• PROGRAM

• ASSESSMENTS

The basic human vocation

A vocation is how God calls you to serve him in the world. For example, you can have callings to:

• marriage.

• religious life.

• priesthood.

• single life.

Each person’s vocation comes from God. He calls you to a particular vocation.

Similarities/differences between a vocation and a profession:

Source analysis

Source 1:

A profession is an occupation that requires extensive training and the study and mastery of specialized knowledge, and usually has a professional association, ethical code and process of certification or licensing. Examples are accounting, law, teaching, architecture, nursing, pharmacy, medicine, finance, the military, the clergy and engineering.

A vocation is an occupation, either professional or voluntary, that is *carried out more for its altruistic benefit than for income, which might be regarded as a secondary aspect of the vocation, however beneficial. Vocations can be seen as fulfilling a psychological or spiritual need for the worker, and the term can also be used to describe any occupation for which a person is specifically gifted, and usually implies that the worker has a form of "calling" for the task. The word "vocation" comes from the Latin vocare, meaning "to call."

*Altruistic- unselfish

Source 2:

Mary MacKillop was an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life.

After living what she described as “a most unhappy” early life, largely due to financial hardship, Mary moved to Penola, South Australia at age 18 to work as a governess for relatives.

There she met Fr Julian Tenison Woods and they set up a school for underprivileged children before going on to establish the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart – the first religious institute established by an Australian. The Order grew and the Sisters travelled the countryside setting up schools, orphanages and other good works for those in need.

Today, there are about 800 Sisters of St Joseph, still working with the poor and marginalised in Australia, New Zealand, Timor Leste, Scotland, Ireland and Peru.

“Mary MacKillop lived her life with an unwavering sense of gratitude and confidence that God would always provide,” she said. “She spoke over and over of ‘our good God’ and she lived with grateful receptivity of God’s love and all that God’s love asked of her in life. She truly imitated Christ to whom she had committed her life.

Source 3:

When the Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a Christian vocation it is saying that the couple’s relationship is more than simply their choice to enter a union which is a social and legal institution. In addition to these things, marriage involves a call from God and a response from two people who promise to build, with the help of divine grace, a lifelong, intimate and sacramental partnership of love and life.

The call to love is “the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being.” In the vocation of marriage – something which “is written in the very nature of man and woman,” we see that “the love of husband and wife becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1603 and 1604).

Those who are called to the married life should be ready to learn what their vocation means and to acquire the virtues and skills needed for a happy and holy marriage.

The vocation to marriage is a call to a life of holiness and service within the couple’s own relationship and in their family. As a particular way of following the Lord, this vocation also challenges a couple to live their marriage in a way that expresses God’s truth and love in the world.

Referring to source 2:

a) the significant religious person described in this source is Mary MacKillop.

b) religious faith has helped this person in living their vocation by giving them strength and courage to create schools, orphanages and other good works.

c) this person has contributed to the church by doing good works and founding Australia’s first order of nuns.

Referring to source 3:

a) married life is considered a Christian vocation because the couple’s relationship is more than simply their choice to enter a union which is a social and legal institution. It is also a call from God.

b) the vocation of marriage is linked to the service of God because it involves the response of two people who promise to build a life-long, sacramental partnership of love and life from the call from God which challenges them to live in their marriage that expresses God’s truth and love in the world.

SECTION 2

Vocation - is how God calls you to serve him in the world.

In Christian vocation we are asked to be priest, prophet and king. Christians are asked to be priest, prophet and king to show the qualities of priests, prophets and kings. The qualities that Christians are asked to show are:

The Catholic church has four main characteristics:

• One - the Holy Spirit is working to unite all members of the church (through baptism).

• Holy - the church is holy for two reasons; Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Jesus and the Holy Spirit prevent the church from collapsing. Jesus and the Holy Spirit empower believers to grow in holiness.

• Catholic - this term means ‘universal’. The church is Catholic in a double sense. It is catholic because wherever Jesus is, so too, is the Catholic Church. Jesus gives each of his followers the means of salvation. Catholics are called to do good in the world (spreading the Gospel ‘universally’.

• Apostolic - the church is apostolic because it was founded on the Apostles and shares the gifts and mission received from Jesus through the Apostles. it continues to be served by the successors of the Apostles, the pope and bishops.

The two Catholic Creeds:

Nicene creed

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Apostle’s creed was composed by the 12 Apostles

• I believe in God,
  the Father Almighty,
  Creator of heaven and earth,
  and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
  who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
  born of the Virgin Mary,
  suffered under Pontius Pilate,
  was crucified, died and was buried;
  He descended into hell;
  on the third day He rose again from the dead;
  He ascended into heaven,
  and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
  from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
  I believe in the Holy Spirit,
  the Holy Catholic Church,
  the communion of Saints,
  the forgiveness of sins,
  the resurrection of the body,
  and life everlasting.

Forming conscience

Natural law - natural law is about following basic moral rules that come from our longing for God, recognising Him as the source of goodness, and respecting others as equals. These fundamental rules are seen in the Ten Commandments.

Divine law - the will of God/his 10 commandments.

Sin - deliberate action against God’s laws.

Four principles of conscience

• everyone is obliged to form the conscience

• everyone is obliged to follow sincere moral judgements

• conscience does not determine what is right or wrong

• A good end does not justify immoral means

How a person can make a good moral decision using 2 principles of conscience

1. Conscience Development: To make a good moral decision, a person must first recognise the principle that everyone is obliged to form their conscience. This means actively seeking knowledge, reflecting on moral values, and nurturing one's conscience, much like one develops their physical or intellectual potential. By continually educating themselves on moral principles, individuals can better navigate complex ethical dilemmas and make informed, conscientious choices.

2. Sincere Moral Judgments: The second principle to consider is that everyone is obliged to follow sincere moral judgments. When making a moral decision, a person should listen to their well-formed conscience and sincerely consider what it dictates. This entails honestly assessing the moral implications of their actions and aligning their choices with the moral convictions they have cultivated. A good moral decision respects the authority of one's conscience and acts in accordance with its sincere moral judgments, leading to actions that reflect one's deeply held values and beliefs.

The golden rule

The golden rule is: do unto others as you would want them do unto you.  

The golden rule applies to the second principle of conscience. The principle states that you must follow your true, righteous conscience. If you follow your conscience, and treat others according to your conscience, righteously and in a good manner, you are in a sense, treating them how they could treat you, according to their conscience, because our conscience tells us to do good and what is right.

What is right and what feels right

Doing what feels right is just a feeling, it is not a formed conscience and needs to be given more weight than any other. Feelings can be misleading. People with formed moral consciences are able to understand the moral principles behind the choice, and relate the principles to the situation.