Through the prophet, Jesus says: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears me calling and opens the door, I will enter and sup with him and he with me." Revelation 3:20

"Be ye perfect."

All Christians, married, single, clerical, lay, are called to love God 100% "with heart, mind, soul & strength." The great 19th century English divine, John Henry Cardinal Newman voices the challenge this way: "God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission -- I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place while not intending it -- if I do but keep His Commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am. I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me -- still He knows what He is about."

A Further Invitation

"IF you would be perfect..." Jesus also spells out the difference between just being "a good Christian," and going all out. To a certain rich young man who asks Jesus what he must do to be saved, Jesus says, "Keep the commandments." When the man says he has done all that, what is there left to do? Jesus replies, "If you would be perfect, go and sell what you have and give to the poor... and come follow me." (Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-30, Matthew 19:16-30)

Not all are called to literally "leave all things" to follow Christ. But many have, in various ways, which the Catholic tradition calls the Religious Life. In this extension, we provide a concise history of the dedicated life; we also invite you to visit a changing part of our site: Vocation Story. If reading this material raises a question in you about joining our community, you might want to look at Acid Test.