The Three Callings Explained

To make clear, then, the main differences between these three kinds of calling: the first is from God, the second comes through man, and the third comes from compulsion. A calling is from God whenever some inspiration has taken hold of our heart, and even while we are asleep stirs in us a desire for eternal life and salvation, and bids us follow God and hold fast to his commands with life-giving contrition. So we read in Holy Scripture that Abraham was called by the voice of the Lord from his native country, from all his dear relatives, and from his father’s house, when the Lord said: “Go out from your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house.” In this way, we have heard, the blessed Antony also was called, who received the occasion of his conversion from God alone. For on entering a church he heard the Lord saying there in the Gospel: “Whoever does not hate father and mother and children and wife and lands, yes, and his own soul also, cannot be my disciple”; and, “If you would be perfect, go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” With heartfelt contrition he took this charge of the Lord as if it were aimed at him in particular, and at once he gave up everything and followed Christ, with no prompting from the advice and teaching of men. [a]

The second kind of calling is the one we said comes through man: when we are stirred up by the example and advice of some of the saints, and so set on fire with the desire for salvation. By this kind, we never forget, we ourselves were summoned by the grace of the Lord, when we were roused by the advice and good example of the saint mentioned above to give ourselves up to this aim and calling. In this way too we find in Holy Scripture that it was through Moses that the children of Israel were set free from slavery in Egypt.

But the third kind of calling is the one that comes from compulsion. We have been caught up in the riches and pleasures of this life, and trials suddenly come upon us. They threaten us with danger of death, or strike us with the loss and confiscation of our goods, or strike us down with the death of those dear to us. And so at last, even against our will, we are driven to turn to God, whom we scorned to follow in the days of our wealth. We often find examples of this compelled calling in Scripture, when we read that because of their sins the children of Israel were handed over by the Lord to their enemies, and that because of their enemies’ tyranny and savage cruelty they turned back and cried to the Lord. And it says: “The Lord sent them a savior called Ehud, the son of Gera, the son of Jemini, who used the left hand as well as the right.” And again we are told: “They cried to the Lord, who raised up a savior for them and delivered them, namely Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.” And it is of such people that the Psalm speaks: “When he slew them, then they sought him, and they returned and came to him early in the morning; and they remembered that God was their helper, and the Most High God their redeemer.” And again: “And they cried to the Lord when they were in trouble, and he delivered them out of their distress.”