.
Well, finally I outstripped the new and improved time limit!
.
.
While it might be possible God's answer to prayer could be a "nudge" in the direction of a certain gainful occupation for a Catholic, usually when we say "vocation" it refers to God's calling us into the religious life. I have heard several Novus Ordo priests attempt to equate the so-called vocation to married life with vocation to become a sister in a convent or a brother in a priory. This was not the case before Vat.II and consequently it must be a result of the ambiguity and unclean spirit of Vat.II.
.
For example, Novus Ordo parishes now offer the so-called vocation of "Permanent Deacon" by which a Novus Ordo Catholic can get a salary or "stipend" for showing up and getting vested and conducting ceremonies that take the place of priests. The whole concept has the unmistakable aspect of Protestantism about it. Traditionally, in the Western Church a deacon is a man on the way to becoming a priest, and it's a temporary designation as one of the steps along the way: (minor orders) Porter, Lector, Exorcist, Acolyte; (major Orders) Subdeacon, Deacon, Priest. And a Deacon then who doesn't become a Priest is one who left the path for whatever reason, not because it was some kind of "career option." Furthermore, so-called Permanent Deacons I have known I have found to be conspicuously ignorant of important Church doctrines and generally far too materialistic in their outlook.
Certainly there are some gainful occupations that can be more beneficial to the Church and God's glory in the world, but in many cases a Catholic only has occasional opportunities to do or say something that is helpful that way. It seems to me that every occupation presents a kind of balancing act for the Catholic, in which he must always have in mind the avoidance of sin and the doing of morally upright acts.
.
In our present time, worldiness and the activism of morally impure people have been encroaching on our daily lives to the degree that it is more and more challenging to pursue a career without having to suffer setbacks or loss of advancement because of our desire and intention to avoid sin and adhere to a Catholic moral code. Therefore the Catholic balancing act is getting more difficult as time goes on.