7 Principles for Catholic discernment of vocations; Rushing versus efficiency in discernment; Relying on reason more than desires
7 principles for discerning a vocation [with 4 of them from Thomas Aquinas] in order of most important and necessary to less important and more contigent: consider (1) God’s will for your life and act on his will regardless of any evidence to the contrary [e.g. if God wants you to get married though you have much evidence that you want to be a priest—then get married], (2) that any discernment you choose must be by the Catholic Church’s teaching [e.g. no discernment for being a prostitute], (3) your responsibilities [e.g. if you have an elderly mom who would otherwise die if you left her to religious then stay with her, all things equal], (4) your capacity [e.g. those more capacity for prayer should choose a more prayerful life–all things equal], (5) whatever is more likely going to fulfill your good and better desires, (6) whatever allows you to love and live reasonably virtuous the most, and (7) the need of the world. A supplementary point: consider how intense and immediate are...