Church Historian Calling?

[AdriannaJean]

Hi All,

I’ve been doing some soul-searching and have come to realize that God is calling me to serve the Church in my career. I’ve known this for quite some time and so I am taking a degree in Theology with plans to become a Professor (I do not feel called to the religious life). However, the more I take, the more I realize that Theology is not what I am called to do. I do know, however, that God made me the way I am, with my talents, likes and dislikes for a reason and that His plan for me is to use my gifts to serve His Church. I just don’t know what role I can fill in it.

My aptitudes are towards history, philosophy and languages. I am not creative; I am more like a sponge. I can soak up loads of information, especially pertaining to history and philosophy (I use my skill for languages to help me with history and philosophy…greek and latin and all that jazz).

I just don’t know how to put my love of history and philosophy to use in serving the Church. I’m still very early on in my degree so I can easily change course to serve the purpose of preparing me for the path God had chosen for me. So if anyone can think of what use a walking, talking encyclopedia of history and philosophy can do that will help the Church, lay them on me.

So far I have come up with being a philosophy or history (perhaps Church history) Professor at a Catholic University, but somehow that doesn’t seem to be actively serving the Church in the way that I feel I am called to. It seems I am called to a much more direct method of service. Does the Vatican hire historians or academics to serve some purpose? Another issue is that I am a woman so it would make more sense for the Vatican to hire expert priests than expert lay-people.

Your help is appreciated, and if you don’t know of anything, your prayers are just as appreciated.

 

[surritter]

I would say that serving as a professor to help shape minds for the future is a great way of directly helping the Church!

Some colleges even have positions that are specific, such as “Professor of Catholic Culture” or “Professor of Church History.”

 

[Joannm]

Church History is an important subject for anyone studying theology and your thought about becoming a Church History professor are admirable. I have learned much from my Church History professors. There is still a lot of research possibilites in this area and if you have proficiency in languages that will be a plus. Good Luck. I know Catholic University has a good program in Church History.

 

[Madaglan]

Hi All,

I’ve been doing some soul-searching and have come to realize that God is calling me to serve the Church in my career. I’ve known this for quite some time and so I am taking a degree in Theology with plans to become a Professor (I do not feel called to the religious life). However, the more I take, the more I realize that Theology is not what I am called to do. I do know, however, that God made me the way I am, with my talents, likes and dislikes for a reason and that His plan for me is to use my gifts to serve His Church. I just don’t know what role I can fill in it.

My aptitudes are towards history, philosophy and languages. I am not creative; I am more like a sponge. I can soak up loads of information, especially pertaining to history and philosophy (I use my skill for languages to help me with history and philosophy…greek and latin and all that jazz).

I just don’t know how to put my love of history and philosophy to use in serving the Church. I’m still very early on in my degree so I can easily change course to serve the purpose of preparing me for the path God had chosen for me. So if anyone can think of what use a walking, talking encyclopedia of history and philosophy can do that will help the Church, lay them on me.

So far I have come up with being a philosophy or history (perhaps Church history) Professor at a Catholic University, but somehow that doesn’t seem to be actively serving the Church in the way that I feel I am called to. It seems I am called to a much more direct method of service. Does the Vatican hire historians or academics to serve some purpose? Another issue is that I am a woman so it would make more sense for the Vatican to hire expert priests than expert lay-people.

Your help is appreciated, and if you don’t know of anything, your prayers are just as appreciated.

If you memorize like a sponge and are good with Greek and Latin, you may want to consider law.

I myself have considered going on for a PhD in Theology or something like Medieval and Byzantine studies. Something to consider, however, is that once you finish, it will be extremely competitive to find a teaching position at a university or college.