Misinterpreted vocation?

[zorrox]

Is it possible to mistake a vocation to the priesthood or religious life for a wanting “just” to live a more perfect Christian life ie the general call to holiness?

 

[CatholicNick]

Maybe at first, but this is what discernment is for. By the end of your time in Seminary, and most likely before you enter the Seminary, you will know/find out if you are truely called or not.

 

[Timmay]

Hey there,

I think I may be reading your question the opposite of CatholicNick… Are you asking is it possible that a person has a calling to the priesthood, but interprets it as a call to ‘just’ live a good life and does not pursue seminary?

If that’s the question, then yeah, I’m sure it’s possible for someone not to understand their calling and not pursue seminary. Every call is different, and some people hear the call louder than others. I’m sure it’s possible for someone to misinterpret the initial call and not pursue discernment.

More often than not, though, I think more people ignore their call or convince themselves they’re not called than they do misinterpret. In a society that does not respect faith or religion and misunderstands / looks suspiciously at / ridicules priests, I can picture young guys convincing themselves that’s not what their call is, doing something else and hoping it goes away.

Timmay

 

[leonie]

A young priest told a group of us recently that he was sure he became a priest for the wrong reasons. He said he was on fire when he got out of the seminary, but by the end of a few years he was an alcoholic, spent some time in a rehab facility, then took a leave of absence.

Is it possible that he went through seminary and ordination–and was not called to the priesthood.?Or, has he just lost heart in his struggle with alcoholism? He mentioned celebacy as being a major stumbling block for himself.

It seems like a good seminary would be able to see if a seminarian was becoming a priest for the wrong reasons. It makes me so sad. He is in active ministry right now, but intends to leave the priesthood at the end of this year.

 

[puzzleannie]

Is it possible to mistake a vocation to the priesthood or religious life for a wanting “just” to live a more perfect Christian life ie the general call to holiness?

sure it is, and it arises from the common misconception that only priests and religious are called to holiness and Christian perception, and the rest of us can just phone it in.

 

[salushonor]

A young priest told a group of us recently that he was sure he became a priest for the wrong reasons. He said he was on fire when he got out of the seminary, but by the end of a few years he was an alcoholic, spent some time in a rehab facility, then took a leave of absence.

Is it possible that he went through seminary and ordination–and was not called to the priesthood.?Or, has he just lost heart in his struggle with alcoholism? He mentioned celebacy as being a major stumbling block for himself.

It seems like a good seminary would be able to see if a seminarian was becoming a priest for the wrong reasons. It makes me so sad. He is in active ministry right now, but intends to leave the priesthood at the end of this year.

Thank God, before he causes scandel. Seems the SPIRITUALITY was NOT there. One thing all priests should learn to keep an eye on: alcohol, especially in today’s church environment. IH HE GIVES UP PRAYER AND BECOMES WORLDLY=A SURE SCANDAL will arise.

 

[leonie]

Thank God, before he causes scandel. Seems the SPIRITUALITY was NOT there. One thing all priests should learn to keep an eye on: alcohol, especially in today’s church environment. IH HE GIVES UP PRAYER AND BECOMES WORLDLY=A SURE SCANDAL will arise.

I do believe that he very concerned about giving scandel. He seems to be a very sincere person in the middle of a vocational crisis.

 

[Gertabelle]

A young priest told a group of us recently that he was sure he became a priest for the wrong reasons. He said he was on fire when he got out of the seminary, but by the end of a few years he was an alcoholic, spent some time in a rehab facility, then took a leave of absence.

Is it possible that he went through seminary and ordination–and was not called to the priesthood.?Or, has he just lost heart in his struggle with alcoholism? He mentioned celebacy as being a major stumbling block for himself.

It seems like a good seminary would be able to see if a seminarian was becoming a priest for the wrong reasons. It makes me so sad. He is in active ministry right now, but intends to leave the priesthood at the end of this year.

My heart aches for this man. Thank you for bringing to our attention so we can carry him in our prayers.

I spent two years in a semi-cloistered monastery. I entered with all my heart because God told me to go. I fully expected to spend the rest of my life there. But near the end of my first year, I began to develop an eating disorder.

I suffered through that for over a year, all the while deepening my faith and sharpening my listening to our Lord. When he whispered it would soon be time for me leave, I heard and told the Prioress. She told me I was wrong and would hear nothing more of it. So I didn’t tell her when I became more and more certain that God was telling me to leave.

She was shocked the day I told her I was going to be leaving. So shocked in fact that she told me to be gone that day by noon! She later asked my forgiveness for kicking me out with no place to go, knowing only two people in the town.

We need to keep our church leaders in our prayers day and night. It’s just as easy for them to give in to wanting to “look good” in the eyes of the world, neglecting matters of God’s gentle leading. And our priests, brothers, and nuns need our prayers as well.

Gertie

 

[RevDrNorth]

Yes people enter the Priesthood for the wrong reasons. Sometimes they are not really listening to the voice of God but their own desires for percceived holiness, status, etc. I saw that among clergy of many denominations. It is part of an old joke where an elderly clergyman asks a young clergyman “Was you called…or dij ya just send yourself”.

This happens in secualr occupations as well. Dr James Dobson tells the story of an Orthodontist who gave up his practice to become a carpenter (his real vocation). He became a denitst because his dentist as a kid had nice leather chairs and a sports car.

This is why the discernment process is so important and for seminarians to struggle with their spiriutality and seek after God. Also, a Priest should not give up because he has hit a dry spell. This is where he needs a spiritual mentor to guide him through. I think too many priests give up after a sort of mid life crisis. Yes we get those mountain top experiences but the valley comes and that is where those experiences help sustain up with the power of the spirit through our difficult times. They can be times of tremendous growth.

North

 

[PAXWales]

Hi, I was taught that the Sacraments were outward signs of inward grace. If that is the case then the “young priest” in question was given the grace and his vocation was confirmed through the administration of the sacrament of Ordination. I suspect that the poor guy was not supported during his initial years as a new priest by his more “experienced brethren”. HIgh ideals can cause real problems when they don’t meet reality - perhaps that is his cross - the reconciliation of his ideals with the reality of the work he is called to do. Alcohol is one way to sublimate our feelings, an attempt to escape them, but it is never successful. Loneliness is something that the single life can have in abundance - so what are we, the Members of the Body of Christ, doing to help relieve loneliness in our priests. Do we support them with true friendship, brotherly/sisterly love, respite from being alone?

Priests may not feel able to ask for help from parishioners. They are human too after all. They are not above us but are one with us and their vocation gives them a specific role. But one aspect of vocation that we all share is that of being Brothers and Sisters of Christ. Perhaps we should take our responsibility a little more seriously and show love to all, especially the lonely and those who are called apart to be priests or deacons. “Love one another, as I have loved you”

Paul

 

[JollyGal88]

I wanted to be a nun for the wrong reasons. My parents’ had just been divorced(I had actually considered becoming a nun beforehand, but something was missing) and I thought the only way to escape hurt was to become a nun.
Well, I discerned, and I practically begged God to let me get in the convent. I was happy to serve God, but there was a restlessness I could never p(name removed by moderator)oint.
Then, one day, I was walking in my Church and somehow I was led to the back, where I saw a brochure for the Third Order Franciscans. I was shocked because I had told God not too long before that I wanted to know if He was potentially calling me to that way of serving Him. He made His answer very clear, and I had this desire to serve Him.
Now I’m discerning marriage and a lay vocation. I know I am called to laity.
I wanted to be a nun for selfish reasons, and I also didn’t know about other ways to serve God. I feel at peace with my vocation, and I am going to attend the Lay Dominican meeting in January
I will tell you the reasons why I feel called to the Lay Dominicans in another post.

 

[Salonika]

Is it possible to mistake a vocation to the priesthood or religious life for a wanting “just” to live a more perfect Christian life ie the general call to holiness?

Yes, the same as we can mistinterpret the call to other religious vocations eg to marriage, to singleness an to vocations vocations to particular jobs/occuppations.

Discernment can reduce the instance of this and the period before vows are taken can do so even further. But the possbility of a misintrepreted vocation does remain.

Think this possibility can be increased when people are continuously told by others that they think that they have have a particular vocation. Tell some people something long enough and they may come to believe it, especially if they are people whose opinion they value. The possibility is also increased when people tell them that anything other than being a priest or a religious is second best or implies this.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

I think that sometimes too God could call a person to a certain vocation and then later to another…“God can do all things”…and some who have lived a vocation later have had a distinct awareness of a call to a different way of life…