Gods calling for me - as a stutterer

  • Thread starter Thread starter brendan0
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

brendan0

Guest
Hello forums,

I’ll explain my situation briefly. I am 23 and have been discerning a religious vocation for quite some time now, have attened meetings with vocational directors and have just attened a live-in weekend with redemptorists priests.

I definitely feel called to a religious vocation, and am currently leaning towards priesthood, as this feels ‘right’ for me, as people know it’s difficult to explain. Thing is I’ve stuttered all my life and have always feared public speaking, and have had many bad public speaking experiences, not bad in terms of non-fluent speech, just people trying to dumb me down and interrupting, treating me like I’m backwards. I am aware people do their best to help and appreciate that.

I’m thinking, why would god call me to preach when I stutter? Does god calling me to a religious life but not being designed for preching mean I stay a brother and not get ordained?

I am confused as to where I am to go. Does anyone understand?
 
Ask Jesus to help you with His Grace and Mercy and to purify the good you do badly - or rather, He through you.
 
I know a priest who has a very unique way of speaking. He is a very holy priest and gets by it OK.

Mel Tillis stuttered except when he sang. Perhaps you will not stutter when preaching.
 
I’m pretty sure Moses had a serious speech impediment. Isn’t that why Aron did all the talking? The thing is that Moses had similar misgivings about being called to service. God instructed him to not worry about it. Besides, I forget which one, but didn’t some saint say “preach the Gospel at all times. Use words only if necessary.”

Go get 'em young man and trust in the Lord!
 
God will get you through it one way or another. Perhaps he will take away your stutter, or make you strong in the written word so you can preach that way, or make you strong in another aspect of your vocation.

I am not a male so I don’t have a calling to the priesthood, but I do know God’s calling me for something. My current situation is such that I cannot enter religious life. However, I know He wants me to do something for him and I have no idea what that is. I also cannot speak in public. I don’t have a speech impediment, at least not a physical one. I do have problems trying to get my brain to work though, while I speak in a public setting. This causes me to break my sentences short, second guess myself as far as if I just said something wrong or will say something wrong, take a long time trying to figure out what to say next, or just plain forget everything I was going to say - including my name where applicable - because I just plain can’t speak in front of a group of people. Yet I find myself defending the faith as best I can right here on these forums and elsewhere on the internet.

So my advice to you would be to do what you think God is calling you to do and let Him handle the rest. It’s probably not going to be easy, but that’s what crosses are for. 😉 And always offer up your difficulties. In the end, it will have all been worth it. And the satisfaction in knowing you’re doing what God wants of you will keep you going, along with the graces He will bestow upon you.

I guess what I’m saying is: don’t let your imperfections get in the way of God’s work. God has found ways to incorporate many Saints’ imperfections into their missions in life, and look where it got them. 👍

God Bless your endeavors,
Snert
 
I think stuttering would be easier to understand then many foreign priests. I don’t see why that should stop you from becoming a priest. I have heard a lot of priests say that they thought they were unworthy. :getholy:
 
Brendan, as a former stutterer (on odd occasions still prone) I can say things like you have my sympathy or I know how you feel or you poor guy. those statements are an insult to you as a person!..you dont need sympathy… what you must master is courage and overcoming the fear of speaking…that’s a tall order isn’t it? …The Holy Spirit will assist with the courage bit but you must do your bit! He wont help if you don’t help yourself…you are permanently in a state of tension because of this disorder(?)…go into an empty room and read a passage from a book…it’s probably a total shambles…change into a tracksuit and do a fast 2 mile run…come in immediately and read the passage again…wow what an improvement! You dissipated the nervous tension…your confidence will increase and through time you will overcome the fear of public speaking…that’s what I did years ago and now I can do the readings at Mass no problem and speak to an audience with clarity and it is appreciated also because I consciously slow down the delivery and every word is heard. So my friend proceed with your life and let not the small matter of speech impede you (excuse the pun)
HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE MY TONGUE AND WHILE YOU’RE AT IT GUIDE OTHERS’ TONGUES TOO!!
 
John Melendez, formerly from Howard Stern’s show, now on Jay Leno’s show, is a stutterer. As is Samuel L. Jackson from “Pulp Fiction,” John Stossel from “20/20” and Noel Gallagher from Oasis.

Don’t ever use “stuttering” an excuse. If some of it can be helped with Toastmasters, etc., go for it. But, please don’t believe that it could ever be an impediment to your calling. It’s not.

Unless I’m mistaken, there are different types of priests - i.e., ordained priests who could write or teach or whatever instead of saying mass - so, if your concern is, “How could I give a homily if I’m stuttering?,” the easy answer to that is: You wouldn’t have to if you weren’t a diocesan priest assigned to a specific parish.

Godspeed and prayers for you. :gopray2:
 
Stuttering is due to a lack of coordination between the diaphram and the tongue. A few sessions of speech therapy should help.

Or, you can help yourself, and take notice of the lack of coordination and work on it.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
A long while ago, when I was still at school, a Mass in our school chapel was said by a priest with a stutter. He sang a large part of it, and I think that helped. I’d never met him before, nor did I meet him again, but evidently his stutter did not prevent him from pursuing his vocation.
 
I don’t think you should let this put you off discerning a vocation to the priesthood, or going ahead for studies after the initial discernment process. No one is worthy of the priesthood, but I think that all priests have to overcome some personal obstacles in order to serve the Lord as best they can in the way that He has called them to serve. If you are looking at possible seminaries I would suggest that you look into their formation programmes. I know that in the National Seminary in Ireland - St Patrick’s College - all seminarians take courses which help build confidence and clarity in public speaking. In fact, as far as I know, they even take graded exams in speech and drama. I’m sure such a programme could be of benefit to you. Indeed, you need not wait until the seminary to tackle a speech impediment - you could get a head-start and look for a therapist or even a speech and drama teacher who could help you improve your confidence. The Redemptorists are very much into preaching as they often conduct novenas and retreats, so I’m sure that if the vocation is there, they will give you as much help as they can.

Don’t forget to ask the Holy Spirit to help you!
 
my parish priest stutters. Not usually in conversation, but specifically when he consecrates the bread and wine. There seems to be no problem with this.
 
Thanks for all your replies, I don’t have time to respond to each individually. It’s very comforting to read that there are many priests out there who stutter, I never met a stuttering priest in my life, I was worried because I feel that people should hear the mass fluently and clearly (to help them understand) instead of stopping and starting, which can be hard to listen to.

I would never think of ignoring gods call because of my stutter, I just want the best for the church. I understand that preaching the gospel doesn’t have to be talking. Actually living out the gospel, writing etc. is another way.

Thanks for all your responses, and pray for me as I continue to discern my vocation.

God bless,
Brendan.
 
As a stutterer, I think I have a bit of knowledge also in this area. Although I am nowhere near what I used to be, it is still noticeable at times.

Stuttering has a little more to do than with a diaphram, how we breathe, etc etc etc

Stutterers are usually very intelligent, speak from BOTH sides of the brain. There may be a mixture of physcial. psychological and emotional component to it all.

I know when I went to a psychiatrist (due to the fact how the nuns treated me). I was able to unleash much negativity. I was able to sound off to such a wonderful catholic doctor. Even the doctor sympathized with me in being angry with the nuns himself!:eek:

Anyhoo, Half of my stuttering was gone. God took care of the rest…I was even able to speak at my son’s wedding last November.

Father Hampsh, whom I think is redemptorist, also stutters (or used to) quite a bit. He speaks often (or used to)…maybe you can get in touch with him…🤷

God bless you in all ways…
 
To borrow from tomorrow’s Gospel reading:

“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”

…Which is quite fitting for those in discernment since tomorrow is World Priest Day. Please, Brendan, keep on answering your vocation. We need you.
 
Hello Brendan,

I know that you can get help for your stuttering problem through speech therapy. Check out the website for the National Stuttering Foundation. They are the number one source for great information, low-cost DVD’s, and a listing of therapists who specialize in stuttering therapy. Good luck and God bless!
 
BrendanO,I grew up with a person who has a stuttering problem.He was teased often by his class group.He ended up following his call to the priesthood.He was very intelligent in his studies and became a Greek Scholar.I never knew until much later on that his father had a bad drinking problem.This priest if you heard him now,you would not know that he stutters!He speaks slowly and thoughtfully and comes accross really well!.He himself has inherited his father’s weakness to drink,probably an addictive personality.He was treated at The Guest House in the USA that helps priests’ with this type of problem.I am sure that your stuttering can be overcome to a certain degree these days.Years ago, my Parish Priest had some sort speach defect, as every second word was Umm ,as kids we accepted him but he was a pain to listen to.He was transfered to a small out of the way country parish where he was much loved by the people for years,until he went to his eternal reward!As scripture say"No speach,no word,no sound is heard but their span extends to the upmost bounds of the earth"Ask The Holy Spirit to guide you to your true vocation and calling-keep up your spirits.
 
brendan0 said:
Hello forums,

I’ll explain my situation briefly. I am 23 and have been discerning a religious vocation for quite some time now, have attened meetings with vocational directors and have just attened a live-in weekend with redemptorists priests.

I definitely feel called to a religious vocation, and am currently leaning towards priesthood, as this feels ‘right’ for me, as people know it’s difficult to explain. Thing is I’ve stuttered all my life and have always feared public speaking, and have had many bad public speaking experiences, not bad in terms of non-fluent speech, just people trying to dumb me down and interrupting, treating me like I’m backwards. I am aware people do their best to help and appreciate that.

I’m thinking, why would god call me to preach when I stutter? Does god calling me to a religious life but not being designed for preching mean I stay a brother and not get ordained?

I am confused as to where I am to go. Does anyone understand?
Click to expand...
I thought were devices for stuterers who wear it and stop stuterring? …Don’t worry, I also fear public speaking, but I am also discerning the priesthood. Maybe you won’t fear public speaking when you become a priest. 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top