Christian Vocation on Marriage and act of giving the gift of life to the American Bible (Revised

Family Life human being. Edition)

Module 1 (Call to Life and Holiness) Conclusions: Eden

• A term derived from the
(1) By forming man out of the dust Sumerian word eden
“Vocation” (means fertile plain)
• (latin verb voco, -as,-are) literally God gives the human being a • A similar-sounding
means to call physical (human) body. Hebrew word means
• As a noun: call or calling. “delight” which may lie
• In the context of the lesson: use the (2) The Hebrew word adam behind the Greek
word as a summon (an actually means human being translation (of Eden) as a
authoritative call on someone to be and not an individual human paradise or pleasure
present) person named Adam. park.
• Note: the garden was not
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (3) God must breathe into the intended as a paradise
human being’s nostrils so that for the human race, but
Genesis 2:7 God is portrayed as a potter – the human being can live or as a pleasure park for
He molds the human body out of earth. come to life. God and the human
being tended it for God.
(1) The play of words in Hebrew Where we begin to apply the
between “adam” (human being, word “vocation” as a summon. Human race’s active presence in this
man) and “adama” (ground) world must be able to “delight” or “give
As God breathes into the pleasure” to God.
Meaning: The Hebrew adam is not a human being’s nostrils the
name (of the first man) rather a breath of life, God calls the First step in tending our life and this
generic term for the human being. human being to life; thus a world that God may “delight” or be pleased
human being is not just called with it and with us: be grateful for and
(2) It is not enough to make the body to be an existing human body appreciative of everything God gave us.
from earth. but is called to be actively
present in the world. • No one tends something one is not
God has to breathe into the man’s grateful for or something one does
nostrils that he may come to life – Actively Present – significance not appreciate.
this act of breathing into a man’s with Genesis 2:8: according to • When one is grateful of and
nostrils the breath of life is God’s the commentary of the New appreciate something, one
cherishes or values it.
 • Things cherished and valued are we attain our fullness as a human
taken much care of. being/person.
• When out of being grateful and • In common parlance – becoming
appreciative of what God gave us, the “better” if not the best version
we cherish, value, and take care of of oneself (Matthew Kelly)
all of them, God will certainly be
most pleased with what He has “How should we be able to forget those
Four States of Life:
given us and with what we have ancient myths that are at the beginning of
done to them. all peoples, the myths about dragons that
Single Life:
at the last moment turn into princesses;
• believes that remaining single is the
Topic 2: Universal/Primary Vocation: perhaps all the dragons of our lives are
true and right way to faithfully live
Holiness/Wholeness/Fullness princesses who are only waiting to see us
one’s Christian call
once beautiful and brave. Perhaps
• have a greater freedom to devote
Primary/Universal Vocation everything terrible is in its deepest being
their time and energy in the service
• Universal call to something helpless that wants help from
of others
holiness/wholeness/fullness us.
• it might be easier for them to go on
So you must not be frightened if a sadness voluntary missions or outreach
Call to be a “saint” – what everyone
rises up before you larger than any you programs
is destined to become.
have ever seen; if a restiveness, like light • they may also serve their parish in
• Universal call – it is for all, for
and cloudshadows, passes over your diberent ways
everyone.
• To holiness – towards the hands and over all you do. You must think
that something is happening with you, that Married Life:
development of virtues or good
life has not forgotten you, that it holds you • be faithful in loving one’s spouse
habits.
in its hand; it will not let you fall. – Rainer • share a life of self-giving, love-
• To wholeness – towards the holistic
Maria R giving and life-giving with both their
development of a person
spouse and their obspring
development & growth in all
Module 2 (Second and Third Sense of • commit in helping each other grow
aspects of life (physical,
emotional, social, intellectual, Vocation) and mature in their human and
moral, spiritual) Christian life
• To fullness – towards the full Topic1: Four States of Life • endeavor to build a home and
development of all our potentials instruct their children in Christian
(talents & abilities) second sense of vocation: the more stable faith and values
• In liberation theology – call toward call to one of the four states of life: priestly, • in their fidelity to one another and
single, married, religious. their family they become witnesses
the full humanization of life – how
of Christ to the world
Religious Life: (may be a priest, a brother • witnesses to the Gospel--brings may require not only a daily but an every-
or a nun) God to the people and brings the moment questioning of ourselves about
• commits one’s life to the charism of people closer to God. God’s will for us and our life.
one’s religious order
• shares the life and mission of the Four States of Life Spiritual counselors lays down at least
religious community one enters • each vocation: lives a life of faith & three things that can help us discern—
and belongs to prayer to continually grow in one’s hear God’s call & understand His will.
• embraces the call to poverty, relationship with God (path to
chastity and obedience holiness) • First among them is prayer, which
• nurtures one’s call through a life of • is equal: one is not better or less involves fervently and humbly
celibacy, faith, prayer and service than the other asking for God’s guidance.
• may serve in such areas as • since God calls us to a particular • The second is to consider our gifts
education, health care, parish vocation—whether marriage, & talents, which involves asking
and/or youth ministry, aged care, priesthood, religious life or single why God gave us such blessings.
spiritual and/or pastoral ministry, life—that vocation is the best one • Third is to consider the service we
social work, among the poor, or for us, the one that 'fits' us best & could lend, which involves asking
simply as a contemplative makes us a happier person what we can do for our fellow
• may engage or serve as • it is not easy to discern to which human beings and the world in
missionaries in other countries or state of life we are called... general.
cultures
3 things that can help us discern—hear Topic 2: Third Sense of Vocation
Priestly Life: Gods call & understand His will:
• obers one’s life in total service to • prayer: humbly asking God’s Third sense of vocation – the constantly
the Church guidance changing immediate tasks/mission God is
• embraces the gift of celibacy and • considering our gifts & talents: calling a person at the moment.
commits to life of prayer to grow in, asking God & ourselves why we
safeguard and strengthen one’s were given those
vocation • considering the service we could
• dedicates oneself in studying the lend: asking what we can do for
Good News so that he may well others and the world
preach it
• teaches the faith and ministers the Discernment is the constant ebort to hear
sacraments God and find out where he is calling us to.
• builds the local faith community We need to emphasize here that it is a
constant ebort—it is not what we call
today as a “one-time big-time” thing. It
Importance of Four Temperaments to (saints: St. Paul, St. Jerome, St. Francis de • usually tranquil, full of common
Catholics/Christians: Sales) sense, assiduous & almost
immune to anger
In marriage: Melancholic people: (saints: St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope St. John
• crucial for spouses: know & • struggles with being critical, moody XXIII)
understand each other’s & despondent
temperaments support each other • needs God’s grace to cultivate Note:
in the journey to holiness joyful acceptance, selflessness & each temperament is a blessing—it takes
hope all kinds to run the world just as distinct
In our Christian life (or humanization): • usually compassionate, long- diberences between man & woman
• knowing & understanding the four subering, pious & contemplative dovetail & complement each other, the
temperaments help us understand unified interaction & charity between all
other people, become patient & (saints: St. John the Apostle, St. Therese of four temperaments is a powerful thing.
loving to them Lisieux, St. Bernard of Clairvaux)
• gives: clearer view of other people’s • Loving God engages the totality of
struggles, challenges & battles Sanguine people: our persons (smallest of our
• good Christian: strives to • struggles with superficiality, lust & desires, intentions & actions)
familiarize oneself with the lack of perseverance
temperaments & let such • needs God’s grace to cultivate o every act of Jesus Christ was
knowledge teach oneself charity purity, interior depth & strength, & God’s (for God)
• one’s temperament: crucial in perseverance o every act of our lives should
one’s spiritual life (path to • usually cheerful, generous, sincere be for God’s glory
holiness/humanization) & sensitive to the subering of o St. Therese of Lisieux: doing
• with a certain temperament, one • others ordinary things with
will tend to commit certain sins yet (saints: St. Theresa of Avila, St. Francis extraordinary love
possess certain virtues that gives Xavier) • 4 Temperaments: each has
one the strength to seek God strengths & weaknesses
Phlegmatic people:
Choleric people: • struggles with wrong things just to o because of our weaknesses,
• struggles with anger, pride & please others, laziness, & ability to we would have our own daily
impatience confront or take initiative struggles and challenges to
• needs God’s grace to cultivate • needs God’s grace to cultivate conquer (each one is or may
gentleness, humility & patience fortitude, holy ambition & strength be going through something
• would usually have a strong will, of will each day)
great constancy & energy for o conscious of our own and
carrying our one’s tasks other’s weaknesses must
lead us to compassion for
ourselves and others