Looking into the Christian Vocation

1. Law and Justice2. Types of Justice3. Christian Viewpoint

of Economic Goods4. Law of Demand5. Law of Supply6. Determination of

Price7. Price Ceiling and

Price Floor8. Dimensions of Work9. Spirituality of Work10.Rights and Duties of

Workers11.Vocation12.Home Visit13.Exposure Trip

TULONG-DUNONG EXAMWednesday, Feb. 26, 2014

“In these troubled times, do not be downhearted, but fight to end with all your strength like a brave soldier armed for battle.

As you wait for the Lord in His mercy to remove these hardships, do not forget to love and help others.

Whatever happens, be patient; seek always the eternal glory.”

– St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon

Prayer Reflection

Looking Into The Christian Vocation

WHAT IS VOCATION?

VOCATION (BEFORE)

GOOD BETTER

VOCATION (NOW) UNIVERSAL CALL TO

HOLINESS– Vatican II

Vocare (Latin)

“to call” “to call someone over” “to summon”

CALLED

According to Fr. James Martin, S.J. and Chris Lowney:

WorkAny activity that HAS A PURPOSE

CareerLess about the workplace, or even a specific profession, and more about HOW YOU DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS AND TALENTS

VocationThe kind of person WE HOPE TO BECOME.

WORK, CAREER, VOCATION

LIVING OUT OUR

CHRISTIAN VOCATION

All the faithful

*EXCEPT THOSE IN HOLY ORDERS & BELONG TO A RELIGIOUS STATE SANCTIONED BY THE CHURCH

1. The Lay State

By BAPTISM they are incorporated into Christ

as members of the People of God (“Christ’s Body)

The vocation of the laity is TO INFUSE the secular world with the spirit of the Gospel through their WORDS, MORAL ACTIONS, AND LIFE OF WORSHIP.

The Lay State

The Lay State

MARRIED LIFE CELIBATE LIFE

This refers to TWO ESSENTIAL THINGS:

1. The sacramental celebration of the union of man and woman before God and people.

2. Their ongoing married life.

This grows and matures through the years of their married life and the procreation, education, and formation of their children.

Sacrament of Matrimony

Some lay persons choose not to marry but

stay single and celibate.

They offer their lives to God through the service of their family, the Church, and the society.

Virginity and celibacy is chosen when one recognizes it as a charism from Christ Himself – a special form of service of God through serving others.

Celibate Life (“Single Blessedness”)

The chosen life of those

who enter an order or a congregation of celibate men or women consecrated to God.

They pledge themselves by public vows of

POVERTY CHASTITY OBEDIENCE

2. The Religious State

The members serve the Church through different apostolates according to the charism of their founder.

1. Education2. Taking Care of the Sick3. Caring of Orphans4. Community Organizing5. Working with the Poor6. Giving Retreats & Recollections

The Religious State

The following are examples of the many religious congregations in the Philippines:

1. SJ – Society of Jesus2. OSB – Order of St. Benedict3. OP – Order of Preachers

(Dominican)4. SPC – St. Paul of Chartres5. RA – Religious of the Assumption6. RVM – Religious of the Virgin Mary7. FMM – Franciscan Missionaries of

Mary

The Religious State

Presbyteroi (Greek) – “Elders”

The presbyteroi state, or priesthood is the other Sacrament of Vocation –

HOLY ORDERS

3. Clerical State

HOLY ORDERS

“The Sacrament of Apostolic Ministry”

Priests and bishops are ordained to be able to preach the Gospel and shepherd the faithful, as well as to celebrate divine worship, sharing in Christ’s own priesthood as ministers of the Word (Lumen Gentium 28).

Clerical State

Different Calls of Loving

“It is dangerous to make everyone go forward by the same road, and worse to measure others by yourself.”

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

WHAT SHOULD I BE?

NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT TWO BIG DECISIONS:

Where and who will you be five to ten years

from now?

How many of your classmates will get married?

How many of your friends will stay single?

Who will become priests?

Things to consider in discerning a call

The process of coming to understand how the

Lord is calling you and inviting you to serve Him.

It is a spiritual and personal journey.

It is a journey of understanding, of seeing and acting.

It is a choice between two good things… or even more!

DISCERNMENT

ACTION OF THE SPIRIT: The Greater Good

It moves us towards goodness and even greater goodness for both personal and communal

benefit.

DISCERNMENT

Movement from Self-Gratification to Self-

Giving: The Issue of Motivation

Be honest to yourself. Why do I want to be _________?

Why do I do the good things that I do?

DISCERNMENT

Movement from Spontaneous Attraction to

Thoughtful Decision

1. Identify what attracts you.2. Gather more data (positives & negatives). 3. Ask questions.

DISCERNMENT

Is there such a thing as a PURE MOTIVATION?

There is no such thing as an UNCONDITIONAL/PERFECT LOVE from us

(but we can hope).

In reality, this kind of love can only come from God.

What we can do is become less and less and less selfish and become more and more and more selfless.

HOW? By doing good things QUIETLY and with more humility. – The HS purifies our motives.

DISCERNMENT

You need co-discerners.

It can be your parents, teachers, mentors, trusted friends, or a spiritual director.

How do you know if it is the Holy Spirit moving

you?

You need to pray

Ask yourself:How often do you pray?How do you pray?


you?

You need to pray

Discernment develops through prayer.

1. INTERIORITY – Seeing, understanding, and accepting oneself

2. HELPS YOU MAKE DECISIONS


you?

Different ways of praying1. Reciting traditional prayers2. Listening to religious songs3. Silent prayer4. Praying with nature5. Praying as the saints did6. The Consciousness Examen

of St. Ignatius7. Go online8. Praying WITH THE

COMMUNITY9. Participating in the mass and

in the Sacraments


you?

1. Our desire to serve.

It is born out of:1. Experiencing God’s love2. Expression of Gratitude

to God

2. Concern for the poor.3. Simplicity of life.

Movement from Romantic to REALITIC LOVE OF GOD

LUNDAGIN MO BEYBEH!