June 23, 2005
Recently, a “friend of the friars” asked how a parent can nurture vocations in their family. As I spent many years as the vocations director of our community, I thought I could answer the question.
The word “vocation” comes from the Latin word “vocatus”, which means, “to call”. It is related to the word “vox” which means “voice”. Have you heard of the company “Magnavox”? Well, that means “great voice”. A “vocation” is therefore a calling. People often use the expression, “I felt called to do this or that”. Of course, we know that no one actually hears a voice, but at times a person has such a strong attraction towards something, it is as clear and strong as a command from the clouds.
When we use the word “vocation”, often it refers to a call for some service in the Church, for example, to be a consecrated brother or sister, or ordained deacon or priest. However, in the past forty or so years (since the Second Vatican Council), we now speak of a calling to various “states of life”. This not only means being a monk, but also being married or being single. In this regard, there are four “states of life”: married, single, consecrated, and ordained. As a priest and a friar, I am both ordained and consecrated. Many deacons also share two states – ordained and married.
Therefore, when I hear the question, “How do I foster vocations in my family”, I presume the person is speaking about their child being a brother, sister, or priest. But I believe it is good to “pull the camera” back a bit to get the whole picture. I say this because vocations to serve the Church come from families – healthy and happy families. Yes, your child or grandchild will only hear God’s “voice” calling them to loving service and sacrifice in the Lord’s vineyard if he or she experiences love and generosity in the “garden” of one’s household. As the old expression aptly states, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”.
As I have introduced the image of a vineyard, garden, and apple, I will offer you what I have found to be those “toxins” which harden a young person’s heart, making it impossible to hear the voice of God. These toxins, which are unfortunately found in many Catholic homes, are individualism, materialism, and irreligious attitudes. Simply stated, a child can go “spiritually deaf” due to their home environment; in short, they become “hard of hearing” and can’t hear the voice of God. This is why so many young people make the wrong choices. Life’s journey often ends in a “crash and burn” scenario. So, how do you prevent this disease from affecting your children? Here’s how:
Put God and faith first. Go to Mass every Sunday as a family, pray before meals, say the rosary or have some form of common prayer. Create a family shrine in an obvious place. Subscribe to good Catholic magazines and have plenty of good Catholic books around the house. Read them bits of the Bible before bed.
Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR
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