worship or religion but the one He has revealed.  He tells us Himself how He wishes to be worshipped, and our own invented methods will not please Him.  Hence we see the folly of those who say that all religions are equally good, and that we can be saved by practicing any of them.  We can be saved only in the one religion which God Himself has instituted, and by which He wishes to be honored.  Many also foolishly believe, or say they believe, that if they are honest, sober, and the like, doing no injury to anyone, they shall be saved without the practice of any form of religious worship.  But how about God’s laws and commands?  Are they to be despised, disregarded, and neglected entirely, without any fear of punishment?  Surely not!  And persons who thus think they are doing no harm are neglecting to serve God—­the greatest harm they can do, and for which they will lose Heaven.  God, we are told, assigned to everyone in this world a certain work to perform in a particular state of life, and this work is called “vocation.”  One, for instance, is to be a priest; another, a layman; one married; another single, etc.  It is important for us to discover our true vocation; for if we are in the state of life to which God has called us, we shall be happy; but if we select our own work, our own state of life without consulting Him, we shall seldom be happy in it.  How are we to know our vocation?  Chiefly by praying to God and asking Him to make it known to us.  Then if He gives us a strong inclination—­constant, or nearly constant—­for a certain state of life, and the ability to fulfill its duties, we may well believe that God wishes us to be in that state.

After we have begged God’s assistance, we must ask our confessor’s advice in the matter, and listen attentively to what the Holy Ghost inspires him to say.  The signs of our vocation are, therefore, as stated:  first, a strong desire, and second, an aptitude for the state to which we believe we are called.  For example, a young man might be very holy, but if unable to learn, he could never be a priest.  Another might be very learned and holy, but if too sickly to perform a priest’s duties, he could not, or at least would not, be ordained.  Another might be learned and healthy, but not virtuous, and so he could never be a priest.  Aptitude, therefore, means all the qualities necessary, whether of mind, or soul, or body.  The same is true for a young girl who wishes to become a religious; and the same, indeed, for any person’s vocation.  We should never enter a state of life to which we are not called, simply to please parents or others.  Neither should we be persuaded by them to give up a state to which we are called; for we should embrace our true vocation at any sacrifice, that in it we may serve God better, and be more certain of saving our souls.  Thus, parents and guardians who prevent their children from entering the state to which they are called may sin grievously by exposing them to eternal loss of salvation.