Our history

It aims to promote and support all research in humanities about vocation in a large and open understanding within the society in a wide meaning through all kind of lay or religious institutions.

To achieve this mission, it acts to raise the awareness about each vocation dignity and complementarity withing the civil society and to serve it. As a matter of fact, according to the Church aknowledgement, each Christ faithful are equal in dignity, even through différent and complementary paths:

« From their rebirth in Christ, there exists among all the Christian faithful a true equality regarding and action by which they all cooperate in the building up of the Body of Christ according to each one’s own condition and function. »

(Canon of Law, canon 208)

Located in France, the Research and Anthropology Centrer for Vocations carries out international academic research, set up events aiming to nurture it and to issue outcomes and provide training programs. Thus, it will commit scientists, women and men theologist, reliogious and lay from all continents.

Rooted in anthroplogy, studies would enlight a better understanding in lay vocations seen not as « half-vocations » or second rank vocations but unfold within the universal call to holiness, based on the baptism which introduces into Trinitarian Communion, and which was forcefully recalled by the Vatican II Council:

« Strengthened by so many and such great means of salvation, all the faithful, whatever their condition or state, are called by the Lord – each in his or her own way – to that perfect holiness by which the Father himself is perfect »

Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Lumen Gentium, n. 11

And Pope Francis to comment:

« Each in his or her own way » the Council says. We should not grow discouraged before examples of holiness that appear unattainable. There are some testimonies that may prove helpful and inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that could even lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for us. The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts (cf. 1 Cor 12:7), rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them. We are all called to be witnesses, but there are many actual ways of bearing witness.

— Pope Francis

At the same time, it is a question of understanding the proper role of the priesthood and of consecrated life which, together with lay vocations, are the three ways in which the faithful of Christ realize the call to holiness inscribed in baptism.

Research will begin its work around the theological foundations of the priesthood in the continuity of Vatican Council II duly rooted in the Great Tradition of the Fathers of the Church.