This Day, then, is always a good occasion to recall with gratitude to the Lord the faithful, persevering and frequently hidden efforts of all those who have responded to a call that embraces their entire existence. I think of mothers and fathers who do not think first of themselves or follow fleeting fads of the moment, but shape their lives through relationships marked by love and graciousness, openness to the gift of life and commitment to their children and their growth in maturity. I think of all those who carry out their work in a spirit of cooperation with others, and those who strive in various ways to build a more just world, a more solidary economy, a more equitable social policy and a more humane society. In a word, of all those men and women of good will who devote their lives to working for the common good. I think too of all those consecrated men and women who offer their lives to the Lord in the silence of prayer and in apostolic activity, sometimes on the fringes of society, tirelessly and creatively exercising their charism by serving those around them. And I think of all those who have accepted God’s call to the ordained priesthood, devoting themselves to the preaching of the Gospel, breaking open their own lives, together with the bread of the Eucharist, for their brothers and sisters, sowing seeds of hope and revealing to all the beauty of God’s kingdom.

Excerpt from “Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 2024 World Day of Vocations”

Llamados a sembrar la esperanza y a construir la paz

Queridos hermanos y hermanas:

Cada año la Jornada Mundial de Oración por las Vocaciones nos invita a considerar el precioso don de la llamada que el Señor nos dirige a cada uno de nosotros, su pueblo fiel en camino, para que podamos ser partícipes de su proyecto de amor y encarnar la belleza del Evangelio en los diversos estados de vida. Escuchar la llamada divina, lejos de ser un deber impuesto desde afuera, incluso en nombre de un ideal religioso, es, en cambio, el modo más seguro que tenemos para alimentar el deseo de felicidad que llevamos dentro. Nuestra vida se realiza y llega a su plenitud cuando descubrimos quiénes somos, cuáles son nuestras cualidades, en qué ámbitos podemos hacerlas fructificar, qué camino podemos recorrer para convertirnos en signos e instrumentos de amor, de acogida, de belleza y de paz, en los contextos donde cada uno vive.

Por eso, esta Jornada es siempre una hermosa ocasión para recordar con gratitud ante el Señor el compromiso fiel, cotidiano y a menudo escondido de aquellos que han abrazado una llamada que implica toda su vida. Pienso en las madres y en los padres que no anteponen sus propios intereses y no se dejan llevar por la corriente de un estilo superficial, sino que orientan su existencia, con amor y gratuidad, hacia el cuidado de las relaciones, abriéndose al don de la vida y poniéndose al servicio de los hijos y de su crecimiento. Pienso en los que llevan adelante su trabajo con entrega y espíritu de colaboración; en los que se comprometen, en diversos ámbitos y de distintas maneras, a construir un mundo más justo, una economía más solidaria, una política más equitativa, una sociedad más humana; en todos los hombres y las mujeres de buena voluntad que se desgastan por el bien común. Pienso en las personas consagradas, que ofrecen la propia existencia al Señor tanto en el silencio de la oración como en la acción apostólica, a veces en lugares de frontera y exclusión, sin escatimar energías, llevando adelante su carisma con creatividad y poniéndolo a disposición de aquellos que encuentran. Y pienso en quienes han acogido la llamada al sacerdocio ordenado y se dedican al anuncio del Evangelio, y ofrecen su propia vida, junto al Pan eucarístico, por los hermanos, sembrando esperanza y mostrando a todos la belleza del Reino de Dios.

Extracto de "Mensaje del Santo Padre Francisco para la 61 Jordana Mundial de Oración por las Vacaciones"

​Holy Marriage
Most people are called to marriage—to wholeheartedly love their spouses and to joyfully welcome children. The purpose of marriage is for a man and woman to help each other get to heaven, and to teach their children to do the same. Like any vocation, marriage must be discerned, not assumed.

Consecrated Life
Both men and women can join religious orders such as the Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines, etc. The life and work of religious orders varies greatly—some are primarily devoted to prayer; others work actively in schools, hospitals, orphanages, etc. Common to all religious orders are the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Priesthood
Priests bring Jesus to people and people to Jesus through preaching and the sacraments. Priests are very active as they counsel people, teach classes, prepare homilies, administer parishes, and much more. Many surveys show that priests are among the happiest people in the world! Deacons, too, share in the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Dedicated Single Life
Some people serve God as single people, without marrying or making special vows. While not a “vocation” in a strict theological sense, single people “contribute greatly to the good of the human family” (CCC 2231). “Some live their situation in the spirit of the Beatitudes, serving God and neighbor in exemplary fashion” (CCC 1658). There are many single people who serve the Church with incredible generosity.

Content from Vianneyvocations.com

We’re talking about your vocation—your God-given mission in life. God etches our vocations into our very souls, and thus a vocation is not just a matter of choice, like choosing a career, but rather more like a discovery. Finding your vocation is like realizing something about yourself that has been there all along.

But God plants your vocation so deep in your soul, sometimes it’s hard to see. In fact, many people—even Catholics—never even consider looking for it at all. Sometimes marriage is assumed to be the “default” vocation. But God calls some people to a different life—a life committed solely to serving God’s people as a priest.

Discovering your true vocation takes careful deliberation—a process the Church calls “discernment,” which is derived from the Latin word meaning to “sift through.” All vocations—marriage, priesthood, or the religious life—require a diligent discernment.

Here are ten tried-and-true ways to discern God’s calling for you: 

1. Pray and Listen asking the Lord daily to show you his will.
2. Pray the Rosary asking for the intercession of Mary, Mother of priests.
3. Pray a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament regularly.
4. Attend Mass frequently (daily if possible) and receive Communion.
5. Go to Confession on a consistent basis.
6. Read Scripture and meditate on God’s Word.
7. Talk to a priest you find approachable and ask for spiritual advice.
8. Contact the Vocation Director.
9. Talk to seminarians when they come home for the holidays.
10. Become involved in your parish.

​These are practical ideas that really work. You’ll notice that by doing these things, not only will you hear God’s voice more clearly, you’ll begin to grow in holiness–which is everyone’s primary vocation.

But the best thing you can do to discover your vocation is to simply be open to the will of God. Stop asking what you want out of life, and start asking what God wants. Remember that Jesus wants you to be happy even more than you do. And if He calls you to priesthood, trust that He will bring you fulfillment.

Discerning your vocation—the state of life that God is calling you to for the rest of your life—is truly the most important discovery you’ll ever make.

Content from Vianneyvocations.com.