We may be nuns and have a penchant for talking nun stuff, but we are all about promoting ALL vocations — and that’s why no matter who you are, what you do, or what your spiritual persuasion is, we’re here for you!
This week is a great time to celebrate all manner of vocations because it is National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) which began in 1976 by the U.S. Catholic Bishops. It coincides with the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. This is of course is très significant because the Church recognizes the universal call to holiness of every Christian by virtue of her or his baptism.
What does this mean? Here’s a snippet from one of my favorite Church documents, Lumen Gentium – The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church from the Second Vatican Council.
[We are called] to live “as becomes saints”, and to put on “as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience”, and to possess the fruit of the Spirit in holiness….
All the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society. In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in Christ’s footsteps and conform themselves to God’s image seeking God’s will in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history.
The classes and duties of life are many, but holiness is one—that sanctity which is cultivated by all who are moved by the Spirit of God, and who obey the voice of God and worship God … in spirit and in truth. These people follow the poor Christ, the humble and cross-bearing Christ in order to be worthy of being sharers in God’s glory. Every person must walk unhesitatingly according to her or his own personal gifts and duties in the path of living faith, which arouses hope and works through charity. (Lumen Gentium)
What crosses your mind when you think about what it means for God to be calling YOU?
Archived Comments
- January 9, 2012 at 5:49 pm
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I think it is going to be a wonderful adventure!
- January 9, 2012 at 5:50 pm
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I was was an educator – I taught from 1971 to 2001. At one point we were all into Madeline Hunter and her ITIP program – Instructional Theory into Practice. We were supposed to start USING what we research showed about how people learn to make sure our students were actually learning each day. ITIP made CONCRETE the generalizations we learned in school of education.
When I think of VOCATION, what it means for God to be calling ME at this point of my life, I know it is time to live the Gospel. A lifetime of being a Christian, a Catholic, a member of a parish and prayer group – all of what I learned and all of what I have aspired to – is supposed to become CONCRETE in my life. Time to put THEORY into PRACTICE.
So I’m supposed to actually start DOING that stuff we hear about, think about, study, discuss, advocate, etc. I’m supposed to actually start LIVING the GOSPEL – seeing Christ in others, serving the needs of the least of my brothers and sisters, proclaiming that the Kingdom of Heaven is here already as well as being something we aspire to in the future, refusing to return evil for evil, turning the cheek, loving the enemy, assuming the best about others, loving and giving without seeking return. I’m called to live recklessly, to stop being careful for the future – to actually follow Christ all the way to the cross – and be willing to die with him.
When you are old there is no more time for compromise and thinking that someday we’ll become what we are supposed to be. It puts a bit pressure on us as we hear “Times winged chariot hurrying near.”
Now is the time. Now is the hour of salvation: I better do it if I’m going to do it. Better do it NOW.
- January 11, 2012 at 9:38 am
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“…In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ.” You two are serious about your ministry… after all, doesn’t this pretty much sum up what we talked about at lunch? Oh, the pressure… But that’s right… do what you do. And do it thru Christ and for the glory of God.
- January 11, 2012 at 12:04 pm
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Amen, LeeAnn – you’ve nailed it!
- January 12, 2012 at 9:47 pm
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Marsha, I loved what you added to this blog. I was just having a conversation with a friend yesterday about these very things… it’s time.
