Vocations Explained Matrimony, Virginity, The Religious State and The Priesthood   By: Anonymous

MATRIMONY, VIRGINITY, THE RELIGIOUS STATE, AND THE PRIESTHOOD.

BY A VINCENTIAN FATHER.

AN ABRIDGMENT OF "QUESTIONS ON VOCATIONS" APPROVED BY CARDINAL GIBBONS AND CARDINAL SATOLLI.

Published with the permission of the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission.

NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO: BENZINGER BROTHERS, Printers to the Holy Apostolic See.

"Vocations Explained"

is a compendium of "Questions on Vocations," a catechism approved by His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons; His Eminence Cardinal Satolli; by five Archbishops and twenty two Bishops; also by numerous priests and religious Brothers and Sisters.

Nihil Obatat THOS. L. KINKEAD, Censor Librorum.

Imprimatur MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York.

NEW YORK, March 2, 1897.

COPYRIGHT, 1897, BY BENZIGER BROTHERS.

CONTENTS.

I. DEFINITION. EVERY PERSON HAS SOME SPECIAL VOCATION II. NECESSITY OF FOLLOWING A VOCATION III. MATRIMONY IS IT A VOCATION? IV. MIXED MARRIAGES V. VIRGINITY VI. THE THREE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS 1. Poverty 2. Perpetual Chastity 3. Obedience VII. THE RELIGIOUS STATE VIII. MARKS OF A VOCATION TO THE RELIGIOUS STATE IX. DOUBTS ABOUT A VOCATION TO THE RELIGIOUS STATE X. ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO ENTER THE RELIGIOUS STATE XI. MEANS OF PRESERVING A VOCATION TO THE RELIGIOUS STATE. SOME OBSTACLES XII. CHILDREN AND THE RELIGIOUS STATE XIII. DUTY OF PARENTS REGARDING THE RELIGIOUS VOCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN XIV. VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD XV. DO VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD COME DIRECTLY FROM GOD XVI. FOSTERING VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD XVII. PREVENTING VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD XVIII. MEANS OF KNOWING OUR VOCATION 1. Prayer 2. Freedom from Sin 3. Humility 4. Retreat 5. Counsel Prayer of St. Bernard

VOCATIONS EXPLAINED.

CHAPTER I.

DEFINITION. EVERY PERSON HAS SOME SPECIAL VOCATION.

Q. What is a vocation?

A. A call from God to some state of life.

Q. Which are the principal states of life?

A. Matrimony, virginity, the religious state, and the priesthood.

Q. Has every person a vocation?

A. Yes; God gives a special vocation to each person.

Q. How is this doctrine proved?

A. St. Paul says: "Every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that. . . . As the Lord hath distributed to every one , as God hath called every one , so let him walk." []

[] The references are given in the larger catechism entitled "Questions on Vocations."

Q. Is it not beneath God's notice to give a particular vocation to each person?

A. Not at all; for even the birds of the air are objects of the providence of God: "Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. "

Q. What do Father Faber and St. Alphonsus say on this subject?

A. Father Faber says: "Every man has a distinct vocation." St. Alphonsus says: "We must embrace that state to which God calls us ."

Q. What does St. Augustine teach concerning special vocations?

A. St. Augustine says: "He who does little, but in a state to which God calls him, does more than he who labors much, but in a state which he has thoughtlessly chosen: a cripple limping in the right way is better than a racer out of it."

CHAPTER II.

NECESSITY OF FOLLOWING A VOCATION.

Q. Are we obliged to follow the vocation which God gives us?

A. Yes; if we should wilfully neglect to follow our vocation we would be in danger of losing our souls.

Q. Why so?