What is a Vocation
The Diaconal Ordination of Fr Matthew Timonera OFMCap
Vocation:
Called to Charity
The Lord has his plan for each of us, he calls each one of us by name. Prior to any particular state in life, God calls us by virtue of our Baptism to be holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16). Furthermore, the origin and goal of God's calling for us is love: God loves us, so that we can love him in return. “He loves us, he makes us see and experience his love, and from God’s loving us ‘first,’ love can also arise as a response within us” (Deus Caritas Est n. 17). A vocation is always situated in the context of this love. “Before the creation of the world, before our coming into existence, the heavenly Father chose us personally, calling us to enter into a filial relationship with him, through Jesus, the Incarnate Word, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit” (Pope Benedict XVI, Message for 43rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, May 7, 2006).
Be attentive to the call
God’s voice inviting us to love him is heard in the people and events around us, but especially in prayer. In response to a question by a seminarian about how one can discern God’s voice calling, pope Benedict XVI gave the following answer:
God speaks with us in many different ways. He speaks by means of others, through friends, parents, pastors, priests.... He speaks by means of the events of our life, in which we can discern God’s gesture; he speaks also through nature, creation, and he speaks, naturally and above all, in his Word, in Sacred Scripture, read in the communion of the Church and read personally in conversation with God. It is important to read Sacred Scripture, on the one hand in a very personal way... as God’s Word which is ever timely and speaks to me... to enter into prayer and thus read Sacred Scripture as a conversation with God (Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the Seminarians of the Roman Major Seminary, February 17, 2007).
How do I know?
God has a plan for all of us. This plan is better than any we could imagine for ourselves. One part of His plan may include a call to marriage, priesthood, or religious life. These vocations lead a person to a life of charity by living in a particular way within the body of Christ.
The process of discerning one’s vocation is unique to each person, but should be grounded in the practice of the Christian life. A strong prayer life, frequent participation in sacramental life, familiarity with the Scriptures, good habits in Christian virtue, and participation in the life of the Church are all essential to help a person to discern well.
Furthermore, a vocation is directed towards life with the Church. Soon after his election, Pope Leo XIV offered words of encouragement to young people discerning a vocation: "Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!" A vocation is not just a calling from God, but also an invitation of the Church. Thus the Church will play a role in the discernment of a person’s vocation. A spiritual director and the vocations director are examples of people appointed by the Church to help a person recognise God’s plan and assist them in making a free response. If you are considering a vocation to the religious life, or what what to learn more about the Capuchin life, reach out to our vocations team and they will be in touch.