by Most. Rev. Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL, DD Bishop of Corpus Christi
Each year during the month of January, the Church brings to our minds the call to vocations. I would like to take a few moments to reflect on what a vocation is.
The reality of vocation is at the very heart of the Christian faith and Christian life. We are all called and our life is oriented toward one destiny, which is divine, which is eternal life. It is in that context that all specific vocations within the Church are oriented.
The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which means to call. It can also imply that one is invited. Above all, it implies that one is called into a relationship, a specific relationship with God and in the Christian sense, through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.
There are countless accounts and stories throughout both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures of God calling men and women to Himself and to specific vocations. Perhaps the most vivid description is the call Jesus made directly to the rich young man who came to Jesus to ask what he must do to gain eternal life.
As Jesus recounted the basic call of all who believe, the young man responded with, “What more must I do?” At that point, the Gospel tells us that Jesus looked at him with love and told him to sell everything, give what you have to the poor and “come follow me.” With that, the young man left saddened because he had many riches.
It is still the case that the Lord Jesus continues to call both men and women to specific states in life that are there to assist in bringing all to Him and to eternal life.
We know that young men can be called to the priesthood. The church cannot be without her priests. The priests are there in the person of Christ to reach out to those who are lost and to nourish, through the Word and sacraments, those who seek to live their life for Christ.
Young women can be called to consecrated life as a religious sister or consecrated layperson as happens in many new spiritualities in the Church today.
We are all familiar with the variety of vocations also to marriage and to the single life.
Whatever it is, we can be assured that each one of us is called; each one of us is invited into a relationship of love with our heavenly Father, with Christ Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Since I have been in the diocese, I have spoken at confirmations throughout the diocese as well as in other speaking opportunities of a culture of vocations. Vocations can be nurtured in many ways.
First is in the family. The second Vatican council called the family the “domestic church.” It was in the family that Jesus grew up, it was in the family that He recognized the uniqueness of his own humanity and the uniqueness of his call. The Catechism of the Catholic Church specifies the need for families to foster vocations, which are proper to each child in the family.
The second place to foster these vocations and create a culture of vocations is in the parish. I would urge you to look around you to notice young women and young men who may seem to be particularly called to serve the Church in a committed life as a religious sister or a priest. Encourage them, speak to them and show them that they are first loved by God and are needed within the Body of Christ.
Finally, prayer plays an important role in fostering vocations. Let us not forget that what we cannot do as humans the Lord God can do as our heavenly Father. Let us pray and continue to pray for vocations to the religious life, to the priesthood and to all other forms of committed life within our Church. In this way, we will continue to build up and strengthen the Body of Christ.
May God bless you and may our diocese flourish with new vocations.