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Christianity Quote by Daniel G. Opperwall

“We often conceive of worldly life as merely a kind of default existence that anyone who is not specially called to monasticism or ordination simply ends up leading. We assume that it is only the monk, nun or priest who has a special call, while the married woman, for instance, has merely been…” quote by Daniel G. Opperwall
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““We often conceive of worldly life as merely a kind of default existence that anyone who is not specially called to monasticism or ordination simply ends up leading. We assume that it is only the monk, nun or priest who has a special call, while the married woman, for instance, has merely been passed by. [...] But we must not allow ourselves to approach it merely in these terms. Instead, every one of us should, indeed must, treat lay life as a calling just the way we think of monasticism and ordination. We must sit down with ourselves and with God in prayer to discern if life in the world really is what we are meant for, and if we discover that it is, we must reat this call with the same seriousness with which we would treat a call to a hermit's life in the desert. We are not lay people simply because we happen not to be monks or priests. We are lay people because God wills that we lead a life weeking our salvation through the world.””

Daniel G. Opperwall

About This Quote

Source Sermon: The Call of Lay Life, 2018

Laypeople should view everyday life as a divine calling, equal in seriousness to monastic vocations.

In simple terms: Treat ordinary life as a sacred mission.

Key Takeaway

Live daily work with purpose.

Themes

spirituality purpose vocation

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

theological philosophical

When to use this quote

  • career decisions
  • family responsibilities
  • community service
  • personal prayer

Key Concepts

calling discernment salvation

Questions to Reflect On

  • What daily actions reflect your sacred calling?
  • How can you discern if your work aligns with divine purpose?
A Different Perspective

Secular pressures may dilute spiritual focus.

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