Vocation

Vocation

Every Christian is called by God to life within the Church: “Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). One’s vocation is thus both personal and corporate: “To each is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). It is the vocation of the whole Body to be obedient to Christ, the head of the Body, and thus to carry on his mission and message of salvation offered to all people, loving others with his love. The vocation of the individual Christian will participate in the vocation of the Church, but will have its own unique embodiment of it.

One’s call is discerned and lived out in relationship to Christ both in his sovereignty and in the Church as his body. We may be assisted in this by developing close relationships with other Christians. Additionally, we are assisted by the grace given in the Sacraments, prayer, and study; of special note is the benefits from reading lives of the saints, in whom we see how various vocations have been fulfilled (see Lives of the saints - exemplars of Christian life).

Many vocations are expressed simply by living out our relationships in the world as Christians: for example, there are vocations implicit in the role of being a husband or wife, a father or mother, or the child of aging parents. Others involve approaching our work in the world through the Spirit’s power: God may gift and lead an individual to be a doctor, or a gardener, or a homemaker, or a software programmer, or an engineer, and to engage that work in a way that expresses his desire for the redemption and restoration of the world. Still others may involve particular roles in the life of the Church: deacon or priest or bishop, monastic or other such consecrated life, or specific lay ministries such as catechist or lay reader or intercessor or parish administrator. For many, their calling will not always have a specific title or job-description, but will be the intentional using of the gifts each has been given, as an act of love for God and neighbor.

Ascetical Theology

a. Prayer life and spirituality of minister b. Understanding of Spiritual Disciplines c. Spiritual Direction d. Rule of Life e. Daily Office f. Monasticism & its role in the development of our liturgy g. Missional applications of ascetical theology h. Monasticism and mission i. Mystical & Contemplative Spirituality j. Tools for Prayer and Scripture Reading k. Vocation l. Discernment m. Gifts & Fruit of the Spirit n. Stewardship