Interesting Article On Vocations

[veritasluxmea]

http://catholicexchange.com/vocation

 

 

A vocation – any vocation – is a school of charity and a means of crucifixion. Your vocation is the means by which your self-serving ego will die in order to be resurrected as the servant and lover of God. This is all that we can expect; but this is everything – the meaning of life, all there really is.

 

My vocation is where I will learn to let go of my questions, carry the cross of my problems, and be mysteriously fulfilled even when I am not happy. We have some choice as to how we will undergo that process; we do not – so long as we abide in the grace of God – get to choose whether we will undergo it.

 

This, it seems to me, is the attitude we should bring to discernment. I am not choosing between makes and models in a store, looking for the perfect fit or the best value. One is faced, rather, with the question: How I should lose my life, in order to save it? (Luke 9:24)

 

Edited July 4, 2014 by veritasluxmea

[AccountDeleted]

The article is obviously well thought out and well written. My only objection with it might be that it is very theoretical.What I mean by that is that I would be interested to read more from him after he has actually lived in religious life and dealt with the practical side of things. It almost sounds like the ideal discernment and the ideal perspective on vocation. Ideals are wonderful, but life is messy, and doesn't always live up to the ideal. But it is very inspiring.

 

Just 2 cents worth.

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

I would agree with you Nunsense EXCEPT that he is not talking specifically about a vocation to religious life but the vocation of every baptized person. We are called by our baptism to a life of holiness no matter where and how that is lived out.

"The purpose of life is the unitive devotional service of God, which includes the love of our neighbor (in whom God dwells). This is the real purpose of any vocation. Some forms of life, such as monasticism, are ordered directly to this end; other states of life are oriented toward it indirectly. But these are only different versions of the one human vocation: to love and serve God, and become one with him in Christ."

[AccountDeleted]

I would agree with you Nunsense EXCEPT that he is not talking specifically about a vocation to religious life but the vocation of every baptized person. We are called by our baptism to a life of holiness no matter where and how that is lived out.

"The purpose of life is the unitive devotional service of God, which includes the love of our neighbor (in whom God dwells). This is the real purpose of any vocation. Some forms of life, such as monasticism, are ordered directly to this end; other states of life are oriented toward it indirectly. But these are only different versions of the one human vocation: to love and serve God, and become one with him in Christ."

 

That's a good point.

 

I guess I'm still not sure what he is trying to say apart from the universal call to holiness. Certainly that is the vocation of each one of us, but there is a certain amount of discernment involved in how we actually answer the particular way in which God is calling each one of us to live. 

 

Could be I'm just dense though.

[veritasluxmea]

That's a good point.

 

I guess I'm still not sure what he is trying to say apart from the universal call to holiness. Certainly that is the vocation of each one of us, but there is a certain amount of discernment involved in how we actually answer the particular way in which God is calling each one of us to live. 

 

Could be I'm just dense though.

 

What I got out of it was that following your vocation (marriage or religious) won't solve all your problems, make you always happy, fulfill your desires, or be a perfect, easy thing to do.

 

I've heard people talking before how a "discernment culture" can be a bad thing, and I think that's part of his argument- the real purpose of a vocation is a devotional unitive service of God. Discernment is not finding a choice that meets your expectations, finding the key to your life or being, or finding complete healing and fulfillment for your broken nature. Discernment is simply finding the path, the means, you will begin to love God and be in union with Him on earth. A vocation is not the ultimate fulfillment and healing of your heart- God is, and a vocation is the way you take towards Him. 

 

Or at least that what I think he's saying.

[marigold]

What I got out of it was that following your vocation (marriage or religious) won't solve all your problems, make you always happy, fulfill your desires, or be a perfect, easy thing to do.

 

I've heard people talking before how a "discernment culture" can be a bad thing, and I think that's part of his argument- the real purpose of a vocation is a devotional unitive service of God. Discernment is not finding a choice that meets your expectations, finding the key to your life or being, or finding complete healing and fulfillment for your broken nature. Discernment is simply finding the path, the means, you will begin to love God and be in union with Him on earth. A vocation is not the ultimate fulfillment and healing of your heart- God is, and a vocation is the way you take towards Him. 

 

Or at least that what I think he's saying.

 

I think I want to bump this forever.

[Credo in Deum]

 

Domine, Quo Vadis

[brandelynmarie]

Amen :amen:

[SNJM]

Dear Veritasluxmea,

 

This is an excellent article, which came from a source I didn't know about until now. I have signed up for their newsletter. This is the best reason to come to this "phorum" - I have found just great resources! Thank you, again!

 

Rose

[Gabriela]

Dear Veritasluxmea,

 

This is an excellent article, which came from a source I didn't know about until now. I have signed up for their newsletter. This is the best reason to come to this "phorum" - I have found just great resources! Thank you, again!

 

Rose

 

Same reason I come. :)