Living Catholicism: What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

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October 17, 2004

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

The classic childhood question. We all have thought about it as children and, more than likely, as adults. Yet how are we to understand this innocent question or, better yet, as parents how do we help our children answer this question?

Many Catholic parents cringe at the thought of their son or daughter pursuing a religious vocation. They say things like; "But we want grandchildren..." or "Don't you want your own family?" Of course, there are serious problems with these questions, from a Catholic prespective, that cannot be ignored. But in order to understand this from a truly Catholic prespective let us return to the child's first moments of existence.

As Catholics we believe that each child is a gift from God and, necessarily so, created by God. Therefore, in light of these two realities, we must, as parents, accept God's will for our children's lives. If we trust that Almighty God is a loving, caring, just God, then we must surrender to Him, placing all of our hope in Him. God has a distinct purpose for every human being. It is our vocation, as parents, to make sure that our children have been properly prepared to discern God's will for their lives. So how do we do this?

1) Prayer - each and every day we pray that our children will do God's will and that they will remain faithful to God and His Church all the days of their lives.

2) Example - As parents our vocation is already known, we are called to live the sacrament of "Holy Matrimony." By our conscious, faithful example we teach our children the value of trusting in God.

3) Education - Teach your children about the married life, the priesthood, the various religious orders, lay apostolates, and single life in order for them to have a firm foundation on which to built. How is a young man to discern a vocation to the priesthood if he doesn't even understand what it entails? The ability to do this requires us to be "educated," we cannot give what we do not have.

4) Encouragement - Encourage your children to think about the purpose of their life, to pray about it asking God to show them His will for their lives.

5) Live a Sacramental Life - prepare your children to make a vocational decision by providing them with as many opportunities as possible to receive sacramental grace. Go to Mass daily if possible, with your kids. Take your children to monthly confession. If you can find a good priest to give you and your children spiritual direction do so. Make sure that your children are both baptized and confirmed.

All of these steps will better prepare both you and your children to know God's will. It is of the utmost importance that each and every one of us surrender to God's will every day. Therefore, live the Gospel daily and teach your children to do the same. It can make all the difference.