Catholic Vocations

Here you will find books, articles, and documents from the Catholic Church on the vocation of marriage, on religious vocation, and on vocation to the priesthood, as well as several articles on vocation in general and vocation to the single life (as distinct from religious life in the strict sense).

• Vocation, Holiness, and Discernment

• • Spiritual Life: Seven Principles of the Spiritual Life by Fr. Thomas Bolin, O.S.B.
  • On the Perfection of the Spiritual Life by St. Thomas Aquinas
  • The Three Ages of the Interior Life by Reginald Garrgiou-Lagrange, O.P. (offsite)
  • Confidence: The Only Worship by Fr. Faber
    
  • Finding God's Will for You by St. Francis de Sales - a popular book consisting of a translation of the writing of St. Francis on the discernment of God's will in the concrete situation of our life.
  • Helping Vocations: Confession and Vocations - by Fr. John Hardon
  • The Eucharist and Vocations - by Fr. John Hardon
  • Inspirational Quotes by various authors: St. Clement, St. Augustine, St. Therese of Lisieux, Bl. Mother Teresa, Cardinal Newman, etc.
    
  • Ignatian Discernment: The Discernment of Spirits: The Ignatian Guide for Everyday Life and Spiritual Consolation: An Ignatian Guide for Greater Discernment by Fr. Timothy Gallagher, OMV, are two highly rated books on spiritual discernment in the tradition of St. Ignatius Loyola.
  • Discernment by Peter Kreeft - an article on Christian discernment in general - not only discernment of something such as the choice of a state of life, but also discernment of a job, of when or where to take a vacation, whether to homeschool one's children, etc. (offsite)
  • Christian life: Happy Are You Poor: The Simple Life and Spiritual Freedom by Thomas Dubay. This book, written for all Christians (not just for those discerning a religious vocation!) seeks to present the Gospel challenge simply and directly to Christian men and women, and thus help them to live their Christian vocation.

• Vocation to States of Life

• • The Teaching of the Catholic Church About Vocation - a brief summary of the Catholic Church's teaching on vocation, with quotations from the saints and popes.
  • Vocations by Rev. William Doyle, S.J.    This work, first published in the beginning of the twentieth century, is still popular today - Download as PDF
  • And You Are Christ's: The Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life by Thomas Dubay. One of the best books written in our time on the Christian meaning of virginity and celibacy. Highly recommended for anyone discerning a vocation to religious life, the priesthood, or another state of consecrated celibacy or virginity.
  • Choosing your vocation - by Fr. William Most
  • Do I have a vocation? by Fr. Ludovic-Marie Barrielle   
  • Discerning a Vocation: A Roman Catholic Explanation of the Teachings of Jesus Christ  by unknown author  
  • Vocations Explained: Matrimony, Virginity, The religious state, and the priesthood by a Vincentian Father  
  • States of Christian Life and Vocation, According to the Doctors and Theologians of the Church by Jean-Baptiste Berthier (at Wikisource)
  • What is a vocation - The traditional Catholic understanding of a religious vocation
  • Pope John Paul II on vocation - an examination of vocation centered on love and dialogue with Christ.
  • St. Thomas Aquinas's explanation of what a vocation is - a short article on the teaching of Aquinas on vocation to love, to religious life, and to marriage.
  • The vocation of a Catholic teacher by William E. May - what does it mean to call teaching a vocation? What is a teacher's vocation?
  • Christian State of Life - By Hans Urs Von Balthasar - A large and mostly theologically oriented work, which begins with a beautiful treatment of love in itself, then contiues with a consideration of the original state, of Christ's state, and the various states of Christian life (lay state, religious state, and priesthood). The concluding section is on the call or vocation itself.
  • The Church and the Laity by Michael Bossy. Looks at the teaching of Vatican II on the vocation of the laity in Christ and in the Church.
    
  • Paths of Love: The Discernment of Vocation According to Aquinas, Ignatius, and Pope John Paul II by Joseph Bolin - This book examines how the universal call to love shows itself as a call to a concrete way of life, such as marriage, priesthood, or religious life. Examining several different approaches to vocation, it aims to show the fundamental nature and beauty of vocation. Summary - Read Online

• Religious Vocation

• • Church Fathers and Doctors on Religious Vocation - texts from St. John Chrysostom, Ignatius Loyola, Alphonsus de Liguori, Therese of Lisieux, Pope John Paul II, and others.
  • Aquinas on Religious Vocation - Texts of Aquinas from the Summa Theologiae and from his writing directed against those who hinder people from entering religious life.
  • Religious Vocation: An Unnecessary Mystery by Fr. Richard Butler, O.P. A relatively simple explanation of religious vocation that draws much upon the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas - Quotes from the book - Order This Book from Amazon.com
  • In Thy Courts - A work on Vocation by Louis Vignat, S.J. - A simple, short and refreshing work on religious vocation.
  • Why Not a Religious Vocation by an unknown author - a very brief article presenting the invitation to the religious life
  • The Call of God: Sermon on religious vocations by Fr. Benedict Hughes, CMRI
  • How to Know You Have a Vocation to the Religious Life by Martin Pable, OFM Cap.
  • Discerning a Religious Vocation by Davide A. Bianchini - A well written article on religious vocation, with many spiritual quotes from the saints and a number of very practical suggestions. (at the site www.religious-vocation.com)
  • Religious Orders and Communities for Women - Religious Orders and Communities for Men - links to their websites

• Marriage Vocation

• • The Call to Holiness in Christian Marriage by Kathleen Fischer Hart and Thomas N. Hart
  • The "Good of the Spouses" and Marriage as a Vocation to Holiness by William E. May (offsite)
  • The Role Families Play in Fostering Vocations by Father Nicolas Schwizer
  • The Family: Seedbed of Vocations by Father John McCloskey
  • Resources for teaching children about vocation
  • Three to Get Married by Archbishop Fulton Sheen
  • On the Good of Marriage. A classic by St. Augustine. Some reflections on the abiding relevance of Augustine's thought on marriage, Fr. John Hardon's article Saint Augustine and Christian Marriage is well worth reading.
    

• Vocation to the Priesthood

• • To Save a Thousand Souls : A Guide for Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood by Brett A. Brannen
  • Priestly Celibacy Today - by Fr. Thomas McGovern
  • Priestly Identity - by Fr. Thomas McGovern
  • Is Jesus Calling You to be a Catholic Priest - a discernment booklet from the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors in the USA
  • The Priesthood Requires Courage, Willingness to Love - by Fr. Charles Chaput, O.F.M.
  • Diocesan Vocation Offices
  • Priesthood and Perfection by Garrigou-Lagrange
    • Chapter 1 - Interior Life and Infused Faith
    • Chapter 2 - The Spirit of Faith and Signs of its Presence
    • Chapter 3 - Evidences of a Supernatural Spirit
    • Chapter 4 - The General Obligation of Christians to Seek Perfection
    • Chapter 5 - The Obligation of Religious to Seek Perfection
    • Chapter 6 - Priestly Perfection
    • Chapter 7 - The Episcopal State
    • Chapter 8 - The Beatitudes Measure Priestly Perfection
    • Chapter 9 - Interior Life of the Priest
    • Chapter 10 - Virtues of the Priestly Life
    • Chapter 11 - Purification of Virtues is Necessary for Priestly Perfection
    • Chapter 12 - Priestly Mental Prayer
    • Chapter 13 - Eucharistic Worship and Priestly Perfection
  • The Priest in Union with Christ by Garrigou-Lagrange
    

• Single Vocation

• • Is the single life a vocation? - the distinction we have to make between being single by chance, and by choice--or by accepting God's will for us. Includes the relevant articles from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
  • Why not marrying could seem selfish - reflections on why it seems to some people that there is no vocation to the single life.
  • The Single Life as a Vocation - more articles on the single life

• Church Documents on Vocations and States of Life

• • Links are to the Vatican website.
  • Casti Connubii: Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on marriage (Outline of Casti Connubii, on this website)
    
  • Sacra virginitas: Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on consecrated virginity
  • Ad Catholici sacerdotii: Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on the Catholic priesthood
  • Sacerdotii nostri primordia: Encyclical of Pope John XXIII on the priesthood
  • Sacerdotalis caelibatus: Encyclical of Pope Paul VI on priestly celibacy
  • On the renewal of the religious life according to the teaching of the second Vatican Council: Apostolic exhortation of Pope Paul VI
  • Pope John Paul II
  • • Dilecti amici: Letter to youth, on vocation and mission - the parts of the letter that treat of vocation
    • Mulieris dignitatem: On the dignity and vocation of women
    • Familiaris consortio: On the role of the Christian family in the modern world (Outline of Familiaris Consortio, on this website)
      
    • Christifideles laici: On the vocation and mission of the lay faithful
    • Redemptionis donum: On men and women religious 
    • Pastores dabo vobis: On the priesthood and the formation of priests
    • Vita consecrata: On the consecrated life and its mission in the church and in the world

• Other Books

• • A Catechism of the Liturgy for Young and Old by a Religious of the Sacred Heart

Please let us know of any other books or articles you would like to see listed here.