Vocational Discernment Exercises

  1. Let’s imagine that you are called to be a Religious Brother/Sister, Priest, Consecrated man/woman, write a list of all the advantages and disadvantages of being called to these vocations.
     
  2. Now imaging that you are called to the vocation of Marriage.  Write a list of all the advantages and all the disadvantages of the call of this vocation.
     
  3. St. Ignatius in his Spiritual Exercises spoke of a creative way to discern a vocation.  He said to explain to a friend why you feel a calling to religious life and then why to marriage.  Consider your thoughts, feelings, & motivations when speaking of each of these.  Examine them.  How do you feel when describing each to a friend?  Which one brings you joy and excitement and interest the most? (if you don’t speak to someone for this exercise, write it down instead)
     
  4. Another exercise of Ignatius is to think of yourself on your death bed and you are remembering your life. What do you see that you have been?  Where do you see yourself fulfilled in life?  What vocation has brought you the greatest joy and service to God and His people?
     
  5. Write a historical time-line of your life.  What are the most vivid, significant events of your life?  The people who have been a part of your life?  Do you see any patterns of how God has been working, leading, and calling you by contemplating your life?
     
  6. Write a list of the qualities of a man/woman you would want to marry if you were called to marriage.  Make sure you include a list of qualities that you wouldn’t want in a man/woman.
     
  7. Write a list of qualities that you would look for in a Religious Order, some other form of Consecrated life, or the priesthood.  What are the charisms and prayer life of the Order? What apostolate or mission are you passionate about? Contemplative or Active life life? Or a balance of both?..etc.
     
  8. Write a list of the greatest desires or passions of your heart, from greatest to the least.  Include things like what you like to do such as cooking, hiking, etc.  Then pray and journal about what vocation would best fit with these desires of your heart.
     
  9. Have you had any enlightening signs of vocation or something that you know was from God?  If so, reflect on them and make sure to journal and pray about them.    
     
  10. What are your fears and doubts, uncertainties in being called to marriage, religious life, or consecrated life?  Fears and doubts seem to be the greatest things preventing us from moving towards our vocation. Pray with this Scripture passage and put yourself in Peter’s shoes and reflect on fears of your life that may make you doubt like Peter. Mt 14:22-33.
     
  11. Pray & meditate with these Scriptures to discern Marriage: Eph 5:22-33,  Mt 19:4-6  & Consecrated Life:  I Cor 7:32-34, Mt 19:11-12, Mk 10:20-21    (*Here’s just a few, look for other Passages too)