I've been avoiding this subforum like the plague...

[Mordocai]

So I know it’s not good, but at some point in the recent past, I became afraid of continuing discernment of the priesthood.
I realized (wrongly or rightly I do not know) that I had never given much thought to marriage, at all. The extent of my discernment for that were “It’s too hard. I must be called to the Priesthood” (as if that was much easier!)
Anyway it boils down to this. I think I may be running away, and recently I seem to have stopped moving, and I’m starting to turn back around towards discernment of Priesthood.
I simply haven’t felt called to discern marriage, and that scares me. A lot. Because maybe it’s a special grace to affirm the call to the Priesthood. I do not know. God knows.

To sum up:
I am afraid
Please pray for me
Please offer words of encouragement/advice

Because I’ve been avoiding the vocations subforum like the plague. I even didn’t want to listen to the Fishers of Men movie (watched it last night though) for a while and I even avoided my fav. Third Day song “Offering” simply because that song has always had a powerful effect on me vocationally.

Please help! I love you all.
Mordocai

 

[Kevin42]

I have no real adivce because I am probably even farther away from discerning what God has called me to do than you are. However, I will pray for you! Anyone who is devout either entering into marriage or the religious life is a great blessing to the Church! Peace be with you!

 

[bilop]

I have never discerned the priesthood, so you can take my words with a healthy helping of salt.

I think some people know their calling so early, and strongly, that they don’t really discern the alternative. My brother-in-law is a priest, knew his vocation from childhood. I believe I heard Fr. Groeschel say the same on EWTN. They might not have thought much about marriage.

So, if you vocation is that strong, I wouldn’t worry about not discerning the alternatives.

That said, I don’t think you should rush to one vocation because the other is “too hard”.

For me, marriage is easy now, it may become hard, the priesthood would be hard. If you are called to the priesthood, I’m sure marriage would be hard, but the priesthood may be hard too. That doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be your vocation.

I say continue to discern, work with your spiritual director and pray.

I will say a prayer for you

 

[CatholicMC]

Ask God what He wants from you. I would advise you to go to Eucharistic Adoration frequently.

Maybe talk to a priest, or a vocational director.

Talk with someone about it…the very act of putting it out into words in a real life convo is very liberating.

Try to live care-free if that makes sense? Live and try not to think about it too much…see what God brings into your life.

Marriage isn’t a bad thing, neither is the priesthood! My other advice would be to try to be open to anything.

I’ll pray for you brother.

Peace.

 

[math2vln]

Just visit a seminary, perhaps do a discernment retreat there. The road to Holy Orders is long and designed to help with the discernment and to open one to the grace of God as he prepares His future priests. You just have to take a first step and trust the Lord to guide your path. He will show you HIs will. You can count on prayers. The church needs holy priests…God bless you.

 

[JohnnyReb]

Mordocai

I understand how you feel. I too did not want to discern a calling. I did not want to watch videos like “Fishers of Men” I was too afraid that I would hear the Lord calling me to seek him more and possibly give more.

I studied to be a Protestant minister and have a Masters of Divinity from a Protestant seminary. Currently I am a licensed Social Studies Teacher. My love of history and studies in theology lead me to the Catholic Church. When I joined the church, I thought,"Good, now I can be a teacher and a good Catholic and perhaps one day I will make it to heaven. I am done with the ministry. It is obviously not God’s will for my life (or is it???) I fully intended to close the door on that chapter of my life.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. The people on this forum have been nothing but supportive, encouraging and helpful for me in beginning my own discernment. You will find support here.

**I guess the bottom line is this: Seek the Lord and a deeper relationship with him. Pray, go to daily mass, read the scriptures, etc… As you grow in grace, God’s desires for you will be revealed. **

 

[math2vln]

Just another thought, after praying for you at morning Mass. Reading between the lines of your post, it seems as though you have a healthy respect for the commitment of both Matrimony and Holy Orders, and perhaps a bit of fear of getting involved beyond your comfort level. It is possible that God has called you to Holy Orders and thus has not put potential marriage partners into your life. However, it could be healthy for you to do volunteer work for the church, or join a scripture study or prayer group in which you would get to know young men and women who are active in the faith. If there is a Newman center at a local university, that would be a place to start. The Focus missionaries are also present on many college campuses, and they are very faithful to the church. This experience will prepare you for your priesthood if that is God’s call, or it will help you recognize the contribution you could make as a lay single man, or married man. Be Not Afraid…whatever God has in mind for you will be exactly what you are capable of doing! God bless you.

 

[Belle10]

Praying for you Mordocai, that God will make His will for your life clear and that you will have the strength and love to follow that will.

 

[Patrick_Eastin]

Please do not resurrect old threads. The OP posted his question in 2006. He and the other posters may or may not participate in CAF any longer. If the topic is of interest, please start a new thread.