WHAT IS MY VOCATION?
The word vocation means "calling", and usually God's call to us. All Christians have a vocation, although in the past we have tended to emphasize only priestly or religious vocations. The truth of the matter is that most Christians have a vocation to the married life; some are called to remain single; still others are called to be priests, brothers, or sisters. The vocation of the laity (those not ordained or in religious vows) is to share in the salvific mission of the Church "working for the greater spread of the divine plan of salvation to all men" (Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium, no. 34). All Christians are called by God to holiness and to advance the Kingdom of God in the world.
When we, talk about our vocation in life, we should not think that those who choose religious life are better off than others. The best vocation for you is the one which conforms most with God's will for you. A man interested in married life may in fact be denying God's call to the priesthood, and a man interested in the priesthood may be denying God's call to the married life. What is important is that we can truly say "Thy will be done" and mean it.
The Religious vocation
How does one know if he has a vocation to the priesthood? There is no easy and simple answer. Yet three things must be considered: 1) capability: physical, mental, intellectual, 2) right desire: for the service of God, 3) discernment or confirmation from Church authority. As one considers the priesthood one must remain open to the possibility that God is not calling you in this direction, and one must forget his own desires. Family pressure for or against the priesthood should be taken into consideration, but you are the person whom this decision will effect most in life. You should be sure that your motives for wanting to be a priest are not caused by family approval and prodding, pride or the chance for advancement. If you find that your attraction to the priesthood is related more to the honour, advantages and prestige priests may enjoy than to the priesthood of Jesus Christ "who came not to be served but to serve," then you should re-consider. Finally, after considering all your options, you must ask yourself: "Will the priesthood give me joy in life?" — because joy, not disturbance, is of God.
If a man thinks that God may be calling him to be a priest, then the question, "What kind of priest?" must be answered. Of course there is only one priesthood, that of Jesus Christ, but it can be lived out in different ways. Broadly speaking there are two choices open: to become a diocesan priest or a religious priest. Diocesan (or "secular") priests are mostly parish priests, working directly under a bishop in a specific diocese. They make promises of celibacy and obedience, and usually live alone. They may have property, cars and bank accounts of their own. Their place of assignment is usually not far from their home village and relatives. They can help or be helped by their relatives without permission from a superior. Religious priests are members of religious communities, such as the Dominicans, Holy Ghost Fathers, Augustinians, Franciscans, Jesuits, Bnedictines, Claretians etc. All of these have vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and live in a community with no private property. Yet each order has its own distinct character and type of work.
All the different orders represent different charisms or gifts from God given to the founder and members of each order. The religious orders vary greatly in terms of life-style and work undertaken. Once a young man believes he has a priestly vocation he should ask himself: "How can I best live out my priestly vocation with the particular gifts God has given me? Should I be a diocesan priest or a religious priest?" This is a very important decision. Once a man decides he wants to marry he does not marry the first available girl. He looks around and sees what would be best for him.
In Nigeria many choices are open to the young man considering a priestly vocation as a member of a religious community or order. The Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers (Spiritans, C.S.Sp.) were founded in France in 1734 to bring "the Gospel everywhere to the poor and infidels, to undertake the most humble and laborious works for which it is difficult to find labourers." They are involved in parishes, schools and social work. The Augustinians (O.S.A.), like the Dominicans, are friars and follow the ancient Rule of Saint Augustine. They are based in Jos and have communities parishes throughout Nigeria. The Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians, C.M.F.) are based in Imo State. Founded in Spain in 1835 when a group of diocesan priests interested in preaching and teaching banded together, their work today continues as preachers, teachers and parish priests. The Jesuits (Society of Jesus, S.J.), the largest order in the Catholic Church, and one distinguished by a long history of academic and missionary contributions to the Church, also established in Nigeria. Also in Nigeria we have Benedictine (O.S.B.) and Cistercian (Trappist, O.C.S.O.) monks in Edo and Anambra States. These monks, both priests and brothers, live strict lives of prayer and work within the confines of a single monastery and its property. Much more could be said about these and other religous communities of men, but it would be best for the individual to pursue this on his own.
Many men feel a vocation to the religous life, want to live the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, live in a religious community and undertake some special ministry — but do not feel that God is calling them to the priesthood. Such men are called brothers and are found in many religious communities of the Church as full members with priests. In fact, some religous communites exist entirely or mostly for brothers. In Nigeria there are the Marist Brothers in Enugu, the Marianists in Benin, and the Christian Brothers in Ondo State, to mention just a few congregations of brothers. Brothers give witness to the fact that religious life in itself (living a life of poverty, chastity and obedience in a community) is a distinct vocation for Christian men apart from the priesthood, married life or single state.
The Dominican Vocation
Young men come to the Dominican Order in different ways. Someone may be very attracted to the Dominican ideal of community life, preaching and study before ever considering the priesthood. Such a person would have to consider whether God is calling him to be a Dominican priest or brother. Other persons may already feel a vocation to the priesthood, and after searching believe that as a Dominican he can best be a priest, taking into consideration 1) his own personality, likes, dislikes and talents, and 2) the life-style and personality of the Dominican Order itself.
How does a person know if he has a Dominican vocation? Again, there are no easy or sure ways of knowing immediately. Thought, prayer and spiritual guidance by a Dominican should help you arrive at an answer. Perhaps the first consideration is St. Dominic himself. As you read about St. Dominic in Chapter One, did you find yourself attracted to him? Does Dominic's vision of brothers living in community, committed to prayer and study, and going out to preach the Gospel appeal to you? Simply put, is St. Dominic "your kind of person?"
Next you should take a serious look at the four traditional elements of Dominican life: common life, the vows, prayer and study. All are the absolute essentials of Dominican life. 1) Common life means living in community with your brother Dominicans.. Dominicans seldom live alone. Life in a Dominican community is not like life in a university hostel where you may be friends with some of your neighbours and strangers to others. In a Dominican community you share what you have (most especially your brotherly love and support) with each other. We recall the life of the apostles as described in Acts.
2) The vows refer to the life of poverty, chastity and obedience which every Dominican (priest or brother) vows himself to. Instead of restricting us, the vows are meant to free us for greater service to Christ and our brothers and sisters. A Dominican never owns anything (house, car etc.) but shares the use of simple belongings with his brothers. The Dominican is chaste, observing perfect consecrated celibacy so as to devote himself entirely to Christ. The vow of obedience means that Dominicans cannot follow their own wills but desire to be obedient to the will of God, as Christ was, and the will of one's community as expressed by one's religous superior.
3) Dominicans do not simply live together but they pray together several times a day. Their common prayer is not just any devotion, but the psalms, Scripture readings and intercessions called the Divine Office, which is the official prayer of the Church. They also gather daily for the celebration of the Eucharist. One of the mottoes of the Order is Contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere (Latin for "to contemplate and to give to others the fruits of contemplation"). That is, Dominican preaching is sharing with others the fruits of our contemplation.
4) Finally, there is study. In this regard we can think of another motto of the Dominicans, Veritas (Latin for "truth"). Dominicans are life-long students committed to the study of Sacred Truth. St. Dominic expected his brothers to thoroughly understand the Faith so as to be able to present it convincingly in their preaching. Dominicans have excelled in every century in academic work. If you were to enter the house or room of a Dominican you would find many books!
A final motto of the Dominican Order, Laudare, benedicere et praedicare ("to praise, to bless and to preach"), summarizes the various facets of the Order's life and reminds us again that the purpose of the Dominican Order is preaching. The late Fr. William A. Hinnebusch, the American Dominican scholar, put it well:
"It is the Order's high duty to preach, to be concerned with preaching, to wish it to be done in the best way possible, to be distressed when it is not being done, sad when it is not being done well, disappointed when another message is announced in place of God's word. The Dominican task is to study, explore and discover better, more effective and newer ways of disseminating the Gospel message. It will ever be the Order's duty to prepare the way for the coming or deepening of faith in those who hear the message. Everything the Dominican does, he must link to spreading the Word of God."
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The Dominican Shield
The black and white colours of Dominican shield are the colours of the Dominican habit worn by the priests brothers and symbolize penance (black) purity (white).