Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is known by the universal Church. In fact, the cardinal archbishop of Manila is repeatedly seen as a future pope candidate.
But while it is not yet known how God intends the cardinal's future, what is clear is that the journey through his 60 years of life has been filled with wonder and obedience.
Looking forward to next year's bishops' conference with the theme of youth and vocations, Aleteia interviewed Cardinal Tagle about the challenges for us to find God's will.
Monika Burczaniuk: A council with the slogan Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment will take place next year. What do you want to say to young people? How do they realize their vocation?
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle: Some young people think of a vocation as a miracle sign, a voice from heaven or a flash of lightning. Not really. It might happen, but it's rare. With Paul and Moses, yes, but it doesn't happen often for us. I always tell young people that God works in human terms. God's grace is what God intends for us. He created every human being with a purpose. And that purpose has already been recognized. We have to discover it. That's so easy. (laugh)
Really easy?
Must look into your heart! You must know yourself, know the gifts you have received, your talents and interests. Then purge our heads and hearts to realize that we don't just live for ourselves. Then we will be able to discern how to use our talents in the service of others. This is the beginning of vocation discernment. All our talents and interests come from God. He gives them to us, with the intention that they are not strictly our own.
We live in a time when it is not easy to hear our inner voice. The world is shutting its ears to the inner calling.
Yes, that's right. Before the council we met many young people who said they had found a vocation, but that their situation was not always easy to listen to. Especially nowadays, we follow so many things, phone, internet, mail, sms… They are good, but sometimes through these links we are present all over the world.
Someone in Europe, but connected to what's happening in Australia. And even without looking for noises, any media can make them. So we need some framework. I tell young people that in order to have more meaningful relationships with others, they sometimes have to separate themselves.
That doesn't mean cutting ties with others! Solitude, prayer, reflection, and even rest, are ways to get to know yourself better and thereby become more engaged in relationships with others. When we are busy and always have things to do, we cannot pay attention to those around us and the poor need us. Sometimes in the family, each member is so focused on the virtual world that they lose connection with others. Therefore, time for yourself is not the wrong kind of separation. Which is a time to improve relationships with others.
So if someone has two opinions about his vocation. Become a doctor or become a priest? Which path should that person choose?
A very good question. These are good options. It's easy to choose when one is good and the other is bad. I know I will choose the good. But sometimes, when it comes to defining your path, you find yourself in favor of both options. You are good at both. And even the world needs both, and both serve people. It's hard to choose, but I believe in this case one factor should be thought of: which would help me to follow Jesus more? And in not all cases, the answer is also to be a priest.
Should we consider this factor when getting married? What if we had two good choices?
First, realize that you can't have it all.
And this is exactly the problem of today's world.
Yes, we want everything. We want the ideal life, the ideal partner, the ideal job. As soon as we see an imperfection, we say, “No, this is not for me.” You will never find the ideal one! To choose the right person, one must identify one's motives through reflective prayer, then simply take the "leap of faith." And one more question needs to be answered. “In what way will I be closer to Jesus? Under what calling will I serve others more?”
What about father's vocation?
Initially, my father intended to be a doctor.
So I'm asking too well!
Yes, that's right! Dad dreamed of being a doctor since he was a kid. Parents are also happy about that. By the age of 14, a youth community was formed and he was invited to join. I didn't like it at first, but this community helped me see a different reality. My community helps street children, children from poor families, and children living in slums. Father helps others, but still holds the desire to be a doctor. Someone asked me if I wanted to be a priest, but I didn't care. "No, I'm going to medical school, and I'll just lend a hand in the parish."
But then suddenly, something happened. A priest he knew asked him if he knew it was possible to get a scholarship to a Jesuit university. The father said, “You can take a pre-med course there. If I get a scholarship, I can help my parents.” So my father entered there. During the first exam, I realized that there was no medical exam, only the seminary exam! Angry father! "Why did you lie to me?" I yelled at the priest, and he replied, “I just want to open your eyes, you have limited yourself to the medical field!”
I was angry, but then I started questioning myself. When he began to see that he had a priestly disposition, he found out that the seminary exam that time he had failed. And at the same time, Dad got a pass to a medical school, and was able to start medical school. But he began to question himself and consult many people.
Father was bewildered and prayed a lot. “Lord, show me the way through these ambiguities, for I cannot see it myself.” Then slowly, slowly… I decided to go back to the seminary and ask to take the exam again. Father was rejected. After two or three rejections, he decided that because the seminary door was closed to him, he would pursue a career as a doctor.
On the day of registration, my father came to line up. The Jesuit priest interviewed candidates who saw his father, and asked: “What are you doing here? He's so stubborn. The superintendent said he didn't accept you!"
“I know, and that's why I don't try again. I chose medicine.”
So the father said. "Follow my father." He interviewed him, called someone, and said, “Since you've shown interest, try it out. But it's only for one semester!" …So they let me attend the seminary for one semester.
And now I'm a cardinal! Life is truly unbelievable.
The father's conclusion is. Find your way, but open your heart to what life pushes. Not everything can be controlled. Who thought it up? I'm a pick-up seminarian, and as you just said, I'm a cardinal now. Finding the way for yourself, you have to work on your own, but you also need help from others. Those who know me, and see things I don't see about myself. I was angry with that priest, but it was thanks to him that I discovered my vocation!
What a great story!
Such is life. Looks like I've made the final decision… But it turns out it's just… So I want to tell the young people not to get discouraged. Sometimes young people break down when their plans fail. But we have to take a broader view: maybe God has something better for us?
I think freedom is the first step to discerning a vocation.
That's right. But freedom doesn't mean I can do everything I want. Freedom means being honest, not being chained by lies and illusions. I am free because I know who I am. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I am free because I know what I can do. If I'm not good at math, how can I be an accountant, and that's normal. Freedom means giving oneself to others, and this is the purpose of every vocation. Freedom consists in truth and love. If you don't love freely, it's not love.