Vocation
Avocation(fromLatinvocatio'a call, summons'[1]) is anoccupationto which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated inChristianity.
Acalling,in the religious sense of the word, is a religious vocation (which comes from the Latin for "call" ) that may beprofessionalor voluntary and, idiosyncratic to different religions, may come from another person, from a divine messenger, or from within oneself.
History
[edit]The idea of a vocation or "calling" has played a significant role withinChristianity.Since the early days of the Christian faith, the term has applied to candidates for theclergy.It soon began to be applied to those who felt drawn to a more rigorous observance of their faith through thecontemplativelifestyle of thehermitsandmonksandnuns.[2]
Use of the word "vocation" before the sixteenth century referred firstly to the "call" by God[3]to an individual, orcalling of all humankind to salvation,particularly in theVulgate,and more specifically to the "vocation" to thepriesthood,or to thereligious life,which is still the usual sense inRoman Catholicism.Roman Catholicism recognizes marriage, religious, and ordained life as the three vocations.[4][failed verification]Martin Luther,[5]followed byJohn Calvin,placed a particular emphasis on vocations, or divine callings, as potentially including most secular occupations, though this idea was by no means new.[6]
Later,Martin Luthertaught that each individual was expected to fulfill their God-appointed task in everyday life. Although the Lutheran concept of the calling emphasized vocation, there was no particular emphasis on labor beyond what was required for one's daily bread.Calvinismtransformed the idea of the calling by emphasizing relentless, disciplined labor.
Calvindefined the role of "the Christian in his vocation", noting that God has prescribed appointed duties to men and styled such spheres of life vocations or callings.[7]Calvinists distinguished two callings: a general calling to serveGodand a particular calling to engage in some employment by which one's usefulness is determined.[7]Calvinismdeveloped complex ideas about different types of vocations of the first type, connected with the concepts ofpredestination,irresistible grace,and the elect. There are thevocatio universalis,thevocatio specialis,only extended to some. There were also complex distinctions between internal and external, and the "vocatio efficax" and "inefficax" types of callings.[8]Hyper-Calvinismrejects the idea of a "universal call", a vocation, to repent and believe, held by virtually all other Christian groups.
ThePuritanministerCotton Matherdiscussed the obligations of the personal calling, writing of "some special business, and some settled business, wherein a Christian should for the most part spend the most of his time; so he may glorify God by doing good for himself".[9]Mather admonished that it was not lawful ordinarily to live without some calling: "for men will fall into" horrible snares and infinite sins "".[9]This idea has endured throughout the history of Protestantism. Almost three centuries after John Calvin's death in 1564Thomas Carlylewould proclaim, "The latestGospelin this world is, 'know thy work and do it.' "[10]
The legacy of this religious ethic continues to exert its influence insecularWestern society.[citation needed]Modern occupations which are seen as vocations often include those where a combination of skill and community help are implied, such as medical, care-giving, and veterinary occupations. Occupations where rewards are seen more in spiritual or other non-financial terms, such asreligiousoccupations, are also seen as vocations. Borderline occupations, wherecommunity serviceand more personal reward are more evenly balanced, such aspolitics,may often be regarded[by whom?]as vocations.
Senses
[edit]InProtestantism,the call from God to devote one's life to him by joining theclergyis often covered by the English equivalent term "call",whereas in Roman Catholicism" vocation "is still used.
Both senses of the word "call" are used in1 Corinthians 7:20,wherePaulsays "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called".[11]
Concept
[edit]The idea of vocation is central to the Christian belief that God has created each person with gifts and talents oriented toward specific purposes and a way of life. In the broadest sense, as stated in theCatechism of the Catholic Church,"Loveis the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being ".[12]More specifically, in theEastern Orthodoxand Catholic Churches, this idea of vocation is especially associated with a divine call to service to the Church and humanity through particular vocational life commitments such asmarriageto a particular person,consecrationas a religious dedication,ordinationto priestly ministry in the Church and even a holy life as a single person. In the broader sense, Christian vocation includes the use of one's gifts in their profession, family life, church and civic commitments for the sake of the greater common good.
Distinctions among different denominations
[edit]Catholicism and Orthodoxy
[edit]In both theCatholic Churchand theEastern Orthodox Churches,a candidate to thediaconateandpriesthoodis referred to as being called to this service in the Church. The term is also used for those inconsecrated life.
Protestant churches
[edit]InProtestantchurches, the decision of a church to invite for appointment a particular minister - to "invite in due form to the pastorate of a church (Presbyterian or Nonconformist)" (OED) may be referred to as acall,such asextending a call to so and so,and is first cited from 1560 by the OED.[13]InEvangelicalism,the sense of deliberate purpose before God is generally an expected part of the choice to seek ministerial work in the first place and is often referred to as acallingorcall.
Latter-day Saints
[edit]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsdescribes a calling as "a duty, position, or responsibility in the Church that is issued to a member bypriesthood leaders.... [it is] an opportunity to serve. "[14]The church uses a layclergy,with most members receiving no compensation for the execution of their callings.[15]Prominent church leaderJ. Reuben Clarksaid, "In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In the [church], one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declines."[16]Prior to beginning service, a person is presented to church membership for asustaining voteto that calling.[17]The person is thenset apartto serve in the calling by thelaying on of hands.[17]
Contemporary views on vocation
[edit]Since the establishment of Vocational Guidance in 1908 by the engineerFrank Parsons,the use of the term "vocation" has evolved, with emphasis shifting to an individual's development of talents and abilities in the choice and enjoyment of a career. This semantic expansion has meant some diminution of reference to the term's religious meanings in everyday usage.[18][unreliable source]
Leland Rykenargues for seeing the call of God to a particular occupation as a reflection of the gospel call, and suggests that this implies vocational loyalty – "modern notions of job become deficient" and "the element of arbitrariness of one's choice of work" is removed.[19]
Pope Francisrefers tobusinessas a "noble vocation", noting in its favour that it produceswealthandprosperityand "improves our world", especially when "it sees thecreation of jobsas an essential part of its service to the common good ".[20]
Literary clarification
[edit]These books have attempted to define or clarify the term vocation.
- Live Your Calling: A Practical Guide to Finding and Fulfilling Your Mission in LifebyKevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck(ISBN978-0787968953)
- States of the Christian life and vocation, according to the doctors and theologians of the Churchby Jean-Baptiste Berthier
- A Theology of the Laityby Hendrik Kraemer (ISBN978-1-57383-031-7)
- Living Your Heart's Desire: God's Call and Your Vocationby Gregory S. Clapper (ISBN978-0-8358-9805-8)
- The Fabric of this Worldby Lee Hardy (ISBN978-0-8028-0298-9)
- Your Work Matters to Godby Doug Sherman and William Hendricks (ISBN978-0-89109-372-5)
- The CallbyOs Guinness(ISBN978-0-8499-4437-6)
- The Preaching LifebyBarbara Brown Taylor(ISBN978-1-56101-074-5)
- Let Your Life SpeakbyParker J. Palmer(ISBN978-0-7879-4735-4)
- Lay People in the Church: A Study for a Theology of the Laityby Yves M.J. Congar, O.P. Translated byDonald Attwater,1959
- Luther on Vocationby Gustaf Wingren, 1957
- God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of LifebyGene Edward Veith Jr.(ISBN1-58134-403-1)
- The Fabric of Faithfulnessby Steven Garber (ISBN0-8308-1994-0)
- Visions of Vocationby Steven Garber (ISBN978-0-8308-3666-6)
See also
[edit]- Anticipatory socialization
- Career and Life Planning Education
- Effectual calling
- List of largest employers
- Otium
- Profession
- Religious calling
- Trade (occupation)
- Tech certificate
- Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church
- Vocational education
References
[edit]- ^Richard A. Muller,Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms: Drawn Principally from Protestant Scholastic Theology(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House Company, 1985), s.v. "vocation."
- ^"Catechism of the Catholic Church: Christ's Faithful - Hierarchy, Laity, Consecrated Life".The Holy See.
- ^TheOEDrecords effectively identical uses of "call" in English back toc. 1300:OED, "Call", 6 "To nominate by a personal" call "or summons (to special service or office);esp.by Divine authority... "
- ^Pope John Paul II,Familiaris Consortio,11.4
- ^Gustaf Wingren,Luther on Vocation
- ^David L. Jeffrey,A Dictionary of biblical tradition in English literature,Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1992,ISBN0-8028-3634-8,ISBN978-0-8028-3634-2,Google booksSee alsoMax Weber,The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,trans. Alcott Parsons, Ch.3, p. 79 & note 1.
- ^abCalvin, John (1536).Institutes of the Christian Religion.
- ^Kenneth G. Appold.Abraham Calov's doctrine of vocatio in its systematic context,p. 125 and generally, Mohr Siebeck, 1998,ISBN3-16-146858-9,ISBN978-3-16-146858-2,Google books.See also Jeffrey, 815
- ^abMather, Cotton (1701).A Christian at his Calling.
- ^Carlyle, Thomas (1843).Past and Present.Scribner, Welford.
- ^King James Version
- ^"Catechism of the Catholic Church – part 3, section 2, chapter 2, article 6".The Holy See.Retrieved2023-03-11.
- ^OED, "call", 6b
- ^"Calling".Glossary.LDS Church.Archived fromthe originalon May 9, 2009.Retrieved2009-05-05.
- ^Ludlow, Daniel H. (1992)."Clergy".Encyclopedia of Mormonism.Brigham Young University.Retrieved2009-05-05.
- ^Oaks, Dallin H.(2002-11-01)."I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go".Liahona.LDS Church.Retrieved2009-05-05.
- ^abBrian L. Pitcher,"Callings"inEncyclopedia of Mormonism.
- ^Douglas J. Schuurman;Vocation: Discerning Our Callings in Life(Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004)ISBN978-0-8028-0137-1pages 5, 6
- ^Ryken, L. (2002),Work and Leisure,147.
- ^Pope Francis (2015),Laudato si',paragraph 129, accessed 28 January 2024
External links
[edit]
The dictionary definition ofvocationat Wiktionary- Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate– national, non-profit, Georgetown University affiliated research center that conducts social scientific studies about the Catholic Church.
