ASSUME you have the call...?

[GIMJ]

I posted this as a comment somewhere else earlier, but wanted to start a new thread to generate discussion:

I recently listened to a talk by a priest who belongs to an organization dedicated to increasing the number of priests and religious (Institute on Religious Life). The priest argued that God is most generous with his best gifts and that the priesthood is an objectively higher calling than other vocations, therefore many more people must be receiving calls than choose to act on them.

The priest estimated that 10 to 20% of Catholics are being called, but most do not answer the call - he said less than 0.5% of Catholics live as priests or religious (Recall the Gospel: “many are called but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen…?”)

He made it a point that all eligible Catholic males should consider the priesthood. I took him as saying that you should assume you’re being called and try to make yourself available to the call. God will make it be known if he wants you elsewhere.

So, my question is: Was the priest right? Should we close ourselves to the possibility of religious life only if God gives us a reason NOT to be a priest/religious? Or is the current attitude of first assuming you don’t have a vocation the correct mindset?

* If you want to download and listen to the entire thing, click here.

 

[buckr02]

I don’t know much about assuming you have the call, but I do have a problem with his logic. If priesthood is, as he says, a higher calling, then it would make sense that less people are called to it than more. Think about it - if priesthood is the more noble and prestigious calling, then wouldn’t it make sense that only the elite are chosen for it?

I compare it to the elite military groups of the US. Take the Navy SEALs for instance… the SEALs are arguably the most elite military force in the world, and only a very select few are admitted and can handle the duties. So since it’s the “highest calling” of the military world, it makes sense that very few are called to it.

I’m not saying he’s wrong and that we shouldn’t assume that’s what we’re called to, because I don’t know much about that. But I do have a problem with why he thinks that.

 

[chicago]

I don’t know much about assuming you have the call, but I do have a problem with his logic. If priesthood is, as he says, a higher calling, then it would make sense that less people are called to it than more. Think about it - if priesthood is the more noble and prestigious calling, then wouldn’t it make sense that only the elite are chosen for it?

I compare it to the elite military groups of the US. Take the Navy SEALs for instance… the SEALs are arguably the most elite military force in the world, and only a very select few are admitted and can handle the duties. So since it’s the “highest calling” of the military world, it makes sense that very few are called to it.

I’m not saying he’s wrong and that we shouldn’t assume that’s what we’re called to, because I don’t know much about that. But I do have a problem with why he thinks that.

A good priest I know once commented that the priesthood tends to draw to its ultimate ranks not the best or worst, but mostly the men somewhere in between. I’d lean towards agreeing with that, considering the usual mediocrity of typical Church leadership.

 

[chicago]

Or, to put it more positively, I think that the priesthood is an extraordinary vocation which most often draws from average men who have a special something and unique gift of self sacrificing service.

 

[Cloisters]

I posted this as a comment somewhere else earlier, but wanted to start a new thread to generate discussion:

I recently listened to a talk by a priest who belongs to an organization dedicated to increasing the number of priests and religious (Institute on Religious Life). The priest argued that God is most generous with his best gifts and that the priesthood is an objectively higher calling than other vocations, therefore many more people must be receiving calls than choose to act on them.

The priest estimated that 10 to 20% of Catholics are being called, but most do not answer the call - he said less than 0.5% of Catholics live as priests or religious (Recall the Gospel: “many are called but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen…?”)

He made it a point that all eligible Catholic males should consider the priesthood. I took him as saying that you should assume you’re being called and try to make yourself available to the call. God will make it be known if he wants you elsewhere.

So, my question is: Was the priest right? Should we close ourselves to the possibility of religious life only if God gives us a reason NOT to be a priest/religious? Or is the current attitude of first assuming you don’t have a vocation the correct mindset?

* If you want to download and listen to the entire thing, click here.

The priesthood is a higher calling because, according to St. Faustina of the Divine Mercy devotion, not even an angel can absolve someone from their sins–only the priest.

Look at the motley crew that was chosen for the 12 disciples. Talk about an unfocused, un-insightful group! Only after the Holy Ghost descended did they have the power to do what they had to do for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Holy Orders, while being exalted, is also subject to the natural law that whatever you make of it is what you’ll bring back to God. What most priests don’t realize is that it is a life committment sacrament, and Mary–the Mediatrix of All Graces–stands ready to bestow the necessary graces for a priest to grow in his vocation. BUT HE HAS TO ASK, which is according to God’s law of “Ask and ye shall receive.”

One of a bishop’s obligations is the spiritual development of his priests. The EASIEST way for him to do this is to recommend the daily rosary for them. If they are not celebrating the Mass, they still need to be present. It’s no wonder our priests are being called too worldly–after Vatican II, things really went downhill. Lack of the rosary and daily Mass, IMHO, are to blame.

Yes, there are many vocations being offered today. The world is in a terrible state, and we need workers for the Kingdom to show the world that God is alive, well, and trying to take care of the issues people keep complaining about.

We need to stop second-guessing God’s motives where numbers of vocations being given are concerned; concentrate on our relationship with JESUS and MARY; and let them guide us to where they want us.

FWIW.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[jpjd]

He made it a point that all eligible Catholic males should consider the priesthood. I took him as saying that you should assume you’re being called and try to make yourself available to the call. God will make it be known if he wants you elsewhere.

So, my question is: Was the priest right?

The priest is right. All male Catholics should consider the priesthood.

What you took him as saying is wrong. He is not saying you should assume you are being called. He is saying that all Catholic boys should consider the priesthood. It should be something that is considered among all the things a boy considers when he thinks about his future. That doesn’t mean assume you are to be a priest anymore than it means assume you are to get married. It just means, consider the priesthood as an option. Be open to it.