Religious Vocations

Nov 5

November 5, 2023

Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever ~

Two Saturday’s ago I gave a talk to representatives of various Serra Clubs from around the Northwest. The talk got me thinking again about vocations to the religious life, then I discovered that this week is National Vocation Awareness Week, and then I discovered that I haven’t written a pastor’s column on vocations in over a year, so I figure I better strike while the iron is still hot.

I want far more people to enter religious life as a priest, monk, nun, or sister than is currently the case. Why? Because religious life is so blessed. I am not concerned about numbers nor should you be. If you and I want more priests so we can keep our parishes open, and because priests and consecrated religious do so much good for us and others, then we’re being motivated by our own self-interests, not the well-being of the priest or consecrated religious. Rather, we want people to consecrate themselves to Christ and His Church for God’s happiness and theirs, not ours.

Of course the greatest happiness for consecrated religious is to be found in the next life. What awaits those in the next life, who serve the Lord completely in this life, wouldn’t be traded away for a minute on earth: “Jesus said . . . I tell you solemnly . . . everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.” (Mt. 19:28-9).

Yet there is a joy in this life that these souls experience and it stems from the priceless treasure of fulfillment; fulfillment in a world whose inhabitants have lost all meaning, and more importantly, holiness. Fulfillment and holiness are worth more to a soul in this life than all the money and romance the world can offer, even if there wasn’t a heaven.

God has put salvation into our DNA. Its’ why superhero movies are so popular. Children want to be Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc., because they instinctively want to save the world. I remember playing Batman and Robin with my little brother when we were ages 5 & 3 respectfully, punching out imaginary bad guys – we were saving the world. Well, it’s the saints that save the world. It’s the Blessed Virgin Mary, the 12 Apostles and countless saints who civilized the world and brought salvation to ultimately billions. Fighting a real war against our vices and the fallen angels – now that’s about saving the world. And that’s a life of profound meaning and purpose.

From the poor to the wealthy, the sick to the athlete, the anonymous to the famous, the incompetent to the talented, the homely to the beautiful, the weak to the powerful, the young to the old – all thirst for meaning and purpose. Those who don’t walk with Jesus have an innate sense that something is wrong, even when everything on the outside seems to be going well. That something that is missing is the Truth of God and abiding in it (Him). While being completely provided for, consecrated religious get to spend their whole lives seeking and abiding in the truth of God, while helping others to find this Truth and abide in it too. It is immensely satisfying to find the meaning of life, Jesus Christ, and to abide in Him; to explore the mysteries of God, and ourselves in light of God; finding the pearl of great price and sharing it with others. That is a fulfilling and purpose driven life, and people longed to be fulfilled and have purpose. People long to save the world. So why don’t more people enter religious life?

When God kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, he left them and their descendants with only three things, we call them the “three goods of man”: family (they still had each other and the ability to add to their family); the ability to acquire goods (they would need to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves); and self-determination (God left it up to them to decide where to go, what and how to provide for themselves, who to associate with, etc.). The most fundamental reason why people in every generation instinctively fear a religious vocation – is because consecrated religious take vows of celibacy, poverty, and obedience – negating the three goods of man. The three vows of consecrated religious life fly right in the face of our nature. Living those vows would seem to rule out the happiness God left us after Eden and the very means of our survival. Add to that the fear of always being different from everyone else; always representing God and His Church everywhere you are, for the rest of your life – that sounds insane too. Or is it?

Leaving spouses, children, a good reputation, safety, e.g., for God is scary business. We are reminded of the wealthy young man who asked to follow Jesus as one of his apostles. Jesus asked the wealthy young man to give away everything he had to the poor and follow Him. The wealthy young man went away sad for he had many possessions. Now the wealthy young man wasn’t damned, for Jesus had asked him if he was obeying the commandments of God and the young man said ‘yes’. In reply, Jesus said ‘then you are saved’ (I’m paraphrasing). The take away from this story is that we can go to heaven by being obedient to the laws of God as the Catholic Church teaches them. Yet more than that, we can aspire to a greater participation in the Kingdom of God and its rewards by pursuing a life of sanctity; with sanctity being much more challenging than simply being an observant Catholic, which is challenging all on its own.

What Jesus doesn’t call people to is being single (we are born with that), family or a career (two of the three goods of man everyone naturally possess). When God invites someone to something (a vocation), it is to something they don’t already possess by nature. No one calls anyone to breath, we’re already doing that, but running a marathon is a different story. We don’t have to do run a marathon (its’ actually not in our nature) and what’s more, its’ super challenging for even those who can. In a religious calling, one is being called to something that isn’t already in our nature. In this case sanctity, or a life dedicated to God in the evangelical vows of celibacy, poverty and obedience, foregoing the three goods God has given us in nature: family, acquiring of goods, and self-determination. For these reasons we can see why so few chose to be consecrated to God. All they can see is what they will give up, not gain.

There is also the mistaken understanding of who the call is directed to. The current thinking around who God is calling to religious life goes something like this: “God wants almost everybody to get married, but there is a very small minority of people he is calling to religious life – are you one of them?” Not only is this is false, but frightening to the poor soul we’re asking the question of, the hoped-for sacrificial lamb. The truth is, God invites every Catholic who can, to be a priest, monk, nun, or religious sister. And who can? Single Catholics who are of sound mind and body, with no impediments (such as dependent children or public scandal, etc.). Thus the invitation would potentially include the vast majority of teenagers, and the majority of those Catholics below a certain age who aren’t married. Perhaps we mistakenly think God only “calls” one in a ten thousand Catholics, because only one in ten thousand Catholics have heard the invitation and said yes: all the others have been invited but didn’t hear the invitation, or did, but said no thank you. God does not play favorites; his invitation to leave all behind and come after Him is not limited to that special someone, it is generously given away to all who can.

Think of the parable of the great supper where a man is having a marriage feast for his son: “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for all is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame . . . Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Lk 14:16-23) Our Lord finishes this parable in St. Matthew’s Gospel by stating that: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Mt 22:14) The “few are chosen” part isn’t because God hasn’t invited them, but because so few have responded! And who can blame them? Choosing celibacy (as a young adult no less) for the Kingdom of God, when God clearly made us: mind, body, and spirit for marriage, sounds like madness (especially in our pornographically saturated culture).

To be sure we don’t feel sheepish when we invite someone to consider being a (fill in the blank) doctor, nurse, lawyer, teacher, etc., but we do when it comes to religious life for the reasons stated above. After having read this, stop being afraid. God isn’t telling people they have to give up the three goods of man that God gave us. Rather, He’s inviting us to something beyond our nature to save the world.

Invite yourself if you still can, and others if you can’t, to explore consecrated religious life. It’s okay to say “no” to God on this. Our first calling is to sanctity and that can be done in any walk of life. But remember, we are held accountable to that high calling: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48).

Here are my suggestions on how we can help foster more vocations to consecrated religious life.

Invite single Catholics who you think would make a good priest, nun, or monk to consider being one. Do not ask them to discern whether or not God is inviting them, let’s assume God is. Rather ask them to discern God’s invitation for them to be one.
Tell them that everyone is searching for the meaning of life and purpose in their life. Jesus Christ, God, is that meaning and religious life would be a life of tremendous purpose. There is joy in that.
Let them know that if they say yes and persevere to consecrated religious life, they will literally save souls from the fires of hell. Can anyone think of something more important than that?
Let them know that they have a higher chance of being a better person for having chosen religious life than if they had not. Father Nathe certainly has.
Let them know that they will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams in the life to come.
Let them know that if they say no to God’s invitation, God will honor that decision and still love them with all his heart and so will you. We are all called to sanctity and that can be done in any walk of life, although based on the number of saints who were lay men and women compared to those in consecrated life, it must be easier to be a saint as a consecrated religious.
Tell them to make an appointment with their pastor if they want to talk to someone about this. Every priest will make the time to see someone who wants to see them about religious life.
Pray and do penance for people to be open to the invitation to religious life, then continue to do prayer and penance for those in formation to religious life. The grace from prayers and penance is simply necessary for every vocation.

In Jesus Christ, I Love You,