A Vincentian Father

Vocations Explained: Matrimony, Virginity, the Religious State and the Priesthood A Vincentian Father

An abridgement of Questions on Vocations approved by Cardinal Gibbons and Cardinal Satolli. CONTENTS I. Definition. - Every Person has some special vocation 5 II. Necessity of following a vocation 6 III. Matrimony - Is it a vocation? 9 IV. Mixed Marriages 12 V. Virginity 14 VI. The Three Evangelical Counsels 16 1. Poverty 17 2. Perpetual Chastity 18 3. Obedience 19 VII. The Religious State 20 VIII. Marks of a vocation to the religious state 23 IX. Doubts about a vocation to the religious state 27 X. Encouraging others to enter the religious state 29 XI. Means of preserving a vocation to the religious state - some obstacles 35 XII. Children and the religious state 37 XIII. Duty of parents regarding the religious vocation of their children 42 XIV. Vocations to the priesthood 45 XV. Do vocations to the priesthood come directly from God? 47 XVI. Fostering vocations to the priesthood 48 XVII. Preventing vocations to the priesthood 50 XVIII. Means of knowing our vocation 52 1. Prayer 52 2. Freedom from sin 53 3. Humility 54 4. Retreat 54 5. Counsel 54 Prayer of St Bernard 55