View source for Religion:Vocation

{{Short description|Occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are especially suited}}
A '''vocation''' ({{ety|la|vocatio|a call, summons}}<ref>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."</ref>) is an occupation to 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 in [[Religion:Christianity|Christianity]].

==Senses==
Use of the word "vocation" before the sixteenth century referred firstly to the "call" by God<ref>The OED records effectively identical uses of "call" in English back to {{circa|1300}}: OED, "Call", 6 "To nominate by a personal "call" or summons (to special service or office);''esp.'' by Divine authority..."</ref> to an individual, or [[Religion:Universal call to holiness|calling of all humankind to salvation]], particularly in the [[Religion:Vulgate|Vulgate]], and more specifically to the "vocation" to the priesthood, or to the religious life, which is still the usual sense in Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholicism recognizes marriage, religious, and ordained life as the three vocations.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_19811122_familiaris-consortio_en.html Pope John Paul II, ''Familiaris Consortio'', 11.4]</ref>{{Failed verification|date=November 2014}} [[Biography:Martin Luther|Martin Luther]],<ref>Gustaf Wingren, ''Luther on Vocation''</ref> followed by [[Biography:John Calvin|John Calvin]], placed a particular emphasis on vocations, or divine callings, as potentially including most secular occupations, though this idea was by no means new.<ref>David L. Jeffrey, ''A Dictionary of biblical tradition in English literature'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1992, {{ISBN|0-8028-3634-8}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8028-3634-2}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=zD6xVr1CizIC&dq=vocatio+universalis&pg=PA815 Google books] See also [[Biography:Max Weber|Max Weber]], ''The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism'', trans. Alcott Parsons, Ch.3, p. 79 & note 1.</ref>

[[Religion:Calvinism|Calvinism]] developed complex ideas about different types of vocations of the first type, connected with the concepts of [[Philosophy:Predestination|predestination]], [[Religion:Irresistible grace|irresistible grace]], and the elect. There are the ''vocatio universalis'', the ''vocatio specialis'', only extended to some. There were also complex distinctions between internal and external, and the "vocatio efficax" and "inefficax" types of callings.<ref>Kenneth G. Appold. ''Abraham Calov's doctrine of vocatio in its systematic context'', p. 125 and generally, Mohr Siebeck, 1998, {{ISBN|3-16-146858-9}}, {{ISBN|978-3-16-146858-2}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAed_DrVKOMC&dq=vocatio+universalis&pg=PA125 Google books]. See also Jeffrey, 815</ref>  [[Religion:Hyper-Calvinism|Hyper-Calvinism]] rejects the idea of a "universal call", a vocation, to repent and believe, held by virtually all other Christian groups.

In [[Religion:Protestantism|Protestantism]], the call from God to devote one's life to him by joining the [[Social:Clergy|clergy]] is often covered by the English equivalent term "call", whereas in Roman Catholicism "vocation" is still used.

Both senses of the word "call" are used in 1 Corinthians 7:20, where [[Biography:Paul the Apostle|Paul]] says "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called".<ref>King James Version</ref>

===Concept===

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 the ''[[Religion:Catechism of the Catholic Church|Catechism of the Catholic Church]]'', "''Love'' is the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church – part 3, section 2, chapter 2, article 6 |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P88.HTM |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=The Holy See}}</ref>  More specifically, in the [[Religion:Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] and 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 as [[Biology:Marriage|marriage]] to a particular person, [[Religion:Consecration|consecration]] as a religious dedication, [[Religion:Ordination|ordination]] to 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.

==Contemporary views on vocation==
Since the establishment of Vocational Guidance in 1908 by the engineer Frank 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.<ref>Douglas J. Schuurman; ''Vocation: Discerning Our Callings in Life'' (Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004) {{ISBN|978-0-8028-0137-1}} pages 5, 6</ref>{{unreliable source?|sure=y|reason=This book is polemical; it is not NPOV.|date=May 2021}}

Leland Ryken argues 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.<ref>Ryken, L. (2002), ''Work and Leisure'', 147.</ref>

Pope Francis refers to business as a "noble vocation", noting in its favour that it produces wealth and [[Finance:Prosperity|prosperity]] and "improves our world", especially when "it sees the creation of jobs as an essential part of its service to the common good".<ref>Pope Francis (2015), [https://www.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si_en.pdf Laudato si'], paragraph 129, accessed 28 January 2024</ref>

==Literary clarification==
These books have attempted to define or clarify the term vocation.
*''States of the Christian life and vocation, according to the doctors and theologians of the Church'' by Jean-Baptiste Berthier
*''A Theology of the Laity'' by Hendrik Kraemer ({{ISBN|978-1-57383-031-7}})
*''Living Your Heart's Desire: God's Call and Your Vocation'' by Gregory S. Clapper ({{ISBN|978-0-8358-9805-8}})
*''[https://books.google.com/books?id=5HGFXfOrBYgC The Fabric of this World]'' by Lee Hardy ({{ISBN|978-0-8028-0298-9}})
*''Your Work Matters to God'' by Doug Sherman and William Hendricks ({{ISBN|978-0-89109-372-5}})
*''The Call'' by [[Biography:Os Guinness|Os Guinness]] ({{ISBN|978-0-8499-4437-6}})
*''The Preaching Life'' by Barbara Brown Taylor ({{ISBN|978-1-56101-074-5}})
*''[https://books.google.com/books?id=k2ORAwAAQBAJ Let Your Life Speak]'' by Parker J. Palmer ({{ISBN|978-0-7879-4735-4}})
*''Lay People in the Church: A Study for a Theology of the Laity'' by Yves M.J. Congar, O.P. Translated by Donald Attwater, 1959
*''Luther on Vocation'' by Gustaf Wingren, 1957
*''God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life'' by Gene Edward Veith Jr. ({{ISBN|1-58134-403-1}})
*''The Fabric of Faithfulness'' by Steven Garber ({{ISBN|0-8308-1994-0}})
*''Visions of Vocation'' by Steven Garber ({{ISBN|978-0-8308-3666-6}})

==See also==
* [[Social:Anticipatory socialization|Anticipatory socialization]]
* Career and Life Planning Education
* [[Religion:Effectual calling|Effectual calling]]
* List of largest employers
* {{Lang|la|[[Philosophy:Otium|Otium]]}}
* Profession
* [[Religion:Religious calling|Religious calling]]
* Trade (occupation)
* [[Religion:Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church|Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church]]
* [[Social:Vocational education|Vocational education]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}<!--added above categories/infobox footers by script-assisted edit-->

==External links==
*[http://cara.georgetown.edu Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate] – national, non-profit, Georgetown University affiliated research center that conducts social scientific studies about the Catholic Church.

[[Category:Christian terminology]]
[[Category:Christian religious occupations]]

{{Sourceattribution|Vocation}}