Spiritual integration

Vocational commitment, such as is inherent in the religious vows of a Roman Catholic priest, involves renunciation of and abstention from activities, behaviour and sources of love normally open to people in their everyday lives. Such commitment is intended to channel an individual's energies towards higher, universal purposes. Spiritually mature individuals are able to sublimate fundamental instinctual forces to higher objectives and values in the service of mankind and of God. Less mature people find the discipline of such vows has a negative effect and, rather than integrating their theological life, it causes mental and spiritual suffering and internal conflict with concomitant disillusionment and personality problems.