Two Opposing Conceptions Of Vocation

[BarbTherese]

Conception #2

God made each person for a particular purpose, but will work for the greatest good in that person no matter what s/he chooses. Let's say John was made for the parish priesthood. If John enters the parish priesthood, he will be more fulfilled, at peace, and happier in that life than he ever could be anywhere else. If John gets married, God will work with that to change his heart—to change his whole substance, really—such that he may still reach his greatest possible fulfillment, peace, and happiness. His struggles may be greater at first, but ultimately, he will not struggle anymore than he would have in the parish priesthood, because God will, essentially, "re-create" John for the life he chose.

 

I go with Conception #2 in part.  Our call is to holiness, and while God extends a vocational INVITATION to each person, if for some reason we do not follow that vocation, The Lord does not abandon us in our quest for holiness and joy, happiness and fulfillment, and no matter what vocation one follows.

I don't think that one is made for a particular vocation excluding all others, while The Lord extends an invitation to a particular vocation but we are completely free in every way to make our own choice.  Our baptismal vocation to holiness is to be a person of Faith, Hope and Charity - a disciple of Jesus, His Gospel and His Church while a personal vocation (invitation from The Lord) is to take up a certain role in The Church and to be that person of Faith, Hope and Charity growing in these virtues through the duties of our chosen vocation and as our journey progresses.

Edited March 17, 2013 by BarbaraTherese

[Gabriela]

Curiousing- where you ever able to figure out your conundrum on this topic???

 

No. God hasn't emailed me back yet.

 

:-P

 

Seriously, I don't think it can be known. I asked to get people's opinions, to see if there is a "prevailing Catholic view" on this among discerners. Seems there's not. And I really don't lean either way. Maybe it depends on the person. Maybe God says to one, "YOU, to the monastery. No other option", and to another, "You... eh... take your pick."

 

[shrug]

[BarbTherese]

Fr. Hardon SJ/Real Presence Association seems to have written rather lengthy text on the matter, although I haven't time to read it all as I'm at work and I think to fully insight, one needs to read it with prayerful care.  Interestingly, he mentions the single lay celibate state as a vocation in the text and alludes to the potential of Rome formalizing the vocation in some way - although again, I have only glanced at the text and not read it with care, all of it.

My eyes did fall on what I have posted below.

 

http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Religious_Life/Religious_Life_033.htm

 

"Consequently, we assume that Christianity and Catholic Christianity is already a vocation and indeed, the primordial vocation. But then within the ambit of Catholic Christianity, what is a vocation? Every vocation of a Christian has certain features, especially our. It is first of all selective, though within the ambit of Christianity we should say that everyone has a vocation. Since evidently not everyone has the same vocation, God must be selective with whom He calls to what vocation. Our parents had one vocation; we religious have another. Some manage in a lifetime to cover a number of vocations. For example, Saint Elizabeth Seton was a remarkable woman: she was a single woman before she married; she married; she was widowed; and then she became a religious. That is a lot of vocations for one lifetime, but that is extraordinary.

Second, it is gratuitous. On the part of God, it is given as a grace and part of the essence of grace is its gratuity. This means that God calls who He wants, to what He wants, and no questions are asked of the one whom He calls. He gives it freely. It is further gratuitous in that it is offered as an opportunity. In precise theological language, we do no receive a vocation to be saved – that’s an obligation. Some spiritual writers state that if a person does not follow their special vocation, they endanger their salvation; but that is an improbable opinion. It would not be just because the person did not follow through on a given vocation. It would be through neglect of God’s grace or other reasons, otherwise the whole theology of vocation just collapses. You cannot talk about it unless you talk about it on the level of gratuity on God’s part and opportunity on ours.

Vocation is a gift. It is something offered. And by definition, a gift may or may not be accepted. Admittedly, the giver appreciates the acceptance of his gift, but it is not as if the giver demands it be taken. It would be a contradiction to oblige the recipient to accept the gift. "

[Gabriela]

Curiousing- where you ever able to figure out your conundrum on this topic???

 

Nikita, what order is that woman in your profile pic? I don't recognize her habit, and it's really beautiful.

[MarysLittleFlower]

This is a great topic! I really don't know for sure yet! I mean... here's my understanding based on what I've read or heard:

 

- your vocation is where you would be most likely to advance the most in holiness

- we have free will, so we are not forced into it

- but it seems God does have a will for us (like how He really wanted some Saints to choose a specific vocation and made that known.... ?)

- religious life is "greater" than marriage objectively speaking (http://www.religious-vocation.com/ --> quotes from the Church on this) HOWEVER, if someone is called to marriage and not given the graces for religious life, it seems they wouldn't be able to live it out and they should marry, and that would be their path to holiness. We are all called to be Saints in our vocations - whether priesthood, religious life, marriage, consecrated life, etc.

- God can bring good out of our mistakes ?

- people are not called to religious life cause they're "better". In fact, based on some private revelations it seems like for some they were chosen because they were weaker than others.

- I heard a talk about religious life where a Sister said, that she's met women who felt called to the convent and later married, and though they love their families, they often wonder what would have happened and they don't feel perfectly happy... however, of course they are still following Christ.

 

maybe it's harder if you choose a different vocation? but I don't think that someone in this situation should despair and give up, but rather try to reach holiness where they are. :)

 

Any thoughts on this?

Edited March 20, 2013 by MarysLittleFlower

[BarbTherese]

maybe it's harder if you choose a different vocation? but I don't think that someone in this situation should despair and give up, but rather try to reach holiness where they are. :)

 

A vocation in life is only an invitation from God - there is nothing mandatory about such a call.  If God withdraws His Grace and opportunity for happiness, joy and fulfillment, holiness, because one does not take up His invitation, then there is an aspect of command about the call, and with an aspect of command about it, one's happiness, joy and fulfillment, holiness would be 'on the line'.  While an invitation from God is a great honor and perhaps remiss and ungratefuol not to take up that invitation, there is not necessarily any sin attached and only sin can separate us from God - to varying degrees.  And in God is our happiness, joy and fulfillment, holliness. All sin, including the most serious, is fully forgiven in Confession and the person returned to that state of Grace as if they had never sinned in the first place.

 

Because I know a person or persons who felt they had a religious vocation in life but decided to marry - and later in marriage was not happy and wondered what life would have been like in religious life is not proof that if one does not take up God's invitation one is not going to be happy.  If a person is unhappy in marriage, this could have many reasons and probably only normal to wonder if one would be more happy elsewhere.  There is that ancient human trait "the grass might be greener over there" - and also the reluctance to admit when the problem or problems has been brought about by oneself, including one's attitude and persepectives.

 

While religious life or the celibate life is superior to the non celibate state objectively on a theological level.  Nothing can be higher than God's Will for a particular person and this is subjective and God does not always invite every person to celibacy and the theologically superior state in life.  There is the universal call to holiness - our particular vocation or the vocation we choose in life is that path we choose to achieve holiness and God provides all the necessary Graces.  If we fail on the road to happiness and holiness, it is through unfaithfulness to Graces granted, not because the Grace was never present.

 

It is not uncommon for a person to enter religious life and with all the right motivations and qualities - and prior to final vows to find that one is miserable in the life and not at all happy and with discernment with one's superior, a mutual decision is made to leave. The person later finds life in the world happy and fulfilling and a road to holiness.  Sometimes, perhaps a person is called to religious life only for a period - especially since a religious vocation can only be said to actually exist with final or perpetual life vows.  Until final vows it is a journey of discernment in the main.

 

Especially since Vatican II, The Church has underscored that the laity in secular life are vitally important to the life of The Church with a very particuar call and unique vocation involved.  Religious, priests and celibate lay people are also vitally important to the life of The Church with their own unique vocation, while the celibate life for the sake of The Kingdome remains theologically superior.

Edited March 21, 2013 by BarbaraTherese

[BarbTherese]

The theological superior state of celibacy for the sake of The Kingdom in some way, strikes me as obviously superior.  One has freely chosen to given up quite legitimate joys and consolations in life that are not easy to abandon - and in order to devote oneself entirely to Jesus and His Gospel.  This is not my own generosity where I can claim some sort of merit or glory -  rather it is the Grace that God has granted to be generous and sacrificing.  "All is Grace" (St Therese of Lisieux).  That is the strictly theological level.

However, when one considers the subjective level, it is not unusual for those living the secular life in the world and in marriage to cheerfully abandon (response to Grace) many legitimate joys and consolations of life in the world and for family or other totally non selfish reasons and for love of God.  Many are the very severe sacrifices of faithful Catholics who are married - and sometimes far more severe than those of a celibate life.  On the other hand, the sacrifices of those in the celibate life for the sake of The Kingdom can cost very dearly (response to Grace) and for totally unselfish reasons for the love of God.

No matter our vocation in life, be it celibacy or marriage, God is Eternally The Faithful One and will provide all the necessary Graces for holiness.  If I fail, it is my unfaithfulness to Graces granted.  And if I sin, a good Confession will restore me to that state of Grace as if I had never sinned in the first place.

What a Lord of Awsome Incomprehensible Loving Mercyh have we!

Edited March 21, 2013 by BarbaraTherese

[BarbTherese]

Nikita, what order is that woman in your profile pic? I don't recognize her habit, and it's really beautiful.

 

 I am interested too, it seems to be possibly some type of Franciscan habit.  It certainly is a beautiful religious habit - and the photographer has done it every justice.

[BarbTherese]

 I am interested too, it seems to be possibly some type of Franciscan habit.  It certainly is a beautiful religious habit - and the photographer has done it every justice.

 

Is it The Franciscan Sisters of The Immaculate?  I had a quick look at their website, and it seems that members of their Third Order wear a religious habit, with no veil?