Some Discernment Tips during the Pandemic

Holy Week 2020 will definitely go down as one of the most memorable. If you’re discerning the priesthood and religious life, you have a choice - you can complain about the isolation and various restrictions and put your discernment on hold, or you can treat this challenge as an opportunity to dive deep. If you've been using your time to do that already, great! If not, this post has some ideas for you.

First, remember, you are not the first Catholic to live without the sacraments. Without the grace of the sacraments, there is still a special grace in this time. When fasting from the Eucharist, feast on scripture. When unable to confess to a priest, repent and do penance on your own. Countless Christians throughout the centuries have gone months or years without the sacraments. So man up, be intentional, and do your best to grow in holiness during this time.

Make A Schedule
You know that feeling when you don’t even know what day of the week it is. That's probably fine during the Christmas break, but it’s not good for weeks of lockdown. Instead, make a schedule. Get serious about how you’re going to use your time. Wake up at a certain time, plan your prayer and activities for the day—and be specific. Have an accountability group with some friends that meets over facetime or skype (or your preferred video chat).

Don't Binge / Don't Go On A Youtube Safari
The latest Netflix/Prime/Hulu show will probably not help you grow as a man. Have you ever felt more virtuous after scrolling Instagram/Facebook/TikTok for two hours? These sorts of things have a way of dampening and dulling the spirit. It’s okay to watch a good film every now and then. But be intentional about it. Don’t choose whatever show is recommended next. Set aside time to check your social media or choose a good film and put it in your daily schedule.

Exercise
You can’t go to the gym, but you can certainly do pushups and jog/run around the block. Why is this important? Because physical activity improves your mental state. Fight spiritual anxiety by getting disciplined about exercise.

Increase Your Prayer Time
If you’re like most people, you suddenly have more time on your hands. This could be used for prayer. Double whatever prayer time you’ve had in the past. Or, if you’re starting from zero, try thirty minutes of uninterrupted time, with your door closed, your phone turned off, and a good spiritual book in your hands. Try some of the resources on this page.

Get Good Discernment Information
If you’re discerning the priesthood and religious life, you should be reading and praying about it. There’s a lot of good stuff online about living a holy Catholic life. But during this time, don't be afraid to focus on your discernment. Visit this page for some suggested reading.

Contact A Priest or Director of Vocations
For the most part, priests, like you, have more time on their hands right now. Now is the perfect time to call or email your local priest or the Director of Vocations. He'll be glad to hear from you. What will you say? Say something like this: "I'm discerning the priesthood / religious life and I wanted your advice on what to do over the next several weeks. I came up with a plan and I want to get your thoughts on it." Fr. Francis Orozco, O.P., the Director of Vocations for the Dominicans is available, contact him here.