Monday, August 27, 2012

A Different Vocation Crisis

I was reading a book by Cardinal Dolan today, entitled "Doers of the World".  It was chapter two that the Cardinal was discussing "A Different Vocation Crisis" meaning, marriage.

I have long thought that we, as Catholics, should not only pray for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life, but also to good sacramental marriages. And he says as much:

"To put it bluntly, fewer and fewer people are getting married at all. Researchers tell us that only 50 percent of Americans are getting married - Catholics included!
Clearly we have a vocation crisis in the sacrament of matrimony! When we pray for "an increase in vocations," we mean priest, sisters and brothers, but we had better start adding "for an increase in vocations to life long, life giving marriages."

What is behind the dropoff in marriages? The Cardinal cites researchers who claim a fear of commitment; apprehension about marriage because this generation has seen so many fail, a preference for a career and care for self rather than the selfless sacrifice marriage necessitates and the convenience of "living together" which gives couples all the bonus without the onus of marriage."
"We have a problem. A lack of vocations to matrimony is a disaster for our country, for our Church, for humanity!"
And we are already seeing plenty of that problem.

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