Alberto Hurtado, SJ - A Personal Calling

One of the greatest conquests of Christian life lies in understanding that Christ looks upon every one of us individually in order to let us know what His exact will is. He stops before everyone, before each single one of us, placing His divine hands on our heads. If we think of ourselves as lost amidst the mass of the anonymous faithful; if we think that the words and invitations of Christ are addressed to a mass of followers; if we think that our relationship with Christ remains in the realm of the collective, we have not understood the divine fatherhood nor our role as the children of God. The moment of grace comes when we realize that the eyes of Christ are fixed upon each one of us, that His hand is beckoning every single one of us individually, and that we are the reason for His coming to this earth and that we are the recipients of His clearly defined wishes. He has singled out each one of us amongst the crowd. Every one of us is not just one amongst thousands. Such a multitude does not exist. There is only God and each one of us, given that we must see everything else, including our brethren in God.

Thus, knowing this special calling that God makes upon each individual in particular must be the greatest concern of our lives. The life of a Christian is a long journey ending in Heaven. Our most ardent passion must be that of embarking upon that journey without ever exposing ourselves to missing the final station that shall lead us before the eyes and the love of God, our Father.


	August 18, 2005 On October 23, 2005, Chilean Jesuit priest, Alberto Hurtado, will be canonized. In recognition of this joyous event, Jesuits in the Maryland Province will receive regular electronic bulletins featuring writings of Father Hurtado. For more information on Father Hurtado, visit www.mdsj.org/hurtado.
	A PERSONAL CALLING Alberto Hurtado SJ One of the greatest conquests of Christian life lies in understanding that Christ looks upon every one of us individually in order to let us know what His exact will is. He stops before everyone, before each single one of us, placing His divine hands on our heads. If we think of ourselves as lost amidst the mass of the anonymous faithful; if we think that the words and invitations of Christ are addressed to a mass of followers; if we think that our relationship with Christ remains in the realm of the collective, we have not understood the divine fatherhood nor our role as the children of God. The moment of grace comes when we realize that the eyes of Christ are fixed upon each one of us, that His hand is beckoning every single one of us individually, and that we are the reason for His coming to this earth and that we are the recipients of His clearly defined wishes. He has singled out each one of us amongst the crowd. Every one of us is not just one amongst thousands. Such a multitude does not exist. There is only God and each one of us, given that we must see everything else, including our brethren in God. Thus, knowing this special calling that God makes upon each individual in particular must be the greatest concern of our lives. The life of a Christian is a long journey ending in Heaven. Our most ardent passion must be that of embarking upon that journey without ever exposing ourselves to missing the final station that shall lead us before the eyes and the love of God, our Father. This page is archived at www.mdsj.org/hurtado/hurtado_1.html