What Is Vocation?

In the secular world, “vocation” refers to one’s profession.  If one is a teacher or lawyer or doctor, that is considered their vocation.  Vocation refers to what one does.  Catholics, however, recognize that we all are called to do the same thing:  to grow closer to God, to love the Lord our God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as our self.  As Catholics, the word “vocation” refers not to what we do but to the state, or way of life, to which God is calling us.

The Church recognizes four states of life:  single, married, consecrated, and ordained.  Discerning one’s vocation is more important than people give it credit for being.  Consider the following:

· Those who are called to married life, are promising to love and serve one person for the rest of their lives.  They grow closer to God through a daily life of living for the other, of placing their spouse’s needs and desires before – or at least equal to – their own.

·  In the single life, one is electing to use their gifts and talents in the service of the larger world.  Single people benefit in that they can decide to serve anywhere in the world and they do not need to be as concerned with the daily needs of another, but they sacrifice the intimacy that marriage offers.

· Those called to consecrated life make vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.  In willingly relinquishing more worldly concerns, they model for others the life of holiness that Christ lived.  This choice opens them up to more freely give of themselves through prayer and service. In return for what they give up, they gain an ever deepening closeness to God.

·  In ordination, a man becomes the living presence of Christ among the people he is called to shepherd, especially through his sacramental role.  He gives up personal freedom and worldly advancement but gains an extended family through those he serves.

It is important to realize that no one vocation is better than another.  Each is about learning to love others, and especially God, more deeply and to follow Christ more closely.  Discernment is about discovering which of these states of life will help us to achieve that goal.