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ChurchSoldier
Guest
Keep your enthusiam:thumbsup:
Just keep walking your path of faith and God will make it clear to you.
Good luck!
Just keep walking your path of faith and God will make it clear to you.
Good luck!
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SAVINGRACE
Guest
Are you looking at Catholic universities for your undergrad studies?
The Priests in my town had to graduate from university first before they would be accepted into a seminary. My Priest went to a Catholic university in the city and used that time as his discernment period with lots of prayer and regular meetings with the diocesan vocations director.The requirements vary within Dioceses but** the most important thing is you have to become Catholic first and that process can take 9 months to a year.**
It’s wonderful that you have a love for the Church and want so much to be a Priest. :hug1:
My advice is:
- Please seek counsel from a Priest.
- Complete RCIA program to become Catholic.
- If you are serious, apply to Catholic universities, only because you are young, about to head off to uni and have little/no exposure to Catholicism.
- Once in university and once a Catholic, speak to the vocations director at the diocese.
Good luck with your studies and your spiritual discernment journey.
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Divine3
Guest
Well I will pray for you both–your advice Servant is excellent and if Jesus calls you to be a priest you will know. The call comes from God not from our selves and God will reward the desire to be a priest. We are all called to be priestly, kingly and prophets in our baptism.First of all, congratulations! It’s always awesome to know someone is preparing his/herself to swim across the Tiber to be received into Holy Mother Church. I’ll be sure that you are included in my prayers.
Secondly, on the question of the priesthood, as someone who is also discerning to that call, I’d adivse you to calm down a bit on the thought and think it through.
Quoting from yourself:
On first point, don’t do that. That is putting God to the test, and isn’t benefitial to either you or Him. Second, I’m not sure you are totally aware of the trials and the cross that is carried by those chosen to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. The holy priesthood isn’t easy - it will require of you a life of perpetual obedience and chastity, as well as a life totally centered on God and His sheep. Even some of the most saintly people you’ll ever meet wouldn’t be able to do it.
Third point, make a serious reflection and discernment on your vocation. There are other ways to immerse yourself into Church life that aren’t necessarily the priesthood. Lay men have their own movements and groups with a certain charism and spirituality (I personally have been accused of attempting to join every group in my diocese) that might fit you just fine. A holy marriage with a faithful and loving wife can also bolster your faith and put you closer to Heaven than the priesthood ever could put you. Or maybe you’re called to be a simple lay monk, without Holy Orders. The options are really, really varied, and you need to discern them in good conscience.
Don’t fix yourself in any state of life just yet, and be ready to face the possibility of being directed by Our Lord into a direction that you did not desire, or did not expect at first, whilst you’re discerning. You have been already chosen for a certain state of life in order for you to answer the universal calling of holiness, and this is all about finding out what it is. This isn’t much about what state of life seems the most appealing or the most ‘awesome’ to live, it’s about bearing the cross of your calling so you can enjoy the glory of being one of the Chosen of the Lamb. And that implies that your life won’t be easy in any human standards!
With that out of the way, I’ll now go ahead and give you more pratical advise on the matter. First, once you’re fully in the Church, confess often, at least once a month (don’t go into scrupulous mode over your sins either, at least not preferrably, even though that’s a phase we all go through eventually), and go to Mass whenever you can, ready to receive Holy Communion. Next, consecrate yourself to the Blessed Mother and entrust Her to guide you to your vocation. Believe me, she’s one heck of a help!pray the Rosary (at least five mysteries, in the traditional order) every day, or gain the habit in order to be able to do so. And, most importantly, get a trustworthy spiritual director that knows you well, and follow his insctructions and advise obediently. Speak with the vocations director of your diocese and talk about your interest into the priesthood, as he might help you.
Most important of all, be open minded to any possible vocation. That’s much harder than you might think. Keep checking your path and confirm with Our Lord that you’re in the right one. If you go to the seminary, keep confirming that you’re doing God’s will, even if you’re one month short of becoming a Deacon. Seminaries, apart from forming priests, also expand and develop exponentially one’s prayer life and knowledge of the Faith. Do not underestimate that, and face the possibility that God might be calling you there temporarily for you to have this development you need for your sainthood, and not necessarily to become a priest.
Apart from that, pray, be faithful, and intend nothing more other than your service to Our Lord, and everything will fall in place. I’ll keep you in my prayers. God bless!
But with the advice you have given regarding discernment – you would be a very, very helpful spiritual director–there is also great joy in the priesthood, the bond of priesthood I have seen in priests I have met and seen serving – is beyond words. They have a priestly bond that is great to behold especially in religious communities. Yet, if a priest lives for himself he has become a lost soul in need of conversion. Like you said he is called to serve not be served. He is called to pray and celebrate mass-- this is vital, he is called to be one with Jesus and of course with the blessed Trinity–without a love for Our mother Mary, you will never be a priest like Jesus. Keeping you in prayer — This is my beloved Son Listen to him.
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Divine3
Guest
Well I will pray for you both–your advice Servant is excellent and if Jesus calls you to be a priest you will know. The call comes from God not from our selves and God will reward the desire to be a priest. We are all called to be priestly, kingly and prophets in our baptism.
But with the advice you have given regarding discernment – you would be a very, very helpful spiritual director–there is also great joy in the priesthood, the bond of priesthood I have seen in priests I have met and seen serving – is beyond words. They have a priestly bond that is great to behold especially in religious communities. Yet, if a priest lives for himself he has become a lost soul in need of conversion. Like you said he is called to serve not be served. He is called to pray and celebrate mass-- this is vital, he is called to be one with Jesus and of course with the blessed Trinity–without a love for Our mother Mary, you will never be a priest like Jesus. Keeping you in prayer — This is my beloved Son Listen to him.
I’m new to this so I mistakenly wrote in the quote area-- oh well!
But with the advice you have given regarding discernment – you would be a very, very helpful spiritual director–there is also great joy in the priesthood, the bond of priesthood I have seen in priests I have met and seen serving – is beyond words. They have a priestly bond that is great to behold especially in religious communities. Yet, if a priest lives for himself he has become a lost soul in need of conversion. Like you said he is called to serve not be served. He is called to pray and celebrate mass-- this is vital, he is called to be one with Jesus and of course with the blessed Trinity–without a love for Our mother Mary, you will never be a priest like Jesus. Keeping you in prayer — This is my beloved Son Listen to him.
I’m new to this so I mistakenly wrote in the quote area-- oh well!
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
I’m not sure what you mean by “start straight out of high school.” Start studying for the priesthood?
First you need to become Catholic. If you haven’t started the RCIA process yet that might be something you can do in college. Make sure any colleges you’re looking at have a Newman Center or Catholic campus ministry and that they offer RCIA.
Second, depending on what diocese or order you’re interested in, there will be a waiting period of a year or two before they’ll consider a new Catholic.
So you have at least two or three years of preparation and probation. Select a good college and put effort into your studies. Use that time to become Catholic, find a spiritual director, focus on your interior life, and discern your vocation.
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pianistclare
Guest
Succinctly said, thanks.
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pianistclare
Guest
Well.
I’m sure she will guide you nonetheless if God wills this vocation for you.
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ServantPD
Guest
Someone knows what he’s talking about!Well your in luck. You don’t have to be a Priest in order not to just be Catholic on Sundays.
Get married and have 10 kids.
What I think you’re not understanding is that wheter or not you find the priesthood to be a “dream job” or not is wholly indifferent to your actual calling. I’m not saying you’re not being called (dear Lord no, the Church needs eager lads like you to have this calling, we have lack of priests right, and even more of zealous ones!), but please keep in mind that there’s a possibility that this might not be for you, no matter how attractive it looks like. Try to see whatever it is that God is calling you to, and direct your desires to His divine will. If you do that, you’ll be fine.
On first point, welcome to the CAF! You’ll get around in this clunky forum in no time!
And thank you for your compliments and prayers. I’ve been discerning to the priesthood for over two years now, and am preparing to apply to the seminary in the ICRSS, so do keep praying for me, pleeease!
With that in mind, I know from a good first-hand perspective the joy that is felt by the priests in their ministry and I’ve been discerning to it for this long. I didn’t focus on that point too much on my post because I felt the OP was well acquainted with that joy inherent in the ministry, and I was just emphasizing the possible crosses and hardships for his own reflection and discernment. God bless!
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jacobthompson16
Guest
When did God reveal he wanted you in the priest hood?I’ve been discerning to the priesthood for over two years now, and am preparing to apply to the seminary in the ICRSS, so do keep praying for me, pleeease!
With that in mind, I know from a good first-hand perspective the joy that is felt by the priests in their ministry and I’ve been discerning to it for this long. I didn’t focus on that point too much on my post because I felt the OP was well acquainted with that joy inherent in the ministry, and I was just emphasizing the possible crosses and hardships for his own reflection and discernment. God bless!
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ServantPD
Guest
If you’re that interested, send me a private message. This is your thread, and I won’t deviate its topic to speak about myself (if I haven’t already with my last post…).
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Divine3
Guest
Yes, we so need priests and I will pray for you. Yes, it is wise to face the reality of the cross and you need to be all man to follow Jesus as his priests. It will be a joy to pray for you and I rejoice you have taken the step to enter the seminary. Alleluia!Someone knows what he’s talking about!
What I think you’re not understanding is that wheter or not you find the priesthood to be a “dream job” or not is wholly indifferent to your actual calling. I’m not saying you’re not being called (dear Lord no, the Church needs eager lads like you to have this calling, we have lack of priests right, and even more of zealous ones!), but please keep in mind that there’s a possibility that this might not be for you, no matter how attractive it looks like. Try to see whatever it is that God is calling you to, and direct your desires to His divine will. If you do that, you’ll be fine.
On first point, welcome to the CAF! You’ll get around in this clunky forum in no time!
And thank you for your compliments and prayers. I’ve been discerning to the priesthood for over two years now, and am preparing to apply to the seminary in the ICRSS, so do keep praying for me, pleeease!
With that in mind, I know from a good first-hand perspective the joy that is felt by the priests in their ministry and I’ve been discerning to it for this long. I didn’t focus on that point too much on my post because I felt the OP was well acquainted with that joy inherent in the ministry, and I was just emphasizing the possible crosses and hardships for his own reflection and discernment. God bless!
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