Discern Your Vocation with One Simple Hack

What's my vocation? What state of life is God calling me to? Am I supposed to get married, or become a priest or religious sister?
These are, of course, legitimate questions, but Fr. Mark-Mary thinks you're probably jumping the gun... unless you've answered THIS question first.
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[@g.rodriguez7445]

I ran from my vocation like Jonah ran from his. I'm a natural at what I do, but I swore I wouldn't be a teacher. I've been teaching over ten years now... It was a long trek getting here, and I thank Mary and Jesus....

[@jeffreyukutegbe962]

Thank you Father. Discernment is hard 😩. But God is our help

[@emmanuelochieng]

So true, and I have ADHD infused with introversion, Oh my, it's really, really hard. But thank God, Adoration helped me a lot. As of now am just waiting to Joining the Dominicans, because I have been accepted starting March this year. It was not an easy journey.

[@renee187]

"I take every moment singly as it comes, for this is within my power. The past does not belong to me; the future is not mine; with all my soul I try to make use of the present moment". - St. Faustina

[@emilyl6746]

For so long I put off going to law school because I thought men would be intimidated. But I always felt a calling to practice law and prayed about it. God led me to law school and I knew from day one that I was supposed to be there. We need more Christian lawyers who want to see justice served. I've never been passionate about any other job I've had. I thank God for being right where I'm supposed to be. 👩‍⚖️

[@BibleBlondie]

Amen!! Thank you for your courage

[@gushardy4283]

Me too.

[@BibleBlondie]

such a great reminder - our vocation will not be our ultimate fulfilment. Seek God first and the vocation will fall into place

[@monicabatesbusquets]

"The most important things have already been given to us" 👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@maryotoole8946]

Your timing is perfect, Father. I have been retired from teaching for a few years now. I loved my teaching. I wanted to retire early enough to try other things and saved two teaching jobs by leaving when I did. I have experimented with gardening and photography, my two passions. Recently, I have been feeling as if I can do more. Volunteer? Pursue another vocation? Start a business? I have been asking God, what do you want me to do? Do with me what you will? I attend daily Mass three or four times a week and am participating in St. Ignatius's Spiritual Exercises. Father, your words in this message are so reassuring and comforting. Thank you for all you do.

[@brandonspratt487]

This is wonderful, thank you Father. I am definitely one of those that spends too much time thinking about big 'V'' Vocation.

[@tcrees0498]

Excellent, I've personally found the greatest peace in discernment by being open to either choice. One cannot freely say yes to God's call unless they are willing to accept either option! Fr. Timothy Gallagher has quite simple yet effective books for this.

[@DilnaSebastian]

This has honestly been so so helpful and so needed for me. God always provides advice and encouragement to His children. Thank you Lord. Praise Him! ❤️

[@liamskopal7516]

Beautifully said, Father. Came at the right time.

[@sajansuganth8967]

Thank you Fr. Mark-Mary. Slow and steady wins the race.

[@MrDarshD]

Yes, we must seek God first, pray, and visualize what we can and will do. God already paid a price (Jesus) for us and we are chosen for something big. Thank you so much for sharing, Fr. Mark-Mary.

[@veemo8830]

There are two problems people face in regard to vocations; people don’t know what they are called to do, and the other is struggling being like Mary by hesitating to say yes to God. The solution to finding the correct vocation is by speaking the language of God as much as you which is silence. The solution to not being like Mary is to remember God knows you better than you know yourself, and following His will is always more fulfilling than following yours.

[@n4ughty_knight]

So the way to find what God wants me to do is being silent?

[@nancyammons5902]

Luke1:38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

[@nancyammons5902]

Sounds like no hesitation there... she said Yes!!

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

​@@n4ughty_knight...sometimes, when you Turn Off the Constant inner dialogue chatter of thoughts..we "hear" our hearts in connection with God. Sometimes.

[@holyfamilycrusader3512]

@@n4ughty_knightsilence is the key to knowing God

[@Tybourne1991]

Great insight, Fr Mark-Mary! Through our baptism, God invites us to mirror one particular facet of His beauty, truth, goodness or unity. I'm still inspired by Fr Benedict Groeschel's 'Passages,' in which he challenges us: beauty, goodness, truth, or unity, which is your call? My pilgrimage aligns with John's way (the Baptist, the Apostle, Newman and others)- a path of goodness. I'm the first to admit, I don't always stay on it, but the Lord consistently guides me back, leading me to channel and irrigate His kindness and love into the world. May He bless us all, poco a poco...

[@changedlife1904]

I would personally like to get married and serve god as a missionary

[@bielsabas4407]

THIS IS SO TIMELYYYY!!! Paused at 1:37 because what Fr. Mark-Mary says before this mark is exactly how I've lived life for the past, I dont know, 10 years? lol. I've just finished an hour of reflection about God's purpose for my life so this video really is just what I was looking for.

[@ROBLANG365]

Thank you. I work with young men and women and I tell them this could be the most important decision they make. It seems that so many young people never actually go through the discernment process, and just go and do what they want or feel like doing. Those who are discerning are becoming good priests, religious and married couples. Thank you for highlighting this! We have a holiness crisis, before we have a vocations crisis.

[@paulhornbogen980]

Father, you are one of my favorite channels. Each one of your videos you are nailing it wtih vocation. I personally am changing careers in my sixties as I ask God for guidance. It becomes clear and clear father in my prayers. Again, thank you for your insights. You would make a great career coach. Just keep doing what your doing sir. Thanks.

[@lhoffbauer]

Love your prayers! Your voice pulls me to prayer. Thank you! Promised prayers for you

[@jeremiahguard11]

Thank you Lord for all the things you do on the daily

[@B3beautybyblanca]

Poco a poco vamos a llegar! My favorite part of your videos!

[@ciphael]

Thank you Father Mark, It's really difficult to discern our vocation and it's necessary to pray with perseverance.

[@lizzard6478]

Thank you Father Mark Mary!

[@marilenaf6426]

You are already chosen! 🙏💖

[@thelegendarysupersaiyanbro9556]

In a way, I feel called to do all of the above. We are created to be fruitful and also be disciples.

[@mayra9834]

Gives me lots to think about. Thank you father

[@felixculpa0807]

Thank you, Father. We are to put our vocation discernment into perspective. Best way to get to our big v vocation is by focussing on the little steps and the big (not the bigger) picture. This was so important for me to hear when I am whining about not being on a specific ,,vocation track". I understand this: Believe! Live a life like Abraham! God leads you if you let him! Give it to him! Relax!

[@cyberpunkfalangist2899]

I confess to almighty God and to you , my brothers and sisters, that I greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I asked blessed Mary, ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

[@annaabesa]

Thank you for this. I appreciate your guidance and advice. ❤️

[@Elijah_Al-Naysaburi]

Thank you very much A.P (( do what ever u like but don't harm any one )) 🥰💕⚘️

[@EliB567a]

Thankyou, they’re great words to remember. ❤

[@R_Thomp]

Thank you Father

[@emmabrauer5360]

So helpful thanks

[@RHSTang]

Best video on discernment ever!!

[@rebeccaparker1554]

Thank you

[@Eternallyhopeful7788]

Very good! ❤❤❤

[@rodconboy2928]

God bless you

[@catherinewhite3257]

THANK YOU!

[@PrometheanKitchen96]

Thank you brother

[@manuelvargas467]

Amen for that father ✝️📿🙏

[@ContinuingtheCall]

Amen!

[@csongorarpad4670]

It's surreal to see people confusing vocation with one's work. Work is not a vocation. Religious life and marriage is. You could be a teacher, plumber, cleaner - whatever. They're all good. But vocation is a whole different thing. A vocation is about one's state of life.

[@nathanngumi8467]

Word.

[@quen8171]

Funny, just came back from a weekend vacation retreat. What's going on???😊

[@rjam24]

Sometimes hard to understand --- 1:00-2:00 ; Thanks Father, hadn't heard of this, we should focus on this more often --- 2:55-4:33

[@kortneyprejean]

present 🖐

[@n4ughty_knight]

How do you guys know when God's showing you which path to take? I'm not a saint but I've been trying to follow God's calling for years. Are my vocations the things I'm good at? Or am I supposed to sacrifice myself for some bigger cause?

[@francesdumaliang6132]

Use your vocation to help people, to rise to a higher level of consciousness. The key here is to do it with Christ love.☺️🙏

[@n4ughty_knight]

@@francesdumaliang6132 I'm really bad with people.

[@joane24]

Your deepest longings. Don't think about it in terms sacrificing yourself, because that's how you may actually miss it, by thinking if you feel good about doing something, then you must deny yourself and do the opposite. The discernment works first by looking at what you desire deep down, what you long for - look for the longings that God has put in your heart. He doesn't asked us of something we don't have and have yet to acquire, but of something he has already gave us or prepared us for. He gives first, and our answer is giving it back to Him, what He already has placed in us (talents, longings, etc.). Also because it's about communion and working with God together, as in a mutual projects - that's the call, to work with Him on something, on a particular 'mission' He entrusted to us. Don't get me wrong - there's a sacrificial aspect in every vocation, but it comes later in the process, when you're actually know what is asked of you, and it is more about being a total gift of self, so it's felt more in positive terms, rather than negative.

[@brendantroland942]

Yeah I feel like a lot of this is a form of semantics that’s become more confusing rather than helpful. For example, religious Catholics would say a vocation is either being married, or being a priest or nun. Meanwhile they neglect career paths as a vocation (teacher, lawyer, doctor, artist etc.) which honestly, I think is what many lay people are actually asking about.

[@joane24]

@@brendantroland942 With all due respect, but that's not exactly how it is from Catholic perspective. First, vocation is more than marriage vs. priest/order, because there's also other vocations for instance in secular life. Second, a vocation in that sense is a _state_ of life, not an occupation or profession. You can definitely find a lot of help in Catholic approach in discerning a career path, and it can also be a sense of a vocation or connected one's 'mission' in life but in a *different* sense than the discernment of the _state of life._

[@micheleamoroso8579]

I think I missed the hack here... :-/

[@josuesepulveda6850]

✝️🙏🏻

[@GoatHoovesInSpats]

What's the TLDR version, what was the main line or main point of this video? I'm tired right now. I watched through the whole video and never found the part with the vocation hack, I missed it.

[@ItsChrisFtw]

"Ever since Vocational discernment became so popular, there's been an extreme lack of people entering religious life." -Matt Fraad. Petition to go back to the days where we literally just made an act of the Will God gave us, and said, "yeah I'm going to become a priest. I'm going to become a nun." And then with full confidence and unwavering commitment, we did just that. That's what they did for 2,000 years and it's worked out pretty well. STOP. OVER-SPIRITUALIZING. VOCATIONS. JUST DO IT.

[@isawaninterestingthing...7597]

Very interesting

[@sherlockholmes6101]

I think Roman Catholic seminaries should try to help seminarians discern which of the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit they have -- including the gifts of healing, prophecy, and working miracles -- instead of talking about a vague, amorphous, elitist,-few-are-chosen "vocation." Or have we given up on having the dynamic Spirit-filled body of believers that the First Century awesomely witnessed? Celibacy is nice but it doesn't bring down the roof.

[@Frank020]

Sadly, i married, now divorced; so it is the same as being single. With the only difference that divorced Catholic is an oddball: He does not fit any group in the church, and laypeople ask why don't you get a significant other? They won't readily really accept a single male either. Females and males see him as a threat to take away their mate, and singles either reject him or if they don't date them, reject them first. The person is seen as a weirdo. Peace..I guess that's another cross antiquated rules in my opinion.

[@scotth9828]

Check into annulment.

[@tjf42193]

I am Discerning weather i should join the capuchins

[@simonslater9024]

Tell Jesus and Mary what you want 100% regardless of what it is. Jesus and Mary know what you will think before you think it. You want to be a priest or you don’t want to be a priest and get married then tell Jesus and Mary. God bless. Ps watch Fr Timothy Gallagher an expert on discernment. Praise Jesus and Mary always!!!

[@CRUCIFi777]

Mary is dead and can’t help anyone.

[@scotth9828]

Nope. The wages of sin are death. Mary never sinned so she never died. She was taken into heaven. The eastern church celebrates the dormition of mary where she sort of fell asleep and was taken up body and soul. Only flowers were left behind!

[@felixculpa0807]

Well that is definitely not a Catholic way of thinking, @CRUCIfi777 Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ, God in flesh, so she has all graces and one is for sure eternal life

[@used_2_b_4chan_cool]

I think you said this to be potentially offensive or draw out an ugliness in someone in a place where people often show it as they think you are "unknown" online. God knows our heart, mind, and intentions. I consider what I said could be incorrect but I am not thinking this is the case. For God so loved the World that he gave his only Begotten Son...You are a part of that World so also Beloved of God. May you have a blessed day and peace of the Lord unto you, In Jesus's most Holy name, Amen.