Vocation and Work in the Spirit: Understanding Charisms in Relation to Work

Abstract

One of the unique aspects of Jesuit Ignatian education is the focus on vocation and discernment. Still, students’ misconceptions about vocation are not sufficiently addressed, especially the relation between work and vocation. This paper proposes
that Miraslov Volf’s pneumatological understanding of work provides insights that can help dispel misconceptions. Understanding one’s vocation as a charism can he lp students make more sense of work i n today’s context, as wel l help students
understand that work is not simply finding “the right job” that fits their passion and aspir ation but also c ooperating with and responding to grace in doing the good.