RESPONDING TO

GOD’S CALL
VOCATION
VOCATION
-From the Latin
word: “vocare”,
which means “to
call”
-Literally, vocation
means “calling” or
“a call”
V O C AT I O N

- A call from
beyond “oneself”
- A call from God to
use one’s strengths
and gifts to make
the world a better
place through
service, creativity
and leadership.
VOCATION
- In general, it means
a calling from God to
use what we have for
the service of the
people and for the
betterment of the
whole world.
- IT IS A MISSION!
 VOCATION
“What does God want me to be?”

Rather than

“What do I want to be?”

CLARIFICATION

Career/Profession Vocation
-There is no need to believe in God -There is a need to believe in God
to choose a profession and His call

-A person can pick, choose and -God is the only person who
switch profession freely depending picks/gives our vocation depending
on his/her preferences, strengths or freely upon His Divine Plan
circumstances.
-Has a horizontal dimension -Has a vertical dimension
 VOCATION
It is a UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS!
 UNIVERSAL CALL
TO H O L I N E S S
-It is rooted in our baptism
-It is a call to know, love
and serve the Lord
-It is aligning our own will
with God’s will
-It is a call from God to a
state of life that will lead a
person to pious life.
FOUR SPECIFIC
VOCATIONS
SINGLE BLESSEDNESS
• Refers to the faithful who do not
belong to religious orders
• Yet, having a personal commitment
to put their freedom at the service
of others in their work and prayer.
• Sometimes called in the Church as
lay people/laity.
• They are celibate ( just like priests
and religious) or those who are
unmarried/single
MARRIED LIFE

• Married couple who follow Christ

by giving themselves to each
other COMPLETELY and without
reservation.
• They express their love through
sexual union, procreation and
upbringing of children.
CONSECRATED OR RELIGIOUS LIFE
• They are the ones that are called to live as
Christ lived; to model the life of Jesus
• Their hearts and time are more free for
service and prayer
• Their path of following Christ is through
following the THREE EVANGELICAL
COUNSELS or VOWS.
– Poverty
– Chastity
– Obedience
PRIESTHOOD
• Priesthood is obtained through the
sacrament of ordination or Holy
Orders
• They are called to be an “Alter
Christus” and act in “Persona Christi”
• Thus, when they teach and practice
their ministry it is Christ who teaches
and practices.
• They are sometimes called as clerics
THREE LEVELS OF PRIESTHOOD
• Episcopate (Bishop)
– The highest of Holy Orders, the fullness of priesthood
– Successor of the apostles to govern a diocese
• Presbyterate (Priest)
– Representative of Christ and dispenser of the faith
– Co-worker of the bishop
– Oftentimes categorized in two: religious and the diocesan.
• Diaconate (Deacon)
– serves the Church and assists the bishop and priests