Be careful of following an ideal. I sense you have read something or perhaps met someone which has impressed you. The real calling manifests itself in strange ways.Thanks for the comments and prayers! When i made this thread i was leaning towards being a secular priest but in the last month my desire to be a Franciscan has grown. I want to be a poor humble servant of God.
Very true i can say i want to be this now and end up doing something else. My main goal is to do God’s will and if that means Franciscans or something else, i will be happy.Be careful of following an ideal. I sense you have read something or perhaps met someone which has impressed you. The real calling manifests itself in strange ways.
Incidentially, Franciscans were the first Order that attracted me.
Oh yes i know if i join the Franciscans it won’t be a guarantee that i will be ordained. Im joining the Franciscans to be a brother but if im given the green light to priesthood, i will gladly accept it.Just wanted to add one thought in case anyone here is not aware of it: although there are religious orders and congregations of men in which everyone is an ordained priest, most institutes - including the Carmelites and Dominicans, and most especially the Franciscans - do not give a guarantee of ordination to entrants.
In other words, when presenting yourself to a consecrated institute, it is perfectly acceptable to mention a call to priesthood, but this can only be in the context of a greater desire to live out the charism of the order e.g. the Franciscan way of life. The decision as to whether you will be permitted to train for priesthood is made with your formators and superiors, and it is always possible that they will discern that it is not appropriate for you.
When I entered the Order of Carmelites, it was my strong belief (and still is) that I was called to live out the Carmelite charism, but I had no vocation to priesthood, and still do not. If I had felt a call to priesthood as well, I would have informed my superiors and we would have discerned the issue together. I would not have been able to demand priestly training, and even at the end of such training I might still be told that I was not suitable for ordination. This is the nature of religious obedience.
Religious life, like all Christian life, is a journey in which we cannot be sure of the destination. Ten years ago I wouldn’t have thought it likely that I would be a friar today, but I am, and I’m very content and blessed to be so. We all have to be open to possibilities, but at the same time avoid making too many plans or looking too far ahead.
Interesting..
When I entered the Order of Carmelites, it was my strong belief (and still is) that I was called to live out the Carmelite charism, but I had no vocation to priesthood, and still do not. If I had felt a call to priesthood as well, I would have informed my superiors and we would have discerned the issue together. I would not have been able to demand priestly training, and even at the end of such training I might still be told that I was not suitable for ordination. This is the nature of religious obedience.
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I am afraid you are going to need more than ‘God’s will’ on this decision because it is important as changing direction later is not always possible or at least difficult. Use these coming years to research where you want to be. Don’t be in a hurry, as indicated earlier.Very true i can say i want to be this now and end up doing something else. My main goal is to do God’s will and if that means Franciscans or something else, i will be happy.
Yes i know i won’t rush my decesions. I will pray alot about it and also do research. I still have alot of time because i still wanted to go to college and explore my options there. Then i would have to pay my student loan before commiting to any order which will take some more time.I am afraid you are going to need more than ‘God’s will’ on this decision because it is important as changing direction later is not always possible or at least difficult. Use these coming years to research where you want to be. Don’t be in a hurry, as indicated earlier.
Avoid ideals and steer away from books that idealize Orders.
Unneccessary!To the young lads 15 and 16.
Start to read some things that are spiritual.
The specific Books that I recomend are
St Louis De Montfort - True Devotion to Mary, The secret of the Rosary.
St Joseph Cafasso - The Priest The Man of God
St Anthony Mary Claret - The Autobiography of St Anthony Mary Claret - [he written this under obedience]
There are lots of other good works out there but it seems to me that these are eminently suitable.
Be aware also that you are going to get temted strongly in the next few years so you need to be aware of how to fight them. A constant prayer life is teh only way thru…
Paul
Thank you for the help and kind words. May God continue to bless you and your brothers to do his will.Pace e Bene (peace and Good) Catholic Guy and all of you who are searching to do Gods Full Will !
I am absolutly amazed at all the repies that you have recieved !
I am an Austalian Friar who now lives in Italy in a Catholic Comunity of Friars and Nuns (Sisters) who want to live ALL of the Gospel with the facts and in the Truth. We also live with out wanting, asking or touching money, not that it’s bad to touch it as also the desciples had a safe keeping, but our hearts have greatly desired to live also as Jesus says: “go with out bread, back pack, cane or money” (Cf. Mk 6, 7-8).
I have attached a short film that partly expresses our Charisma and may also help you discover even better what Gods Will may be apon you. We hope you enjoy it…
Ps. Im sendind this letter to all those who replying your messagge, as I see that there is much need.For What ever your spiritual need be, with the Grace of God and within our limits, I am at your service!
The Link is:
vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=61547007
The Website we use is:
www.poorfriars.net
Best wishes of Holiness (Thes 4,3) and Beatific Immortality !