Methods to stop Priest Shortage

[adawgj]

Your response more or less reflects what I feel any (at least perceived) shortage of priestly vocations stems from. Obviously it will vary from parish to parish or perhaps more from diocese to diocese, but in general I do think it stems from lack of a good understanding of the sanctity of the Mass and what really goes on. I’m not really a “traditionalist,” but I think one negative thing about the Ordinary Form Mass is it lends itself toward making the Mass prayed more to the people than to God - that is, it is geared towards “pleasing” the people - this lessens the sanctity of the Mass. The Mass is not only holy because of the miracle that occurs, but because it is a Sacrifice offered by the priest to God. Many priests fail to correctly present the Mass.

I feel this is a huge reason why many people in general, and not just potential seminarians/priests, are not devout in their faith - the Mass and the Sacraments are just not important to them, because they do not understand what truly goes on. And this certainly is partially priests’ faults. No, not fully their fault, but it really partially is.

This honestly is one reason why I am a bit anxious about me being a priest. I can’t imagine being responsible for so many souls’ understanding of the important things in life, of the important teachings of the Catholic Church. Of course, if I do become a priest, I know I shall have God’s grace through the Sacrament of Holy Orders working in me, and of course I would do my best, but it is really something to ponder.

It truly is.

 

[Johnnybosco]

When there is a shortage of priests why cannot accept seminarians from out side their own country where there is plentiful seminarians. For instance I am very much willing to accept the challenges if I am accepted to a seminarian in vocation poor diocese in the US especially.

 

[Santi2]

When there is a shortage of priests why cannot accept seminarians from out side their own country where there is plentiful seminarians. For instance I am very much willing to accept the challenges if I am accepted to a seminarian in vocation poor diocese in the US especially.

We’d love to have you but, what about the priest/seminarian drain from those countries where there are plentiful priests and seminarians? Overseas priests, especially from developing countries, do not address the reasons for the lack of vocation in the west. I believe that if we do not sow, we cannot expect to reap. Only recently, the Holy Father has mentioned that Filipino Bishops have complained of the “novice trade” at the 1994 (1996?) Synod.