Regardless of our stage in life, we all face the journey of vocational discernment. Every connection and experience plays an important role in helping us hear the still, small voice of God. Despite the uncertainty that discernment may bring, there are opportunities to worship Christ in the unknown. There are even opportunities to worship Christ in our places of work. 

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For Father Ambrose Criste, the path to the priesthood was not linear. He embarked on a journey in his 20s with the intention of becoming a successful scholar. However, the Lord had a different plan for him. His story is a powerful testament to the fact that even when we have everything the world defines as "success," the soul may still be searching for something more. 

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Now a priest with the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey, Father Ambrose joins us to share firsthand how he embraced his vocation and what it has taught him through the years. We asked Fr. Ambrose to share the full story in the following Q&A.

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Was there a specific moment of "holy restlessness" in your 20s that made you realize God was calling you to something different than a secular career?

“Yes! I was pursuing an academic career and a number of other interests – music, rowing, running – that should have made me about the happiest man in the world. My heart was definitely restless and I was not at peace, however. In fact, St. Augustine’s life and description of his own “restless heart” resonated very deeply.”

“While I was in graduate school at Oxford University it gradually became more and more obvious to me that I was running away from a supernatural vocation to the religious life and I finally decided to stop running away from the Lord. Now, nearly 30 years later, I am still trying to run toward Him rather than away from Him.”

You live a vocation that is characterized by silence and prayer. What is one practical way a busy professional can create a "mini-monastery" in their daily life?

“Begin every day with prayer – even if only for a few minutes – to start your day well and to consecrate all your prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to Our Lord through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is the “Morning Offering.” Then, see your commute to work as your “traveling monastery” – a place to say the Rosary, listen to some spiritual audio book or the Scriptures.” 

“End every day with an examination of conscience to check in on how your day went and to close your day, even as you began it, in communication with Our Blessed Lord. All of this will give a supernatural context to your busy life in the world.”

In your experience talking to young adults, what is the biggest "lie" the world tells us about happiness and success right now?

 “‘We are all bombarded with marketing and messaging that tells us happiness is only to be found in externals – how I look, what I do with my free time, how much money I make, how I am planning for my retirement, and so many other shallow external markers of ‘success.’” 

“The fact is that when we are in the state of sanctifying grace and living our Catholic life fully and well, we have everything we need right now to be a Saint. The lie is that happiness (and holiness) is something for the future, when in fact ‘now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation’ as St. Paul says (2 Cor 6:2).”

Lastly, you’ll be celebrating Mass for us at the conference. What should be going through our heads in the minutes before Mass starts to really prepare our hearts? 

“In the minutes before Mass begins, recollect yourself unite your will and your intentions with the Sacrifice that is about to be offered – the one all-sufficient Sacrifice of Our Lord on Calvary, re-presented at every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in an unbloody fashion. The priest always forms his intentions carefully before Mass, and you can too, joining your intentions with his.” 

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Here is a great prayer to help you do that:

Heavenly Father, I wish to offer this Mass for four things:

First, to honor you as your Divine Son did when he offered himself on the cross for us.

Second, to satisfy for the many sins I have committed against you.

Then to thank you for my family, my holy Catholic faith, and for all the other good things you have given me.

Last of all, I offer this Mass for the intention for which the priest is offering it, and to beg you for the things I need, for your grace and your help.

Help me, my God, to take part in this Mass with faith and devotion, and to remember that it is the same sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross; his own body and blood.

Help me to keep my mind on you and to pray with love and devotion.

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Father Ambrose’s journey reminds us that God has a unique calling for each and every one of us. We must prayerfully discern that calling and ask God how we can serve him best. There are many ways we can grow in holiness in our day to day lives. Whether you are in a high-rise office or a quiet library, you can sanctify your work by turning it into a prayer. Let us turn our restless hearts into sacred spaces of worship. Be sure to join us at our upcoming conference as we enter into the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass together with Fr. Ambrose. 

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