Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church is the process in which men or women in the Catholic Church discern, or determine their vocation in the Church. Though one may also speak of discerning a vocation to marriage or to life as a single person, discerning a vocation most frequently refers to a special vocation such as the priesthood or religious life. It has been argued that this common restriction of the term is a mistake, and even decreases religious vocations, because it discourages people who don't immediately feel called to the clerical state or consecrated life from engaging in vocational discernment.Each diocese or religious order usually has its own guidelines and advice for men or women discerning religious vocations. Many dioceses and religious orders encourage men and women with potential vocations to spend time, usually anywhere from six months to a year, praying and asking God to enlighten them.