12. Vocations & Discernment

Christ's Faithful in the World: The Secular Character of the Laity by Miras, J.

What if one of the Church's most fiery mystics could mentor you in prayer, charity, and holiness, right where you are?Walk alongside St. Catherine of Siena as she teaches you how to grow in love of God, neighbor, and the Church. Drawing deeply from her letters and prayers, this book brings Catherine's bold wisdom into your daily life-- not as a distant mystic to admire, but as a spiritual coach who meets you in your struggles and calls you to rise above them.Catherine doesn't ask you to levitate or to live on nothing but the Eucharist. She asks you to begin. Again and again. Through daily prayer, honest self-knowledge, and sacrificial love, she shows how every Christian, no matter how weak or ordinary, can become a saint.Whether you're battling distraction, discouragement, pride, or sloth, Catherine has been there-- and she will not let you stay stuck. She speaks with authority, tenderness, and with a burning desire for your holiness.Let her coach you. And let God, through her and out of complete love for you, make you new.

Definition of Fidelity

Fidelity: Tireless Perseverance in One’s Vocation by Abad, J.

How to know God's will: Find God's plan for your life and savor the peaceful certainty that you are on the path He has personally chosen for you If your life seems to make no sense, or if you don’t know which path to take, St. Francis de Sales will console and inform you. In this warm little book, he explains to you what God’s will is and how He reveals it — yes, even to you, and even in the seemingly random events of your life. No matter what you’re going through now (or may have gone through), you’ll see why you should love and trust in God’s will — and long for its fulfillment. Best of all, you’ll learn a sure method for discovering God’s will in any situation — today! As you begin to discern God’s loving hand even in seemingly chaotic events, St. Francis de Sales will lead your mind and your heart to the still waters of God’s gentle consolation. From St. Francis de Sales you’ll learn: Four signs that your heart conforms to God’s will — does yours? How to accept God’s will even when it seems terrifying and painful Sacred inspirations: not just for the prophets. The many ways God may be knocking on your door -- now! Changing your life’s direction: how to spot and avoid all-too-common dangers The simple rule of charity: how it can help you make vital decisions Are you as mature in the virtues as God wills you to be? How to distinguish zeal for God’s will from selfish arrogance Three ways you can recognize a thought or sentiment that comes from God The key ingredient that makes all your actions pleasing to God: can you name it? Making decisions: practical advice to help you distinguish between times when you should move slowly and carefully, and when you should act quickly, without undue time for deliberation

As faith-filled Catholics, we are called to go out and spread the good news of the Gospel, build up the Church, and fuel its mission. We are supernaturally empowered by God to do this through the charisms we receive at Baptism. Learn about each charism, what they are, and how discipleship unleashes these powerful gifts to produce fruit that lasts. Page numbers: 158

Catechism of the Catholic Church - Vocation

Can someone look at ambition in a positive sense? The word evokes behavior that displays pride, vanity, and disunity. Where it is mentioned in the Bible, it comes across in reference to sin. But in Luke 14: 10, Jesus in one parable tells his followers, " Friend, go up higher." The author shows how God desires and encourages a positive ambition which counteracts the negative earthly influence and concerns. These can crowd out a much greater and glorious life of service to others and to God. Fr. Thomas Joachim frames the issue in three ways. First, striving for what is great characterizes the true childlike-like spirit found in the Gospel. Second, he describes how each one can cooperate with divine ambition through desire, confidence in God, and a spirit of struggle. Finally comes the seven ambitions found in the Our Father, where believers pray for the accomplishment of God' s desires within them. The author summarizes in this way: " We must reverse the usual perspective of our life. We can no longer seek to fulfill our ambitions; we must seek to welcome God' s ambitions for us. Fulfilling our own dreams is not of primary importance, but rather that God' s dreams for us are made real in our lives." Page numbers: 95

"What if heaven isn't just our destination, and happiness isn't something we wait for, but realities we can begin to live now?In this warm, accessible guide to Christian joy, Fr. Edward Maristany invites readers into a refreshing and deeply hopeful vision of the Chistian life— one where joy is not postponed until the next world, but encountered right here in the present. With wisdom rooted in Scripture, the saints, and the lived experience of the Church, Fr. Maristany guides us through the spiritual logic of happiness: God's plan for us, the tragedy of sin, the healing power of Christ, and the grace-filled path to sanctity in ordinary life. Along the way, he answers the questions every believer faces.This book is a heartfelt call to live as beloved sons and daughters of God, to find meaning in the moment, and to walk the daily road of faith with confidence, peace, and purpose. If you've ever longed or more than momentary pleasure— if you want lasting joy and a life that bears eternal fruit— this book is for you. Because for the Christian, heaven can't wait Page numbers: 64

Are you a Catholic striving to live your faith more deeply, but sensing that God is asking more of you? In Love Finds a Way, Stephen Gabriel shares a deeply personal and practical guide for cultivating a richer interior life. Drawing on the wisdom of St. Josemaria and the spiritual tradition of the Church, Gabriel offers encouragement, structure, and specific devotions to help lay Catholics grow in friendship with Christ. From daily Mass and the Rosary to mental prayer, confession, and spiritual direction, this book presents a "plan of life" that integrates faith into every corner of daily living. With warmth, clarity, and humility, Love Finds a Way helps ordinary Catholics answer Jesus's extraordinary call to holiness, right in the midst of family life, work, and the world. Page numbers: 105

The work is a collection of some talks delivered in the Fifth Study Week for Seminary Formation Staff organized by the Pontificia Universita della Santa Croce in Rome from February 5 to 9, 2018. The objective of the conference, realized in the various talks reproduced in the book, was to transmit ideas to formators in seminaries in relation to helping seminarians develop properly their affectivity. As the author points out in his introductory conference: "Only a man with a balanced affectivity --meaning, someone attracted to women, with normal passions, etc.-- who lives this affectivity with naturalness and according to Christian morality can assume the celibate life in a healthy way. In other words: a man who has achieved self-mastery, who doesn't let himself get dragged about by his passions." The ideas presented by the speakers in the conference are helpful for those involved not only in the formation of seminarians but also in the formation of lay persons who are called to a life of apostolic celibacy or, as one speaker mentioned, virginity for the kingdom of God. The theological and psychological doctrine on chastity lay the groundwork for very practical reflections that can aid someone (be he a priest or a lay person) in guiding others.

On the Vocation to Opus Dei by Coverdale, J.F.

St. Joseph is often called the Silent Saint— but in this bold and beautifully structured meditation, his voice resounds loud and clear as a spiritual father, guardian, and intercessor for the whole Church. Ian Mahood leads readers through meditations on each title of the Litany of St. Joseph, grounding every reflection in Scripture and Church teaching. This is a doctrinally solid invitation to love the foster father of Jesus more deeply, a place where dogma and devotion meet. Ideal for daily reflection, catechesis, or as a personal Josephite consecration, this book reveals the man who was entrusted with the highest of responsibilities, and the implications and meaning in our own lives. Let St. Joseph guide you to love Christ more fully, follow him more faithfully, and trust God's plan more completely. Discover the man behind the titles. Meet the SAINT who raised the SAVIOR. Page numbers: 144

At a time when so many people are spiritually disillusioned and searching for ways to live, love, work, and play that nurture the soul rather than destroy it, Matthew Kelly once again delivers a powerful book that encourages us in our weariness, challenges us in our comfort, and invites us to rediscover the beautiful possibilities God places before us daily.Rediscover Jesus is a profound invitation to seek deeply personal answers to our deeply personal questions. Each page seems to effortlessly reach into every aspect our lives, providing spiritual wisdom and practical insights that help us to know both Jesus and ourselves in a new way.Some books find us at just the right time, and those books change our lives forever. Rediscover Jesus is one of those books. Page numbers: 187

2021 Catholic Media Association Award third place award in church professional Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, preacher to the papal household for over forty years, graciously accepted Pope Francis’s invitation to lead a six-day retreat for the bishops of the United States in January 2019. Shepherds and Fishermen contains the reflections and meditations that guided this gathering, presented in an accessible format for groups and individuals seeking spiritual and ministerial inspiration. Shepherds and Fishermen lifts up the words of Mark 3:14: “He appointed twelve . . . that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach.” Reflections and meditations offered in lectio divina, homilies, and liturgies focus on what it means to “be with Jesus” while also “going forth to preach.” Retreatants will reflect upon the ways their ministry is dependent upon both personal sanctification and pastoral activity. The twenty-six scripturally based and culturally relevant meditations make Shepherds and Fishermen an ideal companion for a self-directed retreat or a prolonged spiritual exercise. As Jesus’s call to be shepherds of sheep and fishers of men is addressed to every baptized person, the wisdom shared in this book will be treasured by bishops, priests, deacons, religious, candidates, and seminarians, as well as laity who wish to deepen their spiritual lives. Page numbers: 280

Something Great that is Love (twelve articles) by León, B. de

The path to deep faith isn't complicated: it's clear, powerful, and already within reach. In this world of endless noise, shifting values, and spiritual confusion, The Four First Things calls us back to the beginning— to the foundational truths that can shape our lives, heal our hearts, and lead us into a profound relationship with God. This book: Shows why, without God, even our highest ideals fall apart Describes God' s invitation to create freely with him Explains how suffering and evil fit within a God-given world Gives practical tools for developing unwavering trust in God' s Will Reminds us that no detail is too small for God's love and help Written for young adults exploring their faith, spiritual seekers, lapsed believers, and the already devoted who need fresh inspiration, this powerful book is a short read with a lasting impact. Above all, it aims to awaken a burning desire to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength— and to love others not just as ourselves, but as God loves us. Page numbers: 129

'The Meaning of Vocation in the Words of John Paul II' is a compilation of St. John Paul II's profound teachings drawn from his speeches, audiences, and writings, illuminating vocation as a divine gift and personal call from God that shapes individual lives and the Church's mission. Its main themes include the universal vocation to love and solidarity, the specific call to motherhood as an eternal and contemporary dignity for women, priestly vocations requiring courage and spiritual struggle, and the communal responsibility for pastoral care to nurture these seeds of grace. Theologically, the book underscores vocation's Trinitarian roots and ecclesial significance, presenting it as essential for human fulfillment, countering cultural challenges like the "culture of death," and advancing the Church's evangelizing work toward integral human development.

Have you ever considered that each encounter with Jesus in the Gospels is an invitation for you personally? Joe Billmeier guides readers through ten powerful Gospel scenes where ordinary people meet Jesus— and are never the same again. From Bartimaeus the blind beggar who dared to cry out, to Zacchaeus who climbed a sycamore tree, to Simon of Cyrene unexpectedly pressed into carrying the Cross, each story reveals the lasting transformation that comes from meeting Christ face-to-face. Personal reflection follows each Gospel text, showing how these encounters, ancient yet timeless, can speak directly into the challenges of our own lives: loneliness, restlessness, hardship, and the desire for deeper purpose. Each chapter helps you see not just what happened then, but what can happen now, when you open yourself to the presence of Jesus. Whether you are seeking direction, strength, or a renewal of faith, this book is a personal invitation to recognize your own "tenth hour"— that decisive moment when Christ looks at you, calls you, and sets you on the path of mission made just for you. Page numbers: 88

Vatican archive - Vocation

Vatican website

Vocation to Marriage and the Christian Family by McGovern, T.

The Good News of Jesus Christ is known as the kerygma, based on the Greek word kerysso, meaning "to herald" or "to proclaim". It is the core message of Christ that each of the Apostles, the original heralds of the Gospel, proclaimed to the world. It is Christ's answer to his own penetrating question, "What do you seek?" This is why the Catholic Church emphasizes the importance of what it calls the "First Proclamation": the core Gospel of God's love and the person and mission of Jesus Christ, which ideally we surrender ourselves to, so that a more in-depth, systematic presentation of the Faith can take deeper root in our soul. Unfortunately, many Catholics today might know facts about Jesus and the Gospel, but they do not know him and this story of his love in a way that shapes their entire lives. How about you? In What Do You Seek?, Scripture scholar Dr. Edward Sri helps us enter more deeply into the Gospel, to ponder the mysteries of God's love for us and his work of salvation, so that we can be transformed, and join in Christ's work of saving the world.

Two of Jesus’ disciples are on their way to Emmaus. They have lost all hope. The atrocious events of Friday have extinguished the light that once shone in their souls, giving way to inner emptiness. An unknown traveler takes an interest in their conversation. They exchange questions and answers both genuine and important. Mile by mile, their eyes and hearts, though anguished, open to the splendid beauty of an unexpected dawn. The Risen One has restored their hope. What did he say to them? How did he turn their defeat into victory? He simply explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself (Lk 24:27). Thus, he immersed them in the divine mind, in the great project of redemption.

A doctor, a professor, a dancer, a stay-at-home mom, and a marketing executive are some of the inspiring women portrayed in this collection that describes the women of Opus Dei, a Roman Catholic organization composed of clergy and lay members dedicated to fostering Christian principles at all levels of society. Each essay, interview, and profile in this compilation explores facets of Opus Dei that are unfamiliar to many. The DaVinci Code and other popular entertainments have whetted the interest in this controversial organization, and promulgated many assumptions that members of the organization contest. The women portrayed in this collection encompass an inspiring—and, for some, surprising—segment of a Catholic institution that encourages women around the globe to develop their skills and talents to the fullest and to be engaged in the world. Single, celibate women and those raising families describe their first encounters with Opus Dei, what made them decide to join, and how it transforms and orders their daily lives. Relevant information on the organization and workings of Opus Dei, its structure, and some of the key practices of the members are also discussed.