By James Tarbox

Last in a series

“Above all, God wants us to be happy with the vocation that He chooses for us.”

The words are, once again, those of Monsignor Jerry Hardy. In this, the last of our series on vocations, it seems appropriate that we return to the topic areas of choices – ours and God’s.

“A vocation to the priesthood or the religious life is an individual response to a call from the Spirit.” That quote, taken from a contemporary Catholic spiritual guide, sums up not just vocations of a religious nature, but vocations to all other walks of life as well. There is one big difference – a man considering a religious vocation has plenty of time and plenty of help to think about it.

“When I was in the seminary, “ Archbishop Thomas Donnellan commented, “one of my friends said that if he had not been in the seminary he would have been married by now. That is one thing the church offers – time. The process is long enough for plenty of time and reflection, no one makes hasty decisions.”

The current course of study for the priesthood consists of at least four post graduate years of theological training. “Many young men are opting for four years of college at a non-seminary university. However the college seminary is still a viable institution,” according to Father Richard Lopez, the Vocations Director for the archdiocese.

Those who complete their undergraduate studies at a secular university frequently have to do a special year of study in philosophy to qualify for post graduate theological training.

“The seminary is not just an academic institution, nor is it a monastery where the day is spent in prayer,” said Father Lopez. “The seminary is an institution devoted to developing young men for the priesthood. It must develop the total man – all the aspects that will contribute to his priesthood.”

Like any other educational institution, the seminary is a growth experience for young men who attend one. “Many fellows look at the seminary as a step by step process, a place where they go to learn about themselves, God, and their vocation,” said Father Lopez. “It’s not just a place to go to prepare for ordination, that is years down the road – it seems – many go to find out whether that is a possibility for them or not.”

Over the course of the last few weeks we’ve talked about the need to be aware of our universal need to become vocational people, the influences individual priests can make in the lives of young men considering a way of life, and the continual need to pray. In closing let’s just, for a moment, reflect on Monsignor Hardy’s comments about happiness.

If we, as Christians, are to be happy, we can only do it by becoming more like Jesus, by becoming one with Him. He promised His peace to those who follow Him and keep His word.

He calls us all to some special service, some particular way of life; the peace and happiness that He promises comes when we make every effort to find that way of life, that vocation. It is something special for all of us, it is something that we all must look for. The Church will help, but only to the extent that we will let it.

We must be open to the call, we must be a “vocational people.”