Avocation (from Latin vocatio 'a call, summons'[1]) is anoccupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated inChristianity.
Acalling, in the religious sense of the word, is a religious vocation (which comes from the Latin for "call") that may beprofessional or voluntary and, idiosyncratic to different religions, may come from another person, from a divine messenger, or from within oneself.
The idea of a vocation or "calling" has played a significant role withinChristianity. Since the early days of the Christian faith, the term has applied to candidates for theclergy. It soon began to be applied to those who felt drawn to a more rigorous observance of their faith through thecontemplative lifestyle of thehermits andmonks andnuns.[2]
Use of the word "vocation" before the sixteenth century referred firstly to the "call" from God[3] to an individual, orcalling of all humankind to salvation, particularly in theVulgate, and more specifically to the "vocation" to thepriesthood, or to thereligious life, which is still the usual sense inRoman Catholicism, althoughPope John Paul II refers to marriage as "a true vocation and mission" alongside religious life and ordained ministry.[4]
Martin Luther,[5] followed byJohn Calvin, placed a particular emphasis on vocations, or divine callings, as potentially including most secular occupations, though this idea was by no means new.[6] Later,[where?] Martin Luther taught that each individual was expected to fulfill their God-appointed task in everyday life. Although the Lutheran concept of the calling emphasized vocation, there was no particular emphasis on labor beyond what was required for one's daily bread.
Reformed Christianity transformed the idea of the calling by emphasizing relentless, disciplined labor. Calvin defined the role of "the Christian in his vocation", noting that God has prescribed appointed duties to men and styled such spheres of life vocations or callings.[7] Calvinists distinguished two callings: a general calling to serveGod and a particular calling to engage in some employment by which one's usefulness is determined.[7]Calvinism developed complex ideas about different types of vocations of the first type, connected with the concepts ofpredestination,irresistible grace, and the elect. There are thevocatio universalis, thevocatio specialis, only extended to some. There were also complex distinctions between internal and external, and the "vocatio efficax" and "inefficax" types of callings.[8]Hyper-Calvinism rejects the idea of a "universal call", a vocation, to repent and believe, held by virtually all other Christian groups. ThePuritan ministerCotton Mather discussed the obligations of the personal calling, writing of "some special business, and some settled business, wherein a Christian should for the most part spend the most of his time; so he may glorify God by doing good for himself".[9] Mather admonished that it was not lawful ordinarily to live without some calling: "for men will fall into "horrible snares and infinite sins"".[9] This idea has endured throughout the history of Protestantism. Almost three centuries after John Calvin's death in 1564Thomas Carlyle would proclaim, "The latestGospel in this world is, 'know thy work and do it.'"[10]
The legacy of this religious ethic continues to exert its influence insecular Western society.[citation needed] Modern occupations which are seen as vocations often include those where a combination of skill and community help are implied, such as medical, care-giving, and veterinary occupations. Occupations where rewards are seen more in spiritual or other non-financial terms, such asreligious occupations, are also seen as vocations. Borderline occupations, wherecommunity service and more personal reward are more evenly balanced, such aspolitics, may often be regarded[by whom?] as vocations.
InProtestantism, the call from God to devote one's life to him by joining theclergy is often covered by the English equivalent term "call" or "vocation", whereas in Roman Catholicism the term "vocation" is generally used.
Both senses of the word "call" are used in1 Corinthians 7:20, wherePaul says "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called".[11]
The idea of vocation is central to the Christian belief that God has created each person with gifts and talents oriented toward specific purposes and a way of life. In the broadest sense, as stated in theCatechism of the Catholic Church, "Love is the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being".[12] More specifically, in theEastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches, this idea of vocation is especially associated with a divine call to service to the Church and humanity through particular vocational life commitments such asmarriage to a particular person,consecration as a religious dedication,ordination to priestly ministry in the Church and even a holy life as a single person. In the broader sense, Christian vocation includes the use of one's gifts in their profession, family life, church and civic commitments for the sake of the greater common good.
TheOrthodox Church in America teaches:[13]
Everyone has a vocation. And all vocations are “religious.” This does not mean that everyone is called to serve the church in a professional manner; to be a bishop, priest, deacon, monk, nun, psalmreader or church worker of one sort or another. Obviously not all are called to these specifically ecclesiastical ministries. But everyone is called to serve God and their fellow human beings in some form of life which God Himself wills.[13]
In theCatholic Church, a candidate to thediaconate andpriesthood is referred to as being called to this service in the Church. The term is also used for those inconsecrated life.
InEvangelical Lutheranism, the discernment of an individual's vocation or calling includes categories of priesthood, religious life, as well as to "all our duties and responsibilities."[15] For those who possess a call from God to serve the Church as a priest, "it is a vocation that requires a genuine faith commitment with serious implications for how the priest lives her or his life."[16] Those Evangelical-Lutherans desiring religious life may become areligious brother orreligious sister, or they may become amonk or anun (residing in a monastery or convent);solemn vows of poverty, chasity, and obedience are taken (cf.Daughters of Mary andThe Congregation of the Servants of Christ).[17]
InReformed churches, the decision of a church to invite for appointment a particular minister - to "invite in due form to the pastorate of a church (Presbyterian or Nonconformist)" (OED) may be referred to as acall, such asextending a call to so and so, and is first cited from 1560 by the OED.[18]
AmongBaptists andMethodists, the sense of deliberate purpose before God is generally an expected part of the choice to seek ministerial work in the first place and is often referred to as acalling orcall.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints describes a calling as "a duty, position, or responsibility in the Church that is issued to a member bypriesthood leaders.... [it is] an opportunity to serve."[19] The church uses a layclergy, with most members receiving no compensation for the execution of their callings.[20] Prominent church leaderJ. Reuben Clark said, "In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In the [church], one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declines."[21] Prior to beginning service, a person is presented to church membership for asustaining vote to that calling.[22] The person is thenset apart to serve in the calling by thelaying on of hands.[22]
Since the establishment of Vocational Guidance in 1908 by the engineerFrank Parsons, the use of the term "vocation" has evolved, with emphasis shifting to an individual's development of talents and abilities in the choice and enjoyment of a career. This semantic expansion has meant some diminution of reference to the term's religious meanings in everyday usage.[23][unreliable source]
Leland Ryken argues for seeing the call of God to a particular occupation as a reflection of the gospel call, and suggests that this implies vocational loyalty – "modern notions of job become deficient" and "the element of arbitrariness of one's choice of work" is removed.[24]
The latePope Francis sawbusiness as a "noble vocation", noting in its favour that it produceswealth andprosperity and "improves our world", especially when "it sees thecreation of jobs as an essential part of its service to the common good".[25]
These books have attempted to define or clarify the term vocation.
The dictionary definition ofvocation at Wiktionary