Suffering With Joy

Distinct Vocations

November 1, 2011

One of the biggest challenges to us in our lives as Christians is doing God’s will, listening to His voice, and trusting in His loving leadership.  Our fallen nature is selfish and narcissistic.  Through living out our vocation we obtain the necessary graces to keep ourselves in check.  So what are the states in life that God might call us to?

Vocations in the Church

Broadly speaking we can identify six distinct vocations God uses to bring about His plans for the salvation of souls:

1.  The sacred priesthood which also includes permanent deacons.

2.  The religious life

3.  The married life

4.  Consecrated virgins

5.  Hermits

6.  The single life

God’s grace enables us

Since God never asks the impossible from anyone, we can rightfully assume that whatever vocation He calls us to, He will generously provide all the necessary graces to fulfill it. Some vocations look nearly impossible to fulfill, especially when examined through the lens of the world. Really, who wants to be a hermit and not have access to radio, TV, movies, parties, hot cars and gourmet foods?  Who wants to go into a convent or monastery and be told when to get up, when to eat, when to be silent, what to do, who to associate with, and, if contemplative, be locked behind walls and only go out in public to the doctor or dentist?

As long as we’re on the subject, who wants to be told to stick with a spouse through thick and thin, never look at the opposite sex with lust, raise a bunch of kids, pay for their schooling, change messy diapers, wipe bloody noses, worry about paying bills, keep the children out of trouble with bad companions, put up with irritating habits of a spouse, etc.?  My point is, every single vocation has its corresponding sacrifices and unattractive aspects as well as its appeal to those called to it.

If any of us had to live our vocations without God’s help we would fail miserably.  The grass is never greener on the other side of the fence no matter how delicious it looks.  But if we are already on that other side, it is indeed delicious and nutritious if that’s where we belong.

Sequential vocations

God does call certain people to more than one vocation as their life goes on, but the call is always to build on the past and take on the more difficult in terms of personal sacrifice and the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. For example, God may call a widower who has met all his family responsibilities to his children to enter the sacred priesthood.  He may call a married man to the permanent diaconate.  In both cases, the new calling exacts more renunciation of self for the many than the first.  A woman or man in religious life or the sacred priesthood may be called to the solitary life of the hermit.  The renunciation of life in community is for an even stricter way of living.

God does not revoke a calling nor does He issue a new calling that would cause an abandonment of the duties and obligations of one’s current state in life. I think often of the several times St. John Vianney began a trip to abandon his parish and seek entrance to the cloister.  In each case, he turned back, recognizing a temptation from the devil.

The heart of all vocations

The heart of all callings is obedience: to God’s will, His laws, the laws of the Church, one’s superior or spiritual director, and the two great commandments.  We can’t be obedient if we’re not humble and and if we’re not humble we will always think we know more than we really do, leading to spiritual blindness and a rebellious spirit.

One of the most important things we can do to stay focused and resolute in answering God’s call is to pray often, live simply, and put the good of others ahead of our own as Christ did.  Then our vocation is truly a path to sanctification as God intends.

Our next post will explore what vocations are not.

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V. Praised be Jesus Christ!

R. Now and forever. Amen.

(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)

Tags: Catholic Church, vocations

3 Comments to Distinct Vocations

1. 

   Brilliant post. You should consider posting it on the Community Blog. Thank you.

   God bless.
   Victor S E Moubarak recently posted..Christ’s temptations.
Victor S E Moubarak on November 1st, 2011
2. 

   I like the thought about “sequential” vocations. That’s a great way to look at it.
   Kathleen Basi recently posted..Sunday Snippets
Kathleen Basi on November 6th, 2011
3. 

   Yes, Kathleen, it just seemed so obvious to me both in the lives of the saints and in the stories of people I know who have experienced this.
barb on November 6th, 2011