Sarah Mitchell
Careerism is a problem for the clergy, but it is not unique to them, as an increasing number of laypeople are pursuing careers in the Church. Pope Francis has spoken out against careerism, calling it leprosy. Catholics are taught that their lives are worth more than a job title or description, and more than a paycheck. Vocational discernment is the process by which Catholics recognise their vocation in the Church and the world. This can be achieved through prayer and asking God for enlightenment. Catholics can also use Ignatian discernment to make career decisions. This involves practicing discernment for small decisions and creating distance from one's emotions to avoid making rash decisions.
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What You'll Learn
Understand that a vocation is different from a career
Understanding the difference between a vocation and a career is crucial for Catholics seeking to avoid careerism in their discernment. A vocation is not just a job or a career; it is a calling from God, inviting you to share in His work of salvation. It comes from the Latin word "vocare," which means "to call."
Your vocation is not something you choose; it is God's choice for you, and it is through this relationship with Him that you discover your true purpose. Pope Benedict XVI explains this beautifully: "Each of you has a personal vocation which He has given you for your own joy and sanctity." It is a dialogue between Christ and the individual, where Christ extends a personal invitation to follow Him. This call is heard most clearly in silence and prayer, away from the noise and distractions of the world.
A career, on the other hand, is something you choose and pursue. It is the way you use your skills, services, and expertise. For example, a priest may also be a doctor, a teacher, or a lawyer—these are careers, but they are not his vocation. His primary vocation is the invitation from God to love and grow into holiness.
While a career can be part of your vocation, it becomes authentically so only when it becomes part of surrendering your life to God. Your vocation is who you are, and your career is what you do. Vocations can include the life of a layperson (married or single), the ordained life of bishops, priests, and deacons, consecrated religious life, and various other services now considered "lay" vocations since Vatican II, such as committed single life, marriage, and parenthood.
In conclusion, understanding this distinction between vocation and career is essential for Catholics seeking to avoid careerism in their discernment. It is important to remember that a vocation is a calling from God, inviting you to share in His work, while a career is a choice that utilizes your skills and expertise.
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Develop habits of silence to better hear God's call
Developing habits of silence is crucial to discernment and hearing God's call. In a world filled with noise and distractions, silence is necessary to calm the chaos within and create space to listen for God's quiet voice.
The first step is to recognise that silence is not merely the absence of noise, but also a restraint on our tongues and other activities that fill our time. As Father Scott Traynor writes, silence is about "refraining from reading a book, watching TV, browsing the internet, or even having a conversation". We must confront our fear of silence, which often stems from a fear of being alone with our thoughts and feelings. However, it is only by facing this fear that we can begin to hear God's call.
The practice of silence allows us to quiet our minds and meditate, strengthening our ability to listen for God's voice. We must remember that God speaks softly, in a "still small voice", and it is only in stillness and quietness of heart that we can hear His promptings.
One way to develop habits of silence is to incorporate silent retreats into your routine. Even with busy schedules, setting aside dedicated time for silence can be transformative. During these periods of silence, it is important to remember that you are not alone but are in the presence of God, who loves you unconditionally.
Additionally, practices such as the Examen, a daily, five-step meditation that includes gratitude, prayer, reflection, and planning, can help you cultivate silence and discernment in your daily life. As you develop these habits, you will become more attuned to God's voice and better able to answer His call.
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Pray and ask God for enlightenment
Praying and asking God for enlightenment is a crucial aspect of vocational discernment in the Catholic Church. This process involves men and women recognizing their vocation in the Church and the world, which can include various paths such as married or single life, ordained ministry, or consecrated religious life. Here are some ways to approach this practice:
Be Honest and Introspective
It is important to be honest with yourself and God about your desires and fears. Verbalizing your goals and concerns through prayer can help you identify them more clearly. Ask yourself what you truly want from your career and what you are afraid of. This introspection can guide your prayers and help you make informed decisions.
Pray for Wisdom and Guidance
Prayers for guidance are an essential aspect of Catholic discernment. In your prayers, ask God for wisdom and enlightenment to understand His will for your life. Seek His direction in making choices that align with His plan for you. Recognize that He is the ultimate decision-maker and that His will takes precedence over your own desires. Ask for the strength to accept His will and to use your talents for the betterment of others.
Develop a Habit of Silence
St. Ignatius of Loyola, a master of discernment, emphasized the importance of silence in hearing God's voice. In a world filled with noise and distractions, cultivating silence can help you discern God's call more clearly. Create moments of quiet reflection, where you can listen for God's gentle promptings and discern His direction for your life.
Pray for an Open Heart and Mind
Ask God to give you an experience of His heart and to draw you into His love for yourself, others, and the world. Pray for a glimpse of others through His eyes, loving, forgiving, and delighting in their existence. Seek to discern from a place of deep affection, so that you can be a vessel of His love and compassion in the world.
Commit to Regular Prayer and Evaluation
Discernment is an ongoing process, and committing to regular prayer is essential. Set aside dedicated time for prayer and introspection, using practices like the Examen, a daily, five-step meditation that includes gratitude, prayer, reflection, and planning. After making decisions, evaluate the outcomes to strengthen your discernment skills further. Remember that discernment takes practice, so start with small decisions and work your way towards more significant ones.
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Evaluate your decision by discerning its results
Discernment is an ongoing process, and evaluating the results of your decisions is an important part of this process. This will not only help you to continue on the right path or alter your course but will also strengthen your ability to discern. It is important to remember that discernment is only needed when deciding between two good options. For example, if you are deciding between two jobs, both of which are morally upright, you can use discernment to make that decision.
Evaluating the results of your decisions can be done by asking yourself a series of questions. Firstly, is your decision helping you towards Heaven? Are you able to lead your family and those around you towards Heaven? Or is your decision causing a further separation between you and your faith? Taking time each morning and evening to reflect and pray on God's plan for you and how your career fits into that plan will help you determine whether you are on the right path.
Another important question to ask yourself is: "Lord, who do you want me to be?". This is a more useful question than asking, "Lord, what do you want me to do?". This is because a vocation is not primarily about doing, but about being. It is about receiving God's love and mercy and becoming a saint by His grace.
Remember that discernment is a skill that requires practice. Start by using discernment for small, everyday decisions. For example, should you take a vacation this year? Should you ask your boss for a raise? Practicing discernment in this way will help you when it comes to making bigger decisions.
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Remember that your life is worth more than a job title or description
As Catholics, we are taught that our lives are worth more than a job title, job description, or paycheck. This is reflected in Scripture, which tells us: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and thy whole soul and thy whole mind. This is the greatest of the commandments, and the first. And the second, its like, is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Mt. 22:37-40). These two commandments outline our priorities in life: Faith, Family, and then Work or career.
It is important to remember that a vocation is different from an occupation or career. A vocation is a calling from God, while a career is something we choose for ourselves. We are all called by God to some vocation, and it is our duty to discern and answer this call. This discernment is a process of asking for and responding to the grace that the Lord is offering, so we can be more conformed to Him and follow Him more closely. It is about deepening our friendship with Christ and learning His will for us.
To avoid careerism in discernment, we must remember that our careers are not the ultimate definition of our worth or success. While it is important to have ambition and a desire to do a good job, we should not seek self-promotion or advancement at the expense of others. Instead, we should strive for honest good work done to the best of our ability, whether in a religious or secular setting.
Additionally, we should not let our careers become an obstacle to answering God's call. Sin, for example, can cloud our spiritual eyes and ears, making us deaf to God's call. Similarly, noise, such as excessive television, idle conversations, and constant music, can distract us from hearing God's voice. Therefore, cultivating silence and regularly practicing spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, confession, and theological reading, are crucial in discernment.
Finally, when facing career decisions, it is essential to evaluate our motivations and goals honestly. We should ask ourselves if our career choices are helping us towards Heaven and leading our families and those around us towards God. By keeping our focus on Faith and Family, we can ensure that our careers do not become the primary definition of our worth or success.
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Frequently asked questions
Vocational discernment is the process by which men and women in the Catholic Church discern or recognize their vocation in the church and the world. God calls, and we answer. Vocations include the life of a layperson, married or single, the ordained life of bishops, priests, and deacons, and consecrated religious life.
Careerism is a problem in the Catholic Church, especially with the growing number of lay women and men pursuing careers in Church institutions. To avoid careerism, it is important to remember that a vocation is not about doing but about being. Ask yourself, "Who does God want me to be?" rather than "What does God want me to do?". Trust your desires and ability to make prudent decisions, and remember that your life is worth more than a job title or description, or a paycheck.
Practicing Ignatian discernment is a good place to start. This involves using discernment in your daily life, even for small decisions. Develop a solid prayer life and habits of silence to better hear God's voice. Be honest with yourself and with God about your goals and fears. Evaluate the results of your decisions to strengthen your discernment skills.
