Congratulations to the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Herold!

Jim and Tracy got married this past Saturday and it was an affirmation for me of the true vocation for ALL people – what the Second Vatican Council calls the “universal call to holiness”. From the love that poured out of their smiles to the “I do’s”. From the joy they shared with everyone, to the significance of them distributing Eucharist to everyone. Lumen Gentium says that ” in the Church, everyone whether belonging to the hierarchy, or being cared for by it, is called to holiness” (LG, 39). And nobody can deny the holiness present in Jim and Tracy’s marriage. If you want proof of it just click here!

Lumen Gentium says that “this holiness of the Church is unceasingly manifested, and must be manifested, in the fruits of grace which the Spirit produces in the faithful; it is expressed in many ways in individuals, who in their walk of life, tend toward the perfection of charity” (LG, 39). This is exactly the approach we must take in pursuit of vocations!

In this article on his approach to promoting vocations, Fr. Christopher Jamison, head of the Office for Vocations of England and Wales, says:

“We’ve shifted from asking ‘would you like to become a priest?’ to asking, ‘what kind of person would you like to be and what would you like to do in life?’.”

In other words, Fr. Christopher moves ”from recruitment to discernment”. This is the approach to vocations the Church must take today! In an age where we recognize the call to holiness present in all paths of life (married, single, religious, young adult, youth, parents, divorced, widowed, homeless, migrant, etc.) what exactly does it mean when we “pray for more vocations” during Mass? Why is the vocations office only geared towards religious vocations? Why does “discernment” usually connote “considering being a priest or a sister”?

As Christians that are called to holiness, it is the responsibility of us all to properly discern and ask ourselves the question Fr. Christopher is asking - “what kind of person would you like to be and what would you like to do in life?” If we truthfully ask ourselves this question with our “universal call to holiness” in mind, we can ALL claim responsibility for the holiness of the Church and the way in which we manifest holiness in our individual lives! This is not to downplay the holiness of priesthood or religious life, but rather to uplift the call to holiness for all of the faithful! Should we take this approach, not only would we have an increase in those entering religious life, but also an increase in faithful marriages, Christ-centered families, holy lay ecclesial ministers, and a more relevant Church in the 21st century!

Thank you Jim and Tracy Herold for reminding me of how truly holy we are all called to be – may God bless your marriage for the rest of your lives! May we ask the Blessed Virgin Mary for her intercession on this Solemnity of her Assumption.

May we always strive towards the perfection of charity in our own lives.

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Dennis Pangindian

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