Is God calling you to priesthood or religious life?

As you begin or deepen your own discernment about religious life, it might be helpful to reflect on some of the following questions that ask:

  • Is God calling you to priesthood or religious life?

  • Do you often feel a nudge or a nagging that you should consider priesthood or religious life?

  • Has the idea of being a priest, brother, or sister reoccurred to you over a period of time?

  • Do you feel called to do more, to be involved more, to give more?

  • Do you enjoy being involved in ministry as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, member of a parish organization, teacher of religious education, or minister of care?

  • Is being involved in a life-giving faith community important to you?

  • Do you have desire to spend time in prayer?

  • Do you have a desire to be of service to others?

  • When you do give service do you often feel that you have received more than you have given?

  • Do you have great empathy with the poor, underprivileged, or marginalized?

Hearing God’s Call

Signs of Vocation

Every person has a vocation, a call from God, a call to holiness. The challenge is to identify your call, which is very personal and individualized. No two calls from God are the same. However, most people who are at your point, who are investigating a religious life, have a similar story. They describe a feeling that comes and goes for several years, a feeling that continues to linger and that “just feels right.”

Those who are struggling to hear God’s call in their life are in the process of discernment, the process of making a decision about life with help of the Holy Spirit. The core of discernment is prayer, knowing who you are, and peace. Discernment is about finding and owning the will of God and using a conscious experience of God’s grace to draw you to a course of action. It is a human and divine intervention.

It is important to keep a few things in mind while discerning. First, you cannot expect perfection. You will not be absolutely certain in every discernment; there is an element of faith that you will have to rely on. It is also important to remember that discernment is not an easy or quick process; it is something that you have to work at. The process of exploration can be difficult, but it is important to try to get all pertinent facts available to your decision. Also, remember that the answer to your discernment may not be the most difficult choice; it will be the choice that is natural for you. Sometimes it can help to pray over scriptures on choice and call.

The discernment process is a serious step and needs accompaniment. It is important that you find someone to help you through the process. You can find guidance with a spiritual director; individual contact with family, friends, parish priests, religious brothers or sisters, lay ministers; or through vocation directors at a diocese or order.