Through our baptism as Christians, we all share a common vocation:

“To Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your strength and with
all your mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Luke 10:27)

The way in which our vocation is lived out takes on a variety of forms. Some of us are called specifically to religious life as a brother, sister, or priest. Some are called to diocesan priesthood or the deaconate. Others are called to marriage, and still others are called to life as a single man or woman. Each call is an expression of our shared vocation expressed above in the passage from the Gospel of Luke.

Entering into a time of discernment is about discovering how best to live out that common vocation to love. It is a task in which we are all called to engage ourselves—not just those discerning a vocation to religious life.

The time of discernment is a time to reflect upon our gifts, talents, desires, and passions. It is a time to ask God’s help in determining how best to use these wonderful parts of our lives and personhood in order to deepen and extend our love of God, one another, and ourselves. If, at the conclusion of your period of discernment, you feel called to religious life, then your discernment process was successful. And if you discern a call to married or single life, then your discernment was also successful!

It would be our privilege and honor to journey with you during your time of discernment. Please fill out the request in the For More Information section to get in contact with one of our vocation animators. He will be happy to assist you by providing you with the needed resources to help you discern a call to religious life as a Franciscan friar in the Province of Saint Barbara.

Some suggestions to get you started:

The Church traditionally uses the word “discernment” to denote the process of making decisions in light of the Gospel. So, for example, when a man feels moved by the Spirit to discern our way of life, he is invited to enter into a period of discernment with us over the course of approximately one year and to get involved with God, himself, and others.

Get Involved with God

To know God's will is to know God. Deep personal prayer is where discernment begins. In prayer, we form a space within our lives to be in His presence. We allow God to search us out, to desire us, to be one with us, to love us with passionate longing. In that space we can come to know God and ourselves better. Cherished places of Franciscan discernment are solitude, nature, Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours (morning and evening prayer), Scripture, spiritual direction and retreat work.

A Prayer for Discernment from St. Francis of Assisi

Most high, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart
and give me
true faith,
certain hope,
and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge,
Lord,
that I may carry out
Your holy and true command.

Get Involved with Yourself

Find a good spiritual director who is versed in helping others discern a call to religious life. She/he will help you get in touch with your desires and passions and help you to understand better how

God is moving within your life. Contact one of our vocations animators for help in locating a good spiritual director in your area. You can also visit the website: Spiritual Directors International for a list of trained and certified professional spiritual directors.

Consider purchasing a copy of this book: Ten Evenings with God.

The author, Franciscan Sister Ilia Delio, OSF, is Senior Fellow in Science and Religion

at Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University, and has written a simple

book that helps take the frustration and panic out of making important life decisions. Moreover, it shows us that to seek God's will means to know God. This would be a great resource to use in conjunction with spiritual direction.

Get Involved with Others

When in discernment, it's important to be involved with the Church's mission. In relating to others, we discover our unique way of giving and receiving love in the midst of ministry. Volunteer with an outreach program to the poor in your area. Get involved with a peace and justice movement. Become aware and practice care of creation. Reflect on these experiences with your spiritual director and other discerners to religious life. It's important to know that discernment takes place in the context of community. Discernment is not about just "God and Me," but rather, "God and Us." Check out our section Vocation Events on this website for upcoming discernment events in your area that will connect you with other discerners.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me
and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:11-13)