Various Vocations: Introduction
Who Am I?
• My life is fully dedicated to a life with God.
• I am not ordained.
• I may live alone or with others in community.
• I take vows of poverty, chastity,
and obedience.
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Who Am I?
• I am responsible for ordaining priests and
deacons and for Confirmations.
• I make sure all churches in the diocese work
together as a whole.
• My official church in the diocese is called the
cathedral.
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• I am one of the successors of the Apostles, and
I help the Pope lead the Church.
Who Am I?
• I share in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly office of Christ by living a holy life.
• I bring Christ to the everyday world.
• I am not ordained or in a consecrated state of life.
• I may remain single, or I may marry.
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Who Am I?
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• I am called to be a coworker with the bishop of
my diocese.
• I am ordained through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
• Often, I am assigned to a parish.
• I celebrate Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist.
Who Am I?
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• I am the visible sign of Christ’s presence on earth.
• I am Bishop of Rome, the successor of Saint Peter.
• I am called the Vicar of Christ.
• I am pastor of the entire, worldwide Church.
Who Am I?
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• My life is oriented toward works of charity.
• I have a liturgical role, assisting a priest.
• I am ordained by a bishop.
• I may be a single, widowed, or married man.
▪ God calls us each to take on different roles within the Church.
Each role is important and necessary.
▪ Foundation: the Priesthood of all believers
❖ Israel as Chosen People (cf. Ex. 19:6, Is. 43:20-21)
❖ 1 Peter 2: 9-10 – “…you are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you
may announce the praises’ of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
▪ LG 10 – “Christ the Lord, High Priest taken from among men, made the new people ‘a kingdom and priests to
God the Father’. The baptized, by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated as a
spiritual house and a holy priesthood, in order that through all those works which are those of the Christian
man they may offer spiritual sacrifices and proclaim the power of Him who has called them out of darkness
into His marvelous light. Therefore all the disciples of Christ, persevering in prayer and praising God, should
present themselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Everywhere on earth they must bear witness
to Christ and give an answer to those who seek an account of that hope of eternal life which is in them.
▪ Though they differ from one another in essence and not only in degree, the common priesthood of the faithful
and the ministerial or hierarchical priesthood are nonetheless interrelated: each of them in its own special
way is a participation in the one priesthood of Christ. The ministerial priest, by the sacred power he enjoys,
teaches and rules the priestly people; acting in the person of Christ, he makes present the Eucharistic
sacrifice, and offers it to God in the name of all the people. But the faithful, in virtue of their royal
priesthood, join in the offering of the Eucharist. They likewise exercise that priesthood in receiving the
sacraments, in prayer and thanksgiving, in the witness of a holy life, and by self-denial and active charity.”
▪ Like Christ we are anointed
priest, prophet, and Kings
▪ Through baptism we receive the
priesthood of all believers.
▪ Prophet: To announce and to
denounce
▪ Priest: We have the ability to offer
prayers and spiritual sacrifices to God,
(holiness)
▪ King: We share the promise of eternal
life in the kingdom of heaven
▪ Given to all who are baptized
▪ We are all called:
▪ A. to serve God and neighbor
▪ B. To be witnesses
▪ C. To live a holy life acceptable
to God.
Sacraments of Service
There are two sacraments
of service:
A. Holy Orders
B. Holy Matrimony
