Women. You Have a Vocation.

By Jillian Cooke, MTh, MAPM

Fr. Kolbe Missionary of the Immaculata

I do not pretend that this is a well-researched article. Rather, it is a gut reaction to a tweet that I've watched retweeted upward of 100 times this morning. It reads: 

 @GilbertLiz A woman needs a vocation. Something that has nothing to do with relationships. Something that belongs to her alone.  #secret to happiness 

I figure that if people are retweeting it,that means they are listening, and they agree or at least like the sentiment. I

Living our Vocation.... with joy!

disagree, and what is more, I imagine that nature disagrees with this statement on a few levels. I think that this sort of thinking ultimately leads to loneliness and emptiness, which I imagine is not what anyone is going for... 

1st. Woman Needs a Vocation

Woman has a vocation, if you consider vocation to be a calling. It seems that this is a common understanding of the word, regardless of who is doing the calling. Of course, as believers we know that God calls us to something specific. The VERY fact that we are women (or men) means that we are called to something specific. There is a destiny written in the fibers of our being, in our very soul. Woman don't need a vocation, they need to discover it! 

2nd. Something that has Nothing to do with Relationships

Find me a human (and a woman!) that can be fulfilled outside of relationship - with friends, family, or God - if not a spouse. Though the spousal relationship is surely meant to be the most intimate and fulfilling. As a consecrated virgin I am fully convinced of this and try to live a "spousal" relationship with my God - that is the total offering of myself and having the open heart to receive Him fully. Women have a magnificent sense of relationship and an ingrained willingness (sometimes to her detriment in this fallen society) to enter into relationships. I would argue that at a fundamental, natural level, women's vocation is to enter into relationship. Healthy. Sane. Holy relationship. 

3rd. Something that Belongs to Her Alone

Women are hard on themselves, and this is very sad. There is a great need on a social and moral level - not to mention the personal level of course! - for women to recognize what is especially hers. Her personality, her beauty, her intelligence, her talents, her limitations, her identity. True. But to keep it for her alone? Then, it dies, smothers, because no fire of love purifies it and no gift received adds to it. There are things that are uniquely and marvelous hers, but nothing belongs only to her ---- for we are God's children and stewards with a responsiblity to care for ourselves and love ourselves so that we can in turn love our neighbor. 

Women have a vocation. It has everything to do with healthy relationships. It is her unique mission to be shared with the world. This is the #secrettohappiness