell us that God is always seeking us and has sent Jesus to us so that we could see the human face of God. It is up to us to do what we can to develop and deepen this relationship God so desires for us.

Prayer Resources

A Method for Prayer: a suggestion for jump starting a conversation with God.
Examination of Conscience: some thoughtful questions to guide your conscience formation.
My God Experience: a way to explore your images and experience of God.
Tips for Prayer: suggestions on how to improve your prayer time.
Seven P's for Praying: proposals for progressing in prayer.
Vocation Prayer: a prayer asking Jesus to watch over the Church by inspiring vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious live.
Vocation Prayers: over 40 prayers for parents and the faithful who wish to pray for vocations.