Loneliness and the Priesthood

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jacob21
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jacob21

Guest
Hey everyone,
I’m trying to discern a vocation to the Priesthood, and was thinking about loneliness. I suffer from loneliness now in the single life off and on, but unfortunately more on than off. Would any Priests/Religious be willing to share any comments or life experiences?
 
Jacob,

I am not in a Consecrated Vocation, Holy Matrimony Vocation here. However I do a lot of work and interaction with the Priest in our Diocese, from the cities to the guys in the small towns. As a general rule our men are so busy they cannot see straight some days. Between Parish Life and modern communications (computers, Internet, cell phones & PDAphones) they many days struggle to get the quite time for their own prayer life and contemplation. but we do not have snow in our part of the country, so that may be part of it.

In fact this years Papal World Communications Day on May 16, 2010 is exactly about the Clergy using modern communications to preach the Word of Our Lord.

zenit.org/article-28139?l=english

Unless you are ultra shy or really reserved you may find yourself with just the opposite circumstance.
 
GratefulDad said:
Jacob,

I am not in a Consecrated Vocation, Holy Matrimony Vocation here. However I do a lot of work and interaction with the Priest in our Diocese, from the cities to the guys in the small towns. As a general rule our men are so busy they cannot see straight some days. Between Parish Life and modern communications (computers, Internet, cell phones & PDAphones) they many days struggle to get the quite time for their own prayer life and contemplation. but we do not have snow in our part of the country, so that may be part of it.

In fact this years Papal World Communications Day on May 16, 2010 is exactly about the Clergy using modern communications to preach the Word of Our Lord.

zenit.org/article-28139?l=english

Cenobitic religious life has few opportunities for loneliness, especially the Benedictines. they tend to live in large abbeys and often teach. It would appear that they are seldom alone.

Unless you are ultra shy or really reserved you may find yourself with just the opposite circumstance.
Click to expand...
 
I was actually thinking of becoming a Benedictine, partly due to the fact that I have grown up next to a Benedictine Monastery :).
I worry about loneliness if I become a Priest because I suffer from it now :/. I worry about loneliness and the longing for a physical companion, although I know that I will have God as my companion.
 
Peace and Good!
I am a Catholic friar who has made vows of obbedience, total poverty, and chastity. I once upon a time experienced lonliness when I did not know what God’s Will was for me. it’s a big temptation. I have felt it when ever I risked slipping out of the Will of God, or when ever I was out of the Will of God. It’s written in the Bible: In your Will is my Joy" ( Sal 118,16 ) Thanks be to God now that I’ve found with certainty the Will of God for me, I no longer experience lonliness!

I have attached a short film that partly answers you question (as you’ll be able to see the smiles on our face), and that partly expresses our Charisma, it may be of help to you. We hope you enjoy it…
vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=61547007

I also recomend you to check out the website that our Groups of Prayer have opened for us:
www.poorfriars.net

On the first page, there are three choices. If you click on the lower central botton “Lord what do you want me to do ?”… you will find lots of interesting information in regards to vocational research.
Best wishes of Holiness and Beatific Immortality !
Friar Antonio.
Ps. Best wishes in discovering the Full Will of God for you !!!
 
Jacob21 said:
I was actually thinking of becoming a Benedictine, partly due to the fact that I have grown up next to a Benedictine Monastery :).
I worry about loneliness if I become a Priest because I suffer from it now :/. I worry about loneliness and the longing for a physical companion, although I know that I will have God as my companion.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t worry too much about lonliness as a Benedictine as I think their lifestyle is so busy you do not have time think.
Perhaps you are confuding your concerns with solitude which, is a different matter. Solitude can be merciless. There is no escape in it.
 
Just returned from some classes on the state of the priesthood in the u.s. The word is that the seminarians coming through formation now see the priesthood as a team effort and not the lone ranger profession it has become in some instances. They want more living in community situations. This may result in priests living in community in an area and covering all the churches on a rotating basis.There are trials going on in some areas concerning this concept.This could solve the loneliness.
 
Thank you Friar Antonio! The joy on all your faces is inspiring! I hope to be half as happy as you in my vocation. Would you be willing to answer a few questions later?

Yes, the Benedictine lifestyle is very busy haha. The Monks where I live are amazing and very Holy. If I do enter Seminary I’m not sure if I would be a Religious or Diocesan Priest.
 
Jacob21 said:
Thank you Friar Antonio! The joy on all your faces is inspiring! I hope to be half as happy as you in my vocation. Would you be willing to answer a few questions later?

Yes, the Benedictine lifestyle is very busy haha. The Monks where I live are amazing and very Holy. If I do enter Seminary I’m not sure if I would be a Religious or Diocesan Priest.
Click to expand...
I do not think it is your place to describe people as holy. That is the remit of someone not of this world.
 
It is just my humble opinion that I believe these men are good people who are striving to live Holy lives. My opinion is just that, mine. 🙂 I do not claim to speak with certainty or infallibility.
 
Jacob21 said:
It is just my humble opinion that I believe these men are good people who are striving to live Holy lives. My opinion is just that, mine. 🙂 I do not claim to speak with certainty or infallibility.
Click to expand...
Accepted. The way you describe them now is totally different and throws a completely different complexion on your post.

Peace
 
I’m sorry for the confusion, I should have said in my opinion. 🙂 Pax!
 
I know of a couple diocesan priests who have expressed lonliness in their vocation…
They have their own parish, where there is no other priest. There are many
parishes where there is only one priest. Becoming a diocesan priest may put
you in this situation… Maybe you should
think about a vocation where there will be others around for company …Just a thought!!
 
KrissySue said:
I know of a couple diocesan priests who have expressed lonliness in their vocation…
They have their own parish, where there is no other priest. There are many
parishes where there is only one priest. Becoming a diocesan priest may put
you in this situation… Maybe you should
think about a vocation where there will be others around for company …Just a thought!!
Click to expand...
Good post. There is a paradox here. Lonliness for a parish priest can be difficult considering the external temptation. This distraction is not open to contempletives.
 
There are religious families that place brotherhood at the top of their charisms, such as Franciscans and Benedictines. In these communities the life is focussed on prayer, above all things and secondly on brotherhood. All other apostolic work flows from the intimacy between the brothers. If being lonely is a real concern, it can be a sign that God is calling the person to a religious family that places the common life as its primary apostolate. This is very true for Franciscans and Benedictines.

It must also be understood that one can be lonely in any situation. Loneliness can never be completely avoided, even if you’re married. There are always those situations when one feels as if one were alone in the world and wishes that there were someone who would just understand and accept us as we are. It’s part of being human. This is normal. If this is more frequent than feeling a sense of belonging and being loved, then one is in the wrong place

Finally, we must not confuse solitude with loneliness. Hermits, monks and friars have long periods of solitude built into their horarium. Generally, they do not experience loneliness while in solitude. Those of us who are either hermits, monks or friars, welcome the solitude; but we also enjoy the time spent with out brothers. That’s the sign that one belongs, when one can be in solitude and look forward to the moments of common life.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
Gerard Mackrell writing to the Religious in his book ‘THOUGHTS FOR RELIGIOUS’ He writes: ’ keeping in mind that God alone can fill the vacuum within us, can we not accept a certain fundamental loneliness as a gift; helpful as well as painful? do we realise that everyone experiences such loneliness whether married or celibate? a reading of biographies might surprise us and console us. ’ Our hearts are restless till they rest in thee’. Have we explored at depth this augustinian insight into the burden, and blessing, of human existence?
How often do feelings of intense loneliness propel us towards the chapel and the blessed sacrament; preferably when the chapel is deserted? Read the following texts from ST luke and see if they have any significance for the relationship between loneliness and prayer: luke 4:42; 11:1; 14:13; 14:23. after this the lonely prayer in Gethsemane might suggest to us the limits of human companionship’

Gerard is a parish priest and I hope his words above will help you in times of intense loneliness. peace.
 
Thank you all so very much, I really appreciate your responses. May God Bless you abundantly!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top