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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

2A

What ways of praying have you learnt about in the past? What is your favourite way of praying? Why do you find this type of prayer helpful?

Why is it often hard to pray? What can get in the way?

What other ideas or questions strike you from this part of the film?

 

2B

Which person has influenced you most in your Christian faith? How did they help or teach you?

What makes it hard to live as a Christian today? What are the challenges?

Can you recommend any Catholic books, apps, podcasts or YouTube channels that you have found helpful?

What other ideas or questions strike you from this part of the film?

 

KEY IDEAS FROM THE FILM

If you’re not sure yet what your vocation is, what can you actually do? You can’t force God to answer on command. I tried that once. I spent a whole day in church begging God to tell me whether I should get married or be a priest. I thought that if I prayed hard enough, he’d be obliged to reply. He didn’t. In fact I was more confused afterwards. It became clear, over time, that he wasn’t ready to show me. I had to wait. In my case, it was three more years before I began to see the path.

So yes, be patient. But patience doesn’t mean passivity. There are things you can do that make you more open and more free.

Ask God directly. It sounds obvious, but many people never actually ask. Speak to him honestly: “Lord, what do you want for my life? Show me what you desire for me.” Tell him your hopes too, but don’t forget to ask for his.

Give your life to God. In your own words, say: “I’m yours. I’ll follow wherever you lead. I place my fears and doubts in your hands.” This is the heart of every Christian life. If you can’t say this, you’ll always be holding something back. If you can, he can really lead you.

Live your Catholic faith. Go to Mass each Sunday. Pray each day. Keep the commandments. Go to confession regularly. Love your neighbour. If you can, sometimes get to weekday Mass, or pop into a church to pray. God can guide you more easily if you’re already walking with him.

Deepen your prayer. Don’t try to “force” a revelation by praying all day. But do create a simple, steady habit. For example, ten quiet minutes a day. Read the Gospels. Notice what moves you. Talk to the Lord honestly. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Pray with Our Lady and the saints. Entrust your vocation to Mary. Pray a decade of the rosary, or just a Hail Mary, asking her to lead you. Ask the prayers of saints who lived the vocation you are considering.

Make space for silence. If every waking moment is noise, activity, scrolling, you may not hear God at all. You don’t need a monastery. You just need some quiet in the week: a walk, a church visit, a few undistracted minutes in your room.

Grow in holiness. If you’re stuck in serious sin, or living a lifestyle that pulls you far from God, it’s hard to see clearly. Be honest. Go to confession. Make a fresh start, even if you’re still struggling. Aim for purity, goodness, integrity. This isn’t about guilt; it’s about freedom.

Try not to panic. Anxiety can strangle discernment. Tell the Lord your fears and let him hold them. Trust that he is more powerful than your worries.

Live a life of service. Love is not an abstract feeling. Look for concrete ways to serve: at home, at work, in parish life, in voluntary work. Service helps you forget yourself in a healthy way, and it reveals the deepest desires of your heart. Every vocation is a call to love: the more you learn to love now, the more ready you are for whatever God asks of you.

Feed your mind. Read good Catholic books or listen to good Catholic talks or podcasts. Learn about prayer, about the sacraments, about the different vocations. Read the lives of the saints. If something you’re reading leaves you flat, move on to something that nourishes you.

Don’t walk alone. Join a Catholic group: a prayer group, a Scripture group, a parish young adult group, a service group. You need companions in faith. You also need people who remind you you’re not the only one trying to follow Christ.

Talk to someone you trust. At a certain point, you can’t just think about your vocation in private. Speak with someone wise, faithful, prayerful – a priest, or a mature Catholic you respect. You don’t need a perfect “spiritual director”. You just need someone honest who will help you notice patterns over time and encourage you to keep going.

There’s no magic formula. But if you’re sincerely seeking God, living the life of faith, and opening your heart, then trust this: he’s already at work. He will show you the next step in his time.

[This is an AI generated summary of the film script]