On March 25, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Mary of Nazareth, the daughter of Joachim and Anne, received the message that she was to become the Mother of God. With her fiat, she accepted God’s plans, that is, her vocation. On the occasion of this feast, I would like to present a few thoughts on the subject of vocation, so that we may reflect on our own vocation, understand it better, and live it more fully.

The divine nomination

In recent weeks, television channels have devoted many hours to the Olympic Winter Games. Not only were the competitions broadcast, but athletes were also interviewed, and their life stories commented on. For almost all of them, being “selected” for the Olympics was the big news: “To be allowed to take part in the Olympics!”

Something similar applies to being nominated for an Oscar, being accepted for a promising job, or getting one’s dream apartment, and so on. These nominations, these acceptances, are always a cause for joy.

“Vocation is a gift from God, an immeasurable gift of His love.”

All these worldly joys enrich our earthly life. But what if God nominates us? What would that mean concretely for our lives?

We live because God created us, and that includes a plan for each one of our lives. We are not here by chance; God connects our lives with a mission on earth. He has “nominated” us for His great plan. In Christian jargon, this nomination is called a “vocation.”

Blessed Álvaro del Portillo (2019) wrote: “Vocation is a gift from God, an immeasurable gift of His love, which we have received without deserving it.”

God’s nomination, vocation, is different from selection for the Olympics. There, one must demonstrate outstanding performance. With God, it is almost the opposite. Saint Paul said (1 Cor 1:27–29): “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”

Fittingly, here is a quotation from Brian Kolodiejchuk (2007): “I myself (Mother Teresa) am only a little instrument in His hands, and precisely because I am nothing, He wants to use me.”

Conclusion: Every man and woman is called—and not because of personal merit.

God prepares us for our tasks

For years, I have enjoyed reading biographies of outstanding personalities. As someone who professionally analyses personality profiles, I find it very inspiring to read about how the process of maturation unfolded in these people.

When saints emerge from among these personalities, another aspect comes into play: What were God’s interventions like? I find it fascinating to see how God forms from a block of wood—which we are—a sculpture of the highest order. God, as Creator, is an artist, and we provide the material. He shapes our cheap, stubborn material into a work of art—if we allow Him to act.

“God is at work in each one of us, transforming us into a work of art.”

How this process unfolds can be learned from the saints’ biographies, but in fact, each of us could tell the story of our own process. Yes, God is at work in each one of us, transforming us into a work of art.

In recent months, I have seen many videos in which people speak of precisely these interventions of God. Some are very dramatic. Generally, however, this is not the case. God acts beneath the radar of the public eye. Only watchful and reflective souls perceive these interventions and can attribute them to God.

Conclusion: God forms people according to their specific vocation.

How do I recognise my vocation?

How do we recognise our vocation? In the same way that we recognise a spouse, or the way we choose a profession, we feel drawn in that direction and allow ourselves to be won over by it — that would be the intuitive way.

There is also a reflective way of discovering one’s vocation: by reflecting on one’s own life and recognising a common thread that leads to one’s present situation.

“Vocation is a commitment to God, complete and lasting.”

In this article, I would like to understand the term vocation exclusively in relation to God. Vocation implies that God somehow communicates to us the words of Isaiah (43:1): “Do not be afraid. I have redeemed you; I have called you by name.”

For some people, such as Paul or the Apostles, this call was very clear and unmistakable. In the case of Mary, the Mother of God, even an archangel was sent so that she might learn of her election. God masters many forms of communication. Most of them are silent; only our soul and our heart perceive His calls, His words.

At the fitting moment of the call, God has been at work for years. In fact, He planned this process with meticulous precision and great love even before the creation of the world. He chose the right parents, friends, and surroundings to prepare us for the call.

Let us describe the term vocation once again: it is a commitment to God, complete and lasting. It means fully savouring the immeasurable love of God throughout one’s life.

“The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God. They were disciplined a little, yet they received great blessings.”

As so often in life, some of us fail to hear or simply ignore God’s call. Others are unfaithful and leave the path of vocation intended for them. God fully respects our freedom — even when we ignore this call.

Vocation includes a plan for our life, and that plan is better than our own. It is up to us to say yes to God or to ignore Him. Whoever says yes and remains faithful is granted a joy that the world cannot give. And this in the midst of suffering, adversity, misunderstandings, and even persecution.

In the Book of Wisdom (3:1–5), it says: “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God. They were disciplined a little, yet they received great blessings.”

Saint Josemaría Escrivá spoke of how generous God is in repaying our small services: according to him, the ratio between our effort and the gifts received is 1 to 100. Fidelity to one’s vocation means joy on earth and in heaven. This joy springs from intimacy with God, which is far stronger than the bond between spouses. This intimacy brings peace, strength, calm, and joy. They are part of God’s reward.

Conclusion: God speaks to us silently; only our soul perceives His words. Fidelity to one’s vocation is richly rewarded.

Suggestions for living one’s vocation faithfully

God knows us better than we know ourselves — many mystics say this, and it also reflects my own experience. And because He knows us and our surroundings, He does not expect miracles from us. He expects only that we make the best of our life — that is, that we shape it with His help, with His strength, with His love. Then our life is pleasing to God.

This can be reduced to a simple formula:

“All of us, without exception, are called to love: to love God and our neighbour.”

Spouses say to each other on their wedding day: “Faithful in good times and in bad.” With God, it is no different. Vocation does not mean having joy alone, but also suffering. Yes, suffering — because we have a vocation to love: whoever loves, suffers.

Recently, I read the following sentence: “When I look at Mary’s life, it seems that only after her yes to her vocation did the divine ‘complications’ begin — the ones she bore out of love for her Son and for us. Dear Mother, if You permit the comparison, then the divine ‘complications’ in my own life also began when I gave my yes to Jesus. Please teach me, Mary, to bear them in God’s spirit and to love them as You did. Thank you for this.”

Most biographies of the saints describe the pain and suffering they experienced. Jesus Himself showed us how much suffering His vocation on earth entailed. Spiritual writers repeat time and again that the road to heaven is narrow and difficult. The good news: it leads to heaven.

Our vocation means believing in God, loving Him, trusting Him, obeying Him, and serving Him. That is a full program. Is it possible? By our own strength, absolutely impossible — but with His grace, with the help of the Mother of God, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and with the service of our guardian angel, it is possible.

And that is precisely God’s plan. He has placed what might be called a “need for God” within us, so that we may recognise that we cannot live our vocation on our own, but only with His help. This is the teaching of the Church and the experience of many people who have taken their vocation seriously.

Johann von Löwenstein coined the phrase:

“Dear Jesus, kindle in us an enthusiasm for our vocation, coupled with an unceasing act of gratitude.”

Vocation is a life project that encompasses every aspect of our lives. It defines our purpose, that is, the reason for our concrete life. Vocation is God’s declaration of love to us:

“I want you to be with Me — first here on earth and then in heaven.”

Vocation implies that we use our talents and abilities for Him so that they do not lie fallow. Afterwards, He will judge us accordingly: Have you loved Me throughout your life and used your talents for Me? These are questions He will most likely ask us when we meet Him after our death.

An important characteristic of our vocation is this:

“Do good and do not talk about it.”

I would like to leave the final words of this article to Jesus: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Conclusion: Vocation can only be lived successfully with God’s help. It leads us to heaven.