Class6 Vocations

Understanding Catholicism: Intellectual Formation Theology Class: 

Understanding Catholicism: Intellectual Formation Theology Class Vocations

Catholicism As Comprehensive and Holistic: 

Catholicism As Comprehensive and Holistic Luke 12:22 'Do not be anxious about your life…which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his life span? If then you are unable to do a small thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?…Your Father knows [what] you need…seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours' ~Holy Abandonment~

Universal Call: 

Universal Call 'All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' Rm 3:23; 'If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves' 1 John 1:8 'All are called to sanctity…all Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of love…forms and tasks of life are many…holiness is one…Each one…according to his own gifts and duties must steadfastly advance along the way of a living faith, which arouses hope and works through love.' Lumen Gentium

State and Form of the Christian Vocation: 

State and Form of the Christian Vocation Holy Orders Marriage Consecrated Religious Life Single Life

Sanctity through the Union: 

Sanctity through the Union 'I understood that love comprises all vocations, that love is everything, that it embraces all times and all places because it is eternal!' 'I know of one means only by which to attain to perfection: LOVE. Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else. Sometimes I seek another word to express Love, but in this land of exile the word which begins and ends (St. Augustine) is quite incapable of rendering the vibrations of the soul; we must then adhere to this simple and only word: TO LOVE.' St. Therese 'the little flower'

Love and Union in the Religious Life : 

Love and Union in the Religious Life Union with the bridegroom Christ Mirror-like sanctification Sign to the world that this world is not our home Spiritual union through prayer (sometimes cloistered) Traditional Vows: Chastity, Obedience and Poverty

Love and Union in Holy Orders: 

Love and Union in Holy Orders alter Christus 'another Christ' To sanctify the Church Old Testament Israel---Levites---Aaron New Testament Church---Priesthood---Jesus Christ

Love and Union in Marriage: 

Love and Union in Marriage The common call from Genesis Mystery of union and co-creation Union with the spouse and sanctification of the spouse and family Image of the communion of God; domestic Church

Love and Union in the Single Life: 

Love and Union in the Single Life Common call of Genesis (Original Man) Temporary and Permanent Vocation To sanctify and work in the world; for the life of humanity

Discernment : 

Discernment Easy to be carried away with our own ideas of what God wants; How do we know what God wants? How do we know God’s will? Revelation and Reason: Natural prudence- Reason Supernatural prudence- Scripture Tradition Magisterium Counsel- Gift of Holy Spirit (prayer- particular illumination)

Discernment with Reason: 

Discernment with Reason 'He has ceased to be good who does not desire to be better' St. Bernard of Clarviux Testing your opinion- eliminating your bad motivations Bad Spirits (Seven Deadly Sins) -falsity -pride/vanity -confussion -envy -obstinancy -uncontrolled passions -extremes -despair/naïve optimism -attachment to pleasures Bad spirit is rooted in self, answers are rooted in self-denial

Discernment with Reason: 

Discernment with Reason Good Spirits (Seven Virtues) -docility -purity of intention -peacefulness -humility of thought -patience -liberty and detachment -gravity -God andamp; neighbor centered -frugality -willingness to suffer -holy dissatisfation To demand a supernatural sign when given a natural sign is a misuse of talents

God’s Call: 

God’s Call Be mindful of this moment and eternity above all What is God calling you to do right now and what is the telos (end) of that and every call The past and the future belong to darkness, eternity and this moment belong to light

Life after your current state: 

Life after your current state Right now what are you called to do? Current Vocation- student, single, child of God Learn, remain pure, keep watchful Prepare in this moment, using an appropriate understanding of the past, and a conscious hope for the future, to walk toward eternity