In order to know your vocation, it is necessary to discern God’s call. Discernment is the process of recognizing or understanding God’s will in your life. Discernment is done with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When discerning what God calls us to do, we must remember that first and foremost we are called to be holy, to love God above all things and to love others as ourselves. From this point we begin to discern the particular vocation God is calling us to. When we ask ourselves, “What does God want for me?” we must remember that God loves us and wants the best for us. He wants us to be happy, and whatever he calls us to will make us happy. Therefore, do not be afraid to be a follower of Jesus Christ as he calls you deeper and deeper into his Sacred Heart. If Jesus Christ is calling you to be a priest, all that you need will be given to you.

You do so by following Jesus Christ and His Church. This, simply put, is living a life of virtue, avoiding sin and doing good. We are called first and foremost to be holy. Here are some simple steps. Pray every day: Have you asked, in prayer, what the Lord desires for you? Do you talk to God every day? Do you pray the Rosary? Do you pray with Sacred Scripture? When we cultivate a life of prayer and are in conversation with God, we are able to hear His voice more clearly.

Go to confession regularly: Sin is something that distances us from God. In the sacrament of reconciliation, we are forgiven of our sins and as a result, the distance we create by sin lessens and we can be closer to God.

Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation: Missing Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of obligation is a serious sin. We do not want to deny ourselves of receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

Additionally, going to Mass more than just once a week helps us deepen our relationship with Jesus. A priest offers Mass every day and therefore making Mass the focal point of your life will help you know if God is calling you to the priesthood.

Talk to a priest: If you think that God is calling you to the priesthood, speaking to a priest you trust is very helpful. If you wanted to be a doctor, you would ask a doctor what it is like. If you wanted to be a police officer, you would ask a police officer what it is like. The same thing is true for the priesthood. Having regular contact and conversation with a priest allows someone else to help us discern. Discernment cannot be done alone.