Can a person become a priest when they have a well controlled mental illness?

[Mrs_Sally]

UPDATE: I spoke to the vocations director of my diocese. He said that I was too new of a Catholic for there to be certainty about a vocation yet, and that I should get more involved in parish life and take up some lay ministry or something. He asked me to wait six months to see how all that and my illness pan out before we talk again and we’ll take it from there. So, not too bad.

Excellent advice! I’m so glad you contacted him and will be praying for you as you pursue your new Catholic life!

 

[Alex2008]

I was severely bullied in high school, so I sometimes have an irrational fear of being harassed by strangers who don’t understand me. However, I’m kind of being misunderstood in this situation and I’m not flopping around like an epileptic so I’d say I’m good to go. But unless they test me or actually give me a chance, if I were to just state my diagnoses they’d probably shut down on me and give me das boot.

I have Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and PTSD. See, your alarm bells probably just went off and HARD.

However, I have NO mood swings, NO hallucinations, and NO delusions due to me being on meds that work with NO side effects. I don’t retreat into a shell, have flashbacks, or spaz the hell out except on rare occasion. I have gained such a great understanding of my interior life, and such a level of watchfulness, that I can stop myself from getting emotional. My biggest issue is getting somewhat anxious and scared that people are judging me, but right now these are minor flaws that are actually dying a swift death with every day of faith, prayer, and communion that passes. Most of the time I am calm, cool, collected, and even sometimes contemplative.

Most people with my diagnoses do not make it this far in recovery, and the problem is I’m going to be lumped in with that norm.

Oh Lord,

To put it mildly, you will be bullied and harassed by Parishoners who don’t understand you! It sounds kind of harsh, but it is true! I wonder if your calling might actually be to serve as a Counselor with people who suffer in the same way as you?? As a person of faith you can bring that into counseling where appropriate.

Having been a priest and left because of severe depression, If I were you, I would not go down that road…it will lead to great suffering for you!

 

[Lisa001]

Thanks for the courage to share this. I was a nun and also needed to leave due to mental illness- and my entering had been an exception in the first place. I was doing “just fine” when I entered, but it did not stay that way. There are really not words to explain how painful that was. I have not again reached the level of functioning I had attained before this crisis, although I am doing very well, thanks to the Mercy of God.

The church rightly guides us away from vocations in which we will not flourish- and the life of a priest or religious is replete with pressures and difficulties which can easily send those of us with these particular crosses into deep trouble.

I realize this might not be a popular point of view, but, what the heck- I am just trying to point out the wisdom of the church. Not trying to win any popularity contests here, just stating the truth as I have experienced it firsthand.

 

[WoundedIcon]

Well, I see where you are coming from, however I must say that I have a very rich interior life due to my illness and a certain level of self-awareness and watchfulness that alerts me at this point in life to the fact that, truly, marriage would place so much pressure on all of my weak points that I would most likely break down under it. I would literally feel oppressed by my job, wife, and children. Not to say that I don’t believe in sacrifice in the name of love, but marriage would immolate me. This is coming from a man who once felt such a disordered need for the love of the opposite sex that he would become abusive and contemplate suicide if he couldn’t have the one for which he had fallen. The Lord has so freed me from the need for love, and by grace drawn me to Himself, that today I only want to love Him and be close to Him - and thus I feel no need for romantic love any longer, rather seeing it as an obstacle between me and the Lover of my soul. Not to say that I disparage the dignity of the married life, but all of us are called to different things and in my situation - with my particular character - I know with a high level of dispassionate certainty that marriage is not an option any longer. To tell the truth, I find young women attractive but I find no pleasure in contemplating being with them.

My reasoning may sound jaded or cold, and please don’t think I look down on marriage for those who truly are made for it, but logic and reason inform me that it I am not suited for such a life and thus, my heart being elsewhere, I must abandon it in favor of a greater good that truly does inflame my passions. Whether that greater good be the consecrated lay life or the priesthood is God’s call to make. Perhaps if I’m denied permission to enter the seminary I will reconsider this decision. Perhaps emotion will one day sweep me off my feet and redirect my reason to the end of marriage, making me see it as truly good for me. At this point in my life I can’t say what will happen, but as long as the opportunity is there I will direct my life, will, works, and feelings toward pursuing the priesthood. Only when there is a clear sign of a want of vocation will I reconsider, because this service is where my heart is.

I should say, in closing, that I am not merely “running from” marriage but am “running to” wholehearted dedication to God. I see many benefits, some spiritual and some profane, in the celibate life. It truly is more attractive to me.

Pun intended.

Love and blessings,
Tony

 

[WoundedIcon]

I see now that the blessedness of celibacy, and the grace to celebrate it, is a gift of God and I thank Him.

I love how our Father turns the world upside down.

 

[Catholic80]

The religious life is VERY intense. The struggles only increase when you enter and you never know what you are going to face. It’s also often very lonely, even if you are around a lot of people.

You don’t know how you will be later on. If you already are struggling now, then chances are, it will only become more difficult for you with a rigorous lifestyle. Priests have to give of themselves 24/7. Often they are stressed and fatigued.

Trust that the seminary knows from experience what they are doing and trust the Holy Spirit. If it is God’s will for you, the doors will be opened.

It doesn’t mean that you don’t have a vocation to serve in some way. Not to point out an extreme, but the demoniac that Christ cured wanted to follow Christ and be an apostle. Christ told him, no, and told him to spread the news about what Christ had done for him.

The demoniac had a vocation. It wasn’t any “less” than the apostles.

I’m not saying you are possessed, by the way. It’s just an example that popped into my head.

When someone enters a religious life, the devil is going to try to tempt him even more than normal. This would be intense for someone struggling with mental illness - even a controlled mental illness.

 

[WoundedIcon]

Well I was just thinking, because I had a dream about it last night, but what if God needs me to marry someone who otherwise would be miserable or not make it to heaven? What if there’s a girl out there who needs me, in other words?

 

[AAArose]

In calling your future children “miserable lunatics” you are calling yourself that and everyone else with a mental illness.

People with mental illnesses may be miserable, but their suffering has value! In Christ, suffering has value.

Saying that people are miserable lunatics is not to see people as God sees them, sees you, sees all of us.

Pope Benedict XVI said that everyone is willed, loved and necessary. That means you!

And if God were to give you the gift of special children, they would also be willed, love and necessary to God and to His plan of salvation.

I suggest that you check out the information on the website of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability about Mental Illness.

ncpd.org/ministries-programs/specific/mentalillness

Read “Welcome and Valued.”

I would also recommend the book Surviving Depression, A Catholic Approach by Sr. Kathryn Hermes from Pauline Books. (ISBN 0-8198-7077-3)

amazon.com/Surviving-Depression-Catholic-Kathryn-Hermes/dp/0819870773

This book is for anyone suffering from a mental illness. It contains Sr. Kathryn’s own story and many other people’s stories, including stories of the saints. She has many suggestions for prayer too.

Wounded Icon, you may be wounded, but so was Christ.

THANK YOU for posting!!!

 

[AAArose]

Or God may be leading you to another order or diocese. Like in my case. God led me to the diocese that accepted me. And after all I went through, The diocese that accepted me is only 100 miles from my home It is funny how God works. He told me never ever give up and trust in me. I finaly did and bingo here I am a seminarian headed to seminary in less than 5 days, No one has a right to ordination, but they have a right to be free to discern if God is calling them. If you get rejected dust your feet off and move on to the next. If that burning desire never leaves and you pray and pray for it to be lifted and doesn’t, and no other vocation gets you excited than God is calling you and steering you to somewhere that HE wants you to go. For me married life was not it single life was not it nor religious life. Where does that leave me or anyone else in the same situation, Priesthood. So keep at it and don’t give up. Again as far as rights. No one has the right to be married to be single to be a priest brother or anything, it is God’s right to call you or not. And if God is calling you to priesthood vows whathaveyou. It then IS your God given right!!! God Bless Scoob.

 

[AAArose]

Well I was just thinking, because I had a dream about it last night, but what if God needs me to marry someone who otherwise would be miserable or not make it to heaven? What if there’s a girl out there who needs me, in other words?

Marriage need to be carefully chosen as a vocation just as the priesthood does. Your 22 no one says you have to pick a vocation right now just give God some time and carefully consider his calling for you. I read all eight pages because this subject hits me hard. I agree with scoob. Now I’ll tell you my story because it may help, hang in there its long but I do have a point. I met my husband at the age of 19 he was 21. We got married a few years later and had four kids right away. Then my husband took a steroid for phenomena which trigger his schizophrenic bipolar for the first time in his life in his late 20’s. he probably only had mild bipolar without the psychotic effects of the prescription steroid. The steroid caused the schizophrenic diagnosis. during the time he had with prescription drug in his system he had hallucinations, suicidal, paranoia etc. he ended up trying to take his life and in the ICU and doctors told me to say goodbye thank God he lived. He went back to life as normal after the drug wore off but he still has bipolar and always has, it just wasn’t noticeable until he took the steroid. I’ve care for and lived through my husband’s ordeal. I will care for him for the rest of my life. Most people will never fully understand the extreme suffering I’ve lived through!!! It is my path to heaven but it can be hell on earth sometimes. If you consider marriage as you said above please be completely honest with her if your not it would also be grounds for annulment. I wouldn’t wish my suffering on anyone. There are many saints that have married, been priest, and single that have had a mental illness. Their stories have really helped me. my biggest fear is that one or more of my children will have it. Both my husband and I agree that if we would have known we wouldn’t have married or had children. God doesn’t make mistakes so we have to see the best in the situation maybe my husband will be cured and maybe my children won’t have it. Like you said it is manageable with medication. Read “he leadeth Me” by father Walter Ciszek. He was priest in during WW2 and was imprisoned in Siberia for 23 years!!! He never got to celebrate Mass for 23 years! His book tells of his suffering and its life changing. Also Dr Rick Fitzgibbons he is a psychiatrist who works with clergy and married. He has been on EWTN google it and watch it. He has invented a new profound forgiveness therapy. Many people who have been abused or have mental illness make the best councilors because they understand like no one else. It can actually help you heal. I read every post and I think you would make a great priest or brother. But whatever your vocation its yours make the best of it. God has a plan for all of us and he wants us to be saints. Can we do it?

 

[waterbrook]

Everyone has a vocation to TODAY to be fully themselves and as Christlike as possible in all that today brings them. everyone should be involved in decernment…in discening what they are called to today and in all decisions that they make. I think the best approach is not to look too far ahead and develop a discerning appraoch to life in general, that way you can be sure that you will find your vocation. Without this general approach to life how can anyone live out what is sometimes call ed ‘a vocation’ as areligious or priest. The best thing is to trust that every call of GOd is as important as another.