Hearing the Call Today
by Sr. Ann Stango, S.C.
Bible history records the fact that each prophet heard a call from God, and seemed to know what he must do. Some of them, like Jonah, for instance, didn’t like the task he was given. And others, like Jeremiah, knowing exactly what God wanted from them, tried to back out. But in the end they did their job and God rewarded them with immortality through these many centuries. Jesus also heard God’s call and began His ministry. Then Jesus called his friends to follow Him. No one was forced; each had his own gifts, and responsibilities. Many said “yes,” and some said “no.”
The important thing here is that the prophets, Jesus, and his apostles heard the call. Maybe it was easier for them than with us. The call seemed to be clear, and neither Jesus nor the prophets or apostles took long to answer. It seems to me that over the years, many people heard the call, but took longer and longer to make up their minds to begin looking into following Jesus more closely. This is true even today for the basic call to Baptism. Parents take longer to baptize their babies, and older adults think long and hard before entering the Church.
Full-time workers needed
Since Vatican II the Church has called lay people to take their rightful roles in many aspects of Church life, and many have responded with enthusiasm and generosity. But today the Catholic Church needs more people to dedicate themselves fully to doing the work of the ministry. Traditionally, these people have been the bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters. In today’s language, we might say they found a life-long career in the Church.
The Catholic Church has grown through the grace of the Spirit dwelling within each of its members. From that perspective, why aren’t more of our members looking for full-time ministries as priests, brothers or sisters? Where is the call? Is it possible that Jesus through His Spirit is not calling many to follow Him full- time in Church ministry? I don’t think so.
The call comes at any time. One needs to hear it, pay attention to it, not be afraid of it and take the next step. Responding to a call takes some courage, even to begin to think about what it means to be a priest, brother or sister. A person can become fearful because it involves change, and change entails leaving the familiar and embracing a new way of living.
But it can’t be any scarier than thinking about getting married for life, can it? Don’t people always seem to be trying to “fix-up” men and women they think are good for each other and for marriage? We even see television ads offering to match up people! Where are the “fixer-uppers” in the Church who can identify those who would fit well as a priest, brother or sister?
Support people needed
The call needs encouragement. That’s true for successful people both in and out of religious life. Shortly before he died, The late Tim Russert wrote about his still-living fifth grade teacher, a Sister of St. Joseph, who started him out in his vocation to be the admirable political commentator and author that he became. More recently, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, mentioned another religious sister, able to be present at his installation, who had wonderfully influenced his life.
Who are the supports that Divine Providence puts in the life of each of us to guide us through our development stages? Who are those who encourage a vocation in Ministry? Parents, teachers, relatives, priests, sisters, brothers, friends, even acquaintances can say to someone, “I think you’d make a good priest,” or religious sister or brother, as the case may be. There’s no harm putting that good thought into the consciousness of a person, and the younger, the better! Placing another option for a life’s ministry might be exactly what that person needed. But age need not be a factor.
“I came when called!”
We know that today many people have second and sometimes third careers. Why not think of the priesthood or religious life? Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was a widow, and look what she accomplished, — taking five kids with her!
I remember being with a group of well-wishers with a newly ordained priest who was as middle-aged as I was at the time. Someone in the group remarked that he was a “delayed vocation” (a term meant for men over thirty who had decided to study for the priesthood). To which the priest quickly responded: he hadn’t delayed! “I came when I was called!”
So, back to my original question, “Where is the call today?”
I think it’s where it always has been – within each of us. In the quiet of reflection on the Spirit of God within us through Baptism and the Eucharist, God does make known to us his call — first to perfection, to lead a holy life. Then, through a series of attractions and qualities and experiences and urgings from others, we find ourselves looking at possibilities for a married, single, priestly, or vowed religious life. Many Catholics, even those not in Church ministry, but still feel they have a vocation, a call to their life’s work, a career, can usually remember fairly well when they recognized this call, and how long it took them to respond!
Wanted — and Needed?
We all want to feel needed and wanted. But I am convinced that some people are going where they are wanted, though not necessarily needed. This damages the desire to contribute to a cause greater than ourselves, and tempts us to adjust to mediocrity because challenges to overcome odds are not available.
I am also convinced, however, that people who have a genuine religious vocation need to be attached to something greater than themselves. They need the challenges that working for the Lord provides. They not only want to be wanted. They want to be needed, too. And the Church wants and needs these generous people. Priesthood wants and needs them. Religious Life wants and needs them. You know who they are. (You may be one of them!) Tell them you think they’d make a good priest or sister or brother. Ask them to think and pray about it. You make the call. Pray that they hear it. If they do, fix them up with us!
Sr. Ann Stango, SC is a member of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, New Jersey. She currently serves as an education specialist in ethics and spirituality in Catholic hospital ministry.
