I'm so tired

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soonfathermauro

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When I first started my discernment, people kept telling me that being a priest is a hard life and I shouldn’t bother, but I kept telling them dont worry I can deal with it that was 4 years ago. Now I am finally graduating high school and even though I am that closer to my goal it feels like I am even further from it. there is about roughly 5 people that support or encourage my decision and the kicker is only one is catholic. and then one is a atheist, others are baptist and united methodist. it is very true that I could be exaggerating about only 5 people but these 5 are the only ones who openly support me if anyone else is they dont tell me, my mother, my father, my youth minister, vocation directors and many others have scoffed at my feelings like my mother who belives I only want to be a priest because its “easy”. I am getting to the end of my rope I understand that my mother opposes me because she wants me to get married, and the others because they have a stereotype of what a priest should be like and I fall very short of that standard clean cut, all American, all dry and stiff upper chin and many more. if thats what they think fine but thats not me, I am a man of faith not a man of the world. my mom trys always to stuff expensive clothes down my mouth when I tell her I am simple give me shorts, T-shirt and sandals and I am a happy man in either case (and dont worry I am getting to the end) so many people want to stop me from being a priest. Our holy mother church needs a lot of priests as well as they need good priests I know I can fill both requirements but I just dont know what I can do anymore
 
I’ll be praying that you continue on your call to be a priest. I’m shocked that you mother said that it would be ‘easy’ as priests put in so much work that they have little time for themselves. Don’t let anyone discourage you. It would be an honor if I had a son who wanted to be a priest. I would be more proud of him then if he were the President of the United States.
 
What is wrong with people nowadays? Was it really so long ago that a vocation to the priesthood was something Catholic families would have been overjoyed to have in their sons? Blah. It makes me angry. :mad:

I can’t imagine what it would be like to face opposition like that. 😦 But know that so many Catholics, like me, are really grateful for your decision. God’s flock needs more shepherds; there are plenty of sheep. I know you’re tired and beat, but know that we love you, God loves you, and if this is what He wants for you, nothing will stand in your way. Smile and take these little trials from your family and friends as tests of your will, little crosses you can bear for Christ.
 
Have courage. If God is truly calling you, He will validate that call in ways that are unmistakable to you. He will also test you. Trust in yourself and God. Ask for Our Lady’s help and intercession.

From one who knows.
 
Praying for you, soonfathermauro!

Bible verses for you from today’s Liturgy of the Hours:

Come, let us worship God, one in Trinity and a Trinity in One.
Mid-morning reading (Terce) 2 Corinthians 1:21 - 22 ©
Remember it is God himself who assures us all, and you, of our standing in Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts.
Noon reading (Sext) (Galatians 4:4-6) ©
God sent his Son to enable us to be adopted as sons. The proof that you are sons is that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts: the Spirit that cries, ’Abba, Father.’
Afternoon reading (None) Apocalypse 7:12 ©
Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever! Amen.
 
We support you here!! Add us to the list!

My pastor tells us that he still meets people who talk about how lonely his life must be and how can he deal with it, etc. He doesn’t tell us this to belittle the sacrifices of the priesthood…but he feels that God has blessed him abundantly with a parish family, helpers, the ability to minister to people at the most important times in their lives, bringing people back to the Church through Confession, and making it possible for us to have the Eucharist. Most good does come at a cost…Father does have his sufferings but God helps him.

If it is your calling, God will support you through any trials! If it is not, you will have educated yourself well and grown in your faith. You cannot lose. Thank you for answering the call!

Edited to add: Sometimes people just give you friction for not following the path they think everyone “should” follow. Don’t let their expectations drive your life. Even those of us with non-traditional jobs get comments from the 9-to-fivers. It’s not maliciousness, I think…it’s more like not being able to see outside your own box.
 
:yup: Thats exactly my problem…Here its Parental expectations(which is good because they want their child to be well settled in life with all the future goodies) vs. my desire to be a priest( is it valid? i am not sure). . .And they do think its the easy way out to ESCAPE from this life as a student have difficulty in his studies…i have also posted a thread…We do need courage and always Hope against Hope …We gotta pray :gopray:
 
soonfathermauro said:
When I first started my discernment, people kept telling me that being a priest is a hard life and I shouldn’t bother, but I kept telling them dont worry I can deal with it that was 4 years ago. Now I am finally graduating high school and even though I am that closer to my goal it feels like I am even further from it. there is about roughly 5 people that support or encourage my decision and the kicker is only one is catholic. and then one is a atheist, others are baptist and united methodist. it is very true that I could be exaggerating about only 5 people but these 5 are the only ones who openly support me if anyone else is they dont tell me, my mother, my father, my youth minister, vocation directors and many others have scoffed at my feelings like my mother who belives I only want to be a priest because its “easy”. I am getting to the end of my rope I understand that my mother opposes me because she wants me to get married, and the others because they have a stereotype of what a priest should be like and I fall very short of that standard clean cut, all American, all dry and stiff upper chin and many more. if thats what they think fine but thats not me, I am a man of faith not a man of the world. my mom trys always to stuff expensive clothes down my mouth when I tell her I am simple give me shorts, T-shirt and sandals and I am a happy man in either case (and dont worry I am getting to the end) so many people want to stop me from being a priest. Our holy mother church needs a lot of priests as well as they need good priests I know I can fill both requirements but I just dont know what I can do anymore
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Dear brother, please be at peace. If you have a vocation, isn’t that between God and you for now? That would seem to be the focus, not the pressure others are trying to put on you. And if you’re not the stereotype, I can’t see that as a bad thing! If you fitted into a mould, that’s no fun for the God who has created you! If you were to become a priest of course there are guidelines and points of wisdom, but you are yourself and God has called that wonderful person, if He has indeed called you.

I am often amazed by the priests of the Order who have been parish priests and assistant priests in my parish. They have two basic gifts welded together in addition to the gift of priesthood. They have deep, genuine, inspiring spirituality, and deep compassionate humanity. Each presents and carries these gifts in a richly individual way. I have often felt awed by this, and am blessed, as so many in my parish have been over the years.

God grant that if He is calling you, you will fix your eyes and heart on Him, on Jesus, whom you wish to follow. God grant that you put up the umbrella of peace to protect you when people rain their opinions or anything more material! upon you. God grant you joy and peace!

You will remain in my prayers and daily Masses, Trishie
 
thank you all for you kind words especially Me 4rm India, 3bar17 because you know the feeling first hand. Trishie first off I want to say I am fully aware that my vocation is between God and myself, if that wasnt the case I would have gave up years ago. please be assured I am not tring to mock you or harm you in any way. I understand why you would say that because you dont have all the info, so allow me to tell you enough. Our Lady of perpetual help has been such a warm and confortable light for me though my worst parts of my discrenment. Always and in every time my faith is first. the only reason why I made the post is because I am by myself in my discrenment, of course I have a spiritual director and he has been a huge part of my acceptment of my vocation and helping me along my discrenment. but of the most part my path is one that I am walking alone as I have mentioned a large amount of persons that I know are agaisnt me in my beliefs, I feel confortable always in the divine light of Our Lord and Master, but the evils in the world for me specifically feel as though they are vast and large even though I know it is a trick of the devil but I do thank you for your words and I wish blessings on you as long as you live

Peace and blessings
Mauro
 
Bless you, Mauro. May God help your family and friends to support you in your vocation. Peace, and all things good to you, Trishie 🙂
 
:crying:

Seriously I am so sad. I don’t understand the non support people get. Hopefully I will be entering an Order in September, but I get support from my parents…even though they do hurt that I am leaving for Europe for this.

But I do know about the other catholics not supporting my search. I was told by PRIESTs that I didn’t want to be a priest…these priests didn’t even know me, I was coming to them for help and they wouldn’t.

Just please remember, as I have tried to remember that God is with us. He is asking us to look into a “higher” calling…he won’t leave us alone to do it.
 
freudmacher said:
:crying:

Seriously I am so sad. I don’t understand the non support people get. Hopefully I will be entering an Order in September, but I get support from my parents…even though they do hurt that I am leaving for Europe for this.

But I do know about the other catholics not supporting my search. I was told by PRIESTs that I didn’t want to be a priest…these priests didn’t even know me, I was coming to them for help and they wouldn’t.

Just please remember, as I have tried to remember that God is with us. He is asking us to look into a “higher” calling…he won’t leave us alone to do it.
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Dear Fred, God Bless you and Mauro. It also makes me sad to hear that, when we really need men to listen to God’s call, thare aren’t always getting the support they need.

A lot of it, I suspect, is people projecting their values and issues onto you. People who are into material comforts may tell you priesthood is a bad idea because you’ll never be rich. People who are too afraid to live without a physical relationship will tell you you’ll be lonely. The priests who told you not to be a priest are surely unhappy with some aspect of their own lives. It may not even be related to the priesthood, but it might be linked in their minds. Thank God they didn’t support you…maybe God knows you don’t need support from someone with those problems right now!

I pray you’ll both keep your ears to the ground for the still, small voice and follow where God leads you.
 
God bless you and all who are discerning the Priesthood, I would also be honored if one of my sons became a Priest, I pray one of them will, if that be God’s will. I will keep you all in my prayers and please know that you are fully supported and needed in our world. Thank you for considering this and may God richly bless you all!!! ( I will ask our Lady of Perpetual’s help intercession for you also.)
 
In my experience, i have found that support usually grows as you maintain your desire. When I first told my parents 2 years ago, i dont think they even believed me. Now, as I am about to head of to Franciscan University for thier Pre-Theologate program, ive got my mom trying to learn more about what I will be doing, and more about how the Priesthood works.

My advice is to stick with it, show the people that your serious.

I can tell you that i have a group of friends with a running pool on how long i will last before i decide i want to get married and “get some” as they so elequently phrase it
 
Borrowing a saying that I learned from the “last lecture” of Randy Pausch, “The brick walls aren’t there to stop you from reaching your dream; they are there for one to know how strong it is your desire to reach that.”

To have a great desire to serve God as a priest is beautiful. If this calling is authentic, God’s Will will be done. Numerous saints have to go through severe trials of certain intimate revelations from God, e.g. what Mother Teresa went through before she was permitted to leave to start the Missionaries of Charity, the humiliations and questions received by St. Faustina when she expressed Jesus’ desire for her to draw the image of the Divine Mercy, difficulties that St. Theresa of Lisieux had to go through before being admitted to the Carmelites…

Instead of seeing oppositions along the way as obstacles, we have to embrace them with all humility as blessings from the Lord that they are means to help us testify the authenticity of the calling. May your heart be filled with peace and continue to burn with the ardent desire in letting God’s Will be fulfilled in you.
 
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