THE VOCATION OF MAN
What is the vocation
of man? What and who are we called to be? (CCC 1691-1717)
We were created in
the image and likeness of God, which gives us a special and
unparalleled dignity among creatures. We are called to union and
friendship with God, a sharing in His very life. We are drawn
naturally toward the good and love. When we act in goodness
and in love, we are fulfilling our natural vocation; we are
being what we were created to be. Because we still bear the
marks of original sin (concupiscence), our entire lives are a
battle between doing the good we were made for and are called to
and doing the evil with which we are constantly tempted. Since
we were created for good and for love, we only find our
fulfillment and happiness when we choose goodness and love in
all things.
Does God want us to
be happy? (CCC 1718-1724)
Yes. Every man has a
natural and deep desire to be happy. Our desires were given to
us by God. Therefore, this desire to be happy was also given to
us by God. Therefore, if God is truly good as we profess Him to
be, then He must be able to fulfill this deep and unending
desire in us. From experience, we all know that nothing and no
one on earth has the capability to make us perfectly happy. We
often believe something or someone has this power, but as soon
as we attain the thing or person, we realize that though it
brings some pleasure or happiness, it does not fully quench our
insatiable desire for perfect happiness. As well, even a very
great happiness always comes to an end. In fact, if we just take
a moment to reflect, we can see that our desire for happiness is
infinitely deep – we want perfect happiness without end.
No finite thing can satisfy this desire. What does this
tell us? It tells us that only an Infinite Being has the
capability to completely fill our desire for infinite and
unending happiness. Therefore, yes, God created us to be (and
wants us always to be) perfectly happy. But He also tells us and
wants us to realize that only He can satisfy this desire
in us. If we search for the happiness we all legitimately long
for in created things, we will only be left empty and grasping
for more. We only find our rest in the Lord. As St. Augustine so
eloquently states, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and
our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
Are all people meant to become holy and perfect, or are
only the Saints meant to be holy? (CCC 2012-2016)
“All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to
the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity”
(Lumen gentium 40). All are called to holiness: “Be
perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). The
Saints accepted the call of God to perfection, and they accepted
the graces that made them holy. The graces to make us perfect
and holy are available to all – it is our choice whether to
accept them or not.
Heaven is free of sin, and we will not arrive there until we
are perfect. We can be perfected on earth, or in Purgatory if we
die in the state of grace but not fully perfected.
The call of Christ to be perfect is not in our reach, but it
is within God’s. The ability to make perfect our weak and
resistive human nature is truly miraculous. But it is within His
power to bring about this great work of sanctification, even
despite our constant failings and refusals of His graces. The
words of Jesus are not be watered down, but to be trusted. He
can make it happen.
We must also prepare ourselves to
accept the crosses and sufferings that this work of
sanctification entails. It is a difficult road, but one that is
possible with constant reliance on His grace. Love will triumph
in us if we believe in it.
