■■ ^ 4 fy. r*. • C v , . ( m and Learn ^ P. 0 . 1«x 1620, Danvar, Colertde Wkr It ■ Call? What is a veentloa? Vocation means a calling, and, in a large sense, all are called by God to the pursuit of v ^ e and Christian perfection. God’s w i^om provides for all things by His various callings. The Author of nature gives to His children tend­ encies and aspirations, leanings and skills, wUch are true vocations. One is inclined to a life of stuiW, an­ other to active life; one prefers arts, another saence. But when we speak of religions or eccle^stical Guide and Guard vocations we refer to a calling that comes in a spe­ cial sense froih God, since it is for His direct service. Two calls are needed; One, by God, in virtue of the grace of Jesus Christ; the other, by the Church, which accepts the candidate. One is mvine and in­ ir Eyes’ terior, the Other human and exterior. The interior vocation is an inspiration or impulse :^0W TO PREPARE A boy of the Holy Spirit, a secret voice of God which pro­ found in every generous pros­ girl who it • prospective individual an act of devotioa in duces the intimate conviction in the soul ttat one is pect for the seminary or novi­ a degree which is superlative. m a tlon ? called by God. This intimate conviction must not be tiate. We have found a soul in whom ^The Very Rev. Godfrey a vision or confused with absolute certainty or with P ^ e , C.P., secretary of the there are strong, firm habits of an extraordinfiiy sign. There may be aoubts or fw tifica l Organization for Re« THE RESPONSIBILITY of virtue, and that soul now dxiws lUtfout Vocationi, layt that duT' vocation directors in all this is a prompt, eager will to serve Socrorf ffciiirfs wavering, which can be resolved after a trial, which the period of -preparatioo or very clear. We must encour­ God. ' In the holy sacrifice of the Mass, the priest holds his own all religious orders, and the seminary, provide. (eematiOD the youth shoidd be age, nourish, and protect this Like Beatrice with Dante, we Creator in his anointed hands, because the consecrated Host is T^e S crip ti^ texts on which the priestly and encouraged to go weekly to the manifestation of grace. For must be both guide and guard­ the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Sec­ religious vocations' rest are those such as Matthew QU^tual director for Confes* once we have said, "T l^ boy ian to such a favored youth, ond Person of the Blessed Trinity. The priest is able to. change xbi, 21: “ If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou lien. has a vocation,” then we mean leading him on to the threshdd the unleavened bread into the Body of Christ because he has hast4-^d’’g iw toi the poor, and thou shalt have that we have seen in such an ^Then every two to three of the seminary or novitiate. received the sacrament of Holy Orders. j-in fleauien; and come, follow Me;” and f Cbks there should be a spirlt- Sst s Words to the fishermen; “ Come, and I will m . conference.. During these make you fishers of men” (Matthew iv, 19). eeuferences the director should f9 d m r ^ » H e e i e # O H f OrMrtHf FrM ifM tiiht of the love of God, the ssity of sacrifice, purity of Whaf A n Sl§ng of ¥ocafieii? E ition, the dature df tempts- How can I know that I have a vocation to fim priesthood fii)h, devotion to the BleSsed or to the relighnu life? llfitiwr, the indwdling of the Everyone has at least the seeds of a vocation Holy Spirit, and the Uke. ^ ^ e in the seminary or npvir within him. There are some who teach that, if a vo­ cation is not brought to development, it is due to filie should also be explained! vocation. See, too, how parents though our first child was born His garden to us, it is He who All authoritiet emphadze the some lack of generosity in the person — an im­ S e ^ a l emphasis should be discuss with their cUldren, 12 years ago. But every night will plant it as He sees fit Our overwhdlniing impbrtamse,. the perfection, though not a sin. peen to the possible problems determiijing htfluence, of the from a religious viewpoint, tte we say to Our Lady, ‘Thank part is simply to prepare the djr> homesickness, dryness at family in the nurturing of voca­ pn^lems of the Church, the you for having given us chil­ ground and, when the seed ap­ However this may be, two signs are enough to peayer, fear of stuAes, and tions, declares Hbnsignor events in the life of Hk family, dren; help us to bring them up pears to germinate, to protect establish the presumption that one has a vocation; ol&culties with (xunpanlons. Acbiille GloHeux, secretary of of tiiO district, of the country, well.’ You see, although the the seedling from being choked Aptitude for flie reli^ous or priestly Ufe, and some the same time the director the Commission of the Aixtstol- of the w<Nrld at large. Lord has entrusted a comer of by weeds.” propensity of the will toward the service of God. S h ^ d try to deepen the youth’s ate of the Laity Preparatory to Today they discuss — as who Aptitude is fitness for the religious state in gen­ aim eness of the uniqueness of Vaticim-Council n , at the First does not? — the inroblems of hK vocation and elicit a great eral, and in particular for the observance proper to InttvnadAfia] Congress on Voca­ the uncommitted nations, b f . the community that one thinks of joining. It consists nSness to make any lacri: racism, etc., all in the ligM of tions fai the States of Perfection especially in sound judgment, good character, a soul to follow ii^ held in Rome. the Gospel. 'What a won^r- Crisis in Vocations capable of obedience, relative knowledge and intel­ In view of tile children’s age, fully effective formation of mind r)>llRING THIS TIMB,' loo, ligence, and the absence of defects of body and soul youth should be tacoUkagM this influadge is exercised and heart! (epilepsy, psychoses, extreme ill health) that are re­ to disclose atiy doubts of fears. chiefly by tte atmosphere tiiat If such children have the pugnant to this way of life. Hie director might ask: "Who perrades.the family. This Chris­ good fortune to have parents Blamed on Education tian atmoiiphere is revealed in who are themselves active in One must have a firm and right inclination, not Itta this idea of a vocation in By Rev. Joseph A. Hughes guide is not only authorita­ your mind? Where did it come the daily details of an educa­ the apostolate, then will they be subject to frequent changes, although some incon­ THE RELIGIOUS voca­ tive but timely and enlight­ from? Did it come from the tion in a thousand little things, still more enriched. For then stancy arising'from the weakness of human nature is tion crisis is actually a crisis ening to teachers as well as duyil? Nol p o you think the an educatiem whereby the chil­ especially will they have the op- to. be expected. of religious education. Though to students. d ^ wants you to be a leader dren are introduced by their pwtnnity for contact with a the Catholic school system of All of Catholic life is call­ Ths convibtion that one has of a vocation need in Christ’s, army? Of course parents to the practice of all priest, a chaplain, welcomed the United States has become ing out for newer orientation, not be overpowering, or come spontaneously. It may not! The inspiration, then, must the virtues. with cordial joy and simplicity a truly astounding phenom­ a broader horizon, an added be just the fruit of a reflection that one can serve be from God, and if He has into the heart of tte family, enon of this generation, yet dimension to Christian char­ bringing to fire children the in­ God best in this state. c^sen you. He doesn't demand IN FAMILIES such as those the total spirituality content acter, Official Catholic teach­ spiring sight of true priestli- anything beyond your strength. we have in mind, the very way of the religion courses has ing makes a lot of toe Chris­ ness. Rmfmgtlng a Vecertien He simply offers you an invi­ , in which one comments on not developed in depth or in tian’s duty- and privilege of tation. You can accept or re- events, in which ectt'Speaks of breadth as rapidly as it should working \vith and for others. Is it sinful not to follow a vocation? iiici What will it be?" priests and religious, impresses SUCH A FAMILY,'^ naturally, have. ^ ACnON must be added to The question whether the rejei^on of a special ;:|t is particalarly important, itself <m the awakening mind of makes excellent soil for the The Church, as a whole in prayer. Brayer must be in and personal grace of vocation of itself implies moral t e t the spiritual director de­ .the child. growth of vocationi. Many of its human capacity as a large measure willing and fer­ velop ia Hiese yoaths a tease these homes, in fact, beg such teacher, muU db much better guilt is still unsettled.