---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps the Lord has called me and…"
description: "\"Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this service not because I am particularly fit for it, or so that I can govern and rescue the Churc..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/pope-paul-vi-7633_church_perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-prese_1871690.jpg"
---

#  Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this…

![“Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this service not because I am particularly fit for it, or so that I can govern and rescue the Church from her present difficulties, but so that I can suffer something for the Church, and in that way it will be clear that he, and no other, is her…” quote by Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/pope-paul-vi-7633_church_perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-prese_1871690.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/pope-paul-vi-7633_church_perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-prese_1871690.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/pope-paul-vi-7633_church_perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-prese_1871690.jpg)

> “Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this service not because I am particularly fit for it, or so that I can govern and rescue the Church from her present difficulties, but so that I can suffer something for the Church, and in that way it will be clear that he, and no other, is her guide and saviour”

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The Pope sees his calling as suffering for the Church, emphasizing humility and divine guidance over personal suitability.

**In simple terms:** Service through suffering, guided by God.

Key Takeaway

Accept humble service for others.

Themes

faith humility service divine guidance

Mood

reverent solemn

Type

spiritual theological

When to use this quote

- pastoral work
- missionary work
- personal trials

Key Concepts

theology sacrifice

Questions to Reflect On

- How does suffering deepen faith?
- What does divine guidance mean in modern life?

A Different Perspective

Suffering may not suit everyone.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Guide Saviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guide-saviour-2586977/) [Guides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guides/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Lord Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-called-892173/) [Rescue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rescue/) [Rescue Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rescue-church-2586976/) [Saviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saviour/) [Service Particularly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service-particularly-2586975/) [Suffer Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffer-church-2586978/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [...the only thing that makes the Church endurable is that it is somehow the body of Christ and that on this we are fed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/the-only-thing-that-makes-the-church-endurable-is-that-it-is-somehow/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [Our Lord never called His people to help build the tower of Babel in the hope of getting a Bible study in the basement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chilton/our-lord-never-called-his-people-to-help-build-the-tower-of-babel-in/)

[David Chilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chilton/)

> [The Bible says that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/the-bible-says-that-all-things-work-together-for-the-good-of-those/)

[Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/)

> [“assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/assuredly-gathering-that-the-lord-had-called-us-for-to-preach-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“To maintain peace in situations of externally induced problems, the Lord has called that an effort, and to maintain oneness with the Self, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/to-maintain-peace-in-situations-of-externally-induced-problems-the/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [The Lord called me by the way of simplicity and humility, and this way He hath shown me in truth for me and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/the-lord-called-me-by-the-way-of-simplicity-and-humility-and-this-way/)

[Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/)

> [Brethren, let us mind our own business - that is, the calling the Lord has called us to - to do everything we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/brethren-let-us-mind-our-own-business-that-is-the-calling-the-lord/)

[Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/)

> [People get caught up in asking whether Americans should be going here or there. What it boils down to is the call of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/people-get-caught-up-in-asking-whether-americans-should-be-going-here/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [I feel very happy since the Lord called me to step out in faith, and I obeyed. The Lord is our inexhaustible treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-wallis/i-feel-very-happy-since-the-lord-called-me-to-step-out-in-faith-and-i/)

[Arthur Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-wallis/)

> [“God Calls Samuel One night, Samuel lay resting in the tabernacle. The Lord called to him, “Samuel, Samuel.” “Here I am!” said Samuel, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-partner/god-calls-samuel-one-night-samuel-lay-resting-in-the-tabernacle-the/)

[Daniel Partner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-partner/)

> [The Lord called me to plant a church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-rush/the-lord-called-me-to-plant-a-church/)

[Bobby Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-rush/)

> [“Is there anything in your life that is hinders you from touching heaven? The Lord has called us to be a holy people Exodus 22:31.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-wallace/is-there-anything-in-your-life-that-is-hinders-you-from-touching/)

[Clay Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-wallace/)

> [As we look upon that agony and those tearful prayers, let us not only look with thankfulness; but let that kneeling Saviour teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-we-look-upon-that-agony-and-those-tearful-prayers-let-us-not-only/)

[Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/)

> [Not simply the righteousness of our Saviour, not simply the beauty of His holiness or the graces of His character, are we to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adoniram-judson-gordon/not-simply-the-righteousness-of-our-saviour-not-simply-the-beauty-of/)

[Adoniram Judson Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adoniram-judson-gordon/)

> [“Whoever sees the Saviour, the light of life, shall be satisfied in spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whoever-sees-the-saviour-the-light-of-life-shall-be-satisfied-in/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

## More by Pope Paul VI

> [For you deal here above all with human life, and human life is sacred; no one may dare make an attempt upon it. Respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/for-you-deal-here-above-all-with-human-life-and-human-life-is-sacred/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [“To love can mean 'to love oneself,' and often love is no more than a juxtaposition of two solitudes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/to-love-can-mean-to-love-oneself-and-often-love-is-no-more-than-a/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [The unique and indivisible existence of the Lord glorious in heaven, is not multiplied, but is rendered present by the sacrament in the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/the-unique-and-indivisible-existence-of-the-lord-glorious-in-heaven/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [Twenty-two martyrs were recognized, but there were many more, and not only Catholics. There were also Anglicans and some Mohammedans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/twenty-two-martyrs-were-recognized-but-there-were-many-more-and-not/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [Peace is not merely the absence of war. Nor can it be reduced solely to the maintenance of a balance of power between enemies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/peace-is-not-merely-the-absence-of-war-nor-can-it-be-reduced-solely/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [Christ did not found an abstract religion, a mere school of religious thought. He setup a community of apostles, of teachers, with the task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/christ-did-not-found-an-abstract-religion-a-mere-school-of-religious/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [Marriage and conjugal love are by their nature ordained toward the procreation and education of children. Children are really the supreme gift of marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/marriage-and-conjugal-love-are-by-their-nature-ordained-toward-the/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [Every mother is like Moses. She does not enter the promised land. She prepares a world she will not see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/every-mother-is-like-moses-she-does-not-enter-the-promised-land-she/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [We see in these swift and skillful travelers a symbol of our life, which seeks to be a pilgrimage and a passage on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/we-see-in-these-swift-and-skillful-travelers-a-symbol-of-our-life/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [After long centuries, agrarian civilization is weakening. Is sufficient attention being devoted to the arrangement and improvement of the life of the country people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/after-long-centuries-agrarian-civilization-is-weakening-is-sufficient/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [The world calls for and expects from us simplicity of life, the spirit of prayer, charity towards all, especially towards the lowly and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/the-world-calls-for-and-expects-from-us-simplicity-of-life-the-spirit/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [I met a hundred men going to Delhi and everyone is my brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/i-met-a-hundred-men-going-to-delhi-and-everyone-is-my-brother/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [The Eucharistic mystery stands at the heart and center of the liturgy since it is the fount of life by which we are cleansed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/the-eucharistic-mystery-stands-at-the-heart-and-center-of-the-liturgy/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the Living Heart of each of our parishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/jesus-in-the-blessed-sacrament-is-the-living-heart-of-each-of-our/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [This pious practice, by which the Blessed Virgin Mary is honored and the Christian people enriched with spiritual gifts, gladdens and consoles us. Mary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/this-pious-practice-by-which-the-blessed-virgin-mary-is-honored-and/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

[Explore all 89 Pope Paul VI quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

## More Church quotes

> [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. Recognition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/while-the-1963-birmingham-church-bombing-is-the-most-historic-there/)

[Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/)

> [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/)

[Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/)

> [Turn over the pages of history and read the damning record of the church's opposition to every advance in every field of science. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/turn-over-the-pages-of-history-and-read-the-damning-record-of-the/)

[Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/)

[Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/)

> [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/)

[Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/)

> [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/)

[Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/)

[John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/)

> [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/)

[Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/)

> [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [The minute you walk outside of your church on Sunday you're in mission territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/the-minute-you-walk-outside-of-your-church-on-sunday-you-re-in/)

[Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/)

> [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/)

[Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/)

[Browse all 9,430 Church quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this service not because I am particularly fit for it, or so that I can govern and rescue the Church from her present difficulties, but so that I can suffer something for the Church, and in that way it will be clear that he, and no other, is her guide and saviour",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pope Paul VI"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-preserved-me-for-this-service-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Church"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-preserved-me-for-this-service-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/pope-paul-vi-7633_church_perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-prese_1871690.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/pope-paul-vi-7633_church_perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-prese_1871690.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/pope-paul-vi-7633_church_perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-prese_1871690.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this service not because I am particularly fit for it…” — Pope Paul VI",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Pope Paul VI",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Perhaps the Lord has called me...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-preserved-me-for-this-service-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/perhaps-the-lord-has-called-me-and-preserved-me-for-this-service-not/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
