Vocation Awareness Week

Several truths should be pointed out.  Perhaps these truths should be more obvious than they are.  The Christian believer probably holds these truths but sometimes forgets.
First, we all have a common, or universal, call to holiness.  This is the primary vocation of all Christians.  We are all called to return to our Creator.  It's no secret that we will all die.  And then what?  Eternal life is the goal.  The believer acknowledges that a life of holiness is necessary for attaining the ultimate goal of eternal life.
Secondly, the Church recognizes four paths we can take to attain this goal.  There are four "roads" we can take as we live the universal call to holiness.  Some are less traveled than others, but all four are counter cultural in our own time.  Even Christian marriage is counter cultural in our hedonistic society, not to mention the vocations of holy orders, religious life and the chaste single life.
Since all four vocations are counter cultural and difficult, we need God's help. 
In his wisdom, the Archbishop of Cincinnati has asked all parishes to pray a prayer for vocations.  In the prayer the Archbishop composed, we beg God to make four areas fruitful ground for vocations: our Archdiocese, parishes, homes, and hearts.  It is pretty easy to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life from the Archdiocese and parishes.  In our laziness, we think that priest and religious come from somewhere else.  It takes much more trust in God to pray for these vocations from the home and heart.  Parents want grandchildren--and that's a good thing.  But sometimes we give up one good thing for another good thing.  Plus, it's no secret that families are getting smaller and smaller.
Several years ago a certain parish formed a vocations committee and composed a prayer for vocations.  It would have been a great prayer except for one flaw.  In the prayer, the people asked God something like: "Send into your Church men and women who will answer the call to priesthood and religious life."  These people are already in the Church.  These vocations just need to be fostered.  Of course there are exceptions to this such as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who was outside the Catholic Church and later became Catholic and did a saint's work.
Other truths, that are not so obvious, should also be kept in mind, not only this week but always.  All vocations are gifts from God, and God does not give any lousy gifts.  God knows what is best for us better than we do.  God loves us better that we love ourselves.  This is difficult for parents who love their children fully.  God loves them more.  He is able to love perfectly. 
Finally, most Christians are called to the vocation of marriage. But let's not lose sight of the fact that some are not.  Some of the greatest saints had parents who tried to dissuade them from religious life: St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas.  Let's not be those forgotten souls who tried to stifle God's plan.