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The Art of Discernment
Make no little plans
Preeminent 20th-century architect Daniel Burnham advised his associates: “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably will not themselves be realized...”
Preeminent 20th-century architect Daniel Burnham advised his associates: “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably will not themselves be realized...”
How the Samaritan found his vocation
WHO WAS the Good Samaritan? We don’t know for sure, but it is clear that he was a layperson, not a religious professional. In fact, it is probable that he was some sort of businessperson...
WHO WAS the Good Samaritan? We don’t know for sure, but it is clear that he was a layperson, not a religious professional. In fact, it is probable that he was some sort of businessperson...
Resources
Find your Spirituality Type
Take a short quiz to find out your spirituality type.
Take a short quiz to find out your spirituality type.
Celibacy Quiz
Test your ability to live successfully as a celibate.
Test your ability to live successfully as a celibate.
Prayer and Discernment
Why consider a church vocation in times like these?
In the midst of great difficulties, the church more than ever needs a new generation of priests, sisters, and brothers.
In the midst of great difficulties, the church more than ever needs a new generation of priests, sisters, and brothers.
En français: Comment connaître la volonté de Dieu?
Recherchez-vous la volonté de Dieu dans votre propre vie ? Bien, vous n’avez qu’à consulter les écritures saintes, l’Église, et l’expérience de votre vie personnelle.
Recherchez-vous la volonté de Dieu dans votre propre vie ? Bien, vous n’avez qu’à consulter les écritures saintes, l’Église, et l’expérience de votre vie personnelle.
Five steps to better prayer
Prayer helps us to know and love God more. Through prayer we become more and more the kind of person we really want to be: a person of love, integrity, compassion, forgiveness, and joy.
Prayer helps us to know and love God more. Through prayer we become more and more the kind of person we really want to be: a person of love, integrity, compassion, forgiveness, and joy.
Four steps to hearing your call
Throughout the ages, people have struggled to understand God’s call to them. Four basic steps of discernment—becoming aware, gathering information, making a decision, and looking for confirmation of your choice—can help.
Throughout the ages, people have struggled to understand God’s call to them. Four basic steps of discernment—becoming aware, gathering information, making a decision, and looking for confirmation of your choice—can help.
How to know where God is leading you
In exploring a call to religious life, certain attitudes are crucial for success: openness, trust, expectation, and inner freedom.
In exploring a call to religious life, certain attitudes are crucial for success: openness, trust, expectation, and inner freedom.
It all begins with a call
From Abraham to Peter, Andrew, James, and John to the disciples on the road to Emmaus and extending to you, scripture reveals that nothing is so life-changing as the call we hear that originates in God.
From Abraham to Peter, Andrew, James, and John to the disciples on the road to Emmaus and extending to you, scripture reveals that nothing is so life-changing as the call we hear that originates in God.
Let God’s Word open the door to your heart
Praying with scripture can help you hear the voice of the Spirit stirring inside your heart and inviting you to break open the Bible and come to know God more personally.
Praying with scripture can help you hear the voice of the Spirit stirring inside your heart and inviting you to break open the Bible and come to know God more personally.
My four months at a house of discernment
For four months during 2001 I lived at Emmaus House--a Toledo, Ohio "house of discernment" run by the Sisters of Notre Dame.
For four months during 2001 I lived at Emmaus House--a Toledo, Ohio "house of discernment" run by the Sisters of Notre Dame.
Nine ways to open up God's will for you
During my 35 years as a vocation counselor, I've discovered nine steps to help people find what they want--and what God wants for them.
During my 35 years as a vocation counselor, I've discovered nine steps to help people find what they want--and what God wants for them.
Point and click to pray
A guide to websites that bring prayer and spiritual development
right to your computer.
A guide to websites that bring prayer and spiritual development
right to your computer.
Prayer sustains my vocation
Each day as I grow in my awareness of the community in which I live, I see health problems, relationship problems, and addictions. These problems, by the grace of God, I bring to the eucharistic table.
Each day as I grow in my awareness of the community in which I live, I see health problems, relationship problems, and addictions. These problems, by the grace of God, I bring to the eucharistic table.
The three keys to successful vocation decisions
To discern your vocation means to sort through the movements of your heart and unfold the truth of who you most deeply are.
To discern your vocation means to sort through the movements of your heart and unfold the truth of who you most deeply are.
What does it mean to say that God is calling me?
Jesuit Ignatian tradition sees God as actively and personally involved in each of our lives....God is engaged in a lifelong dialog with us. Our role in the dialog is to pay attention, listen, and try to respond.
Jesuit Ignatian tradition sees God as actively and personally involved in each of our lives....God is engaged in a lifelong dialog with us. Our role in the dialog is to pay attention, listen, and try to respond.
Religious Life
Family matters
It’s good to get the support of your family when you choose a church vocation, but it doesn’t always happen—at least not at first.
It’s good to get the support of your family when you choose a church vocation, but it doesn’t always happen—at least not at first.
Celibate chastity: One way to be a sexual person
Why did I choose a life and continue to choose a life that includes celibate chastity? Because of the deep sense of happiness I’ve found in this way of living.
Why did I choose a life and continue to choose a life that includes celibate chastity? Because of the deep sense of happiness I’ve found in this way of living.
Chastity is for everyone
Chastity is more than a list of don'ts. It's a way of harnessing our sexual energy for good, whatever our state of life: single, married, ordained, or vowed.
Chastity is more than a list of don'ts. It's a way of harnessing our sexual energy for good, whatever our state of life: single, married, ordained, or vowed.
Community: We're on your side and at your side
Saying your solemn "Yes!" in monastic vows means being welcomed into a community of believers who commit themselves to rooting for you and encouraging you all along your way."
Saying your solemn "Yes!" in monastic vows means being welcomed into a community of believers who commit themselves to rooting for you and encouraging you all along your way."
Eight myths about religious life
Contrary to popular misconceptions, religious orders aren't filled with crooning priests, flying nuns, and crotchety church ladies ready to rap your knuckles.
Contrary to popular misconceptions, religious orders aren't filled with crooning priests, flying nuns, and crotchety church ladies ready to rap your knuckles.
Enter the real world of community life
Three skills are absolutely essential to community life:
Look to the future. Persevere in the present. Tell the truth.
Three skills are absolutely essential to community life:
Look to the future. Persevere in the present. Tell the truth.
Five reasons we need religious communities
Knowing and working with a number of men and women in religious communities, I have found that they enrich our world with five qualities that clearly demonstrate why we need them.
Knowing and working with a number of men and women in religious communities, I have found that they enrich our world with five qualities that clearly demonstrate why we need them.
Follow your passion
At the time I wrote this poem, I had been a social worker in Newark, New Jersey for many years, working with families whose stories could keep you up at night. Then in the 1980s, in addition to poverty and addiction, these same families confronted a new struggle: HIV and AIDS.
At the time I wrote this poem, I had been a social worker in Newark, New Jersey for many years, working with families whose stories could keep you up at night. Then in the 1980s, in addition to poverty and addiction, these same families confronted a new struggle: HIV and AIDS.
Uncovering the mystery of celibate love
I don't know why but I'm fulfilled in this life, and that alone is Mystery to me.
I don't know why but I'm fulfilled in this life, and that alone is Mystery to me.
Why I encourage my kids to consider priesthood and religious life
I've met and worked with hundreds of generous, Spirit-filled priests, brothers, and sisters. Many of them have a happiness that comes from the inside, from dedicating their lives to something with lasting meaning.
I've met and worked with hundreds of generous, Spirit-filled priests, brothers, and sisters. Many of them have a happiness that comes from the inside, from dedicating their lives to something with lasting meaning.
Sisters
A free spirit finds her niche
The past 30 years have been a wild ride—one I would not have missed for the world.
The past 30 years have been a wild ride—one I would not have missed for the world.
For Sister Jamie Phelps, life’s joys outweigh struggles
Whatever Sister Jamie Phelps, O.P. “gave up" to become a religious sister, has “come back a hundredfold," says the educator, psychiatric social worker, community organizer, liturgist, choir director, spiritual director, and theologian.
Whatever Sister Jamie Phelps, O.P. “gave up" to become a religious sister, has “come back a hundredfold," says the educator, psychiatric social worker, community organizer, liturgist, choir director, spiritual director, and theologian.
A new sister looks at the vows
As my life shifts and takes new turns, I continue to grow in my experience and understanding of the vows that will anchor my life: poverty, chastity, and obedience.
As my life shifts and takes new turns, I continue to grow in my experience and understanding of the vows that will anchor my life: poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Stopping long enough, I heard God’s call
I had succeeded in athletics and my career, and I had never lacked materially. But all of that paled to insignificance after being at the Queen of Angels Monastery.
I had succeeded in athletics and my career, and I had never lacked materially. But all of that paled to insignificance after being at the Queen of Angels Monastery.
Taking my vows to heart
When I was a novice I was intensely learning our values of communal and private prayer, work, study, leisure, and hospitality. Today, I'm trying to take what I have learned and actually apply it to real life.
When I was a novice I was intensely learning our values of communal and private prayer, work, study, leisure, and hospitality. Today, I'm trying to take what I have learned and actually apply it to real life.
A wild ride with the Holy Spirit
When you're on a life adventure, you never know what's awaiting you around the next bend. "My life has gotten larger, yet more intimate."
When you're on a life adventure, you never know what's awaiting you around the next bend. "My life has gotten larger, yet more intimate."
Brothers
Why I hate Tuesdays and Thursdays
An evening class takes this brother from a highlight of his day. Here’s why waiting for dinner can mean so much.
An evening class takes this brother from a highlight of his day. Here’s why waiting for dinner can mean so much.
Big Brother is watching you
Holy Cross Brother Roy Smith has earned a reputation as someone who is always there for kids, or as his students at Holy Trinity High School in Chicago would say, he's got their backs.
Holy Cross Brother Roy Smith has earned a reputation as someone who is always there for kids, or as his students at Holy Trinity High School in Chicago would say, he's got their backs.
Brother Mark Elder makes an art of spirituality
Vincentian Brother Mark Elder, creator of some of the most striking murals in the United States and elsewhere, uses art in his quest to help the poor and disenfranchised.
Vincentian Brother Mark Elder, creator of some of the most striking murals in the United States and elsewhere, uses art in his quest to help the poor and disenfranchised.
How God tricked Duc Pham into becoming a brother
Franciscan Brother Duc Pham says he found his call through false advertising. He answered an ad looking for a teacher but the Franciscans had other plans for him. He’s glad he followed their lead.
Franciscan Brother Duc Pham says he found his call through false advertising. He answered an ad looking for a teacher but the Franciscans had other plans for him. He’s glad he followed their lead.
Why did I become a brother?
Why did I choose to join the brothers? The answer is simple but profound: community. The brothers were my first experience of Christian community, an experience that triggered my search for religious life.
Why did I choose to join the brothers? The answer is simple but profound: community. The brothers were my first experience of Christian community, an experience that triggered my search for religious life.
Priests
The joy in being a priest
The church should be a community in which people discover God’s delight in them. This is the ministry of priests. This is my life.
The church should be a community in which people discover God’s delight in them. This is the ministry of priests. This is my life.
A breath of Spirit
Over the years I've learned that when a seminarian is good, he is very good and when he is not . . . it's best to do things yourself. I wasn't sure about the new guy yet.
Over the years I've learned that when a seminarian is good, he is very good and when he is not . . . it's best to do things yourself. I wasn't sure about the new guy yet.
Change today? One man's journey into priesthood
A homeless person’s call for change hit me not as a request for money, but as a command for altering my life. I had to change, or my destructive and selfish ways would surely consume me.
A homeless person’s call for change hit me not as a request for money, but as a command for altering my life. I had to change, or my destructive and selfish ways would surely consume me.
Ed's story: Lose a dream, find a life
I'd thought about being a priest, but I thought about it like most Catholic kids--idly, poking at the thought here and there, never really facing what it might mean, the joys of it, the hard parts, the reality.
I'd thought about being a priest, but I thought about it like most Catholic kids--idly, poking at the thought here and there, never really facing what it might mean, the joys of it, the hard parts, the reality.
Full circle for Father Manuel Williams, C.R.
For Father Manuel Williams, C.R., there was no one blazing moment of insight that called him to the priesthood. Instead, he walked for years among priests and sisters who were always quietly planting seeds, making the world a better place. In time, he dared to follow them--all the way back home.
For Father Manuel Williams, C.R., there was no one blazing moment of insight that called him to the priesthood. Instead, he walked for years among priests and sisters who were always quietly planting seeds, making the world a better place. In time, he dared to follow them--all the way back home.
Just call me Bishop Gustavo
I say to young people, “God is calling you to something. Let’s find out what it is."
I say to young people, “God is calling you to something. Let’s find out what it is."
My mountaintop journey toward priesthood
I believe God moves gently in most people's hearts, but with me he needed a hammer and one faithful dying man.
I believe God moves gently in most people's hearts, but with me he needed a hammer and one faithful dying man.
Vocations in the works
Why do some people explore the possibility of religious life? As the person in charge of ushering new members into his community, Father Marvin Kitten, S.J. wanted to know. So he put the question to the men he knew who were considering life as a priest or brother.
Why do some people explore the possibility of religious life? As the person in charge of ushering new members into his community, Father Marvin Kitten, S.J. wanted to know. So he put the question to the men he knew who were considering life as a priest or brother.
What does it take to be a good priest?
Being a priest is an awesome honor and responsibility. To be of service to others is to be a channel of God’s grace, and that is the heart of this special vocation.
Being a priest is an awesome honor and responsibility. To be of service to others is to be a channel of God’s grace, and that is the heart of this special vocation.
Missionaries
African dream: my 17 years in Kenya
What I experienced those first months in Kenya is still my experience after all these years. The Kenyans are welcoming, hospitable, and extremely generous people.
What I experienced those first months in Kenya is still my experience after all these years. The Kenyans are welcoming, hospitable, and extremely generous people.
Lessons in love from central Brazil
IN 1963, THE SISTERS of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate—the Joliet Franciscans—answered a call to work in Brazil. Today, both U.S. and Brazilian sisters make up the community in Brazil. They work in parishes, run a school, and train health workers.
IN 1963, THE SISTERS of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate—the Joliet Franciscans—answered a call to work in Brazil. Today, both U.S. and Brazilian sisters make up the community in Brazil. They work in parishes, run a school, and train health workers.
Missionary sister falls in love
With intentions of being a do-gooder, I arrived in Mexico; instead I have been enriched and humbled by the goodness I’ve discovered.
With intentions of being a do-gooder, I arrived in Mexico; instead I have been enriched and humbled by the goodness I’ve discovered.
Sister Dorothy Stang: Her dying shows us how to live
Sister Dorothy Stang, an advocate for the peasant farmers in the rainforests of Brazil, made powerful enemies who eventually gunned her down as she read from scripture.
Sister Dorothy Stang, an advocate for the peasant farmers in the rainforests of Brazil, made powerful enemies who eventually gunned her down as she read from scripture.
Being Catholic
Ten great things about being Catholic
Some may settle for a baptism, wedding, and funeral in the church and feel they’ve gotten the best. But if you choose to live all the moments in between from the perspective of the Catholic worldview, you can enhance your life beyond your wildest imaginings.
Some may settle for a baptism, wedding, and funeral in the church and feel they’ve gotten the best. But if you choose to live all the moments in between from the perspective of the Catholic worldview, you can enhance your life beyond your wildest imaginings.
Enter into the divine
At Mass, people frequently start with themselves. What would happen if they started with God?
At Mass, people frequently start with themselves. What would happen if they started with God?
Following Jesus: Be ready for some surprises
How do we imitate Jesus? By looking like him or duplicating his actions? How about praying to make us feel the way he did?
How do we imitate Jesus? By looking like him or duplicating his actions? How about praying to make us feel the way he did?
Media Review
Give us this day our daily blog
The blogosphere is not lacking when it comes to Catholic religious life and discernment.
The blogosphere is not lacking when it comes to Catholic religious life and discernment.
Help is at hand: Guidebooks on the way to religious life
VISION ASKED VOCATION MINISTERS in the U.S. and Canada to recommend some of the best books on life as a priest, religious sister, or religious brother. What follows is a list of some of the good reading they recommend.
VISION ASKED VOCATION MINISTERS in the U.S. and Canada to recommend some of the best books on life as a priest, religious sister, or religious brother. What follows is a list of some of the good reading they recommend.
Lives that lead to God: Biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs
Find out what's new and interesting in the vocation-related books.
Find out what's new and interesting in the vocation-related books.
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- My four months at a house of discernment
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