"Honor thy father and mother" and vocation

[yawnernonner]

Is vocation something your parents have no say in?

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Is vocation something your parents have no say in?

no.

However, if you are a minor in your country you owe them obedience and should obey them as far as schooling choices. if you are a minor we also cannot help you disobey them.

If you are a legal adult, you have every right to your own life.

That said, if you have an elderly or disabled parent (or disabled sibling or other relatives) who relies on you for care, you may not be accepted into formation unless you can show that you are not abandoning them.

 

[Roguish]

If there is a conflict between what you parents want for you (or from you), and what you believe God is calling you to do, then of course the choice must ultimately be to follow God’s call. That’s tough, but it’s a struggle that’s often part of a true vocation. Dealing with the tension and conflict that could arise from such a choice, and ultimately overcoming it somehow, will be part of your pilgrimage.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Unless there is some seriously upside down family dynamics, I would say to take your parents advice wrt marriage or the religious life into consideration. They know you very well, in fact, if you are under age 25 they likely know you better than anyone else.

If you are of legal age and sound mind they do not have to grant official permission for you to marry or join an order or go to seminary, however puffing up and telling mom “you have NO SAY in what I do” seems haughty.

 

[BridgetN]

Is vocation something your parents have no say in?

Although you do not have to listen to your parents if they command you to do such-and-such for your life, it is still good to listen to their advice.
You’re not under a moral obligation to obey your parents in regards to your state in life, since it is such an important issue, and only you know what God is calling you to do.

 

[1ke]

Is vocation something your parents have no say in?

Correct. Parents do not choose the vocation of their children, nor their spouses.

Parents might have (name removed by moderator)ut to give, but the choice is not theirs.

 

[yawnernonner]

This is an important part of my question that I forgot to include and the editing window has passed:

The parents are not Catholic.

 

[1ke]

The answer is the same whether the parents are Catholic or not

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

This is an important part of my question that I forgot to include and the editing window has passed:

The parents are not Catholic.

The religion of the parents has no bearing on what an adult child can or cannot choose to do with their lives.

A vocation is from God and above earthly power.

Again the only reason a parent’s words may affect an adult child’s vocation is if that adult child is the primary caregiver of a disabled parent (or sibiling) who cannot get reasonable outside care. In first and second world countries this situation would be exceptionally rare. And that doesn’t negate vocation only formation and discerning with certain orders.

 

[Domer90]

Your vocation comes from God and guided by the Holy Spirit. My son is discerning, and I can’t tell you the number of people who tell me to discourage him. I laugh it off and say that I’d make a terrible MIL.

Seriously, though, God ultimately leads you to your vocation. My uncle gave up a professional baseball career to become a priest. He never regretted it. God bless you on your journey.