How do we recruit more priests and religious?
Vocations involve an intersection between God’s invitation and our free will. God didn’t force Mary to become the mother of God. He invited her, and she freely answered, “Yes.” Yet, we often act as if only Mary or “really holy people” are called by God to live out a particular vocation. I frequently hear vocations talks devolve into “What do you want to do?” instead of “What does God want you to do?” God has a plan for you and your loved ones. Are you willing to listen to His call and prioritize His plan over your own?
Vocations are ultimately not about earthly riches or success, especially vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Some wealth, power, pleasure and fame must be given up for us to say yes to God’s will. If we prioritize these earthly treasures over our heavenly reward, it will be harder for young men and women to hear God’s call. Part of me wishes my job as vocations director was to drive a fancy car and promise immeasurable riches to young men if they became priests. But I cannot promise that. I can only promise what Jesus promised: “Your reward will be great in heaven.” (And this is much greater than a fancy car!)
We may worry that if we give God all our heart, we will not be happy, as if God wants to take away our fun. We give God some of our time in prayer but then furtively try to claim the rest of it for ourselves and our own agenda. Surely, loving God as a religious or a priest would be boring or joyless, right? Much to the contrary! The happiest people I know are 40 cloistered Norbertine nuns that my sister joined in 2015. Every time I visit them, I am bewildered by how joyful they are. They live a life devoted to the Lord, giving Him every part of their day, and they are so happy — even without a cell phone, a TV or a fantasy football team! God’s will leads to our greatest joy — the more we are convinced of this, the freer we will be to give Him everything and follow Him.
While we desire more priests, we also want good, holy, knowledgeable, prudent and happy priests who are charismatic leaders. Similarly, we do not simply need more marriages or more religious sisters. We need holy marriages and holy religious. The more we can increase the number of holy, prayerful and happy young men and women in our families and parishes, the more candidates for holy vocations we will have.
We are often comfortable promoting vocations in general, from other people’s families. Are you comfortable with God choosing priests from among your own family and loved ones? Are you open to God calling your daughter or granddaughter to be a cloistered nun? Are you open to God calling you to be a priest? We cannot only promote vocations in general. We ought to promote them just as much within our own families.
Father Tony Ritter is director of vocations for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
