Couldn't it be God breaking the girl's heart?

[water]

I hope that non-Catholics could help me answer what you believe about vocation to priesthood or religious life on this specific situation. Please you don’t have to discuss that you don’t need to be single to serve God. This topic is focusing on the matter mentioned in the question.

If a Catholic guy who loves this girl very much, but then he thinks God might call him to be a priest. He breaks up with the girl and starts to discern to know God’s will for him.

Question: God is love; therefore, you think that God cannot break this girl’s heart by calling the guy to become a priest and therefore, it is Satan trying to do this?

Thanks!

 

[SimonArizona]

I hope that non-Catholics could help me answer what you believe about vocation to priesthood or religious life on this specific situation. Please you don’t have to discuss that you don’t need to be single to serve God. This topic is focusing on the matter mentioned in the question.

If a Catholic guy who loves this girl very much, but then he thinks God might call him to be a priest. He breaks up with the girl and starts to discern to know God’s will for him.

Question: God is love; therefore, you think that God cannot break this girl’s heart by calling the guy to become a priest and therefore, it is Satan trying to do this?

Thanks!

Sorry I know you were looking for non-catholics, but what do you think about this answer?

With some greater insight and deeper understanding, she might actually welcome him to answer God’s call. That is love both for him and for God Almighty and then they will both be greatly rewarded.

However, since it isn’t clear if the calling is to be a priest, I personally wouldn’t let go of the good woman, for a good woman is worth more than many treasures.

 

[PaulDupre]

I hope that non-Catholics could help me answer what you believe about vocation to priesthood or religious life on this specific situation. Please you don’t have to discuss that you don’t need to be single to serve God. This topic is focusing on the matter mentioned in the question.

If a Catholic guy who loves this girl very much, but then he thinks God might call him to be a priest. He breaks up with the girl and starts to discern to know God’s will for him.

Question: God is love; therefore, you think that God cannot break this girl’s heart by calling the guy to become a priest and therefore, it is Satan trying to do this?

Thanks!

You are confusing love with romance. Romantic love is just one of the many kinds of love that God is, and is certainly not the most important.

Marriage and religious celibacy are both wonderful and honorable estates. One should consider carefully which of these vocations God is calling him to. The girl can always find another boyfriend. The guy cannot find another God.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

You are confusing love with romance. Romantic love is just one of the many kinds of love that God is, and is certainly not the most important.

Marriage and religious celibacy are both wonderful and honorable estates. One should consider carefully which of these vocations God is calling him to. The girl can always find another boyfriend. The guy cannot find another God.

Love this answer.

 

[water]

Thanks for the answers. However, I wished to know how non-Catholics think or believe. This is the whole point of why I posted in this forum.

If I really need the answer from the Catholic, I would’ve placed my post in the “vocation” forum.

 

[Methodi]

I hope that non-Catholics could help me answer what you believe about vocation to priesthood or religious life on this specific situation. Please you don’t have to discuss that you don’t need to be single to serve God. This topic is focusing on the matter mentioned in the question.

If a Catholic guy who loves this girl very much, but then he thinks God might call him to be a priest. He breaks up with the girl and starts to discern to know God’s will for him.

Question: God is love; therefore, you think that God cannot break this girl’s heart by calling the guy to become a priest and therefore, it is Satan trying to do this?

Thanks!

Many priests have dated & have been engaged to be married when they felt the call.Many priests have also left the priesthood to marry. I dont think it has anything to do with satan

 

[gookykookypig]

If the woman’s heart has true love for the priest-to-be, let that woman make way for the dreams of the boy. Yet we know that our nature is a selflish nature, just as the Bible had said:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?”
(Jeremiah 17:9)

It is not God who is in question, but the woman. Due to the selfishness of the woman she will really break her own heart. God work things out for good for those who love him , of whom he has set his good purposes (cf Romans 8:28)

 

[jfallaw]

a good woman is worth more than many treasures.

I agree. And losing one because you have mistaken what you believe to be God’s will for your own, is so very painful. Obviously a man who feels called to ministry should think deeply about it, and of course spend alot of time discussing it with his good woman.

 

[a_mirror_dimly]

Well, if you want this non-Catholic’s opinion, the answer is that there’s nothing wrong with marrying the girl AND becoming a pastor

I know it’s not the answer you’re looking for, but why would I comment on a contradiction that doesn’t exist?

 

[Pier]

Well, if you want this non-Catholic’s opinion, the answer is that there’s nothing wrong with marrying the girl AND becoming a pastor

I know it’s not the answer you’re looking for,** but why would I comment on a contradiction that doesn’t exist?**

**
Then what does mean?**

Matthew 19:12** "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."
**
These, of course, are the words of Christ Himself. How are they ignored/overlooked/misinterpreted? Their meaning is quite clear.

 

[a_mirror_dimly]

**
Then what does mean?**

Matthew 19:12**** “Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”
**
These, of course, are the words of Christ Himself. How are they ignored/overlooked/misinterpreted? Their meaning is quite clear.**

It clearly means that some people remain single because it will help them better serve God. That hardly is the same thing as saying “all priests must be single”. Why would Paul speak of bishops having one wife if they are not supposed to have any? At any rate, I didn’t intend to start a debate over it, but the original poster wanted non-Catholic perspectives on the dilemma, I presented my (quite common) non-Catholic perspective that the dilemma is self-imposed.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Don’t forget that frequently Eastern Catholic clergy are married before ordination.

I know several such in my city.

Note that I said “Eastern Catholic”. Not “Eastern Orthodox.”

 

[water]

Well, if you want this non-Catholic’s opinion, the answer is that there’s nothing wrong with marrying the girl AND becoming a pastor

I know it’s not the answer you’re looking for, but why would I comment on a contradiction that doesn’t exist?

what would you say if the person says that he needs to break up with the girl and discern his vocation?

 

[a_mirror_dimly]

what would you say if the person says that he needs to break up with the girl and discern his vocation?

Well, there’s all kinds of background that would be important…but assuming it’s a healthy relationship, breaking it off seems a very odd way to react to uncertainty about one’s vocation. If the guy isn’t sure what he wants or is called to, I’d say that more communication with God, a priest, friends, and this girl, is the answer, not less by breaking off the relationship over fear and uncertainty.

 

[puzzleannie]

I
If a Catholic guy who loves this girl very much, but then he thinks God might call him to be a priest. He breaks up with the girl and starts to discern to know God’s will for him.

Question: God is love; therefore, you think that God cannot break this girl’s heart by calling the guy to become a priest and therefore, it is Satan trying to do this?

Thanks!

if the guy loves the girl he will want above all things what is best for her, and that means, he will desire that God’s will for her always be the priority in her life. Same thing for the girl. If God calls someone to the priesthood, his intent is not to make the girlfirend miserable–or to hurt the man’s parents or anyone else who may feel this calling represents a huge sacrifice on their part. If the girl and the parents truly love this man, their first and foremost desire for him will be that he follow always God’s will in his life, and the will do whatever it takes to make that happen. No, I don’t believe Satan has any part whatever in a genuine vocation to either religious life or a holy marriage, except in the negative, to sow doubt, suspicion, disobedience and selfish impulses.

 

[water]

Well, there’s all kinds of background that would be important…but assuming it’s a healthy relationship, breaking it off seems a very odd way to react to uncertainty about one’s vocation.

Yes, there is always some uncertainty and faith will help. Breaking off a good relationship isn’t always odd as Jesus had asked the apostles to follow him. Certainly, they had to live their families behind to follow Him.

Jesus seems to know that we all have fears and certainty when following His call. He did that by emphasizing in the Bible that whoever follows Him has to pick up his own cross and follow Him. He also used the strong words “let the dead bury the dead” if one wants to follow Him.

If the guy isn’t sure what he wants or is called to, I’d say that more communication with God, a priest, friends, and this girl, is the answer, not less by breaking off the relationship over fear and uncertainty.

When one just starts to discern his call, he cannot be certain for anything. It takes years; but if one wants to truly discern, one should not be distracted. If breaking off with a relationship, it is perfectly normal …and not odd.

Thanks!

 

[a_mirror_dimly]

Yes, there is always some uncertainty and faith will help. Breaking off a good relationship isn’t always odd as Jesus had asked the apostles to follow him. Certainly, they had to live their families behind to follow Him.

Jesus seems to know that we all have fears and certainty when following His call. He did that by emphasizing in the Bible that whoever follows Him has to pick up his own cross and follow Him. He also used the strong words “let the dead bury the dead” if one wants to follow Him.

When one just starts to discern his call, he cannot be certain for anything. It takes years; but if one wants to truly discern, one should not be distracted. If breaking off with a relationship, it is perfectly normal …and not odd.

Thanks!

I think part of the problem comes from the lack of context to your question…what are you getting at? If people broke of any relationship if they ever had any uncertainty about it, I don’t think anyone would reach the point of marriage.

So yes, I stand by my statement that breaking off a good relationship because you maybe think God might be calling you to be single: in absence of any other information about the situation, it seems a rather hasty and not necessarily wise first course of action. Your comparisons to Jesus’ calling of His disciples don’t really apply here, as in that case the call was clear, you’re talking about a potential call that may be real, but may not be.

 

[water]

I think part of the problem comes from the lack of context to your question…what are you getting at? If people broke of any relationship if they ever had any uncertainty about it, I don’t think anyone would reach the point of marriage.

So yes, I stand by my statement that breaking off a good relationship because you maybe think God might be calling you to be single: in absence of any other information about the situation, it seems a rather hasty and not necessarily wise first course of action. Your comparisons to Jesus’ calling of His disciples don’t really apply here, as in that case the call was clear, you’re talking about a potential call that may be real, but may not be.

You didn’t say what religion you are, it is hard to know your background. For Catholic, when one discern his vocation to religious life and if he is really serious about it, he should be single and no dating. I am quite clear on this about Catholic; however, I want to know what the non-Catholics do.

For the apostles, they were not certain for until the day Jesus died, they still had doubt.

 

[a_mirror_dimly]

You didn’t say what religion you are, it is hard to know your background. For Catholic, when one discern his vocation to religious life and if he is really serious about it, he should be single and no dating. I am quite clear on this about Catholic; however, I want to know what the non-Catholics do.

For the apostles, they were not certain for until the day Jesus died, they still had doubt.

Well, I don’t have first-hand experience with this, but as an Evangelical Christian since I don’t see marriage and religious service as mutually exclusive, generally what I’ve observed is a devotion to prayer in discerning God’s will for them: prayer alone, with friends, with their pastor, and with the person they are dating.

It’s the same answer I’ve given a few times now, perhaps I’m not understanding part of your question?

 

[M0nkey]

however, I want to know what the non-Catholics do.

I am really confused of where you are getting at. Non-Catholics do not have the fullness of truth, nor the real presence which will basically boil down to an answer such as ‘the whore of babylon,’ or too many ‘man-made rules.’

In my view it’s not okay to have a vocation in Christ while forgetting the neighbor. Our faith teaches that God is found in communion, i.e. mutual respect, dignity, and love. In fact, marriage is a perfectly good vocation that is akin to a priestly vocation. Maybe your friend (or bf, or whatever) needs to be made aware of this.