I am telling my parents tomorrow

[jesuspsr]

Chris
I must say that with all the prayers going out for you I wasn’t suprise that this went so well for you. Goes to show you that prayer does work. I really enjoyed your story brought me tears of joy thank you. Good luck and my prayers go with you.

Stuart my prayers go with you also.

jesus g

 

[Claymont79]

I am so happy you had a good experience. Have no fears about your past, we all have one, some are worse than others, but through Christ’s Divine Mercy, we are forgiven and healed!
I’ll be praying for you and am really interested in your blog. Keep us informed!

 

[sparkletina]

If my only child (son) wanted to become a priest, I would do cartwheels down the street in joy! Even knowing I would never become a grandma. We should not interfere in the call of God to a soul.

 

[newbear]

I"m finding this post a little late, but I had to write and say that my prayers are with you.
May God Bless
newbear

 

[Joe_5859]

If my only child (son) wanted to become a priest, I would do cartwheels down the street in joy! Even knowing I would never become a grandma. We should not interfere in the call of God to a soul.

I agree with you. Unfortunately, I know a number of people whose parents were far from supportive.

 

[RazzsMom]

Celtic and Stuart:

God’s blessings and peace to both of you!

I have only one son. He was extremely ill to the point of death when he was only 4 months old. When he survived, even the MD (who was a Muslim) said the Lord had saved him! So I wondered if Son was supposed to be a priest. I even prayed for a long time, telling Jesus and the Blessed Mother that I willingly gave them my only son for God the same way He gave His Only Son to me. In grade school (parochial), even his teachers felt he was very spiritual for a child. But - he ended up going to college and getting married. Now I have a gorgeous grandson who is six months old! So I guess the moral of this is one can never know what blessings God has in store for us!

I, myself, am entering a discerning process to see if I am called to be an Associate of the Sisters of St. Francis. It is an 8-12 month discernment term, and I would appreciate anyone’s prayers.

 

[jesuspsr]

Celtic and Stuart:

God’s blessings and peace to both of you!

I have only one son. He was extremely ill to the point of death when he was only 4 months old. When he survived, even the MD (who was a Muslim) said the Lord had saved him! So I wondered if Son was supposed to be a priest. I even prayed for a long time, telling Jesus and the Blessed Mother that I willingly gave them my only son for God the same way He gave His Only Son to me. In grade school (parochial), even his teachers felt he was very spiritual for a child. But - he ended up going to college and getting married. Now I have a gorgeous grandson who is six months old! So I guess the moral of this is one can never know what blessings God has in store for us!

I, myself, am entering a discerning process to see if I am called to be an Associate of the Sisters of St. Francis. It is an 8-12 month discernment term, and I would appreciate anyone’s prayers.

Razz(name removed by moderator)
my prayes go with you:thumbsup:
jesus g

 

[remjsmom76]

Well thats great for you.

However Im going to speak very frankly and quit opposite, Im sure, of most others who posted here. Note I have not read any one elses replies to this as to not prejudice my comment.

I am a mother of 4 girls. My youngest told me that she wanted to become a sister. I said that would be very good and I would be very happy. I would…I have other girls who could get married and have grandchildren for us. I look so much to having grandchildren. I love kids…its why I had more than what others have. Had she been my only daughter…I know I would have discouraged her.

Now my next comment is a bit prejudice because of what I have seen and lived through.
There are many moms (and I say moms cause I have never seen a dad say he was happy his sone was becoming a priest) who would be thrilled at their sons becoming priest. I think because as one poster said, Moms tend to think NO OTHER WOMAN is ever going to be good enough for my son. No one can take care of him like I do and so forth. I say that because my grandmother did that to my mom, my MIL did the same thing to me. My best friends MIL, did the same thing to her. It eerks me that my MIL does not understand that I do love her son! That I do put his best intrest ahead of mine. She does not get that. But it is what it is.

Had I had a son ( I only have girls) I would not NOT permit him to be a priest. Esp if he was my only son. I know my husband FAMILY would be against it to. Reason…linage, linage. The family name has to contiue. I married the Patriarchs son. My husband is Martin the 3rd. Im being preassured ot have Martin the 4th. I can only do so much, KWIM.

So, sit down by yourself and think about the situation. Are you the only child, if you are maybe your parents are looking at you to provide grandchildren to them. If your not, then see if you can come up with any objections they might throw at you. Be ready. In then end…even though I say I would discourage them…it is their choice. Yes I would be disappointed. However my dreams for my children are just that…my dreams. My kids have their own dreams. They have thier own wind to push them in the direction they want to take flght. As much as I would probably dissagree, so long as its not a harzard to their life…Id support them as best I could. I want my kids to be happy. Im sure your parents want you to be happy to. God Bless!

 

[PaulineOsinachi]

Celtic and Stuart do you guys realize you guys are starting up on the road to becoming priests in the year of priests?! It seems like more than just a coincidence to me. My prayers are with both of you and for Celtic, I pray that now you 've discerned your vocation that you remain faithful to it and be one of those holy priests the church is in dire need of.

@remj(name removed by moderator): Children are from God on loan. They have their lives God can call them irrespective of what you prefer. If you live your life believing that God ought to ask your permission before calling any of your kids then you may be in for some heart aches. I’ll pray for you that Our Lord will help you to be generous with the kids He has given you

 

[celtic1967]

Thankyou Everyone

Yes Pauline I do realize that i have been called forth in the Year of the Priest. It is quite an amazing Thought dont you think ? It is all the prayers of the faithful.

Razz(name removed by moderator) count me in I will be praying for your discernment. Please let me know how you got on.

remj(name removed by moderator) I dont think you would be right to discourage your daughter or NOT permit your son to be a Priest God does not need your permission whatsoever. I know that when i told my parents that if say had said no. They would have lost there son because I was going to follow Jesus anyway.
God doesnt hand out calls to the Priesthood like a baker hands out bread. It is the greatest gift a man can be givin by God.
IMO a parent who would discourage or even not allow a child to answer a call would be in danger of the Great Judgement of the Lord. I hope you bear many more children in the love of Christ.

Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

 

[RazzsMom]

Thank you to those who will pray for me.

Celtic - I agree with your response 100%. Thank you. I think you will be an excellent priest, as I can see (hear) your passion and love for the Lord in all your posts. You will be an excellent homilist and defender of the Faith!

Celtic - I will indeed let you know how it goes…And I did not mean to hijack your thread! I will watch to see how your life goes as well. God Bless you!

 

[lizaanne]

I look so much to having grandchildren.

Wow. How incredibly selfish. I am truly blown away that anyone would put their own selfish wants in front of a desire to serve God.

Wow. Just - wow.


I am not able to have children. But if I could, and God gave me only one, I would gladly and graciously give that one child back to Him, who gave me the child in the first place.

~Liza

 

[chairman]

Just keep cool, feel free to express what you have at heart. Stick to your calling. my prayers are with all discerners and especially you.

pray without season

 

[remjsmom76]

PaulineOsianachi I know my kids are only a loan. I came to realize this when my best friend passed away at the age of 24. Her mother died that day…not physically, but I guess in a sense spiritually. Not long after my best friends death her mom was diagnosed with cancer. I think it had to do with the death of her daughter cause she just recently passed away to be with her daughter. However, I learned that I should raise my girls right and always understand that my girls can be called up to go home at any moment. It is why I tell them I love them every day, I hug them every day. I always make sure they know they are very much loved.

Celtic…and eveyone else who commented on my comment. Yes, GOD does tug at someones heart when it comes to matters of becoming a preist or sister or nun. I know, I was going to become one. My family was not thrilled. Things were said…and Ill leave it at that. I realized then that my family had some dreams for me and that becoming a sister was not the only option for me to serve the Lord. I was very involved in the church as a teen, I helped run the youth groups for our church. I went to California for a retreat and its when i realized i wanted to do this for the rest of my life. I let my parents know my wishes and they had a fit.

Funny thing was around the same time, dh was thinking about becoming a priest. He was 16 at the time. Remember he carries the family name. So when he started to get serious about retreats and going to learn more about becoming a priest, his father, mohter and all his family were very much against it and said some really harsh things to him. My husband was trying to live a good life, and live the right way. My FIL scoffed at him. Told him he was acting like he was better than everyone else. He told me the stories and my heart went out to him.

Later on DH and I found each other and guess where of all places…at our church. We met at a retreat and later on went ahead to date each other. He is my best friend and I know GOD had a hand at this. I know GOD put us together because we have a great love for our Father and His son. My husband and I are the churchs Choir directors, we have taught CCD classes for the last 4 years. We help is as much as we can. Our girls love their roots and religon. Honestly I think GOD didnt allow me to have a son because of what my husband had to go through. Who knows.

Still however, being the way things are, with my family and the family I married…if I had a son AND he was the only son, he would be raised to realize he is obligated to continue on the family name. As it stand…the famly name dies with our daughters. I dont have a son. Like I said before, my husbands family looks at me like I need to continue to have kids until I do have a son. My husbands brother had a son…but he is the youngest of the family, my husband is the oldest. My husband has the same name as his father and his fathers father. Yes, I married a family who is still very VERY old fashioned and expects the oldest to carry on the family name.

I am glad for you, that you feel the calling into priesthood and I am very glad your parents are supportive. That is great for YOU.

In my oppinion…priesthood isnt the only way to serve Jesus. There are many other ways to do so. Just look at my husband and I … one who wanted to become a priest and I who wanted to become a sister.

Thankyou Everyone

Yes Pauline I do realize that i have been called forth in the Year of the Priest. It is quite an amazing Thought dont you think ? It is all the prayers of the faithful.

Razz(name removed by moderator) count me in I will be praying for your discernment. Please let me know how you got on.

remj(name removed by moderator) I dont think you would be right to discourage your daughter or NOT permit your son to be a Priest God does not need your permission whatsoever. I know that when i told my parents that if say had said no. They would have lost there son because I was going to follow Jesus anyway.
God doesnt hand out calls to the Priesthood like a baker hands out bread. It is the greatest gift a man can be givin by God.
IMO a parent who would discourage or even not allow a child to answer a call would be in danger of the Great Judgement of the Lord. I hope you bear many more children in the love of Christ.

Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

 

[Joe_5859]

In my oppinion…priesthood isnt the only way to serve Jesus. There are many other ways to do so. Just look at my husband and I … one who wanted to become a priest and I who wanted to become a sister.

Thank you for sharing your story. I think now I can better undertsand and sympathize with your point of view.

Priesthood and religious life certainly are not the only way to serve the Lord, and I don’t think anyone here would say that they are. However, I do think we need to be willing to die to our own desires and seek to do the will of the Lord. Doing the will of God is more important than passing on the family name. Not that it will always be easy to do this. (It is easy for me to say this now that my kids are small, but I’m sure it will be harder when they are grown and making their own decisions! )

I understand the appeal. Right now, I’ve got one boy and one girl. The idea of the boy “carrying on the family name” is appealing to a father. But if all my children went on to become priests and nuns, I would still be thrilled. Of course, my family name is as common as dirt, so passing it on doesn’t matter to me so much.

 

[mahalia]

remj(name removed by moderator),
I find it interesting that you have four daughters Yes, I think God may be telling you something…
I can’t say I understand you, though - you feel pressured by that tradition, you even see that the name shouldn’t be that important, but you would raise your son “to be obligated to continue on the family name”… You would practically say to God - okay, we love you and all, but go search for priests somewhere else, our name is way too important.
I appreciate your honesty, but I just can’t understand why you would pressure your own child the way your husband’s family pressures him (or both of you).

 

[CLMCatholic]

…In my oppinion…priesthood isnt the only way to serve Jesus. There are many other ways to do so. Just look at my husband and I … one who wanted to become a priest and I who wanted to become a sister.

Dear remj(name removed by moderator)

I can sympathize with your dilemma. And I agree with you that a religious vocation is not the only way to serve our Lord. Raising strong prayer warriors is service too. But please do remember that there is a difference between *‘entertaining the thought’ *that one might want to enter a religious vocation…and truly and actually being called by our Lord himself!

I myself wanted very much to be a nun when I was young. When I realized a little later that I wanted children **very **much, it was not easy for me to ‘give up my dream’ of being a nun. But I came to realize that it was my dream, not that of our Lord. He had called me to the vocation of wife and motherhood. And I joyfully answered that call.

Like I said before, my husbands family looks at me like I need to continue to have kids until I do have a son. My husbands brother had a son…but he is the youngest of the family, my husband is the oldest.

I now have 3 wonderful daughters and a single son. My son is the ONLY one who can carry on the family name. There is no one else. Not even a “husband’s brother who has a son”. My husband is the only male relative of his generation. Our son is the only male relative of the next generation. If our son does not pass it on, the name dies with him - literally. Yet, my DH and I both prayerfully acknowledge that if God calls our son, we would do nothing to stand in his way. Because if God calls him, who are we to say nay?

Later on DH and I found each other and guess where of all places…at our church. We met at a retreat and later on went ahead to date each other. He is my best friend and I know GOD had a hand at this. I know GOD put us together because we have a great love for our Father and His son.

Years ago your DH and yourself both had to discern whether or not you had a true calling to a religious vocation - and I would suggest to you that you both discerned correctly, that you were not being called by God. In truth, God was NOT calling you. And when you realized that and later pursued your true calling to marriage and parenthood, you served our Lord. Why do you think it is that God had a hand in your meeting? Why did God bring you together? Because that is the glorious plan He had for you. That is the vocation He was calling you to. What a great and wonderful God we have, yes?

But if one of your own children DOES discern that they DO have a call from God, then please do not dissuade them. If they really and truly are being called by God, then you would be actively persuading them to ignore their Father, passive disobedience almost. Would you really want to be responsible for them ignoring God’s will??? Since, as their mother and one who loves them immensely, you want what is best for them - could anything be better than the peace and joy of doing God’s will?? I am certain you would re-think this.

Yes - You should discuss it with them carefully and point out the hardships involved in a religious vocation…so that they really and truly know what they are getting into and can discern if it really IS their vocation. You want them to know, to really know and understand if it is God’s call for their life. So yes - have that serious conversation, as your parents and your DH’s parents did with the 2 of you. They made you and your DH realize that it was not a call from God. And you discerned, instead, to not enter the religious life. But if your child discerns, knowing your disappointment and qualms, if your child still discerns that God has called them, please do not stop them. What an honour. What a singular and joyful honour.

Who knows - this may not be an issue that ever crosses your horizon? Maybe your children are meant to marry and give you a multitude of grandchildren?! But do try to keep in mind - you are where you need to be in life. Please do not try to prevent your children, ultimately, from being where they are intended to be in life.

Peace to you
.
Prayers to you still - Chris and Stuart - and all others who are discerning their call to priesthood and the religious life.

Peace and God Bless,

CLM
<><

 

[PaulineOsinachi]

Well said

…

Years ago your DH and yourself both had to discern whether or not you had a true calling to a religious vocation - and I would suggest to you that you both discerned correctly, that you were not being called by God. In truth, God was NOT calling you. And when you realized that and later pursued your true calling to marriage and parenthood, you served our Lord. Why do you think it is that God had a hand in your meeting? Why did God bring you together? Because that is the glorious plan He had for you. That is the vocation He was calling you to. What a great and wonderful God we have, yes?

But if one of your own children DOES discern that they DO have a call from God, then please do not dissuade them. If they really and truly are being called by God, then you would be actively persuading them to ignore their Father, passive disobedience almost. Would you really want to be responsible for them ignoring God’s will??? Since, as their mother and one who loves them immensely, you want what is best for them - could anything be better than the peace and joy of doing God’s will?? I am certain you would re-think this.

Yes - You should discuss it with them carefully and point out the hardships involved in a religious vocation…so that they really and truly know what they are getting into and can discern if it really IS their vocation. You want them to know, to really know and understand if it is God’s call for their life. So yes - have that serious conversation, as your parents and your DH’s parents did with the 2 of you. They made you and your DH realize that it was not a call from God. And you discerned, instead, to not enter the religious life. But if your child discerns, knowing your disappointment and qualms, if your child still discerns that God has called them, please do not stop them. What an honour. What a singular and joyful honour.

Who knows - this may not be an issue that ever crosses your horizon? Maybe your children are meant to marry and give you a multitude of grandchildren?! But do try to keep in mind - you are where you need to be in life. Please do not try to prevent your children, ultimately, from being where they are intended to be in life.

Peace to you…

CLM
<><

 

[RazzsMom]

Thank you to all who pray for those who are trying to discern a calling of any sort.

As I said, I am just entering a discernment period to see if I am being called to be a Lay Associate of the Sisters of St. Francis. One of my friends is a Franciscan sister and will be my mentor/guide. There is already one Assiciate here in my town and the sister I spoke to at the Motherhouse said that with three of us here, we could be forming our own chapter! That is exciting to think about.

I asked Sr. J how was I to know if the calling was from God or if it was simply an imagining of my own mind because I thought it would be “neat” or “cool” to do. (I think maybe a lot of people wonder that.) She said that she believes if one thinks it is “neat”, then it must be from God, because anyone NOT being called by God would never think it was a “cool” idea. That made sense to me.

I told my mom in a very light and off-hand way that I was thinking of this. (She is Catholic - a convert - but does not attend Church due to her health. She says she watches EWTN Mass.) Anyway - I mentioned it and said Sr. J would be my guide and it would take maybe 8 to 12 months with monthly meetings. Mom’s only words were said sarcastically, “Oh, THAT’s JUST what you need - ‘more meetings’!”



It was not the response I hoped for, but was the response I expected.

My Hubby is fine with this. He is always supportive of what I feel strongly about, be it religion, school, jobs, etc. One reason why I love the man so much!

I wonder how the guys are doing with their discernment processes?..

 

[chairman]

“Mom, you know how you’ve always thought no woman was ever good enough for me? Well, I’ve decided you’re right! I want to be a priest!”

Okay, maybe not.

The number one obstacle to religious vocations is (unfortunately) parents. It can be tough. My prayers are with you.

Priesthood is not a means of escaping from marriage, so if no woman is ever good enough for you, then the Church who is figuratively a woman will not also be good enough for you. Tell your mum that u think God is calling you to discern priestly vocation. you are only obeying the Spirit speaking within you.
may God lead you to Himself. Amen