About vocations.......

[hedgehog]

We are constantly assured that everybody has a special vocation from God, and that all vocations are equally good, but somehow instead of praying that each person properly discerns his or her vocation, we end up praying for more vocations to the celibate priesthood and the consecrated religious life! In effect, doesn't that mean that we think God is sending out the wrong vocations and needs our help in the matter?

Another common attitude is that people should sacrifice their happiness and enter the priesthood or consecrated life as an offering to God. If a loving God wants gives you a particular vocation, does it seem right to you that the vocation should be such a bad fit that it causes you pain and suffering? I'm not saying that if you make the right choice your life will be pain free, but that choosing a vocation as a sacrifice to God is like buying shoes three sizes too small! Besides, if you obstinately choose the wrong vocation as a sacrifice, isn't that being disobedient to God's will? Ironically, some priests and religious are incredibly happy in conditions that make the rest of us shudder, but I suspect they would be in agony if forced to live a routine life in a nice suburb somewhere!

[DemBones DemBones]

1. Not enough value is put on religious vocations today

and so the numbers of priests and religious have declined greatly in the past forty years. As you know, there was a large exodus from the priesthood and religious life due to all the changes made by Vatican II. Many Catholics today want their priest to be "a regular guy," not to preach about sin, and to "share his ministry." In other words, the priest is just there to do the Consecration, the EMHCs can hand out Communion and a deacon or even a layperson can do the preaching. Parishioners think they should tell their priest how to do his job, too.

It's a wonder any men still go through all the training required to be a priest when the priest's role has been so diminished. The priesthood and religious life have always required people to give up sex and marriage and family and now Catholics value vocations less, are less respectful of those who are living a religious vocation. Today's priest is expected to behave more like a Protestant minister but ministers are allowed to marry, have sex, have families.

I think God is still calling men to the priesthood, and women and men to religious life, but when those called think about what they have to give up and what they get in exchange, they see it as giving up too much for too little. We need to pray that more will be willing to make the sacrifice and follow their calling. We don't want people to take on a vocation without a calling but we don't want those who have a calling to ignore it. If we showed more respect for our priests, despite their imperfections, more young people might be open to God's calling them.

It's always been a sacrifice to follow a religious vocation but as you pointed out, "some priests and religious are incredibly happy in conditions that make the rest of us shudder, but I suspect they would be in agony if forced to live a routine life in a nice suburb somewhere!"

[hedgehog]

2. What exactly is the difference in the way that priests are treated now?

Note also, that you still assume that those who are called to the priesthood or religious life have to give up something,so they need to be given something in exchange. I've heard that attitude expressed often. The fact that is that all vocations require that the person make adjustments. The single person has to deal with solitude. The married person has to always think of another person. Parents are tied to their children.


I knew women who left the convent after Vatican II who were in their 50's at the time. They never had a calling to the religious life, but they had been orphaned at a young age and the convent was the only option they had. I knew a lot of unhappy sisters back then. The sisters I know now are fewer, but very happy in their life.

[DemBones DemBones]

5. Read my post again. I explained it. nt

[rug]

3. Every vocation is a sacrifice but my family is worth it.

I expect religious vocations are the same.

[hedgehog]

4. On the other hand, is it a sacrifice for Yo-Yo Ma to practice his cello?

Does Lance Armstrong hate practice bike rides? We choose to do hard things because that is how we get to where we want to be.