This evening at Mass (yes - I know it was Saturday…it counts! I already had to explain this once to my son today, who reminded us that God wanted us to go to church on Sunday, his holy day, not Saturday!)  Anyways.. oh, yes! This evening at Mass, our priest, Fr. Tony, gave an excellent homily on the need to pray for vocations.

It is something you really do not hear much anymore, at least not out loud. Mentioning needing more vocations is a dangerous thing. It can get you lynched, man.

Fr. Tony rightly pointed out that the only way to fix the vocation crisis here in America is to quit griping about the state of the church, the hierarchy, your own diocese, your parish priest, or whatever your particular beef with the church is, and become part of it. If we do not pray for vocations, and encourage our own children to consider them, the problem will only get worse.

Brave words, Fr. Tony. I hope you brought your helmet and bullet-proof vest, because it can get ugly when you speak out that way. I know, I have heard it before!

Several years ago I worked in our parish as the Coordinator of Religious Education, overseeing the religious ed program for grades 1-5. My main responsibility was to work with the 200+  catechist volunteers. That year the Diocese of Dallas had appointed its first Vocations Director, and he was going around speaking at each parish, introducing himself and giving a plug for vocations. Fr. Michael was youngish, energetic, and funny. I thought he did a great job telling what a vocation was and explaining it in in interesting way, that was far from pushy. However, he did say, “Pray for more vocations. Encourage your children to consider one.”

I was witness to the ferocious backlash the next day. The catechist volunteers arrived 30 minutes before the Monday sessions began, and came into the office to get their supplies. I was on duty, helping answer last minute questions about class that day .

“Can you believe that priest yesterday?” one woman sneered.

“Oh my gosh! The nerve!” another answered. “How dare he tell us to pray that our own children have a vocation.”

“Yes,” chimed in a third, “who does he think he is? He is just crazy if he thinks I will ever let my son become a priest!”

And on and on and on went this conversation, involving about ten different people all in various stages of apoplectic shock.

I myself felt rooted to the ground. The anger was actually palpable. All you had to do was reach out in the air and you would touch it. Now, I understand that the Church is not perfect. I understand, especially in the Diocese of Dallas, a bad priest scandal was not far behind at the time. I understand the idea of being celibate for life terrifies most people, but still!

Fr. Michael was, at the time, quite young, and Fr. Tony is only in his 30’s. They would be the first to admit the life of a priest has pluses and minuses. However, they are such a great advertisement for the church. They are happy - happy, people - which is what we all wish for our children.

Neither one suggested that all boys should become priests. No, what they said, and what the Church urges, is to find the vocation that God has given you. God calls each person to walk a way of life. We must be open to each path - marriage, single-hood, or religious life. If we aren’t, then we may not find where God truly wants us to be. And (for all you devil’s advocates out there) what if a person’s call is religious life but they aren’t Catholic, and do not know about religious life. Can they ever truly be happy? Of course! God never counts it against it when we do not know something, unless we deliberately close our eyes to it. (He usually just gets us to where we need to be!)

And that is what the church in America is so guilty of - closing its eyes to the vocation shortage. People who profess to be faithful Catholics refuse to even discuss the possibility of vocations with their children. They just hope someone else does that. With someone else’s children, of course.

It isn’t like marriage is so easy or ideal, anyways. Look at the high rate of divorce, for one. For another, living a life with another person is extremely difficult. And parenthood is a beautiful thing, but it is no picnic. So, the married life is full of pain and hardship, as well as bliss and joy.

The whole point is - what does God call you, or your children, to? We must pray for our children’s vocations, whatever they may be. We need to talk about the religious life with them, just as we discuss being a doctor or teacher or plumber. In this age of information, and if we want to be the “be-fair-to-all-people-” people we claim to be, then we Catholics need to start talking about vocations with our children.