Bringing you the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and His Church While PROMOTING CATHOLIC Apologetic Support groups loyal to the Holy Father and Church's magisterium
Home About
AskACatholic.com		 What's New? Resources The Church Family Life Mass and
Adoration		 Ask A Catholic
Knowledge base
AskACatholic Disclaimer
Search the
AskACatholic Database
Donate and
Support our work
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
New Questions
Cool Catholic Videos
About Saints
Disciplines and Practices for distinct Church seasons
Purgatory and Indulgences
About the Holy Mass
About Mary
Searching and Confused
Contemplating becoming a Catholic or Coming home
Homosexual and Gender Issues
Life, Dating, and Family
No Salvation Outside the Church
Sacred Scripture
non-Catholic Cults
Justification and Salvation
The Pope and Papacy
The Sacraments
Holy Orders-Priesthood
back
Relationships and Marriage situations
Specific people, organizations and events
Doctrine and Teachings
Specific Practices
Church Internals
Church History

Anonymous Martin wrote:

Hi, guys —

I have been taught that the priesthood or consecrated life is objectively a higher state or a higher vocation.

  • Since it is a higher vocation, for those who are called, does it mean that those who are priests and religious would attain a higher degree of sanctity in Heaven?

I have read, though I don't recall the words verbatim, that our happiness in Heaven is full. However, there are differences in degree. The book The Faith Explained used the analogy of different shapes and sizes of cups. While all the cups were full (fully happy), there were different capacities (sizes) of receiving happiness: some with more capacities than others.

My question revolves around:

  • Whether those who are priests or religious would have a higher capacity to receive God, or
  • Does the unique vocation given to each one of us lead us better to the highest degree of happiness that God wants us have?

Thank you!

Martin
  { Since it is a higher vocation, will those who are priests and religious get a higher level of sanctity? }

Bob replied:

Dear Martin,

While the priesthood allows for a greater capacity for grace, and therefore reward, it is still contingent on the individual to make use of that capacity. A priest who ends up in Hell is far worse off than any average saved soul in Heaven.

  • So each person's response to grace is just as important, for even if your vocational state allows for great grace, if you don't avail yourself of that grace how does it profit the person?

Think of it this way, a priest is given a Ferrari, but he is tottering along in the breakdown lane, while little old ladies are passing him in their old Fords from yesteryear. The parable of the talents teaches us the same lesson: To whom much is given, much is expected, (Luke 12:48) so, accordingly the responsibility is great.

So in the end, we ought to maximize our response to grace for that will assure the highest state of perfection, and help to even expand our capacity for more.

Peace,

Bob Kirby
Please report any and all typos or grammatical errors.
Suggestions for this web page and the web site can be sent to Mike Humphrey
© 2012 Panoramic Sites
The Early Church Fathers Church Fathers on the Primacy of Peter. The Early Church Fathers on the Catholic Church and the term Catholic. The Early Church Fathers on the importance of the Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome.