Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church

Vocational discernmentis the process by which men and women in theCatholic Churchdiscern,or recognize, theirvocationin the church and the world. The vocations are the life of a layperson in the world, eithermarriedor single, theordainedlife of bishops, priests, and deacons, andconsecrated religious life.

An illustration from a children'scatechismshows a boy and a girl discerning vocations to the religious life, encouraging young readers to consider such a possibility for themselves

Process

Eachdiocese,religious institute,ormonasteryusually has its own guidelines and advice for men or women discerning religious vocations. Many dioceses and religious institutes encourage men and women with potential vocations to spend time, usually anywhere from six months to a year, praying and askingGodto enlighten them. Those who feel they might be called to a religious vocation are encouraged to seek aspiritual directorto help them along the way.After the set time, many institutes have a formal discernment process which the candidate will engage in, before entering the institute as a novice, or the seminary.

Men

For men there are a number of vocations in the Catholic Church. The best known is the vocation to thepriesthood,as either adiocesanor areligiouspriest. A diocesan priest serves in a particular diocese and is under the localbishop.A religious priest (in this sense) is a member of a specific religious institute such as theTrinitarians,Holy Cross Fathers and Brothers,AugustiniansorJesuits.Diocesan and religious priests may also serve for a time in specific apostolates such asmilitary chaplainsor themaritime apostolate.

In addition, men may be called to religious life as a non-ordainedfriar,monk,or abrother.Friars are members ofmendicant orders,such theFranciscansor Augustinians. Monks are usually members of cloistered communities. Friars, monks, and religious Brothers all take vows ofpoverty, chastity, and obedience.Benedictinemonks take a vow of stability, which is a commitment to their particular community. Members ofsocieties of apostolic life,without taking religious vows, emphasize apostolic service and are fully active in society.

Other vocations for men in the Catholic Church include those to being permanentdeacons,hermits,and consecrated members of asecular institute.It is possible for someone to experience a combination of vocations.Thomas Mertonbecame aTrappistmonk, was ordained a priest, and lived for a time in a hermitage on the monastery grounds.

Since theSecond Vatican Council,it has become commonplace to consider committed single life, marriage, parenthood, and many other services as "lay" vocations, since each also requires a commitment to Christian faith and practice.

Women

For women, vocational discernment would consist of feeling called tomarriage,the life of areligious sisterornun,a consecrated member of asecular institute,a hermit, or aconsecrated virgin.The Catholic Church does not consider possibleordination of womento the priesthood. Religious sisters are similar to activereligious brothers.Nuns, in the strict sense of the word, correspond tomonks.

As with men, it has become more popular since the Second Vatican Council to consider committed single life, marriage, parenthood, and many other services as "lay" vocations, since each also requires a commitment to Christian faith and practice.

Vocation to marriage

Traditionally the termvocationwas used in the Catholic Church only to refer to priestly or religious vocations, the vocation to live a life directly consecrated to God.Thomas Aquinas,e.g., only explicitly uses the term vocation to refer to vocation to grace or conversion, or to enter religious life, though it has been argued that his teaching may be logically extended to include marriage as a vocation.In the 20th century there has been a growing movement to extend the use of the term widely. The Second Vatican Council taught thatallChristians, whatever their state, are called "to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity".The conclusion drawn from this principle is that any way of life that can be a full expression of Christian charity, and a means for growing towards the perfection of it, can be a vocation. Pope John Paul II taught that "there are two specific ways of realizing the vocation of the human person, in its entirety, to love: marriage and virginity or celibacy".

See also

• Catholic religious order
• Institute of consecrated life
• Secular clergy
• Universal call to holiness

External Links

• "Vocation Network".(comprehensive online index of articles on vocation discernment and tools for discerning a religious vocation)
• "VISION Catholic Religious Vocation Guide".(Comprehensive guide for those interested in consecrated life and discerning a religious vocation)