The commandments of God are these ten:

1. I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.

2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

3. Remember thou keep holy the Lord’s day.

4. Honor thy father and thy mother.

5. Thou shalt not kill.

6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

7. Thou shalt not steal.

8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods

We should not be satisfied merely to keep the commandments of God, but should always be ready to do good deeds, even when they are not commanded.

    Real love never says “enough.” It always tries to do all it can for the one it loves, not just so much and no more.

    Loving God perfectly means doing everything, every day in the way He prefers us to do it because we want to please Him.

Our Savior especially recommends the observance of the Evangelical Counsels — voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity, and perfect obedience.

COME, FOLLOW ME

When we say “Evangelical Counsels,” we mean following the recommendations for perfect love of God found in the Gospel of Christ. Those who follow these counsels take vows to keep each one. They are called religious. Their vows consecrate them to Our Blessed Lord and give them the best possible helps to reach perfect love of Him.

Taking the vows of the religious life is the best way to walk in the footsteps of Christ and Mary.

PRIESTS in religious institutes take vows and also receive Holy Orders. (See pages 211-214.) They may engage in all the works of the priesthood, but usually do missionary work of some kind.

BROTHERS take vows (but do not receive Holy Orders) and do a man’s work for Christ, like St. Joseph, such as teaching young men, acting as medical aides, doing mechanical work, carpentry, etc.

SISTERS take vows and do a woman’s work for Christ, teaching children and young women, nursing, social work, etc.

The life of those who take vows is called THE RELIGIOUS LIFE. The life of those who do not is called secular life. The comparison between the religious life and secular life is not a comparison between good and evil, but between good and better.

Our Lord's words: "If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me" (Matthew 19, 21).
 

Words of the Church: “The doctrine of the excellence of virginity and of celibacy, and of their superiority over the married state, was . . . revealed by our Divine Redeemer . _ . ; so too, it was solemnly defined as a dogma of divine faith by the holy Council of Trent” (Pope Pius XII, Encyclical on Sacred Virginity).

Words of Christ to all those who exercise authority in His name: “He who hears you, hears Me” (Luke 10, 16). By obedience, a religious hears the voice of Christ speaking through the superior. He wants to please God perfectly in every detail of the day’s activities, and obedience always shows him how. Those not under obedience serve God in their own way, but cannot always be sure that what they are doing is what is most pleasing to Him.

SIGNS OF GOD’S CALL

1. Suitability (physical, mental, and moral)

2. Right intention (desire to please God)

3. Freedom from impediments (such as sick parents needing support)

Since most do not have all these signs and the majority do not have religious vocations, see page 220 for signs of vocations to the single and married states.

A vocation is God’s call: “What would God prefer me to be?” — not “What would I prefer to be?” The big obstacle is selfishness, lack of generosity with God in little things: frequent Communion, daily Rosary, obedience, kindness to others we don’t like, etc. Selfishness in little things results in selfishness concerning one’s vocation. “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22, 14). Pray daily and seek the advice of a priest to know your vocation.

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