Discerning Vocations to the Apostolic Life, the Contemplative Life, and the Eremitic Life

Throughout the spiritual journey, God's love engenders within every Christian active, contemplative, and solitary inclinations. Consequently, each person wants to do some good, to have a basic receptivity to God, and at times to be alone with God. As life unfolds, God's love also calls forth within a person an overriding attraction toward one of those three orientations, which in due course impels the individual toward a corresponding vocational lifestyle: an apostolic life, a contemplative life, or an eremitic life. In this book, the authors identify the core features of those three vocational lifestyles. In light of each vocational core, they then discuss an ensemble of signs and patterns that point to an authentic calling from God. This study offers wisdom and insight to those pondering the mystery of their personal vocations, to those discerning their vocational direction, and to spiritual directors, formation personnel, ecclesial leadership, and Christian educators who accompany them in their quest.

""Marie Coombs and Kelly Nemeck deftly take us from what we know about vocation to what they know, a place of depth and wisdom that expands our perceptions of how God works within us. This book is for people who both seek to discern their own vocation and help others discern theirs. The signposts of an authentic calling from God are particularly helpful. The authors live where the rest of us visit, and guide us to embrace God's deeper, expansive purpose.""
--Kim Cape, General Secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church

Marie Theresa Coombs, Hermit, lives as a canonically recognized hermit at Lebh Shomea, a contemplative-eremitical house of prayer in the desert region of South Texas. She earned a PhD in Theological Studies from Graduate Theological Foundation, Indiana. She has coauthored and authored books in the areas of theology and spirituality. She has extensive experience as a spiritual director.

Francis Kelly Nemeck, OMI (+2014) taught theology in the United States and Canada, and did missionary work in Texas and Mexico. He earned a doctorate in spirituality from Les Facultes Catholiques de Lyon. From 1973 to 2013 he lived a contemplative life at Lebh Shomea House of Prayer. He coauthored and authored books on themes related to theology and spirituality. For over five decades, assistance to persons seeking spiritual direction was integral to his priestly ministry.