Vocation and Building a Culture of Life

8/8/2019 Vocation and Building a Culture of Life

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Vocation and Building

a culture of LifeVocations Group, Hinsley Hall,

Westminster Cathedral, 22nd October 2010


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Mother Angelica Laments at What

could have been


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St Catherine ofSiena

St Catherine ofSiena said, If you are who you

really should be, you would set the whole

world ablaze.

Jesus said, I have come to bring fire to the

earth, and how I wish it were blazing already!

(Luke 12:49).


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Saints? What are they?

The silence at Southampton Football

Ground on All Saints Day


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Quotes from the Sound ofMusic

To find the will of God and to do it wholeheartedly.

The Lord will show you in his own good time.

When the Lord closes a door somewhere he opens a

window. I am seeking the courage I lack.

Pace my mistakes with defiance.

I have confidence in confidence alone.

Ill do better than my best.

You have to live the life you were born to live.

There is nothing more irresistible than a woman inlove with him.


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The Sound ofMusic

The sound of music shows how a young womandiscovers her vocation in life by exploration andopen mindedness, honesty and passion.Optimism combined with humility helps us todiscover the paths that God intended us to walkin this world. We cannot hide from the world, orourselves, but must climb every mountain todiscover what God has intended. Yet we must

also make the commitments at the right times,not lose hope at times when hope is pitchedagainst hope and live the life that we weresupposed to live.


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Newman on Vocation

God has created me to do him some definite

service; he has committed some work to mewhich he has not committed to another. I have

my mission I may never know it in this life,

but I shall be told it in the next

Wrote hymn- Lead kindly light.


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Would God use me?

Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the

people I cannot change, the courage to

change the ones I can, and the wisdom to

know the difference. Next time you feel like

God can't use you remember:

Noah was a drunk

Abraham was too old

Isaac was a daydreamer

Jacob was a liar

Leah was ugly

Joseph was abusedMoses had a stuttering problem

Gideon was afraid

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer

Rahab was a prostitute

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young

David had an affair and was an adulterer

Elijah was suicidal

Isaiah preached naked

Jonah ran from God

Noami was a widow

Job was bankrupt

John the Baptist ate bugs

Peter denied Christ

The Disciples fell asleep praying

Martha worried about everything

The Samaritan woman was divorced, more

than once

Zaccheus was too small

Paul was too religiousTimothy had an ulcer

Lazarus was dead

No more excuses. God can use you to full

potential. Just remember, you aren't the

message but the messenger.


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Be not afraid- Fear paralyses

a vocation Fear paralyses a vocation never to be tested

Eg. Fear of others, thoughts of others, commitment, sacrifice, totalself gift, -prevents the discovery of self to be made. And ourcapacity to say yes. Prevents the development of a vocation.

The disciples response to their calling, Simon, Andrew, James, John,was Immediate- ours can involve more hesitation and waitingaround.

Gregory ofNyssa Consider our Royal dignity! Not even the heavensare made in the royal dignity you have.

Priesthood is not a career choice but the response to a call. Priests

are called to be servants and shepherds, like the good Shepard, toguide and lead the community in service.

Love is a decision commitment and perverseverance foster thatcalling.


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Vocations throughout Salvation History Abraham Gods asks Abraham to put aside

everything and promises him great things. AsAbraham set off, he embarked on a journey that heknew virtually nothing about, anything could havehappened. He was called to embark on a new wayin life which would bring great reward. Abrahamonce again is called to put his trust in God whenthe Lord asks him to sacrifice his son.

Samuel takes a while to realise that the Lord iscalling and is helped by Eli. God calls him 3 timesand young Samuel thinks that Eli was calling him.

Peter makes mistakes, lies about knowledge ofJesus

Mary is scared at first of God messengers.

God guides men, yet leads them free to act. Goddoes the calling, we do the responding.

It is not a sin to not to respond to a vocation.


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What should I be?

Everyone is called to a vocation: a place or state of life inwhich God wishes a person to work. To know one'sparticular vocation is often difficult. One's goodinclinations, the opportunities of the moment, the needsof the Church and society, one's talents andaccomplishments - these and many other factors may be

indications from God of a vocation. Only with prayer forlight and with good spiritual direction can the decisionabout one's vocation be made prudently.

For a certainty God calls you, and calls strongly. Withhindsight your life's work will seem obvious. Enjoy yoursearching. Do not be frustrated or hurried. Be aware thatyour calling will often include suffering and personal loss;all life does. Be courageous. Renew your vocation withthanks in prayer every day. Imitate Pope John Paul II towhom the looking for, revealing and the living of hisvocation was a blossoming love affair with God. Like himfind your joy and sustenance in the Eucharist; it doesreside there.


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Theology of the body: a key component of the

new evangelization

The future of the family passes by way for the family. The renewal ofChristian life can only come about through the renewal of Christian life.Pope John Paul's theology of the body provides the antidote to theculture of death. It is a theological foundation for the newevangelisation. As a fresh theological proposal, it compellingdemonstrates to the world the full truth of God's plan for the body andsexuality. Far from being prudish or repressive, it brings a liberating andredeeming ethos, that corresponds deeply with the desires of thehuman heart. The theology of the body is not just about sex and

marriage but demonstrates truth and existence that has ramificationsfor all of theology. It challenges us to think of sexuality which speaks ofthe divine. Cardinal Angelo Scola has said that virtually every thesis intheology can been seen in a new light by the rich personalism that isimplied in the Theology of the body. Few theologians have taken up thisproposal. The Church has barely begun to unpack and develop thistheology. It can be applied to all areas of the Church's realm. Few priestspreach on such themes, but theology of the body has over 1000 Biblicalreferences. One can take any Sunday reading which is related to the

message of theology of the body. Yet there are a microscopic percentageof Catholics who know about the theology of the body.


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Why study theology of the body?

What it means to be a human person

A beautiful teaching about love and life

The original beauty of Gods plan for humanity and its application towardsour lives.An understanding of the beauty and goodness of the bodyA positivemessage of the gift of sexualityUnderstanding the relationships between loveand sex and the difference between love and lust.Hope and redemption in

Christ.What the Church teaches about sexual morality.Train in faithfulness,building marriages for the future.Help to discern your vocation and calling inlife.What Gods purpose is for the body.A clear understanding aboutchastity.Learn about faith and what God has planned for your lives. New foundhope about faith and life.


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Purity is possible

Call to love deeply embedded with us.

Our bodies designed as a gift for others. Theyspeak a language.

Our hearts are a battlefield between love andlust.

Living a pure life brings freedom, happiness,respect, self esteem and greater fulfillment later

in life. Cardinal Newman said, Purity prepares the soul

for love, and love confirms the soul in purity.


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Campaign Components

Prayer and Fasting inviting people of faiththroughout our city and across the country to jointogether for 40 days for fervent prayer andfasting for an end to abortion.

Peaceful vigil- standing for life through a 40 daypeaceful public witness outside the local MarieStopes

Community Outreach: taking a positive, upbeatpro-life message to every corner of our citythrough media efforts, church and schooloutreach, petition drives and public visibility.


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The Solution

Our culture has turned away from God. This couldbe a chance for despair, but Scripture reminds

us.If my people, who are called by my name, will

humble themselves and pray and seek my face and

turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from

heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal theirland.

- 2 Chronicles 7:14


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What is Grace?

Grace is a participation in Gods inner life,which is greater than all the miracles.(F.Fernandez, In conversation with God,

v4,p609). Free an undeserved help that God gives us to

participate in the life of God. (CCC 1996-7)

Goodness of one grace is greater than thenatural goodness of the entire universe. (StThomas Aquinas, Summa, 1-2, q. 113, a. 9).

Vocation and Building a Culture of Life

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