George Elliott - Discernment Dos and Donts: A Practical Guide to Vocational Discernment

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Discernment Dos and Donts: A Practical Guide to Vocational Discernment 2018 Rev. George Elliott

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the BibleSecond Catholic Edition (Ignatius Edition), copyright 2006 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Compendium Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America 2006, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2018950107

ISBN: 978-1-5051-1017-3

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Explanation:

Everyone is called to holiness. You are called to your vocation, because it is the best way for you to be holy.

Celibate Vocations are objectively higher than married vocations, but they both point toward heaven.

Religious Life is objectively higher than Diocesan Priesthood because it takes on the vow of poverty. Diocesan Priesthood is objectively higher than the Single Unmarried life because Diocesan priests take a promise of obedience.

*Note: The actual vocations in this chart are bold. The italicized words are categories of vocations but are not vocations in themselves. Vocations are always particular (i.e., called to enter this religious order in this location or called to marry John, etc.)

Definitions:

Holiness: All the baptized are called to holiness. Holiness consists of being made similar to God through charity.

Celibacy: Celibacy is the state of not being married. Taking a vow of celibacy means that you are going to remain unmarried for the rest of your life.

Celibate Vocations: All vocations that include taking a vow of celibacy are celibate vocations.

Religious Life: Also known as a religious vocation, is the state of taking vows of poverty, chastity (i.e. celibacy), and obedience. Brothers, monks, sisters, and nuns are all in religious vocations. Most religious orders live in community.

Diocesan Priesthood: These are the priests that you see in most parishes. They take promises of celibacy and obedience. They are attached to a certain area of the world (called a diocese), and they fulfill any need that the bishop of that diocese has.

Single Unmarried: Also known as consecrated single life, is the state of taking a promise of celibacy. Consecrated Singles sometimes live in community, and they sometimes live alone. They also sometimes work in the world, and they sometimes dedicate themselves to prayer away from society.

Married Vocations: The category of vocations that are calls to marry a particular person.