Becoming a Priest

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Dear brothers & sisters

I am 25 year old male. From my college years, the thought about asceticism and monastery life are on some corner of my mind, but my current religion is not supportive for these ideas.

8 months ago, I’ve completely read Old Testament, New Testament and Qur’an. Based on my life experiences, “Ecclesiastes” chapter reflects my viewpoint about life.

And from a certain point, all I want to do with my life; understanding about God, extending my intellect, having a great wisdom, helping people and becoming a kind of fountain. This fountain of course, performs it’s actions in God’s will and on his serve. With all aspects, my ideas are evolved to priesthood.

I found questioning myself is this just a desire or something like that. During this time, I attend some Sunday services and midweek services. This week, I felt the courage and talked with a priest in person.

I expressed my thoughts to him. Obviously first thing he said is you need to be a Christian. He offered me to visit church, emphasized getting to know each others intentions in no hurry. He also said if I am suitable, he will help me on steps which I need in time.

I will be glad to hear your precious opinions, informations about what I should do etc. and I am open any recommendations about this process.

Thank you for reading and sparing your time
 
Yes that all sounds good.

It is important to find time in silence, where you can pray and listen to God. Spend some time reading the Gospels and meditating on the words of Christ. Keep in touch with a priest so he can give you the next steps as you sort things out interiorly. We are not intended to discern life alone. You may end up in this or that vocation, but what is universally important for mankind is that we allow ourselves to be led by God. God has far better plans for us than we do for ourselves.
 
It would be wonderful if you converted to Christianity, whether or not you decided in the end to become a priest.

I think since you have already found a priest to help and guide you in taking the first steps, it would be good if you followed his advice on what to do, and kept in touch with him. I think he will have the best suggestions since he is there talking to you in person and you can go to him with any questions you have.

I will pray for you, especially for your conversion so you can know the joy of a deep relationship with Jesus Christ in our Holy Mother Church. Congratulations on your good beginning and may Our Lady of Good Help guide you.
 
I’m pretty sure you mean you’re not a confirmed Catholic. My advice would be take it slow. I’ve had dreams of this or that and truth be told I’m glad they didn’t happen. My dreams have sort of changed over time.
 
Truthguard said:
Dear brothers & sisters

I am 25 year old male. From my college years, the thought about asceticism and monastery life are on some corner of my mind, but my current religion is not supportive for these ideas.

8 months ago, I’ve completely read Old Testament, New Testament and Qur’an. Based on my life experiences, “Ecclesiastes” chapter reflects my viewpoint about life.

And from a certain point, all I want to do with my life; understanding about God, extending my intellect, having a great wisdom, helping people and becoming a kind of fountain. This fountain of course, performs it’s actions in God’s will and on his serve. With all aspects, my ideas are evolved to priesthood.

I found questioning myself is this just a desire or something like that. During this time, I attend some Sunday services and midweek services. This week, I felt the courage and talked with a priest in person.

I expressed my thoughts to him. Obviously first thing he said is you need to be a Christian. He offered me to visit church, emphasized getting to know each others intentions in no hurry. He also said if I am suitable, he will help me on steps which I need in time.

I will be glad to hear your precious opinions, informations about what I should do etc. and I am open any recommendations about this process.

Thank you for reading and sparing your time
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Do you feel that this is a calling or a lifestyle choice?
 
It is good that you have found a priest as guide.
Your next step would be to start an RCIA class.
That is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Beginning the class is not a statement of commitment. It just means that you are inquiring in to the Catholic Faith. It is an opportunity to learn more about what the Catholic Church teaches. You will be given a Catechism, and most likely a Bible. If you decide that you want to become a member of the Catholic Church, you will have a sponsor who will help you.
New catechumens traditionally join the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil Mass.

Once you receive the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, and are initiated into the Church, if that is what you choose, you can continue your spiritual direction with the priest that you found. He will continue to guide you throughout this whole process.

You have made a start by searching. If your lifetime search does take you into seminary, your current knowledge of the Quran may come in handy in later studies. The focus of course will be on Catholic teaching, on the Bible, and the Fathers of the Church. You will learn if this is indeed the direction in which God is calling you.

Take things one step at a time. You have begun with the very first step, finding a priest to be your guide. Listen to him.
 
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-armbcp-No

Published on Sep 28, 2012Father Lazarus El Anthony (Arabic: ابونا لعازر الانطونى) was born in Tasmania and had worked as a university lecturer in a provincial city in Australia teaching literature and philosophy, very often preaching against Christianity in many of his classes. He spent about forty-years of his life as a militant atheist, deriving his philosophy from Marxism. When his mother was diagnosed with incurable cancer and died, “he began realise that he had indentured himself to things, to the promise of illusory happiness; and began to understand the true paradox of existence: that it cannot be ordered or forecast.” Ultimately he abandoned his life in Australia and went in search of God and freedom. His pilgrimage eventually brought him to rejecting the empty doctrine of Marxist Atheism and embracing the life of a Coptic Christian monk. He met H.H. Pope Shenouda III, who lead him to where he is today. Father Lazarus El Anthony lives in solitude on the Al-Qalzam Mountain (Egypt). It was in a cave at this mountain that the great hermit, the founder and the father of the monastic life, Saint Anthony the Great (Abba Antonius) lived. At the foot of the mountain lies St. Anthony’s Monastery (Deir Mar Antonios), the oldest active Christian monastery in the world, founded in 356 AD, just after the saints’ death. The video shown above combines episodes one through four of the television programme “A Monk’s Life”, directed by Ramy Ibrahim and aired on the Coptic Youth Channel. Episode five continues here: bit.ly/S6FxIjI
 
Ontheway said:
Do you feel that this is a calling or a lifestyle choice?
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I second this.

Examine your motivations. Why do you want to be a priest? Do you simply find the lifestyle attractive, or is it something more? Priesthood is no small task and priests are responsible for many souls, so this is nothing to take lightly.

It sounds like from your original post that you’re not Catholic/Christian. If this was the case, you would have to become Catholic. This is s long process and you have to be sure you truly believe in and desire to live out the tenants of the Catholic faith. Take your time and trust your priest. He can help you much more than we can. There’s no need to jump in head first, so take things slow and steady while you’re figuring out where God is calling you to.

All the best!
 
Truthguard said:
Dear brothers & sisters

I am 25 year old male. From my college years, the thought about asceticism and monastery life are on some corner of my mind, but my current religion is not supportive for these ideas.

8 months ago, I’ve completely read Old Testament, New Testament and Qur’an. Based on my life experiences, “Ecclesiastes” chapter reflects my viewpoint about life.

And from a certain point, all I want to do with my life; understanding about God, extending my intellect, having a great wisdom, helping people and becoming a kind of fountain. This fountain of course, performs it’s actions in God’s will and on his serve. With all aspects, my ideas are evolved to priesthood.

I found questioning myself is this just a desire or something like that. During this time, I attend some Sunday services and midweek services. This week, I felt the courage and talked with a priest in person.

I expressed my thoughts to him. Obviously first thing he said is you need to be a Christian. He offered me to visit church, emphasized getting to know each others intentions in no hurry. He also said if I am suitable, he will help me on steps which I need in time.

I will be glad to hear your precious opinions, informations about what I should do etc. and I am open any recommendations about this process.

Thank you for reading and sparing your time
Click to expand...
Thank you for coming here and asking for our thoughts! That’s a good sign that you want to treat this decision with the honor and reflection that it deserves.

Now, with that said, my opinion would be to stay in contact with that priest. He knows you better and has more experience, so he can give better advice than us anonymous strangers on these forums.

God bless you in your journey, good sir. :blessyou:
 
It’s great to see such comments like this. It made my day even more happier and bright.
 
You don’t have to wait for the start of RCIA to start reading books like Anthony DeMello’s Song of the Bird or The Rule of Saint Benedict. Regarding St. Benedict’s Rule, there are books that are written about how to apply the Rule while living in the secular world. That’s more in my line of thinking. Look for ways to incorporate simplicity into your current lifestyle.
The priest will help you with prayer. It’s about balance and routine.
 
DebChris said:
You don’t have to wait for the start of RCIA to start reading books like Anthony DeMello’s Song of the Bird or The Rule of Saint Benedict. Regarding St. Benedict’s Rule, there are books that are written about how to apply the Rule while living in the secular world. That’s more in my line of thinking. Look for ways to incorporate simplicity into your current lifestyle.
The priest will help you with prayer. It’s about balance and routine.
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Sounds good. I’ll check the books which you’re suggested.
 
Instead of the Rule of St. Benedict, I would focus on the Rule of St. Columba. St. Benedict’s rule is practical and provides strict rules for living a holy life, but in my opinion it can be too legalistic. I found my home in the Rule of St. Columba because its more spiritual and it focuses on conversion of the heart, not conversion of the mind.

Just my suggestion.
 
Adam_Cook said:
Instead of the Rule of St. Benedict, I would focus on the Rule of St. Columba. St. Benedict’s rule is practical and provides strict rules for living a holy life, but in my opinion it can be too legalistic. I found my home in the Rule of St. Columba because its more spiritual and it focuses on conversion of the heart, not conversion of the mind.

Just my suggestion.
Click to expand...
Yes. With that, we need to combine these two.
 
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