Cardinals tell stories of their vocation

Cardinal Joseph Zen 13-03-2009
Its divine providence. The Salesians were the last comers in Shanghai. They had a house outside the city. But they were very active. They put up some operetta to attract students from schools and parishes in Shanghai.

Cardinal Francis Arinze
In the final analysis no one knows why a particular individual is attracted to the priesthood, religious life or marriage. But analysing it in our own weak, human way, I can say when I was a boy, there was a parish priest we had Father Michael Tanzi who impressed many of us. Many boys in the area wanted to become like him, so they wanted to become priests.

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragon
President Emeritus, Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care
I became a priest because of a calling from God our Lord, following a process of reason. You have the capacity to be a priest. You can say yes or no. God our Lord, according to this capacity, asks something of you. What do you say, yes or no? Well, I said yes, and the problem was solved.

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins
Prefect, Congregation for the Causes of Saints
I received my vocation when I was little. Maybe because at home we received missionary magazines, I always wanted to be a missionary priest to go to missionary lands.

Cardinal Julián Herranz
President Emeritus, Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
Mi initial vocation was not to be a priest, but to be a numerary of Opus Dei. I was a doctor, specialized in psychiatry and I was preparing to be a university professor in Spain.

Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga
Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras
I grew up in a Salesian atmosphere, and from the beginning I was struck by the figure of the Salesian close to young people, friend of young people, playing with them, that is capable of playing and singing any instrument.

Cardinal Julián Herranz
President Emeritus, Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
The founder of Opus Dei asked me to continue my studies in theology in Rome to lay the groundwork for Canon law, instead of going to Germany to do postgraduate studies in psychiatry.

Cardinal Francis Arinze
My parents were of the African traditional religion.. The ordinary religion around when the missionaries came, it wasnt that they believed in one God, good and bad spirits, ancestors, and worshipped ancestors and spirits not a bad idea. Not a bad preparation for Christianity, but...

Cardinal Francis Arinze
Our parents sent us to school, all the children. And gradually in the school we learned about the Catholic faith. We wanted baptism so I was baptised at the age of 9, but it doesnt mean that I was a staunch member of, let us say, the African traditional religion at the age of 9 years. How much would I know? So thats my background. My parents were not Christians at that time, but later on they became Christians, but they didnt persuade me to go to seminary.

Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga
Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Im about to celebrate 35 years of priesthood. I have been Bishop for 26 years, four years of being cardinal and Ive never regretted anything or felt sad for the decision I made. I would do it again immediately.

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins
Prefect, Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Though I always wanted to do missionary work, God had other plans. My superiors sent me to Rome to seminary school. Then I was ordained priest, and Ive been in Rome ever since.

Cardinal Julián Herranz
President Emeritus, Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
In life, its important to do Gods will so that your soul is at peace. The founder of Opus Dei wanted me to come to Rome, I didnt doubt that. I exchanged my train ticket for Germany to Rome and Ive been here ever since, tranquil and happy because I always did Gods will.

Cardinal Francis Arinze
Thats the human explanation I can give. Actually that priest later became a monk, and became Blessed hes beatified now. But the original of a priestly or religious vocation only Divine Providence can fully analyse it, how God attracts a person at that age 11, 12, 13...