Reflections on loving God, being Catholic, being a woman, being ill, loving life and anything else that comes to mind.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

"Two Vocations" - I Have Been Unable to Post Comments

Gregaria -

In your reading on this subject, have you come across anything that says that some people may not have a vocation?

No. We all have a vocation to love as Christ loves us and the church provides us with specific teaching about living out that vocation according to God’s will. Why do you ask if some people might not have a vocation?

I also wondered if you were saying that consecrated non-religious life is a Vocation, too.

I am saying that consecration to Christ is one way to realize one's vocation to love. The consecration is usually formal: consecrated virgins, hermits, the members of communities such as Communion and Liberation's St. Joseph's Fraternity, etc. Both formal and less formal ways of consecrating oneself to Christ should be discussed with one's pastor and/or confessor.

And, also, from your point of view, would sickness be a valid reason to live a consecrated non-religious life?

Of course not – the only reason to consecrate oneself to Christ is in response to a specific calling that is discerned within one's immediate experience of the church – one's confessor, pastor, parish (always essential), lay movement, etc. Depending on its severity, sickness can be an impediment. It can also be part of the discernment process – many have realized that illness has limited them so much that all they could do was be consecrated to Christ and such consecration was, in fact, the realization, the living out of their vocation.

PS – I assume by "non-religious" you mean outside of a religious community/order.

PPS – I will be writing more about illness and ways of living out one's vocation and impediments and obedience and all sorts of issues related to this topic.

12 comments:

Gregaria said...

Thank you!

Some comments:

I wondered if some people may not have Vocations mostly from pondering mentally impaired people who are incapable of committing to marriage or Christ.

Your assumption in the P.S. is correct.

I look forward to reading more on the role of sickness in Vocation discernment.

Do you know how someone would live out a consecrated life and not be a religious? Would they, for instance, pray a prayer of consecration and then live a life according to guidelines set up by their spiritual director?

Thanks again!

Warren said...

Gregaria,

What about Secular Franciscan life, or Secular Carmelite life? It's not for everybody, that's for sure. But it's wonderful for those of us who find a home, and a structure to our lives within them.

In my case, I appreciate it, because it gives me the (a) benefit of community, like the professed Religious, and (b) a rule of life that can bring joy and discipline to my life, and be an instrument that helps to refine and draw you further into the life in Christ.

I'm a Secular Franciscan, and if I weren't that, I'd be equally interested in the third-order carmelites, the dominican third order, or some other Catholic third-order for Laity.

Warren

Gregaria said...

Thanks Warren! Those seem like good solutions to my question. One could also be a third-order Carmelite or Franciscan and still be married as well, right?

Unknown said...

Gregaria, I know for certain that third-order Dominicans can be single or married; I imagine that is the case for Carmelites and Franciscans as well.

Unknown said...

I wondered if some people may not have Vocations mostly from pondering mentally impaired people who are incapable of committing to marriage or Christ.

They too have a vocation to love. Many do - for them, living out their vocation to love seems natural. Others have a very difficult time and I imagine God has provided them too with the means to love. And certainly they are instruments, opportunities for those who do not bear their addliction to love.

It's a great question Gregaria and I'll give it more thought and do some research inot the church's teaching. Thanks.

Unknown said...

I can post comments again!!! Yeah!

Anonymous said...

Drusilla, I just discovered your blogspot and have bookmarked it. I am learning a lot from you.

Please keep writing and asking questions you don't have the answers to.

I will offer Mass for you tomorrow. God bless you!

Ann Murray said...

Drusilla, I have been directed here by Gabrielle who speaks highly of you and all the discussion that goes on here. Looks like i've a lot of catching up to do! God bless, Ann

Anonymous said...

Today is Drusilla's birthday.

Happy birthday!! :-)


-the commenter formerly known as Kit-Kat

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday, Drusilla!

Anonymous said...

And from me as well -- a happy, peaceful, and healthy year for you, please God. Don't take the belatedness personally; I still haven't sent out Father's Day cards..

Anonymous said...

Dru...haven't heard from you in a while. Hope everything is ok. BTW...a belated happy birthday!