Vocations

Every Christian has a vocation, but many young Catholics wonder whether God is calling them to marriage, priesthood or religious life, and how they could ever know. Here is what a vocation is, the signs that may point to one, and practical steps for discerning God's call.

Priests, deacons, monks, friars, brothers, nuns and sisters are often confused, even by Catholics. Here is a clear guide to who is who in the Church: what each is called to, how they live, what vows they take, and how to tell them apart.

Many Catholics are single, by choice or by circumstance, and wonder where they fit in a Church that often speaks of marriage and religious life. Here is what the Church says about the single life, the debate over whether it is a vocation, and how single people can live a full and holy Christian life.