
Theology of Religious Vocation
Roman Catholic Books
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Here’s the still-unsurpassed guide to discernment—grounded in the theology of Aquinas.On the question of religious vocation, all are agreed: Acandidate must be called by God. But how God calls,and how one knows He has called, are questions thatreceive widely differing answers. Errors are costly: A“false” vocation can harm both the Church and the manor woman who was not truly called. A vocation“missed” means a life’s full potential unrealized—andperhaps an incalculable loss to souls.
Which is why this book by Fr. Edward Farrell, OP,received such high praise from reviewers, educators andpastors alike when it first appeared in 1952. FatherFarrell’s aims:
1) to lay down “practical, workable principles, asimmediately proximate to action as possible, whichcan be used profitably by confessors and spiritualdirectors in their task of guiding prospectivecandidates for the religious state”; and2) “to order, crystallize, and make explicit a body ofThomistic doctrine on religious vocation.”
In fact, Fr. Farrell succeeded in doing even more: As severalreviewers pointed out, his guidebook was no less indispensable toyoung men and women considering religious life—and theirparents—than to pastors and counselors. The reason? Soundadvice and reliable answers on topics like:
“As complete a guide as seems possible for judgingreligious vocations....practical...This book should be avaluable aid to directors, an immense help to the youngthemselves.” —Ave Maria (1952)
“Candidates’ qualifications are treated extensively. Theauthor also singles out the individuals who are the mostimportant instruments in the work of fostering a vocation.”—Catholic Educational Review
“Analyzes vocation in the light of accepted doctrine onvirtues and their influence on human acts, and is able therebyto arrive at a real definition of religious vocation....From anelaboration of this, the author then evolves workable principlesthat can be used profitably by spiritual directors in guidingprospective candidates for the religious state.”—Dominicana“The author has attempted, and in the opinion of thisreviewer with great success, ‘to order, crystallize, and makeexplicit a body of Thomistic doctrine on religious vocation.’”—The Catholic Educator
“A valuable aid to directors, animmense help to the young themselves”
Hardcover