The
Diocesan Priest is called to Priestly Ministry under
the obedience and authority of the Bishop of a Diocese.
In
his service to Christ and to the Church, a priest is
called to embody and mirror the image of Christ the
High Priest, who gives His life for the sake of the
Church. In nourishing God’s people with the Word
and Sacraments the priest through Christ’s authority,
shepherds the flock, forgives sins and opens channels
of God’s grace to his people. |
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 Discerning
God’s Call
Steps
to Consider in Discernment
Discernment is a process through which a person comes to understand
his interior experiences as he considers decisions in faith.
The following are some interior experiences you can consider
as you proceed to discern your vocation:
Sense
of Identity as the Beloved of God
It is in the context of the love of God for each
one of us that we set out to discover our life vocation. It
is in response to God’s love for me that I will discover
God’s desire for me. So it is helpful to reflect on
the various experiences of my life that point out God’s
special love for me. This knowledge will give me the freedom
to be open to whatever life vocation to which I sense God
is calling me.
Overall
Goal and Purpose of My Life
As it is my life vocation that will influence all
other aspects of my life, it is important to reflect on the
goal and purpose of all human and Christian life. This gives
me the perspective that will help me find the freedom necessary
to choose any one vocation over another, remaining always
obedient to the love of God moving me to fulfill the purpose
of my being and to serve God in terms of Christ’s command:
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
A
Deep Appreciation of the Mind and Heart of Jesus Christ
To put on the mind and heart of Christ, it is important
for me to pray over Jesus’ life, words and actions as
presented to me in the gospels. By reading and pondering the
accounts given in the New Testament, my hope is that the Spirit
will come into my being. I pray “To see you more clearly,
love you more dearly, follow you more nearly.”
To
Pray for Light and Strength
I ask God to move my mind and heart to choose the life vocation
that will better serve God and God’s people. I also
pray for charity and strength to recognize and overcome the
many fears and obstacles that I and others put in my path.
Discerning
Interior Movements
As I move through these various steps many different
interior experiences will take place in me, Some will be very
new to me and others will seem strange. Such experiences may
be:
-
A sense
of surprise, bewilderment
-
A
sense of sinfulness and unworthiness
-
A
great desire to join Christ in building a more just and
peaceful world
-
A
peak religious experience in which there is clarity of what
I am to do
-
An
experience of fear and turmoil
-
An
experience of peace and a sense of fulfillment.
Spiritual
Counseling
As I consider what life vocation I should choose, I often
experience being pulled in many directions. I question whether
I can fulfill it. I have feelings of inadequacy and wonder
if I am being realistic. I realize that I need someone to
help me make the right choice, so I look for someone who will
help me to judge the meaning of my interior experiences.
Prayer and reflection along with some spiritual direction
and the possibility of a discernment weekend at a retreat
center are all helpful when I am deciding a life vocation.
Eventually I come to an awareness of what God is calling me
to do. I become aware “I can do all things in God who
strengthens me.”
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