Choosing a Vocation

[TiggerS]

Ave Maria! I have never heard this before. Do you have a source for this? As far as I know, it does not seem to coincide with any Church teachings or writings of the saints.

Ave Maria!

fra John Paul

Catholic Culture (from whose website the quoted article below is taken) is regarded as a sound resource for Catholic info and Catholic Culture is regarded as completely loyal to Rome and The Magisterium. This is a lengthy article, but well worth the time to read. It was written by Cardinal Henry E. Manning and insofar as I am aware was regarded as a loyal Catholic priest and an outstanding advocate for the Papacy and Magisterium. If there are any issues over what is quoted below, then it is Cardinal Manning and Catholic Culture that need be challenged I think.

catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=7064
." Then, after his act of self-accusation, as he receives his absolution, the grace of Charity is restored to him, the life of the soul is given back, he is united with God once more, he possesses Faith, Hope, and Charity, as he did in his Baptism — as he did before he fell, for the Sacrament puts him back again into the state of grace as at first.
Thirdly, it does something further: it restores the soul to its previous condition. "…(this paragraph in particular is worth reading in full - as is the whole article, despite length)

I apologize, but I just don’t have the time now to do any further research.

 

[FFI_Griswold]

Ave Maria!

Catholic Culture (from whose website the quoted article below is taken) is regarded as a sound resource for Catholic info and Catholic Culture is regarded as completely loyal to Rome and The Magisterium. This is a lengthy article, but well worth the time to read. It was written by Cardinal Henry E. Manning and insofar as I am aware was regarded as a loyal Catholic priest and an outstanding advocate for the Papacy and Magisterium. If there are any issues over what is quoted below, then it is Cardinal Manning and Catholic Culture that need be challenged I think.

I apologize, but I just don’t have the time now to do any further research.

Thank you for sourcing this. I do see how your usage applies to mortal sin and the reconciliation of the soul with God after confession, but I don’t think this applies to failing to choose the vocation God intended.

“returning the person to that state as if they had never failed in the first place.”

I understand this as

1. a person is in a state of grace
2. they fall into mortal sin
3. they go to confession
4. their soul is restored to a state of grace, no lesser for having sinned, and is as beautiful “as if they had never sinned in the first place”.
5. ?..

What I think is being overlooked is that of the effects of one’s sin that remain. Although God has reconciled the soul and can draw good out of evil, you can’t erase the damage that has been done (and don’t forget about restitution and purification in purgatory). Say like you cause someone to get their hand cut off out of your own negligence - there is forgiveness, but the person will still have to suffer without a hand.

In a vocation, one who was designed for the religious life will be most fulfilled there and anywhere else will be less fulfilling. It’s like a race car that was built for a smooth track but chooses to go on a dirt track for monster trucks. It can ask God for help and receive better tires and parts upgrades, but it will still be a smooth track race car . It can confess its fault and be forgiven, it can find some fulfillment and make it to the finish line, but always with more difficulty and not with as much fulfillment as God had intended it.

Ave Maria!

fra John Paul

 

[TiggerS]

Thank you for comments, FFI - I certainly did not mean to challenge the teaching of: The Church re “temporal punishment” -

christianityinview.com/catholic/morals.html
Catholic theology divides the punishment for sin into two parts: eternal and temporal (‘temporal’ in this context means lasting only for a limited period of time). Normally, the eternal punishment for sin can be remitted through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as we saw above. However, the church maintains that there is still a temporal punishment to be borne, as all sin is an affront to God. This then leads to the idea of Purgatory as a place where unremitted sin can be removed in the afterlife…(my note: and related to temporal punishment, although not necessarily to points raised in this thread to date, is the subject of Indulgences):…“An Indulgence is simply a way of using this extra merit to reduce or remove the temporal penalty of sin. Indulgences may only be given to those who have no unconfessed mortal sins. According to whether the temporal penalty of sin is partially or fully removed, the Indulgence is called ‘Partial’ or ‘Plenary’ respectively.”

Quoting FFI
In a vocation, one who was designed for the religious life will be most fulfilled there and anywhere else will be less fulfilling. It’s like a race car that was built for a smooth track but chooses to go on a dirt track for monster trucks. It can ask God for help and receive better tires and parts upgrades, but it will still be a smooth track race car . It can confess its fault and be forgiven, it can find some fulfillment and make it to the finish line, but always with more difficulty and not with as much fulfillment as God had intended it.

Re your second point and concept as above. The most fulfilling happiness and joy we can have in life is to be on a journey to holiness - and in some measure achieving same. I think you will find (as always on CA!) Brother JR’s (“JReducation” User Name on CA) responses particularly helpful. He is extremely well qualified - see his Profile HERE

The Cross and sufferings in the journey of life here on earth is ideally never problematic on the supernatural level to those on a journey to holiness and in some measure attaining holiness. Certainly, many of our saints have experienced Spiritual Joy in suffering and in The Cross and have given witness to it. No journey on earth whatsoever will be without suffering and a sharing in The Cross and Sufferings of Jesus - and united to Jesus and His Cross, our sufferings here are redemptive. This can be a source of real Spiritual Joy and rich consolation to those who do suffer in some measure, great or small, and who are striving for holiness.

This Post in particular responds to your concept and second point, challenging it : HERE The entire thread is worth the read with much valuable information. Happily, it came up immediately on Google and I had thought I had read something addressing your second point and concept on a thread on CA at some time or other.

If a person should be experiencing guilt over the matter of their vocation and what they have chosen, or failed to choose, then that guilt is best subjected to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The guilt is unnecessary guilt and hopefully in Confession any priest would explain this. As I think and hope said in a previous post into this thread, if the guilt or doubts continue, then it would be highly advised to seek spiritual direction or counselling - perhaps both. A spiritual director would advise - and a good counsellor knows when it is appropriated and rightful to suggest that a Catholic person have a talk with a priest, just as a good priest knows when it is appropriate and rightful to advise that a person seek counselling or even a psychologist or psychiatrist.

God bless - TS

 

[SrMarie]

I just wanted to add… life is rarely black and white. We will always make mistakes… that we can be sure of! If we choose the wrong vocation, God will still give us goodness and make goodness the result of our life if we have always been focused on His will in our lives. We should never think we have sinned if we have honestly done out best to discern His will… even if we have discerned incorrectly. God knows our hearts and our intentions and He will bless good intentions and honest and just hearts.

It isn’t a sin to be open to God’s will and make a mistake discerning one’s vocation… God will still bring goodness and love throughout our lives. Be at peace!

 

[TiggerS]

I just wanted to add… life is rarely black and white. We will always make mistakes… that we can be sure of! If we choose the wrong vocation, God will still give us goodness and make goodness the result of our life if we have always been focused on His will in our lives. We should never think we have sinned if we have honestly done out best to discern His will… even if we have discerned incorrectly. God knows our hearts and our intentions and He will bless good intentions and honest and just hearts.

It isn’t a sin to be open to God’s will and make a mistake discerning one’s vocation… God will still bring goodness and love throughout our lives. Be at peace!

Thank you, Sister - and well said and in praise of the Love, and Understanding Mercy of our God.