Answering God’s Call with Maturity, Honesty and Commitment
by Jack Ridout, Vocation Director for the Society of Mary
The single life always seems to be the one state in life that others either run from or are simply resigned to. How often do we hear “old maid” used in a positive sense? The question often is, “So when are we getting grandkids”? These and many other quaint sayings are often heard by single men and women.
Somehow one needs to be either married or a priest/religious Brother or Sister to be a fully functioning member of society. But there are several ways of living a life of holiness through our call of Baptism – single, married or consecrated. The Church considers also bishops, priests and deacons as having a spiritual way of life.
Married life has the full backing of the church, civil society and is regulated by social customs and laws going back centuries. This is often seen as the desired state in life for most, but can be a difficult one to live well. The joys of companionship, sharing of life’s duties and obligations and children are sometimes balanced by sorrows as well. So the choice of being married is not one to be taken lightly, for it requires maturity, honesty and commitment for a lifetime.
Today, almost one half of adult Americans are single. Whether through divorce, death of a spouse, or simply never married, we can find ourselves … single. It is time to look at being single as a state in life to be cherished and celebrated. This does not to mean that it is better than other states, but is as viable as being married or as living as a consecrated person. So the choice of being single is not one to be taken lightly, for it requires maturity, honesty and commitment for a lifetime.
Like the single state, being a consecrated person involves living a life of celibacy and like the married state, can involve a public commitment such as vows or promises. Consecrated persons are not born to this life; they commit themselves as either a priest or as a religious but come from the most basic unit of the Church … the laity. In many ways consecrated life is not dissimilar to married life. Consecrated persons live their Baptismal call to holiness in a public way, so the consecrated life is not one to be taken lightly, for it requires maturity, honesty and commitment for a lifetime.
Every adult member of the Church must realize that part of their Baptismal commitment is the obligation to help, as best they can, young Christians to discern, choose and commit to the Christian way of life for which they are best suited and to which Jesus Christ calls them.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may have many questions while considering a vocational life as a Marist. Our FAQs may help in your research.
Discernment
At many stages of life you may feel God calling
you. But how do you understand and act upon God's plan for you?
The Marist Path
The process of joining the Marists is a thoughtful and considered one. Through the various stages of discernment, a person can comfortably get to know the Marist community.
Vocation Resources
Delve into our resources of books, web sites, and other links that may help in your discernment.
"This will be a
wonderful experience,
no matter what!"
Marist Postulant
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Lest We Build on Sand
The practice of reciting three Hail Mary’s and the Sub Tuum (we fly to your patronage) for the conversion of those who are not faithful followers of Christ, whether baptized or not, and the perseverance of those who faithfully follow Christ is an early custom of the members of the Marist Family. This spiritual practice at the beginning and the end of each day puts us in immediate union with Mary and her spiritual concerns. Marist spirituality is Mary’s spirituality, totally centered on Jesus the Christ, her Son and Teacher, and on our relationships with him. Marists are to be completely centered on and unite with Christ, as is Mary. They are to make their best efforts to bring others to him, while encouraging, strengthening, and cooperating with those whose lives are already dedicated to Christ. Mary’s spirituality is lived always in the context of a Christian way of life, whether one is single, married, or consecrated. The ideas and ideals of Marist spirituality become real only when they are incarnated in the Marist spiritual practice of people in their daily lives. Lest we build on sand, we must have a clear understanding of our baptismal vocation and commitment; a realistic picture of ourselves; knowledge of the three Christian ways of life; and instruction about Marist spirituality and spiritual practice. Marist “way of life” Discernment Days, which we hope to offer throughout the Province, help those who have not yet chosen the state in life for which they are suited, to discern which of the three life-giving paths is best for them, and aid those who already have chosen their state in life to understand it more deeply from the Christian point of view. These Discernment Days are designed to help Catholic Christians live out their baptismal vocation and commitment to Jesus Christ in a Marist way, in their chosen state of life. Father Tom Ellerman, S.M. |
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