The following is an excerpt from "Seminarians 2006-2007," a booklet published by the Diocese of Little Rock Vocations Office.
Discernment is a process of prayer, consultation, decision-making and action. The Lord lives at the center of our beings, and his Spirit directly communicates to us his will. Discernment is the process whereby we become attuned to listening to God's voice speaking inside of us, and over time, seeking to do only God's will.
Discernment works for us only when we believe that God does speak within us, and then, when I trust in what he says to him and finally I desire to do only what God wants.
There are different methods to discernment, but they would all include the following elements:
We should also listen to people around us. Sometimes God speaks through others, and if others have noted in us a priestly vocation, we should pay attention to this and let it be a part of our discernment.
During Advent, the Vocations Office will offer a discernment retreat in Little Rock for anyone interested in diocesan priesthood. The date and details are yet to be determined. For more information, contact Msgr. Friend at (501) 664-0340 or e-mail him on the Vocations Office page at http://www.dolr.org.
Adapted from pamphlet “¿Tengo Vocaciones?” by Fernando Torre Medina Mora, Guadalajara, Mexico.
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