I’m sure most of you, like myself, have often wondered what or how do you discern a religious vocation?
Do you get a feeling? Do you receive infused knowledge? Is it an unexpected revelation? What exactly is it?
A religious vocation is nothing more than a unyielding will driven by grace to accept the three evangelical counsels; chastity, poverty, and obedience, as a means to the end which is the perfection of charity. A vocation is the judicious moderation between something totally objective and something totally subjection. 
Fr. Richard Butler says, there is no such thing as “having a vocation” as if you possess something. Instead, if you are serious about a religious vocation ask yourself these questions.
- Do I really want the perfection of charity?
- Am I free of anything that might be a hindrance or an obstruction to my embracing the religious life?
– Poor physical or mental health
– Slavery to a vice
– Dependents; husband, wife, children, elderly parents
– Financial liabilities
- Do I have the magnanimity of soul to carry it through?
– Generosity in my love of God
– Desire for virtue
– Generosity with others
– Frankness
– Lack of pretence or deceit
– Moderation in honors
– Balanced appreciation of God’s creatures (a sense of order)
– Prudence