In January, the Diocese of Harrisburg initiated a new campaign, “Called by Name.” This campaign, according to the Diocese, was “not only an opportunity for us as individuals to be open to God’s calling in our lives [but] also a chance for us to allow God to call others through our initiation.” The campaign encouraged parishioners to share the names of those they know who may be called to the priesthood or religious life.
You might have read that announcement in your parish’s bulletin, but dismissed it because you didn’t know anyone who you thought would be a good priest or Sister, or, you might have thought, “Who am I to tell folks what they should or should not do?” If you thought this, I respectfully challenge your train of thought. You see, each of us is called by God to respond to His will according to our way of life. If we are truly followers of Jesus, we are impelled to follow the will of God. “Obeying the will of God is perhaps the most perfect expression of hope; it is an act of complete trust in God. By conforming our will to God’s will we trust that he knows better what is good for us than we do. By conforming our will to God’s will, we trust that we will take care of everything in the best possible way. The virtue of hope is expressed in the fact that God wills what is perfectly and eternally good for us. The act of hope is expressed in our trust in God.”1
In a sense, hope and trust are two different sides of the same coin. I could even say that trust and love echo the reality that I explained in the previous sentence. Trust is keenly associated with faith. If one has a profound trust in God, their faith is also unshakable! To go further, if one has a profound trust in God, their hope in His promises is also unwavering. Lived hope, trust, and love impels us to give ourselves in charity. These three intersecting circles of hope, trust and love affect each other. These Theological virtues are so important! According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “They [the theological virtues of faith, hope and love] are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life.” (CCC 1813)
To choose to live in the will of God is a lifestyle that centers completely on God. Living in His will mandates us to make choices that reflect His teaching. By our baptism, we are called to actively seek to live within His will. “Hope requires us to recognize that (1) we often don’t know exactly how God desires His will to unfold and (2) it is often not up to us to accomplish God’s will in a particular situation.”2 This is the mystery in which we are asked to surrender.
We are Called by Name to follow Christ. Our hope must lie in the fact that God is in charge of His church. But, He can and does use us to fulfill His will. Then, why not speak to those you know that would be a wonderful priest or religious Sister. Let us hope that those who are called declare, FIAT: Be it done to me according to Your will!
1Pacer, Mike. Mercy and Hope. Lighthouse Catholic Publishing, 2015. Pg. 169.
2Ibid. Pg. 172.
By Sister Geralyn Schmidt, SCC, Special to The Witness
