Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church identifies four primary vocations: religious life, priesthood, married life, and single life. Each vocation is a calling from God, and individuals are invited to live out their unique vocation or state of life. While the specific calling will vary from person to person, it generally refers to the way God is calling them to love others. Those pursuing religious life may join orders that focus on teaching, nursing, working with the homeless, or intercessory prayer. Priesthood involves obedience to the Church and its teachings, and priests often serve in parishes, teach, or serve religious communities. Marriage involves mutual devotion and the goal of leading one's spouse and children to God. Single life involves committing one's life to serving others through work and prayer. While there may be concerns about a shortage of vocations, particularly in marriage and priesthood, it is believed that God knows how many priests and religious individuals are needed in the Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic vocations | 4 |
| Universal Christian vocation | Marriage |
| Sub-vocations | Priesthood, Consecrated life |
| Consecrated life | Single life |
| Priesthood | Celibacy, obedience to superiors, mobility across parishes |
| Diocesan priesthood | Administration, campus ministry, hospital and prison chaplaincy, teaching, foreign missions |
| Diocesan vocation directors | The National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors (NCDVD) |
| Deacon | Man aged 35 or older, married or single |
| Diocesan Vocation Offices | Catholic volunteers, retreat houses, Catholic study opportunities |
| Diocesan vocation information | Diocesan priest, Diocesan Vocation Offices, Diocesan vocation directors |
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What You'll Learn
Priesthood
The Catholic Church does not consider the ordination of women to the priesthood. Traditionally, the term vocation was used in the Catholic Church to refer to priestly or religious vocations, or the vocation to live a life consecrated to God. However, since the Second Vatican Council, it has become more common to refer to committed single life, marriage, and parenthood as "lay" vocations.
For those who believe they may have a vocation to the priesthood, the next step is to contact a vocations director who will guide them through the process of discernment. This involves spending time in prayer and asking God for enlightenment, as well as seeking spiritual direction from a priest or religious community. The ultimate decision is made gradually and in the seminary.
There are a variety of resources available to help men discern their vocation to the priesthood, such as DiocesanPriest.com, Religious Brotherhood, and VISION Vocation Network. Additionally, there are organizations like The Laboure Society that assist individuals in paying off debt so they can enter the priesthood.
While there are many priests who find joy and fulfilment in their vocation, there has been a perceived decline in priestly vocations. This may be attributed to various factors, including the downplaying of the role of clergy by the modern Church, changes in societal attitudes towards homosexuality, and the presence of mental health issues and debt among potential candidates.
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Marriage
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a Christian vocation, meaning that the couple's relationship is more than just a social or legal institution. It involves a call from God and a response from two people who promise to build, with the help of divine grace, a lifelong, intimate, and sacramental partnership of love and life. Pope Francis writes in Amoris Laetitia that marriage is a vocation, as it is a response to a specific call to experience conjugal love as an imperfect sign of the love between Christ and the Church. Therefore, the decision to marry and start a family should be the result of a process of vocational discernment.
The call to marriage is a particular way of living the universal call to holiness given to every Christian in the Sacrament of Baptism. It is a response to the Lord's call to "Follow me," just like the calls to priesthood or vowed religious life. Marriage is seen as a way to live out the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being to love, as the love between a husband and wife becomes an image of God's absolute and unfailing love.
Campus Minister Angela Carlin emphasizes that choosing the right partner for marriage is a crucial process of discernment. The challenges of marriage, such as putting another's needs before one's own and nurturing love through everyday life, are worth it when love flourishes as an echo of God's love. Marriage is full of growth and transition, and it requires a commitment to Christian faith and practice.
While some may view single life as a failed vocation, this is not the official teaching of the Catholic Church. The Second Vatican Council taught that all Christians, regardless of their state, are called to the fullness of Christian life and charity. This means that any way of life that expresses Christian charity and helps one grow towards perfection can be considered a vocation. St. John Paul II taught that there are two ways to realize this vocation: marriage and virginity or celibacy.
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Consecrated life
The Catholic Church recognizes three vocations: single life, married life, and religious life or priesthood. Those who feel called to religious life may feel a deep desire to offer themselves entirely to God or devote their life to serving Jesus in a religious community.
There are many forms of consecrated life for men and women in the Catholic Church. Each form is unique, but all are united in their mission to serve the Lord. Consecrated life can take the form of apostolic service, cloistered prayer, or another type of apostolate.
Members of Religious Institutes publicly profess the evangelical counsels of obedience, poverty, and consecrated virginity. They live a common life according to the rule and constitution of their order, which may be cloistered, monastic, or apostolic. Cloistered life is focused on contemplative prayer and strict separation from the world, while monastic communities focus on common life and common prayer.
Religious Brothers live a fraternal common life. They are lay religious consecrated to Christ and the Church by vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. Ministry is essential to their lives, but it does not define them. What characterizes the brothers’ life as unique is their lifestyle, which requires fraternal friendship and love.
Secular Institutes were officially approved as a form of consecrated life in 1947. Their members are lay people whose vowed consecration to God gives them the inner strength to witness to Christ in secular surroundings. They have the mission "to work for the sanctification of the world from fully within the world." They exercise a powerful lay apostolate in the world of politics, economics, medicine, art, education, technology, family life, and labor.
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Single life
The Catholic Church recognizes three vocations: single life, married life, and religious life or priesthood. Single life, or "single state", is distinct from the vocations to marriage or consecrated life. It is not considered a "failed vocation" or a "second-class" status within the Church, but rather a legitimate path that individuals may choose to follow.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 1658, acknowledges the reality of the significant number of single people who may be unmarried not by choice but due to life circumstances. It emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and recognizing single individuals as a valued part of the Church community.
Those embracing the single life may do so out of a desire to devote themselves entirely to God without joining a religious community. This often involves private vows or promises to maintain a permanent state of virginity or celibacy. Single life is viewed as a path that allows individuals to bear witness to their dedication to God and His kingdom, liberating their hearts to burn with greater love for both God and humanity.
Luanne D. Zurlo, in her book "Single for a Greater Purpose: A Hidden Joy in the Catholic Church," explores the concept of single life as a vocation within the Church. She highlights the spiritual importance of celibacy and the distinction between "singleness by default" and "singleness for a greater purpose."
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Religious life
People from all walks of life, including retired men and women, may choose to join a religious community and embrace the religious life. They bring a wealth of talents and skills to these communities, contributing to their betterment and the glory of God. Religious life often involves taking vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience, and living in community with like-minded individuals.
Within the religious life, there are various paths and charisms that individuals may be called to. Some, like cloistered sisters and monks, live in communities separated from the world, dedicating their lives to prayer. Others, like Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, actively engage with the world, providing dignity and service to the sick and dying. Parish priests, Capuchin monks, and Dominican friars devote themselves to pastoral care, hearing confessions, and preaching, respectively.
The religious life is a lifelong commitment to God and the community, offering individuals a unique opportunity to discover their true purpose and destiny. It is a sacred calling that brings fulfillment and meaning, allowing individuals to experience a deeper connection with God and contribute to the Kingdom of God.
While the religious life may seem intimidating or lonely to some, it is not meant to be feared or isolating. God calls people to different vocations, and the religious life is just one path to holiness among many. It is a choice to devote oneself fully to God's work and find joy, peace, and belonging within a spiritual community.
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Frequently asked questions
There are four primary vocations in the Catholic Church: religious life, priesthood, married life, and single life.
In religious life, one lives as Christ lived through vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. In the priesthood, one gives themselves completely to the Church, obeying superiors and forgoing marriage and family. In married life, a couple commits to each other and strives to please God through devotion to each other and by building a faith-driven family. In single life, one commits their life to serving others through work and prayer.
Your vocation is a calling from God, and it is unique to you. To discover your vocation, you must spend time with God in prayer and listen for His call. You can also seek guidance from a priest, spiritual director, or Catholic mentor. Remember, your vocation is not about your profession or career path but about how God is calling you to love others.
