Consecrated life is a call to holiness

The Feast of Saint Francis de Sales Jan. 24 inspired me to reflect on my vocation, especially as we celebrate World Day of Consecrated Life. 

Simply put, we all have a vocation. We all discern how and where the Lord is calling us in life. For the Christian, it is a two-step process. Is the Lord calling me to the single life, married life, or to the priesthood or religious life as a priest, brother or sister in a particular religious order (consecrated life)? The second step is what am I called to do in that state in life? Am I called to be a teacher, laborer, health care provider, minister in the Church, teacher, butcher, field worker, service care provider, or a stay-at-home dad or mom?

 Saint Francis de Sales was unequivocal in his belief in a universal call to holiness for all, a concept not fully emphasized until the Second Vatican Council. He believed this universal call was achieved by being faithful to our state in life, for it is here that the Lord wants us to achieve our happiness and perfection. This means being attentive to the daily tasks of our vocation. Yes, we could spend an entire day praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament, but if this means neglecting our spouse, children, others who depend on us, Saint Francis would not deem this as an inspiration from our Lord but rather an abdication of our duties and responsibilities. 

This call to holiness centers on doing the will of God for the world today. It is willing the one thing or the same thing all the time: God’s will. It demands daily discernment on how that is to be achieved. Sometimes the Lord may be asking us to repair a relationship, to be more patient with someone, to spend more time in prayer, to take better care of ourselves or to find more time for relaxation. There are times when this will come at the request of another  For those in religious life, we believe that the Lord often speaks to us through our religious superiors who may ask us to move to a different ministry or position.

 For many, the call to holiness is best practiced and achieved by answering the call to love, to share and to serve as a professed sister, brother or priest in a religious order. This is best done by living the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience in community, sharing “all things in common” like the first Christian community described in the Acts of the Apostles.

Each religious congregation has a unique and special charism or gift of the Holy Spirit that it offers to its members and the good of the Church. This unique charism was necessary for the various religious orders to gain approbation or acceptance by Rome, coupled with a call to serve in the foreign missions as well. Charisms vary from the education of the poor, to service in health care or prison ministry, to an emphasis on hospitality. Some may focus on preaching, others on poverty, while still others stress social justice. Most religious orders offer the spirituality of their founder or founders. Clarity on mission is central.

In a religious order, the same charism is disseminated by its members in various apostolates such as parish ministry, chaplaincy work in hospitals or with police and firemen, Catholic education, spiritual direction, inner-city ministry, to name just a few. We are enriched by those we serve, as they teach us to be faithful, holy and open to God’s continuous love and mercy. They challenge us as Saint Francis de Sales would exhort, “to be who we are and to be that perfectly well so as to give honor to the Master Craftsman, whose handiwork we are.”

Vowed religious preach the same gospel as diocesan priests and the laity but paint it with a different brush, if you will, with the charism or spirituality of their religious order that is strengthened by living a shared common life with a specific “rule” that governs each religious order to best fulfill their personal call to holiness and perfection. 

In the Diocese of Camden, there are 40 different religious orders, both men and women, infusing their spirituality onto the Gospel. These diverse orders form a “concert of charisms” enriching God’s people by helping to build the Kingdom of God here on Earth. The various charisms give witness to the wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost continues! Most religious were encouraged by others who suggested that they would make a good sister, brother or priest. Let us encourage others to answer the same call. Don’t be afraid to ask. And to those hearing the call, don’t be afraid to answer.

Father John Fisher, OSFS, is rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden.