Odd reactions to Marian devotion during discernment

  • Thread starter Thread starter Torolf
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Torolf

Guest
So I’m discerning a vocation to the diocesan priesthood and I’m in the process of actually applying to my diocese now. Recently I’ve noticed some odd reactions to any mention of Marian devotion. I first noticed it when the diocese vocation director acted perturbed at the mention of St. Louis de Montfort.

Next at a retreat I went to the chapel to pray the Rosary before morning prayer and one of the seminarians looked at my rosary and said “oh you better watch that”.

I also went to talk to my priests to give him an update on my discernment and at the end I asked him to bless a St. Benedict medal on a new brown scapular since my old one broke. He visibly grimaced when I asked and he asked “does Mgr. know you wear one?” I answered “no, why?”. He just replied “well maybe don’t mention it”.

None of this makes any sense to me. I told the vocation director about my devotion to Mary and how she was a huge part of my conversion and making it through RCIA. He didn’t act weird when I told him. My priest also knows and has always encouraged me as well as the whole parish to pray the rosary daily, wear the scapular, etc. Even one of the priests giving a talk at the retreat talked about Our Lady and how she is the mother of all priests, seminarians and those discerning.

Am I missing something? Is there some unspoken rule that you shouldn’t pray personal devotions during discernment or seminary?
 
Torolf said:
Am I missing something? Is there some unspoken rule that you shouldn’t pray personal devotions during discernment or seminary?
Click to expand...
I think you would have to ask the people who made the grimace or the statements what they meant by them.

We have no idea.
 
Well I tried with my priests but he wasn’t forthcoming. I mostly was hoping to hear from the seminarians, deacons and priests that post here. I figured they might have some insight since they’ve been through the process.
 
All of the devotions you mentioned are approved by the Church and observed by millions. You may need to politely ask them more about it if it comes up again even if it might be uncomfortable. There is no prohibition from devotion during discernment.

Peace.
 
Last edited:
Our lady is most definitely there for us seminarians priests and those discerning Priesthod.
 
I’m still in the process of applying to seminary. I did spend three days there during a retreat and got to experience a lot of the daily routine. The camaraderie was great and I can definitely see how the structure would be conductive to developing a more mature spiritual life.
 
Last edited:
Awe thats wonderful. I have read to save a thousand souls and I am at the start of my discernment journey.

In the retreat what was a typical day like ?

Does your diocese offer a Propaedeutic seminary course?
 
Some of the more modernist clergy don’t like traditional things such as rosaries and scapulars or even Marian devotion. They see it as old fashioned and an impediment to “modernizing” the Church and the ecumenical movement. That’s most likely what the guy was referring to when he said “don’t mention it.” It’s pretty sad when a faithful Catholic is encouraged to “hide” these practices to avoid offending modernist church officials. Such are the times we’re living in.
 
Last edited:
… and some hate those devotions so much that they will not admit you as a seminarian for the diocese. We have had some problems with that in my diocese in the past.

Keep up the devotions; it will help you so much through the trials you will face. If you are turned down, just realize that God closed one door and many more remain open (another diocese or religious order). It may for your long-term good and those of the laity.

Personally, I would not want a son of mine studying for a diocese under these conditions (having to keep secret your devotions). In fact, I know a mom whose son went to study for a diocese this past semester, and she prayed and prayed that he would take another path. He was home in two weeks. He could not stand to live a secret, hidden life and is now applying to be admitted to a religious order.

But, then again, I know men who strongly feel that they will endure whatever may be thrown at them so that they can serve the people of their own diocese.
 
The minor seminary in my diocese doesn’t but the major seminary they use does.

The retreat went Friday - Sunday. We started each day with time for personal prayer followed by Morning Prayer and mass (on Sunday we had mass with the bishop). We then had breakfast followed by a lecture from one of the professors or a talk by one of the priests followed by discussions of the topic in small groups. We then had Midday Prayer and lunch followed by more talks and small group discussions. Friday they gave an introduction to philosophy and Saturday we did guided prayer walks around the seminary grounds. We finished each day with Evening Prayer, dinner and then a Holy hour in the adoration chapel.
 
tommy37 said:
Some of the more modernist clergy don’t like traditional things such as rosaries and scapulars or even Marian devotion. They see it as old fashioned and an impediment to “modernizing” the Church and the ecumenical movement.
Click to expand...
So that will enable our young seminarian to directly ask if that is their concern. Certainly they owe him an answer.
 
I love my diocese and the vocations director has helped me so much already in my spiritual growth. I feel strongly that God wants me serving in my diocese (whether that’s as a diocesan priest or not is still a matter of continued discernment) and at least for this time moving forward with entering the seminary. I do worry that things may in fact lean toward what you and tommy37 suggested. I guess I was hoping for someone to give me a more positive explanation.

As others have said the only real way to know is to ask if it comes up again and accept the answer good or bad. If this is God’s plan then I have to trust He will make a way even if it’s harder than I’d like.
 
No I don’t. I’ve heard of both of them before but I don’t know much about either organization.
 
Torolf said:
No I don’t. I’ve heard of both of them before but I don’t know much about either organization.
Click to expand...
There are young men presenting for admission to seminaries today, who’ve been groomed by this organisation and its affiliates who use Marian devotion as a front for other goals. They are the current concern for vocations directors. I think that possibly has something to do with the caution you are experiencing.
 
Last edited:
I had my issues with them last year when I discovered how much money they’d conned out of my elderly mother. That led me to research them and I found they are a project of TFP (Tradition Family Property) which is a notorious front for getting rich and ambition for political and religious power grabbing. Here is a summary of them that someone wrote for CAF a few years back.
40.png
America Needs Fatima /TFP Spirituality
America Needs Fatima/ANF is merely a front group for Tradition, Family & Property/TFP, an elitist-versus-elect organization founded in Brazil and twice condemned there by all her Bishops for: creating a cult of personality of its founder including a Litany to Dona Lucilia, his mom, that refers to Plinio as the Axiomatic Principle i.e. first cause i.e. god-let; flogging Fatima for cash with their weeping Mary postcards and constant pressure for cash to fight the bad guys while they actually rever…
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Awe thats wonderful.

I hope that I get the opportunity to attend something similar in the future to help with my discernment.

How strict was it no mobiles or tv etc or was it fairly relaxed
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top