May I be a priest?

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James1_27

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Dear all

I have been told I can, but I don’t know if only because the seminary rector could be liberal. Don’t know, I just want to be sure before I later find out my orders are invalid, just imagine.

1.- I was baptized catholic, althoug never confirmed.

2.- As when I was a teen I left the Church, most stopping going to Mass than anything and then started to explore other religions, though I never officially joined one I did feel like one of them. For a time I was attending a bahai group (a handful of them) and was pretty close to anabaptist. I even attended a baptist church for a couple of months.

3.- While I was not officialy a member had I been asked I would say “yes I am”
 
You need to be confirmed and go to confession. There shouldn’t be a problem with your past exploration, in fact, it could be helpful to your cause, but I’ll let the seminarians and clerics here answer this one more fully.

John
 
As was already said you will need to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. I would speak with your pastor and begin preparing to receive Confirmation at your parish. As to discerning your Vocation. I found it important to carefully look backwards over your life. Make note of God’s hand guiding you along. I believe that God does use our past experiences to prepare us for what He has planned next for us. We of course can always refuse His plan but when we see this path we are on it only makes sense to do His will.
 
to be honest 🙂

I have already done a discernment process, I am almost about to tell everybody, specially my parents, but before I want to dispell the fear expressed in the OP; ie if according to canon law I can be a priest or no 🙂 just that.

just that … well :rolleyes: at myself
 
Most diocese have a Vocations Director and a formal discernment process, where all those interested meet and pray on a regular basis. You could begin this as you work on Confirmation. If you are truely called, the Lord will open the door for you.

Deacon Tony SFO
 
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James1_27:
went to confession long ago 🙂
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Yea, but what about lately?
 
James,

The answer to your question is simple: you may apply to be a priest. What has happened in your life is not an inhibiting factor. Whether or not you will be accepted into formation or actually ordained a priest are, to a large extent, outside your control. There will be a discernment made with regard to the validity of your call, and this discernment will take place thoughout your formation up to the time the bishop calls you for ordination (if that is God’s will for you).

There is nothing from what you have said that would form a canonical impediment.

Deacon Ed
 
There shouldn’t be a canonical problem ie. being irregular. That would only be if you left the Church by a formal act. For example joining another church or being ordained in another church. You didn’t really do that. Just going to another church or being alienated from catholicism for awhile would not make you irregular. But even so you can have the irregularity lifted if necessary. I really wouldn’t worry about it. Go to a good orthodox seminary and be a good priest.
 
To be admitted to Holy Orders at any level requires the canidate to have already recieved the Sacrements of Baptism and Confirmation

From Canon Law:
Can. 1050 For a person to be promoted to sacred orders, the following documents are required:
…
3° for those to be promoted to the diaconate, **certificates of the reception of baptism, of confirmation ** and of the ministries mentioned in can. 1035, and a certificate that the declaration mentioned in can. 1036 has been made, if an ordinand to be promoted to the permanent diaconate is married, a certificate of his marriage and testimony of his wife’s consent.
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It is technically possible for the Bishop to first Confirm, then Ordain a canidate, but I would imagine that a Diocese or Order generally require a canidate have the benefit of the Grace of that Sacrament well prior to Ordination.

I didn’t note anything that would require Confirmation during the discernment process or even into the Seminary. But I imagine they would encourage you to be Confirmed as soon as feasible.
 
Sounds to me like you might be able to use the next 8 months going through RCIA and getting back in touch with all things Catholic. You seem to have a good feeling, but still some hesitation. As an adult Catholic, you can go through RCIA to prepare for your Confirmation and also get many of your questions answered by your parish priest and Vocations Director. Then if you want to join the seminary after that, you’ll have cured yourself of your doubts and any impediments you think might exist…and you’ll have a better feel for what those going through a full conversion experience. As a priest, that’s a very powerful experience.
 
you are not ready to consider the lifetime commitment of holy orders any more than that of matrimony until you have prepared for and celebrated confirmation. during this process you will have the chance to explore and answer the questions and doubts that led you to leave the Church in the first place, and to undergo at an adult level the conversion process that is necessary for an adult’s spiritual growth. Also, before confirmation you will go to confession (hopefully you develop the beneficial habit of regular confession and communion during your preparation time). During the confirmation rite you will make a profession of faith by renewing your baptismal promises. Your confirmation preparation must lead you to the point where you can do this confidently, willingly, and intelligently. RCIA or similar process at your parish is the place to start. God bless you. See Karl Keatings Aug 3 newsletter about what it takes to be a good priest. Don’t give up, we need you. The discernment process for considering priesthood or consecrated life requires full and active consent to the workings of the Holy Spirit, which is the result of the sacrament of Confirmation. Don’t leave home without Him.
 
Thanks everybody

Well I am a spaniard and we lack RCIA programs around here, but that nor confirmation worries me, because I hope in the next 6 years in the seminary would find time to duly prepare me.

Anybody watched “Childrens Underground”, the documentary? (Kids don’t, thanks, I mean it) Well I want to be the apostle of the street children, the abandoned and the poor, and in Eastern Europe. I’ve already went there to a mission, once, but now I want to do it for life. The only thing I fear is that they could ‘cheat’ me into leading a comfortable parish knowing I happen to be an obedient fellow 🙂
 
Might I suggest, then, a religious order, particularly a mission-based? There are many of these. Our deceased family members receive the prayers of the SMA Fathers, who were founded in France and have a presence in Tenafly, New Jersey but whose mission is in Africa.They have done much good work in Liberia as that country has fallen apart.
Code: 
 I do not know what orders have a special focus on Eastern Europe. Perhaps Brother Rich or others would know this.

 First and foremost, however, prepare for and receive Confirmation! The graces and education you will receive in Confirmation will help you in your whole life, including discernment of a priestly vocation.
-Illini
 
James,

You need to do this – do everything you can to become a priest. Don’t worry where you end-up. There is much to do and God’s plan acting everywhere.

Do not be deterred. Do not give up. Let nothing stand in your way.

This is the greatest step of your life. Don’t miss it. Strike out with such courage and faith that all will be amazed. Be given totally to devotion to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Pray to him every minute!

Do not hesitate!! Get moving. Get it done. You know what you want, do not wait for others to tell you if it is OK!!!

Do not be afraid!! He is with you to the end.

I wish I were you.

Take care,
 
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