Hi,
Many dioceses require more than four years if the man has had no classes in philosophy. I can understand your eagerness and zeal for action. But giving yourself unconditionally to the Lord and being willing to wait for his lead must be the primary concern of every priest and of every man who wants to be a priest.
It does take longer to become a priest in a religious institute—certainly, by the addition of the Church-required novitiate year. The Dominican Order to which I belong requires more than that. It is important to note that religious life is a specific call in itself. Some men as well as women are called specifically to it alone. The vows of religious life comprise the totality of human existence. The vow of poverty represents all our goods, talents, even accomplishments. The vow of celibate chastity represents our sexuality and chaste relationships. The vow of obedience represents our direct submission to God and out indirect submission to him through the human authority he shares with his creatures.
Now all followers of Christ are called by that fact to offer themselves to God completely; their possessions, sexuality and obedience to lawful authority. But vowed religious throw a spotlight on this by going a step further. They vow not only to be chaste, but to be celibate, to not only live in a spirit of poverty (without greed), but actually vow to not own anything; they not only vow to obey lawful authority, but place their whole lives in the hands of others. The Church considers their vows to be public—not because the ceremony is done in public, but because their commitment is publicly known. This is why the religious habit is so significant. It speaks of a God who deserves such submission and its symbolic value touches people on many levels. From personal experience, I can vouch for this. There is an objective attractiveness of religious life that affects even nonbelievers. This is because it’s all about God and holiness. When a person makes such a commitment, his whole life (all his actions) becomes a continual act of the worship of God. Whatever sins he commits have an element of sacrilege involved. So you can see that religious life is not a mere matter of window dressing for the religious order priest. Founders such as St. Dominic found religious life to be a good base from which to evangelize. The religious community is greater than the sum of its members. His was the first order to be founded specifically for a ministry, e.g. preaching.
This being said, the diocesan priest must be centered on the Lord no less than the religious order priest. Before being a man of action, he must be a man of stillness. “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46 says. If he is to minister in the Person of Christ (Persona Christi), every priest must have a passion for Christ’s Passion, reflecting on it and giving thanks for it every day. An hour before the tabernacle every day is a must. The Eucharist brings the Passion into our present day lives. The priest, therefore, has a special connection to the Passion and must be willing to sacrifice for Christ’s people. He must be a man imbued with the crucified Christ.
This is something for you to chew on. I hope it is helpful. You are in my prayers, future Father!
Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
