Discernment is an essential spiritual process

The process of prayer and reflection that helps you make a decision about your life with help of the Holy Spirit is called "discernment." It is the process of sifting through or sorting out—and discovering God's will for you.

In this process you deal with three elements: God, yourself, and the Church’s representation. During the process, hopefully, you will get to know yourself better and God better. As you begin, remember that both you and God ultimately desire the same thing—happiness. You want to make a decision about your life that will bring the most happiness to God. If you do that, this also will bring happiness to you in your life. Therefore, you and God really seek the same goal.

However, there is an additional step to discernment, and it follows the recognition of what you believe God is calling you to do. This is the confirmation of your call. If you discern a call to ordained ministry in the diaconate, Jesus’ Church journeys with you to reflect, pray and test your call. If the Church confirms that your call seems to come from the Lord, you are invited on a journey that may lead to a new way of life for you and your family.

Discernment is an essential spiritual process in determining the presence of a vocation to the diaconate, as well as the capacity to live it fully. The spiritual dimension of formation assists aspirants and candidates in assessing the depth and quality of their integration of personal, family, employment, and ministerial responsibilities. Formation assists growth in self-knowledge and commitment to Christ and the Church. A strong spiritual life and realistic commitment to serving people are essential to the discerning heart.

Those discerning a vocation incorporate a deeper level of prayer, simplicity of life, and commitment to the poor that fosters a spirit of trust. It fosters mutual respect and humility.

Accountability in formation is an invitation to deeper conversion, and, a spirit of service and authentic obedience are visible hallmarks of discerning a personal vocation.

Successful Discernment

Before inquiring or applying for the Aspirancy Path an individual should search their minds and hearts with the help of their pastor or spiritual director. Our willingness to follow our vocation is a huge factor in our ability to discover it. Discovery includes both our intellect and our heart. True discernment also gains approval from our mentors, pastors and spouses.

It is important to remember, discernment is not one-sided. It is not a decision solely made by an individual. The three major components that confirm an authentic vocation are God, the individual and the Church. The Church is represented by the local Ordinary (Bishop), his representative (your pastor) and the Permanent Diaconate Office.

As you are discerning the call to apply to the Permanent Diaconate you should understand the basic qualifications for men discerning this call:

• Sound moral character that reflects honesty, integrity and humility;
• Deep spirituality and prayer life that demonstrates a sound, mature faith that is attuned to the needs and life of the Church in balance with personal and family needs.  This spirituality is accompanied by the participation in retreats, days of reflection and various spiritual disciplines.
• Fundamental understanding of the Catholic faith.  Diaconate Formation is predicated on a sound understanding of Catholic teaching that is demonstrated by active involvement in Catholic faith formation programs and an understanding of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Applicants must be in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church for not less than five years and must be free of canonical impediments or irregularities;
• Frequent participant in the Church’s sacramental life and in adult faith enrichment opportunities, and demonstrated leadership in the Church and community;
• Natural inclination to service to the Church community and to all in need, with the ability to lead, facilitate, and animate others into service;
• If married, a positive and stable marriage of at least five years and his wife committing to active participation and support in the formation and lifestyle of the deacon.  If not married, a mature celibate state of life;
• Sound physical and mental health;
• At the time of entering into discernment as a Aspirant the applicant must be at least 35 years old and not more than 60 years old.

Those who are considering the vocation to the diaconate should review carefully the Call and Character of the Deacon,  the Theology and Vision of the Permanent Diaconate and the Diocese of Orlando Discernment and Process for Applying to be Considered for Pereanent Diaconate Formation.

Prayer to Know One's Vocation

Lord, my God and my loving Father, you have made me to know you, to love you, to serve you, and thereby to find and to fulfill my deepest longings. I know that you are in all things, and that every path can lead to you.

But of them all, there is one especially by which you want me to come to you. Since I will do what you want of me, I pray you, send your Holy Spirit to me: into my mind, to show me what you want of me; into my heart, to give me the determination to do it, and to do it with all my love, with all my mind, and with all of my strength right to the end. Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.