Roman Catholics in the United States spend a good deal of time speaking of "vocation" and the manner in which each of us discerns our vocation for life. In today's apostolic letter, however, Peter gives us the "cornerstone" of our vocation, the description of what each of us is called to first and foremost by our baptism. He describes our vocation as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of [God's] own, so that you may announce the praises" of Christ, who called us out of darkness into light (1 Peter 2:9). All of us, no matter what path our life's vocation may take us down, have been chosen by God, made holy, and anointed as priests in the high priesthood of Christ through baptism. All of this, so that we may announce the praises of Christ. Vocation is given for proclamation at home, in the workplace--wherever life takes us--in service, in word, and in sacrament.

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