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When we hear the word “vocation,” many of us may think about priesthood or consecrated life. And yet, the meaning of vocation is the choice of our employment, especially when our choice requires great dedication, because the work we choose is particularly worthy. When a priest, a religious sister or brother dedicates their lives to the vocation to which they have been called, this is not only their work, it becomes the mission of their lives.

I had the privilege a few weeks ago to meet a young man from our parish who recently joined the seminary. When I walked across the church on that Sunday morning to say hello to him, my first observation was the unmistakable joy in his eyes. In fact, when I mentioned this to him, it was evident that he was touched and knew exactly what I was talking about.

In mid-November, I had the privilege to attend a noonday Mass at the diminutive chapel of the Visitation Sisters in northeast Minneapolis, and again, the joy of these sisters was palpable. This has made me wonder about the connection between joy and vocation.

The documents of the Second Vatican Council, as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church, call us to see our vocation in and through our life in Christ. We are called to see our choice of vocation with new dignity, through which we receive grace given to us by Christ and the Holy Spirit when we participate in the sacraments and prayer. Our vocation is designed to assist us in our spiritual transformation, so that we become “children of light” through “all that is good and right and true” (CCC, No. 1695).

Does this sound heavy as the new year begins? It might, but our faith must be the very entity that grounds and supports us for all the other work we must do in our lives. To the extent that our faith does this, we will find ourselves able to withstand the onslaught of all that is hurled at us, whether it be more variants of the coronavirus, the stress put on us through supply chain issues, or the difficulty our young people experience through the ongoing unpredictability of their world. Those who build their lives on the stability of their faith will be like a house built on a firm foundation.

In addition to the priestly ministry and the consecrated life, matrimony and the single life are considered vocations. Marriage requires concerted, dedicated effort to honor the commitment we made to our spouse on the day of our wedding, and each day since. As lay people turn to God in and through the sacraments and prayer, through regular adoration and attending the Eucharist, we are fortified for our journey of faith, so that ideally, we too, will experience joy.

According to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the vocation of the lay faithful is to “seek the Kingdom of God by illuminating and ordering temporal affairs according to the plan of God.” We carry out the plan of God through our call to holiness in the everyday experiences of our lives.

But, you may ask, what is God’s plan for my life? And this is why I write about vocation during the first month of this new year: to encourage you to take time to focus on the way in which God is specifically calling you to greater holiness in your life.

ACTION STRATEGIES– Make a commitment this month to begin the journey to understand God’s call — his vocation — for your life. Enter into this journey with intention and dedication, asking for his guidance and grace each step of the way.
– Trust that he is with you and wants to speak to you. Open your heart to him so that you may receive joy.

Perhaps you will make a commitment to attend weekly, or even daily, Mass. Perhaps it will be to take part in the sacrament of reconciliation on a regular basis, or to sign up for a time in the adoration chapel at your church. Perhaps it will be to say a daily rosary, to listen to prayerful music or to take part in a retreat this winter. Our vocation speaks about our lifestyle and the way in which we spend our time and the talents God has given to us. These choices directly influence how we understand his call to greater holiness in our lives. Do not be afraid of vocation. It is our deepest, most compelling human call.

Soucheray is a licensed marriage and family therapist emeritus and a member of St. Ambrose in Woodbury. She holds a master’s degree in theology from The St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul and a doctorate in educational leadership from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.