A Vocations Article for Youth

A Vocations Article for Youth

by Maggie Geene

used with permission

As you get closer and closer to High School Graduation you begin to hear a lot about vocations. The Church would like for you to consider whether you have a vocation to the priesthood, or religious life. Let's take that one step further, and consider, no matter what career choice you make, consecrating your life to God's service.

God calls each and every one of us to a life that will honor Him. We are charged by our Baptism and membership in the Catholic Church to becomes disciples of Jesus and spread His Good News to all the ends of the earth. God does not call each of us to be priests or religious, but that does not mean that our life should be less Christ centered.

God has a plan for your life; plans to give you hope and a future (Jer. 29:11) . That plan may be that you become a Lawyer, Accountant, Architect, Teacher or Sanitation worker. To honor God you simply must become the best person you can be at whatever career you choose. We are all called to fulfill the specific plan God has for our lives. No one can do the job that God has planned for you, but you.

How do you know what God is calling you to become? Look at the talents and interests you have discovered in yourself throughout your life. God gave you those talents for a reason. These talents and interests will help you to discern what path God has laid out for you. You may try many different jobs before you find the one you are best suited to.

If God's plan for you includes marriage, you should consecrate your marriage to Him. If you do not look at your marriage as a Sacramental union, you will find that any difficulty will make it much harder to remain together. If your marriage is consecrated to God, you see it as a lifetime commitment. It doesn't make the hard times any more easy to handle, it just makes your resolve to work out your problems that much stronger.

God's eventual plan for your life may not include marriage. If you do not marry there is nothing wrong with that so long as you don't see your life as being something less than it might have been if you had only met the right person. God may be calling you to remain single, so that your energies can be more fully channeled into service to Him.

You may be called to the Ordained Ministry, or Religious life. No one can decide that for you, but through prayer and discernment you will learn to see that your specific gifts may be well suited for religious life. Most young people consider religious life at some point if only for a moment. If you would like more information you can contact the Vocations office in your diocese. They will be happy to assist you in your discernment process.

Don't be afraid to make the wrong choice. So long as your life honors God, He will be pleased with your effort. Many people change careers, or take years to decide upon what it is they eventually want to do or be in their lives. Many people enter religious life after being in a career for years. There are even delayed vocations seminaries, set up for the specific needs of older men who find that they have a call from God to the priesthood.

Pray about your life choices. Open your heart to God's call. When he shows you what it is that he wants you to do with your life, say yes with a joyful heart.

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