Seized by Christ

They are experiencing Christianity as joy and hope, having thus become lovers of Christ.

Tag: Christian vocation

  • From christian to Christian: The Heart of Vocations

    Vocations start with knowing Christ — the decisive question every Catholic must face

    Introduction

    In our previous blogs, we examined priestly vocations first through statistics, then through seven questions from Catholic to consecrated vocation. But even those questions assume something deeper: a man must already know Christ to respond faithfully. Without that encounter, the questions remain unanswered, the call unnoticed.

    This is where Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) offers a decisive lens for understanding vocations and Christian life itself. He asks:

    Have you experienced an event or person which gives life a new horizon, and a decisive direction? Do you experience it as joy and hope? Are you inwardly seized by Christianity, and have you become a lover of Christ?

    This is the question behind all vocations. Many Catholic men do not pursue the priesthood, not because of celibacy or rules, but because they have never fully experienced Christ in this way.

    The Core Reality

    A vocation is not primarily about a career path, a calling to serve a group, or a set of obligations. It is about responding to a personal encounter with Christ.

    • If a man has not experienced this decisive horizon in his life, celibacy will always seem like an obstacle.
    • If a man does not trust God with his life, obedience to a religious community will feel impossible.
    • If a man does not recognize the presence of Christ in others, service will seem burdensome.

    In other words, the foundation of all vocations is being seized by Christ Himself. All the statistical analyses, discernment questions, and organizational structures build on this first encounter. Without it, the rest is form without life.

    Creating Environments for Encounter

    This insight also shows what the Church can do to support vocations: create spaces and experiences where people can meet Christ personally. This is not just about instruction, programs, or prayer for vocations — it is about real-life encounters, mentorship, and communities where faith comes alive.

    As I have often reflected: when I pray for more workers in the harvest, God often shows me what I can do to move things forward. We cannot simply hope for miracles; we can build environments that foster encounter, trust, and spiritual growth.

    Conclusion

    The question for vocations — and for Christian living — is not primarily about celibacy, obedience, or even statistics. It is about Christ taking hold of a person’s life.

    Without that encounter, no numbers, programs, or rules will generate vocations. With it, even one man saying “yes” can change countless lives.

    Vocations begin at the heart, and the heart begins with Christ.

    Developed with assistance from ChatGPT-5

  • The Best Version of Yourself—or Something Greater?

    I first heard the phrase “the best version of yourself” on a business trip to Singapore. Later I heard Matthew Kelly use it, and I wondered—who said it first? Did he pick it up somewhere, or did others pick it up from him?

    Either way, whenever I hear it, I start asking questions. How many versions of myself are there supposed to be? It almost sounds like we’re meant to carry around a closet of personalities. “Today I’ll be Mr. Jekyll. Tomorrow I’ll be the thief. On Sunday I’ll put on my Christian self.” If that’s the case, then which one is the authentic self? And if I have to choose my “best” version, what does that say about all the rest?

    Maybe I’m on version 2.8 of my “best self” today—but what about 2.9, or 3.0? What if the best I can muster still isn’t very good? Do I just keep patching and upgrading like faulty software? Or will people ask, “Is that really your best version, or are you holding something back?”

    The more I hear this phrase, the more I think it misses the point. It makes “the best version of yourself” sound like something you accomplish on your own. But the truth is different: the best version of me is nothing compared to letting Christ live through me.

    And strangely enough, the more I put others first, the more “myself” I become. When I serve, I am surrounded by love and goodwill that multiplies my life far beyond what I could build alone. My “best version” is not about polishing up a private identity—it’s about creating the best version of my service, the best version of my vocation.

    So maybe the question isn’t, What’s the best version of yourself? but Who lives in you? Who do you belong to? Because if it’s just me, the best I can do is never enough. But if it’s Christ—then there is no limit.

    Epilogue: Where Did the Phrase Come From?

    The phrase “the best version of yourself” has become popular in motivational and self-help circles, but it has been especially tied to the work of Matthew Kelly, the Catholic author and speaker. Kelly made it a central theme in his books and talks, and for many people, the phrase is now inseparable from his message of spiritual renewal.

    That said, the idea itself isn’t unique to him. The broader self-improvement world has long promoted similar concepts about unlocking your potential, achieving your highest goals, or striving to become your “best self.”

    But here is the caution: when this phrase is left vague or purely self-focused, it can become just another slogan. It risks making people restless, always chasing after some imagined “best” that never arrives.

    Which brings us back to the Christian answer. The “best version” of you is not something you design or manufacture—it is what happens when Christ lives in you. Left to ourselves, we are always chasing. With Him, we are finally becoming.

    Developed with assistance from ChatGPT-5