vōˈkāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English vocacioun, from Late Latin vocation-, vocatio, from Latin, summons, bidding, invitation, from vocatus (past participle of vocare to call) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at voice
1.
a. : a summons from God to an individual or group to undertake the obligations and perform the duties of a particular task or function in life : a divine call to a place of service to others in accordance with the divine plan
does not the sense of divine vocation … need to be reintroduced as motivation into the profession of teaching — Gordon Poteat
specifically : a divine call to a religious career (as the priesthood or monastic life) as shown by one's fitness, natural inclinations, and often a conviction of divine summons
resolve not to leave the seminary until someone in authority … tells him he has no vocation — J.H.Wilson
b. : the divine act by which an individual is invited or brought to accept salvation through the gospel — compare effectual calling
I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus — Phil 3:14 (Douay Version)
c. : an official invitation to a particular ecclesiastical office ; especially : call 2d(1)
2.
a.
(1) : a task or function to which one is called by God
the asceticism of the Middle Ages … regarded the religious calling as the only true vocation — E.G.Homrighausen
getting married is an answer to an invitation from God; and … marriage is a vocation — M.J.Huber
(2) : the responsibility of an individual or group to serve the divine purposes in every condition, work, or relationship of life : one's obligations and responsibilities (as to others) under God
vocation involves the total orientation of a man's life and work in terms of his ultimate sense of mission — R.F.West
domination of physical nature is part of the vocation of man — New Scholasticism
b. : the work in which a person is regularly employed usually for pay : line of work : occupation
vocation : carpenter
soon made art his vocation , although he had intended to follow it only as a sideline — Americas
those who are philosophers by vocation will … leave it to the amateur philosophizing of scientists and men of letters — R.B.Perry
— opposed to avocation
c. : the special function of an individual or group within a larger order (as society) : role
being a husband and father is only one of many vocations of a married man — Margaret Deland
: task
it is not the vocation of the philosopher … to devise and furnish formulae that will define what are in all cases reasonable decisions — F.L.Will
3. archaic : the position in life in which God has placed a person : estate , station
walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and … long suffering — Eph 4:1 (Authorized Version)
4. : the membership of a particular occupational group : the persons engaged in a field of business, profession, or trade
the vocation of politics contains probably more than its share of brave and conscientious men — John Lodge
5. : a strong inclination toward a particular type of work or course of action
moved by a deep messianic vocation — John Bright b. 1908
though an earnest devotee, she felt no vocation for the cloister — Francis Parkman
one who is not a dissenter by vocation — M.W.Straight
a personage whom I might describe minutely, but I feel no vocation for the task — Charlotte Brontë
6. : an entry into preparation for the priesthood or a religious order
all religious communities, he said, are praying and hoping for vocations … to staff educational, charitable and other institutions — H.C.Bezou