I don't know if I should be a priest

[realtiger]

I feel God might call me to be a priest. However I feel if I become a priest I could be covetous. I could be coveting other neighbor’s wives since I won’t have one. I might just be covetous of other people who have a loving relationship with their spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend simply because they have a loving relationship. And it says in the bible if your right eye causes you to sin get rid of it. So maybe I shouldn’t become a priest if it leads to sin. Still if it’s God’s will I am going to have to do it whether I want to or not. I don’t know what it is like to be in a real relationship with a woman so I will feel like I missed out. I wont get a high paying job if I am a priest. I also imagined myself as not being the best priest if I become one as well like being miserable, grumpy, and even apathetic.

 

[bobballen_18]

Hello,

I don’t know if you should be a priest either. But here are a few things to consider.

1. Your prayer life - what is it like? Why do you think you may be called to the priesthood? Did you “receive the call” during prayer, or is it just a passing thought you have had? In any case, if your prayer life is not really strong, you won’t be equipped to fully hear and/or answer the call to the priesthood. If it is available near you, try to have a Holy Hour/Adoration as often as you can; if your schedule allows it, go to Mass as often as you can.
2. Every “career” (although priesthood shouldn’t really be called a “career”) involves sacrifice. Men who enter seminary to become priests in the Roman Rite know that they won’t be able to get married and have a family. However, they realize that if they follow God’s calling to become a priest, they will be happier than if they reject God’s call. Think of it like this: it’s not about what you have to give up, but about what you are called to and the graces and happiness you receive from following that call.
3. A good and holy priest could walk you through these things (and much more, I’m sure), so if it is really bothering you and especially if you aren’t getting anywhere in your discernment, it would be best to find one to whom you can speak about this.

Well, there was something else I was going to say but I forgot what it was. Anyway, just a few thoughts for you there.

 

[Yago]

Still if it’s God’s will I am going to have to do it whether I want to or not. .

this is where you are wrong. If you do not want to be a priest, do’t. He takes our chioce into account.
And carefully read bobballen’s post.

 

[tawny]

Praying to the Holy Spirit to give you guidance, direction, strength, fortitude & wisdom in your time of need.

 

[suko]

I feel God might call me to be a priest. However I feel if I become a priest I could be covetous. I could be coveting other neighbor’s wives since I won’t have one. I might just be covetous of other people who have a loving relationship with their spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend simply because they have a loving relationship. And it says in the bible if your right eye causes you to sin get rid of it. So maybe I shouldn’t become a priest if it leads to sin. Still if it’s God’s will I am going to have to do it whether I want to or not. I don’t know what it is like to be in a real relationship with a woman so I will feel like I missed out. I wont get a high paying job if I am a priest. I also imagined myself as not being the best priest if I become one as well like being miserable, grumpy, and even apathetic.

Your mindset here really bothers me. Please get yourself a good spiritual director if u haven’t already. You don’t want to try to figure out if u have a vocation or not on your own, or from people on a website or forum.

God bless.

 

[Yago]

Your mindset here really bothers me. Please get yourself a good spiritual director if u haven’t already. You don’t want to try to figure out if u have a vocation or not on your own, or from people on a website or forum.

God bless.

Trust his advice- suko is “Discerning a monastic vocation (currently interested in the Camaldolese hermits)”.source

 

[SecretGarden]

There is a set discernment process that all men who are considering the priesthood must follow which involves spiritual direction and prayer.

That said before you begin that route, have you considered a more human approach: meaning, why don’t you contact a few priests and ask them some questions about their life, their vocation, their duties etc. I would have the questions prepared ahead of time and make sure they are concise and aren’t answers you can easily find online as well.

You could also ask if you could shadow one for a few days to see if that is something that you might be interested in doing.

Furthermore, you could contact the seminary that all priests in your area attend and see if you could visit the seminary, attend a class or become a student for the day or two to as a way to explore if this is an potential calling for your life. Throughout it all, pray to God for guidance and wisdom.

Between interviewing a few priests, visiting the seminary and becoming a student for a day, you should have an idea of if this idea has any validity or not. Sometimes you need to do these things to see if they speak to your spirit or not.

If they don’t, then let it go for now and try other things. Maybe it will come up later on in life and maybe not. By following this route, it is a great way to discern a journey in life.

The priesthood isn’t for everyone and sometimes a person might have a calling for it, but they only enter years later because for whatever reason, they weren’t ready for it then. Sometimes, they aren’t called to it but it just means God needs them somewhere else.

God needs prayerful men in all areas of the world therefore take your time and take it step by step.

Good luck on this new journey.

SG

 

[GEddie]

Get thee to a spiritual advisor, preferably a priest you trust. Only then will you have a voice outside your mind to guide you. We all need that.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[Zipply]

You know, 90% of the vocations questions in this forum could best be answered “Go talk to the vocations director in your diocese and ask him about discernment assistance”.

 

[suko]

You know, 90% of the vocations questions in this forum could best be answered “Go talk to the vocations director in your diocese and ask him about discernment assistance”.

Yes, there are many threads that can be answered kinda like that. But even with those threads, it is good, imo, that they came here and asked for help anyway, since sometimes all of us telling them to seek spiritual direction, is just the push they need to actually go and do just that.

 

[Catholic1954]

I feel God might call me to be a priest. However I feel if I become a priest I could be covetous. I could be coveting other neighbor’s wives since I won’t have one. I might just be covetous of other people who have a loving relationship with their spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend simply because they have a loving relationship. And it says in the bible if your right eye causes you to sin get rid of it. So maybe I shouldn’t become a priest if it leads to sin. Still if it’s God’s will I am going to have to do it whether I want to or not. I don’t know what it is like to be in a real relationship with a woman so I will feel like I missed out. I wont get a high paying job if I am a priest. I also imagined myself as not being the best priest if I become one as well like being miserable, grumpy, and even apathetic.

Just feeling that God might be calling you to be a priest doesn’t quite mean that He is. You need an experienced spiritual director to help you sort out your vocation; call your parish and set up an appointment with a priest; if he can’t be your spiritual director, then he can recommend someone who can help you.