First we must look
at the word “vocation.” Vocation
All Christians have a 'vocation' in life. The word 'vocation'
comes from the Latin word 'vocare' which means "to call".
Some people God calls through marriage, others as single people.
There is the same mystery about religious life as there is
about falling in love. It is something in our hearts that
we cannot explain.
The
realization of this call will come at different times of life
and in different ways - from something you have read, an event
in your life, a person you have met or known. The call from
God can only be heard when you are in tune with God, it's
a growing realization that to spend your life as a Sister
dedicated to Christ and his people is what would make you
happy. Not everyone will be drawn to Religious Life. If you
think you are, it is at least worth exploring. And you may
want to look at the questions in the section About
how to know one’s calling in life if you haven’t
already done so.
Religious Vocation - Religious Life
These two terms are so inter-connected we need to address
them together. “Religious Vocation” refers to
the call given to us by God to a special form of life referred
to as “Religious Life.” Many people use the term
“religious life” as a general term for persons
they regard as being “a religious” but there is
a broader term, “Consecrated Life.” This is the
concept found in the new Code of Canon Law. In Canon 607 we
read:
| |
As
a consecration of the whole person, religious life
manifests in the Church a wonderful marriage brought about
by God, a sign of the future age. Thus the religious brings
to perfection a total self-giving as a sacrifice offered
to God, through which his or her whole existence becomes
a continuous worship of God in charity. |
The
idea of consecration can be found n the Scriptures. It is
a term that highlights a relationship between God and the
person of object being consecrated. The renewal of Religious
Life called for by Vatican II realized the significance of
the term. “Consecrated Life” is used today to
describe the various styles of life that the Church recognizes
as playing a special role in her life. Persons living a consecrated
life seek to live a life totally dedicated to God, and to
grow in the virtue of love exercised for the sake of service
to God’s people. For the most part they make the traditional
vows or promises of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience as signs
of their consecration. Some Institutes have one or more additional
vows/promises usually related to their specific charism. Their
life style is meant to be a witness to the world of God’s
infinite love. |
