Joshua Bennett
The question of whether single life is a vocation within the Catholic Church has been a topic of much debate, with some arguing that it is not a calling from God. Traditionally, vocations are seen as a divine calling from God, requiring commitment and discernment. While some single Catholics may feel they are in a vocational limbo, others argue that all baptized Catholics share a universal call to discipleship and holiness, which is the primary focus of their lives. The suggestion that unmarried individuals should enter religious life or be deemed failures is seen as absurd by many, and there is a growing recognition of the contributions of single people within the Church. The book Single for a Greater Purpose: A Hidden Joy in the Catholic Church by Luanne D. Zurlo explores the concept of a vocation to the single life, distinguishing it from other states of life and emphasizing the spiritual importance of celibacy. Ultimately, the understanding of vocation within the Catholic Church is evolving, and while single life may not be a calling for everyone, it can be seen as a legitimate vocation for those who choose to serve God as celibate members of the laity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Single life as a vocation means choosing to serve God as a celibate member of the laity. |
| Who can be single | Both men and women |
| New categories | Consecrated virgins, third orders, lay communities with specific purposes, secular institutes, roles within Opus Dei |
| Who is God? | God is Love and the human person is meant to be as love, as a gift |
| What is the call? | To love and life, the faithful and fruitful love of God |
| How to give yourself away in love? | Through a vocation that requires a vow or promise to another for life, a commitment that promises to remain faithful to the unknown future |
| Who are you promising? | To live a life of total, faithful commitment to God directly in consecrated life or to God in and through loving another in marriage |
| What is the primary focus of life as a Christian? | The call to holiness |
| What is the foundational call of Catholics? | To live their lives as disciples of Jesus |
| What is the universal call? | To die to ourselves, taking up our crosses each day, and offering all to God |
| What is the greatest response to the calling of love? | A total and irrevocable gift of ourselves |
| What is the role of a single person? | To remain open and ready to make a committed gift of themselves to God in and through the marriage or consecrated vocations while continuing to live out their baptismal call of a life of love and service to God and His people |
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What You'll Learn
Single life as a Catholic can be a divine calling
The book "Single for a Greater Purpose: A Hidden Joy in the Catholic Church" by Luanne D. Zurlo explores this concept, highlighting the distinction between vocation and state of life. It emphasizes the spiritual importance of celibacy and the idea of singleness for a greater purpose.
From a young age, Catholics are taught to discern their vocations, whether marriage, religious life, priesthood, or consecrated single life. This can lead to feelings of uncertainty for those who remain single, as they may question if they have missed their vocation. However, Fr. Ben Hasse, a vocations director, emphasizes that God acts in unexpected ways, and one's state in life should not be viewed rigidly.
Single Catholics can live out their baptismal call by remaining open to the people and circumstances God places in their path. They can serve through acts of love and service, contributing to the Church, their families, and society. Additionally, they can actively participate in their parish, join faith groups, and engage in personal and group retreats to deepen their spiritual growth.
While some may view single life as a failure or a tragedy, it is important to recognize the contributions of charitable, chaste, and courageous single people within the Catholic community. Single life as a Catholic can be a divine calling, a path to serve God and fulfill one's baptismal call to holiness and love.
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Single life is not a permanent calling from God
There are several reasons why some people believe that single life is not a permanent calling from God. Firstly, the idea of a "vocation" is understood as a divine calling or invitation from God, which requires a person to be called to a state different from their current one. In other words, one cannot be called to a state they are already in. This suggests that while single life can be a temporary state before one's vocation is discovered, it is not a permanent calling in itself.
Secondly, the primary vocation of all Christians, according to Fr. Hasse, is the baptismal call to holiness and discipleship, which is to be lived out in communion with others. This call to holiness is the foundational call of our lives as Catholics, and it is through this lens that we discern our specific vocations, such as marriage, religious life, or priesthood. Thus, being single can be seen as a potential state before one enters into one of these recognized vocations, rather than a permanent calling.
Thirdly, the nature of a vocation itself implies a commitment to a lifelong state or promise to another. This commitment involves a material disproportion, where the sacrifices made are far greater than any material benefits received. While single people can certainly lead lives of sacrifice and service, the unique nature of vows or promises associated with marriage or religious life sets them apart as distinct vocations.
Furthermore, the idea that single life is a permanent calling from God may imply a sense of self-fulfillment or self-sufficiency, which contradicts the Christian understanding of destiny as union and communion with God and others. Our fulfillment is found in making a sincere gift of ourselves to God and others, which can be expressed through marriage or consecrated vocations. Thus, while single life can be a time to discern and prepare for one's vocation, it is not inherently a permanent calling.
Lastly, the notion that single life is a vocation has been a topic of emotional debate within the Catholic community, with some single people feeling like second-class citizens or failures. However, this perception may be influenced by societal changes and the increasing difficulty of finding suitable partners for marriage. Therefore, suggesting that single life is not a permanent calling from God can help alleviate the pressure and emotions associated with this sensitive issue.
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Single life is a new form of religious life outside a monastery
In the Catholic Church, the concept of a "vocation" is a divine calling from God, requiring commitment and a lifelong dedication to serving Him. Traditionally, the word "vocation" was used to refer specifically to the priesthood, but over time its usage has expanded to encompass other forms of religious life, such as marriage, the religious life, or the consecrated life.
In recent times, there has been a notable increase in the number of single people within the Catholic Church, raising new questions about the nature of the "single state of life". While some argue that there is no inherent "vocation to the single state", others, including Dr. Jeff Mirus, strongly disagree with this claim. They contend that God may indeed call certain individuals to remain single, outside of the traditional structures of marriage or religious life.
This idea is further explored by Luanne D. Zurlo in her book, "Single for a Greater Purpose: A Hidden Joy in the Catholic Church". Zurlo, a woman who has embraced the single life as her vocation, discusses the distinction between vocation and state of life, the spiritual importance of celibacy, and the concept of "singleness for a greater purpose". Her work highlights the possibility that the single life can be a legitimate vocation within the Church, one that is distinct from, but equally as valid as, other forms of religious life.
Supporting this notion are the examples of various saints who lived holy and dedicated single lives, such as Sts. Benedict Joseph Labre, Gemma Galgani, Catherine of Siena, and Rose of Lima. These individuals, who were not married or part of the religious life, exemplified that a single state can be a divinely ordained path of service to God.
Furthermore, the argument that single life is a new form of religious life outside a monastery is strengthened by the recognition of new categories of vocational and semi-vocational commitments for single men and women that have emerged over the centuries. These include consecrated virgins, third orders, lay communities with specific purposes, secular institutes, and roles within Opus Dei. These developments indicate an evolving understanding within the Church of the diverse ways in which individuals can dedicate their lives to serving God, including through the single life.
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Single life is not a failure
There are many reasons why someone may be single, and it is not always a choice. Some people may be chronically ill, for example, and unable to perform many ordinary tasks that others take for granted. Others may be elderly and have lost their spouse. It is important to remember that God acts in unexpected ways, and frustration with one's state of life may stem from thinking too rigidly about vocation or God's will.
Single life can be a vocation, but it is not always one. It is a vocation when it is adopted as a settled state of life with no possibility of change. In this case, it is a calling from God to commit permanently to the single state in order to serve Him as He wishes, without switching to long-established vocational categories like priesthood or religious life.
All Catholics are called to live their lives as disciples of Jesus, and this is the foundational call of our lives. We are all called to live lives of love and holiness from the grace of our baptism, and to make a sincere gift of ourselves to God. This can be done through marriage or consecrated vocations, but it is also possible for single people to remain open and ready to make this gift through acts of love and service.
There are many saints who lived a single life, including Sts. Benedict Joseph Labre, Gemma Galgani, Catherine of Siena, and Rose of Lima. These holy men and women show that it is possible to be single and still serve God.
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Single life is a choice to serve God as a celibate member of the laity
The Catholic Church teaches that all baptised Catholics are called to live their lives as disciples of Jesus. This is the foundational call of Catholics. However, the question of whether single life is a vocation is a topic of much debate. Some argue that while there is a "single state", there is no "vocation" to it, suggesting that God does not call anyone to remain single unless they are in the priesthood or religious life.
On the other hand, there are those who believe that single life can be a vocation, a calling from God to commit permanently to the single state in order to serve Him. This view holds that God may call some individuals to remain single, not as a failure or a "second-class" vocation, but as a choice to serve God and His people through acts of love and service as a celibate member of the laity.
The book "Single for a Greater Purpose: A Hidden Joy in the Catholic Church" by Luanne D. Zurlo explores this very topic, addressing the spiritual importance of celibacy and the distinction between singleness by default and singleness for a greater purpose. It also covers the different forms of vocational and semi-vocational commitments for single men and women that have developed within the Church, such as consecrated virgins, third orders, and lay communities with specific purposes.
Ultimately, the question of whether single life is a vocation or not may be the wrong question to ask. Instead, the focus should be on the universal call to holiness and love that all Catholics share, regardless of their marital status. This primary vocation to Christ-like love is what should be preached and taught, and it is through living out this call that individuals can make contributions to the Church, their families, and society.
In conclusion, while there may be differing opinions on whether single life is a vocation within the Catholic Church, it is clear that being single does not make one less of a Catholic or less valuable in the eyes of God. Single life can be a choice to serve God and others, and it should be respected as a valid and meaningful path that some individuals may be called to.
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Frequently asked questions
Being single can be a Catholic vocation, but it is not always a vocation. Single Catholics are called to live their lives as disciples of Jesus and to remain open to marriage or consecrated vocations.
A Catholic vocation is a divine calling from God. Vocations are serious business and require much more than just being a devout Catholic.
Examples of Catholic vocations include marriage, priesthood, and religious life. Some Catholics may also feel called to remain single to serve God and the Church.
