THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Her Doctrine and Morals

Saint Bartholomew

24 August 2025

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The Sunday

Sermon

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Dear Friends in Christ,

From all His disciples, Jesus chose twelve to be His Apostles. Saint Bartholomew was one of these twelve. It is believed that he is the same person as Nathaniel, in whom there was no guile.

Everyone is called to be a disciple or follower of Jesus. Not everyone is called to be a religious, priest, or bishop. These clerical or religious vocations are not just specific callings; they are divine callings from God. It is not we who choose them; it is God Who chooses us. We are free to accept or reject God's calling, but we are not free to escape the consequences of our decisions.

Everyone must accept the discipleship of Jesus or suffer the consequences of being eternally separated from God. This is because, as Christians, we believe that there is no salvation outside of Jesus and His True Church. This means that our ultimate salvation is found in our relationship with Jesus and our participation in His Church. Above this, God has specific goals for each of us in how we are to follow Him. God gives some the vocation of marriage/parenthood. Others God calls to a celibate life in the world, in the religious life, or the clerical state. Directors of the spiritual life are quick to remind us that it is God Who called us, not we who have called ourselves.

While, in general, it is possible to save our souls in all these different vocations, specifically, we must cooperate with God in the vocation He calls us to enter. A person called to married/parental life will find it most difficult, if not impossible, to save their soul in the clerical or religious life. A person called to a life of celibacy in an unmarried, clerical, or religious state will find it most difficult, if not impossible, to save their soul in the married/parental state.

It appears that today's society wishes to avoid the vocations that God calls us to fill, out of fear of the crosses or burdens that accompany that station of life. Young people avoid marriage and parenthood because it will be difficult. It is too expensive, or it is thought that we could never do it well, or we are unworthy. There are countless excuses for us to avoid the crosses of our vocations.

None of us is worthy of the vocation that God gives us; however, we must always strive to become more worthy of the graces God has given us. Only God is good, but we are instructed to strive for perfection because God is perfect. There was only one perfect wife and mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the rest of women are imperfect, liable to err, and human. Every man is also imperfect, liable to err, and human. Our salvation is intimately connected to our vocation, where we embrace the daily crosses and burdens, and always strive to do better, to be better. This struggle is essential in every vocation. No one enters marriage as the perfect spouse. No one to whom God gives a child begins as an ideal father or mother. We learn and improve day by day with our successes and failures. Hopefully, constantly advancing in grace and virtue as we draw nearer to eternity.

Many avoid religious or clerical life because they fear the crosses and burdens of poverty, chastity, and obedience. In our immodest and impure environment, which often promotes materialism and individualism over spiritual values, young people perceive that celibacy is impossible for them. This is true if we rely only on ourselves. However, if we cooperate with the grace of God, we find that, with Saint Paul, we can do all things in Him Who strengthens us.

We seem to have cultivated a generation of children who want to avoid maturity and responsibility at all costs. Many panic at the thought of making their own decisions and living with the consequences. I think this is due to a lack of true faith and trust in God and His graces. As our bodies physically mature, so must our minds or intellects mature, and even more importantly, so must our souls grow or advance in the spiritual life. We must avoid rushing in where angels fear to tread, but we must also avoid idleness and indifference. We should avoid impulsive or rash decisions, but also avoid putting off indefinitely the call that God has given us. We need to answer the call when it is given, not when we want to, or when we think it might be "better." Maturity, wisdom, and understanding are all needed. And often we need those around us to help guide us in the ways to hear God's call and answer it with all our heart and soul.

Every vocation has its crosses, and these need to be embraced willingly and cheerfully for the love of God. We should not allow remorse or regret to enter our vocation. Looking back does not help. Cursed is the man who puts his hand to the plow and looks back. Those who have made vows to God, whether in matrimony or celibacy, are to find their true happiness and purpose in bearing the crosses and burdens that come with that state in life. Looking back with longing to the single state is foolish, childish, immature, and spiritually dangerous. This causes unhappiness and dissatisfaction. It often ends in breaking vows made to God (until death do we part). Once a vow made to God is broken, our lives become increasingly miserable because one broken vow sets the stage for more and more vows to be broken.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us!