Confused about my vocation

[elizabeth_anne_1]

*Unlike the religious life which all are invited to and but only some are particularly called to or the married life which after the religious invitation is forgone only some are particularly called to and others are free to enter by the simple consent of the church and those to be married, the priesthood is always a particular vocation which only some by particular grace may enter…

Umm…the Church does not teach that all are invited to religious life…nowhere…it is a specific call from God to be a religious. The vocations complement each other, and some people are indeed called to be lay people.

I read your link you gave in another post and I did not see where it made the claim that religious life is open to all. Even if it did, none of the Church documents make that claim, nor does the Catechism, nor did the religious community I used to be with, pr any of the others I discerned with, nor do the writings of St Ignatius of Loyola who is all about DISCERNMENT of GOD’s WILL…etc. I do understand your zeal for religious vocations, they are indeed necessary in the life of the Church and a gift. None the less, not everyone is called to the same path.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

Umm…the Church does not teach that all are invited to religious life…nowhere…it is a specific call from God to be a religious. The vocations complement each other, and some people are indeed called to be lay people.

I read your link you gave in another post and I did not see where it made the claim that religious life is open to all. Even if it did, none of the Church documents make that claim, nor does the Catechism, nor did the religious community I used to be with, pr any of the others I discerned with, nor do the writings of St Ignatius of Loyola who is all about DISCERNMENT of GOD’s WILL…etc. I do understand your zeal for religious vocations, they are indeed necessary in the life of the Church and a gift. None the less, not everyone is called to the same path.

From the site I linked to earlier:
Vocations Explained:

CHAPTER VI.
THE THREE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS.
For the better understanding of vocations we shall give a brief explanation of the evangelical counsels.

Q. What are the evangelical counsels?
A. They are Gospel advices or recommendations.

Q. Why are they called counsels?
A. Because they are not commanded but counselled by Our Lord, and recommended as means of greater perfection.

Q. Why are they called “evangelical counsels”?
A. Because they are recommended in the Gospel. Evangelium is the Latin word for gospel.

1. Poverty
   Q. Which is the first of the evangelical counsels?
   A. Voluntary poverty. That means renouncing the use of money and possessions by our own free will to follow Christ.

Q. What is the advantage of this counsel?
A. The practice of this counsel uproots a most dangerous passion: “For they that will become rich fall into temptation, and into the snare of the devil, and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition.”

Q. Is there any special blessing promised to those who follow this counsel?
A. Yes: “Every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.”

Q. Is this counsel given to all?
A. The Fathers of the Church teach that this counsel is recommended to all. The above words of Our Lord are unrestricted: “And every one that hath left house, or brethren,” etc.

1. Perpetual Chastity.
   Q. Which is the second evangelical counsel?
   A. Perpetual chastity; that is, a voluntary abstaining from marriage in order to dedicate one’s self in a more special manner to the love and service of God and to the great work of salvation.

Q. Is this counsel recommended in the Sacred Scriptures and in the Fathers?
A. It certainly is, as we have seen in the chapter on “Virginity”.

Q. Is this counsel of chastity recommended to all?
A. This counsel, as well as the other two evangelical counsels, is recommended to all. The Fathers say that these words, “He that can take, let him take it,” mean, He that is willing to take this counsel let him take it. And St. Paul says: “I would that all men were even as myself.”

Q. What if one should exhort people in general to choose matrimony as a state preferable to perpetual chastity?
A. Such a one would be speaking against faith, as we have seen in the chapter on “Virginity.” The “Catechism of the Council of Trent” says: “As it is the duty of the pastor to propose to himself the holiness and perfection of the faithful, his earnest desires must be in full accordance with those of the Apostle when, writing to the Corinthians, he says: I would that all men were even as myself;’ that is, ” continue the Fathers of Trent, “that all embraced the virtue of continence.” The marginal resume of this paragraph in the “Catechism of the Council of Trent” is: “A life of continence to be desired by all.”

1. Obedience.
   Q. Which is the third evangelical counsel?
   A. Entire obedience; that is, a total subjection of one’s will to that of lawful superiors in all that is not sin.

Q. What Scripture warrant have we for this counsel?
A. The life of Christ was a continual model of perfect obedience. From twelve to thirty years of age all that we are told of Him in the Sacred Scriptures is that “He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.” Obediences is a most effectual means of subduing self-will and self-love, which are our most fatal enemies. “An obedient man shall speak of victory,” because obedience draws down a most special and abundant grace; for so pleasing is it to God that He says of it: “Obedience is better than sacrifices.”

I will post more, but I should point out that this has both Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur which means that at the very least it is a position acceptable in the spectrum of Catholic thought.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

From St.Ignatius de Loyola (My patron Saint):
Saint Ignatius de Loyola:

If a person thinks of embracing a secular life, he should ask and desire more evident signs that God calls him to a secular life than if there were question of embracing the evangelical counsels; for Our Lord Himself has evidently exhorted us to embrace His counsels, and, on the other hand, He has evidently laid before us the great dangers and difficulties of a secular life; so that, if we rightly conclude, revelations and extraordinary tokens of His will are more necessary for a man entering upon a life in the world than for one entering the religious state.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

From the Catechism:
[QUOTECatechism of the Catholic Church]Evangelical counsels, consecrated life

915 Christ proposes the evangelical counsels, in their great variety, to every disciple. The perfection of charity, to which all the faithful are called, entails for those who freely follow the call to consecrated life** the obligation of practicing chastity in celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom, poverty and obedience. It is the profession of these counsels, within a permanent state of life recognized by the Church, that characterizes the life consecrated to God.**454

916 The state of consecrated life is thus one way of experiencing a “more intimate” consecration, rooted in Baptism and dedicated totally to God.455 In the consecrated life, Christ’s faithful, moved by the Holy Spirit, propose to follow Christ more nearly, to give themselves to God who is loved above all and, pursuing the perfection of charity in the service of the Kingdom, to signify and proclaim in the Church the glory of the world to come.456
Emphasis mine.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

I can’t speak to the religious societies you have discerned with, but the site I linked to, the Church’s documents including the canons of Trent and the CCC, and saint Ignatius de Loyola definitely agree with what I have said. If you need further sources please feel free I’ve got 2000 years of tradition to draw on so I doubt the well will be running dry anytime soon.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

Biblical bonus round*: I Corinthians VII:27-34
First Corinthians Chapter Seven:

27** Art thou yoked to a wife? Then, do not go about to free thyself. Art thou free of wedlock? Then do not go about to find a wife.** 28 Not that thou dost commit sin if thou marriest; nor, if she marries, has the virgin committed sin. It is only that those who do so will meet with outward distress. But I leave you your freedom.[h] 29 Only, brethren, I would say this; the time is drawing to an end; nothing remains, but for those who have wives to behave as though they had none; 30 those who weep must forget their tears, and those who rejoice their rejoicing, and those who buy must renounce possession; 31 and those who take advantage of what the world offers must not take full advantage of it; the fashion of this world is soon to pass away. 32 And I would have you free from concern.** He who is unmarried is concerned with God’s claim, asking how he is to please God; 33 whereas the married man is concerned with the world’s claim, asking how he is to please his wife; and thus he is at issue with himself. 34 So a woman who is free of wedlock, or a virgin, is concerned with the Lord’s claim, intent on holiness, bodily and spiritual; whereas the married woman is concerned with the world’s claim, asking how she is to please her husband.**

Emphasis mine.

The whole chapter is practically a catechism on how marriage and celibacy fit into the life of the Church.

*Bible quotes are from the Knox Translation: biblegateway.com/versions/Knox-Bible/#books

 

[elizabeth_anne_1]

Actually we are all called to the evangelical counsels according to our state in life. This does not mean we are all supposed to be in religious community. The Church does not teach that, and never has taught that every person should be in religious life. Not every person is called to religious life but every person is called to the Gospel, which does, in fact, involve the evangelical counsels. I wish I had more time to flesh out this line of thought more for you. Inego, please don’t think I am attacking you. I am only trying to clarify with love because misinformation can be dangerous to souls. God bless you!

 

[elizabeth_anne_1]

Catechism of the Catholic Chuch 1973

“The evangelical counsels manifest the living fullness of charity, which is never satisfied with not giving more. They attest to its vitality and call fourth our spiritual readiness. The perfection of the New Law consists essentially in the precepts of love of God and neighbor. The counsels point out the more direct ways, the readier means and a**re to be practiced in keeping with the vocation of each: ** ‘[God] does not want each person to keep all the counsels, but only those appropriate to the diversity of persons, times, opportunities, and strengths, as charity requires; for it is charity, as queen of all virtues, all commandments, all counsel, and, in short of all laws and all Christian action, that gives to all of them their rank, order, time and value.’”

 

[elizabeth_anne_1]

From the link you provided:

CHAPTER I.
DEFINITION. – EVERY PERSON HAS SOME SPECIAL VOCATION.
Q. What is a vocation?
A. **A call from God to some state of life.
**
Q. Which are the principal states of life?
A. Matrimony, virginity, the religious state, and the priesthood.

Q. Has every person a vocation?
A. Yes; God gives a special vocation to each person.

Q. How is this doctrine proved?
A. St Paul says: “Every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that. . . . As the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one, so let him walk.”

Q. Is it not beneath God’s notice to give a particular vocation to each person?
A. Not at all; for even the birds of the air are objects of the providence of God: “Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Q. What do Father Faber and St. Alphonsus say on this subject?
A. Father Faber says: “Every man has a distinct vocation.” St Alphonsus says: “We must embrace that state to which God calls us.”

Q. What does St. Augustine teach concerning special vocations?
A. St. Augustine says: “He who does little, but in a state to which God calls him, does more than he who labours much, but in a state which he has thoughtlessly chosen: a cripple limping in the right way is better than a racer out of it.”

Vocation means the call of God to “some state in life.” Which state of life we should leave to the Lord.

 

[elizabeth_anne_1]

vocation.com/QandAItem.aspx?id=1266

"Are marriage and religious life equal vocations, or is one higher than the other?
June asks:
Dear Fr Anthony,
I have a friend who believes that everyone is called to religious vocation, and those who are generous are willing to accept it; those who choose otherwise ideally should have chosen the religious vocation.

Are marriage and religious life equal vocations, or is one higher than the other? How would you go about proving to him that we are called to different things, not merely all to religious life? Thanks. God Bless.

Dear June,
Marriage and religious life are not equal vocations, they are different from one another. There are reasons to say that religious life is a “higher calling”, but you have to balance that out with “to whom more is given, more is asked of him.” True holiness is not easy or automatic in either state of life, and it depends more on the love and generosity with which you live your particular call, rather than on the call being to religious life or marriage.
Your friend is simply wrong when he says that everyone is called to the religious vocation. The Church has always treated marriage with more dignity than the mere toleration of those who weren’t generous enough to become religious. True, St Paul wished that all could be like him, free of a spouse in order to give themselves completely to Christ without distraction, no harm in desiring that, it shows how St Paul loved and thrived on the call he received from Christ; but St Paul also wrote the letter to the Ephesians in which he describes marriage as a reflection of Christ’s love for his Church, and in many places in his letters he reminds his followers of the great difference between them and the world about them, their call to holiness, the new ideal of marriage given to us in Christ, etc…
I don’t think your friend has read enough either of Pope John Paul’s explanations of love and marriage. Plus, in my own experience I know many people who have been generous enough to try a religious vocation, and have discovered for reasons that were NOT lack of generosity, that it was not their call.** Christ himself told the Gerasene man he cured, and who wanted to leave his home and follow him, to go back to his house. Now if the only way was the religious vocation why would Christ himself point this man in another direction?**
There are many other things that could be mentioned, but these might do to start."

 

[Baelor]

I want out. I’ve had enough of the secular world.

Being a priest will not get you “out.”

Furthermore, that is extremely uncharitable. Will you be preaching to a congregation formed entirely of people whom you disrespect because they are part of some “secular world” construct that you have erected in your mind?

I’ve had enough of the mediocre mindset my fellow teenagers adopt. Have sex, drink booze and listen to some loud rap and hip-hop.

This is uncharitable; not all teenagers are like this.

I’ve had enough and want out of the secular world

One can live outside of this “secular world” and be single, or married, etc.

You should mature before making a life-changing decision. I am confident and happy that you will not be permitted to make this decision until you do mature.

 

[mymamamary]

Being a priest will not get you “out.”

Furthermore, that is extremely uncharitable. Will you be preaching to a congregation formed entirely of people whom you disrespect because they are part of some “secular world” construct that you have erected in your mind?

This is uncharitable; not all teenagers are like this.

One can live outside of this “secular world” and be single, or married, etc.

You should mature before making a life-changing decision. I am confident and happy that you will not be permitted to make this decision until you do mature.

Ok, let me correct myself, most teens in Public High schools are like this, Im speaking from expierence here.

I don’t want to “Get out” in the sense of the word, “Get-out”, I mean that I want to save the world as a Priest. I don’t want to be married and expierence the mundane daily grind. That is what I meant. I want to spend my day in prayer, helping those who cannot help themselves, Offering HOLY MASS and Confessions.

I know I should mature. I will be making this decsion in a few months. No one, I repeat no one, goes to Seminary perfect. Im certain that everyone who goes, has a bigger or lesser “Demon” on their back. For some, Impurity, For some Pride, For some other sins, For some like me Scrupulosity. However, I am not my scrupulosity. I won’t allow scrupulosity to limit me from Serving the LORD.

P.s. Why on earth would I preach to a congreagation I dislike?? The Very reason I want to be a Priest, is so I can adopt a congregation, like my children, and bring them to Heaven.

Plain and simple

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I don’t want to “Get out” in the sense of the word, “Get-out”, I mean that I want to save the world as a Priest. I don’t want to be married and expierence the mundane daily grind. That is what I meant. I want to spend my day in prayer, helping those who cannot help themselves, Offering HOLY MASS and Confessions.

You have obviously not spent a lot of time around secular priests!

I do, as I work for my diocese. Most priests, especially pastors, spend their day handling the “mundane” things in life.
Just today, my boss was able to say morning Mass, then had a meeting with the finance sub-committee, had to go to the Chancery for some sort of committee meeting, and then had to come back to the parish to deal with all the water that we are getting from Sandy. Then tonight, he had to meet with the planning committee to finalize plans for our upcoming Advent programs and meet with the new group of altar servers who were getting trained tonight. He was lucky that he was able to grab 20 minutes for himself between meetings, phone calls and all the other things that popped up this afternoon to pray!
And this is a pretty typical day for him.

While I admire your zeal mymamamary, you seem to have this “idealized” view that priests leave the “real world”. I assure you, the “good ones” do not leave the world behind, but learn how to use the “world” to find God.

 

[SrMarie]

In agreement with many of the other posters here I would caution you against putting too much of a boundary between yourself and “the world” as you see it. Many people see religious life as an out of their ordinary life but religious life is much like life in the world. In the convent we still have to pay the bills,work, do laundry,cook,clean, study secular subjects,and go to meetings.

I’m a sister and a teacher of middle school science in a catholic school. I am in a graduate program for education, not theology,and much of my day is spent on subjects that are not necessarily directly related to the faith. In school I’m teaching science, participating in school events, dialoging with parents, grading papers, writing lesson plans, cleaning my classroom,and preparing materials for labs. In the convent I’m cleaning, balancing our checkbook,paying bills, attending meetings, and living/loving flawed human beings.

Sometimes religious life,as a man or woman, can be idealized and separated from “the world” in a way that is very unhelpful. Religious life does not remove us from the human condition but brings us even more closer to it. Often we realize more intensely the sinfulness and the brokenness both of ourselves and those with whom we live. It isn’t always easy to look at our brokenness and sinfulness in this light.

May I tell you a story? The parish we go to for Mass each morning has a very nice priest who sometimes says the Mass. I’ve been to him for confession and he says a beautiful liturgy,his homilies are wonderful,and he gives great advice in the confessional. However, he is often late for mass and then gives a long homily. Is he wrong? maybe not. The problem though is that he is so disconnected from “real life” that he seems to forget that people come to the early Mass to receive Christ before they go to work. When he is ten minutes late and gives a ten minute homily,they are late for work. I know he can go back to the rectory and have a cup of coffee before he begins his work, but the rest of the world can’t (including myself,and I am late for homeroom when this happens! Do you know what middle schoolers do to one another when they are alone?! haha)

My point in telling that story is to drive home that being a priest is about service, radical service to the people of God, not service to oneself. I am not suggesting that you are unaware of this but I just wanted to highlight it. The priest is not a bad priest,but he has so disconnected himself from the life of everyday Joe that he can’t minister to him effectively anymore.

I hope you understand I write this with love and prayers. God bless you.

 

[mymamamary]

You have obviously not spent a lot of time around secular priests!

I do, as I work for my diocese. Most priests, especially pastors, spend their day handling the “mundane” things in life.
Just today, my boss was able to say morning Mass, then had a meeting with the finance sub-committee, had to go to the Chancery for some sort of committee meeting, and then had to come back to the parish to deal with all the water that we are getting from Sandy. Then tonight, he had to meet with the planning committee to finalize plans for our upcoming Advent programs and meet with the new group of altar servers who were getting trained tonight. He was lucky that he was able to grab 20 minutes for himself between meetings, phone calls and all the other things that popped up this afternoon to pray!
And this is a pretty typical day for him.

While I admire your zeal mymamamary, you seem to have this “idealized” view that priests leave the “real world”. I assure you, the “good ones” do not leave the world behind, but learn how to use the “world” to find God.

Hence the reason I feel called towards more of a Religious life vocation as well. I don’t want disconnect from the world in the sense of the word “Disconnect”, I want to disconnect myself in the sense that I don’t want to be a Ordinary Joe. I want to live in the world as a Minister of the MOST HIGH. I have expierenced the world. For me, unfortunatley, I have been there done that (in terms of impurity). I am certianly not proud of this, however, I feel that the LORD allowed me to expierence this, so that I will be able to relate to victims of these sins. HE allowed me to break and fall, so that I could lead others, to HIM, through HIM, with HIM and in HIM. Thats the whole inspiration of me wanting to be a Priest. I would love to have spiritual children. I would be honored and blessed and priveleged, to drive at 2:00 AM, carrying the MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT on me, Dressed In Surplice and Purple Stole, Ready to help one of my children in their final moments, and to be with them as they make the transition, to be in their presence as they leave this world. Phew, would that ever be an honor! Or sitting in the confessional, and raising my hand, through the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT, lift a soul from the chains of hell. Or to go, and caress the Body of my LORD in my hands, as I look at my Spouse each morning on the Altar. Or going to personally help the broken poor, those who are hungry etc and personally, helping them with my own 2 hands. I know this may sound mushy-mushy and overly romantic. I know. I will be the first to attest that Holiness is a violent and painful matter. (Trust me, could I ever tell you about that!! )

 

[elizabeth_anne_1]

No matter what vocation you are called to you will always have to deal with the mundane aspects of life. Jesus did. And “The servant is not greater than the master.”

There are high moments in every vocation and the ordinary nitty gritty as well. Maybe you should spend a little time getting to know St. Therese and her “Little Way.”

Peace!

One more thing…try not to look down at the “ordinary joe’s” of this world. St. Joseph was one of them. We are ALL called to holiness.

 

[Baelor]

I don’t want to be married and expierence the mundane daily grind.

Again, that is extremely uncharitable and offensive. First, it is not as if being married or single (without Holy Orders) means that you are living a “daily grind.” What a horrible, horrible and very heterodox way to view a vocation to which God calls many of his children.

Furthermore, it is not as if priests have a drastically different schedule each day.

P.s. Why on earth would I preach to a congreagation I dislike?? The Very reason I want to be a Priest, is so I can adopt a congregation, like my children, and bring them to Heaven.

You clearly would not be able to preach to any congregation given your belief that they are living a “daily grind.” Either you do not really understand or respect their vocation, or you are incapable of expressing the understanding and respect that you do have. Neither option is good for a priest.

I don’t want to be a Ordinary Joe. I want to live in the world as a Minister of the MOST HIGH.

1. Everyone can be someone greater than an “Ordinary Joe” regardless of vocation.
2. Priests are not inherently better people. You imply that they are, whether or not that is your actual belief.

 

[mymamamary]

Again, that is extremely uncharitable and offensive. First, it is not as if being married or single (without Holy Orders) means that you are living a “daily grind.” What a horrible, horrible and very heterodox way to view a vocation to which God calls many of his children.

Furthermore, it is not as if priests have a drastically different schedule each day.

You clearly would not be able to preach to any congregation given your belief that they are living a “daily grind.” Either you do not really understand or respect their vocation, or you are incapable of expressing the understanding and respect that you do have. Neither option is good for a priest.

1. Everyone can be someone greater than an “Ordinary Joe” regardless of vocation.
2. Priests are not inherently better people. You imply that they are, whether or not that is your actual belief.

I realise that I would still have to deal with the mundane. Yes, I know I would. I think I would be able to preach to any congregation, because of expierence. Marriage is a beautiful vocation, without It I wouldn’t be here, however, I want time to pray and bring the people closer to the LORD. You just can’t do that as effiecntly when you are Married. Its a sad reality. My parents would love to have more time to pray, go to MASS every day etc., however, work does not allow them. I realise what a sacrifice it is to be married. Observing my parents selfless love for me and my brothers in the past 17 years of life are easily seen. I also realise that Holiness can make one rise above the “Mundane” regardless of Vocation. Priests are not drastically different, but they still get to offer Daily MASS. If I could choose one reason for wanting to be a Priest and ONLY one, Daily Mass would be my reason. I am not intending to offend Married Couples or Families, how could I when I am from one myself? I just want to be a Priest. What is so wrong about that? Most guys dream about their first girlfriend or wife. I dream about my first MASS. I hope that doesn’t offend anyone. I also realise that yes their is the nitty gritty of a Vocation. I have dealt with dryness before, so I can relate very easily on that one. Times when I just did not want to Pray, at all, it felt painful to pray. Been there felt that.

 

[Gorgias]

Priests are not drastically different

Well, actually, yes they are different. However, they’re not better, which seems to be what people are getting out of the things that you’re writing.

I just want to be a Priest. What is so wrong about that?

Nothing’s wrong with the goal; I think that what people are responding to are your motivations. The vocation is a good thing – but the desire, if unrealistic or disordered or in need of greater discernment, could be a bad thing. Just sayin’…

Most guys dream about their first girlfriend or wife. I dream about my first MASS. I hope that doesn’t offend anyone.

Nope; that’s a good thing. Realize, though, that daily Mass takes about a half hour: that leaves you with about 16 hours of “daily grind”…!

I also realise that yes their is the nitty gritty of a Vocation. I have dealt with dryness before, so I can relate very easily on that one.

But, if you are discerning the priesthood, and seeing priestly life as “half-hour of bliss, 16 hours of nitty-gritty and dryness”, then you need to deal with this in your discernment!!! There’s no way that God calls a person to a vocation that they’ll experience as 99% ‘nitty-gritty’ or ‘dryness’!!! Imagine if your parents came to you and said, “well, you know, being a parent isn’t all that bad – there were 4 years of bliss, and now we’re in 14 years of nitty-gritty and dryness”, or “every day, I’m happy to be your mom for a half-hour, and the rest is just mundane nitty-gritty”…! Wouldn’t that be an indication to you that there’s something terribly wrong with their approach to their vocations?

I’m not with the folks who are calling you “uncharitable” – rather, it sounds like normal teen angst. Keep working your way through it; from the sound of it, you’re not ready to commit to a vocation yet, but you’ll get to an answer if you’re patient and prayerful. (And, of course, it’s not as if entry into seminary is the same thing as making perpetual vows – one of the reasons that seminary formation lasts so long is that it gives you plenty of time to continue discerning and deciding whether God is calling you to the priesthood!)

 

[mymamamary]

Well, actually, yes they are different. However, they’re not better, which seems to be what people are getting out of the things that you’re writing.

Nothing’s wrong with the goal; I think that what people are responding to are your motivations. The vocation is a good thing – but the desire, if unrealistic or disordered or in need of greater discernment, could be a bad thing. Just sayin’…

Nope; that’s a good thing. Realize, though, that daily Mass takes about a half hour: that leaves you with about 16 hours of “daily grind”…!

But, if you are discerning the priesthood, and seeing priestly life as “half-hour of bliss, 16 hours of nitty-gritty and dryness”, then you need to deal with this in your discernment!!! There’s no way that God calls a person to a vocation that they’ll experience as 99% ‘nitty-gritty’ or ‘dryness’!!! Imagine if your parents came to you and said, “well, you know, being a parent isn’t all that bad – there were 4 years of bliss, and now we’re in 14 years of nitty-gritty and dryness”, or “every day, I’m happy to be your mom for a half-hour, and the rest is just mundane nitty-gritty”…! Wouldn’t that be an indication to you that there’s something terribly wrong with their approach to their vocations?

I’m not with the folks who are calling you “uncharitable” – rather, it sounds like normal teen angst. Keep working your way through it; from the sound of it, you’re not ready to commit to a vocation yet, but you’ll get to an answer if you’re patient and prayerful. (And, of course, it’s not as if entry into seminary is the same thing as making perpetual vows – one of the reasons that seminary formation lasts so long is that it gives you plenty of time to continue discerning and deciding whether God is calling you to the priesthood!)

I never implied that being a Priest would be only 30 minutes of bliss. My point exactly, it would be hard, very hard. Waking up in the dead of night, but it would be so peaceful and joyful. It would be awesome to do that. Im not afraid of being a Priest, its the one idea that keeps me working and ticking at times. Of course, I still have a few months left till I hope to go to Seminary or Religious life. The rest isn’t mundane or nitty gritty. Hearing confessions, sick calls, visiting hospitals, meeting with my children, would not be munade. Office work would be, but you gotta push past it. I just hope that if I do encounter dryness, that I keep pushing like Bl. Teresa of calcutta did.