Only those who are called?

[Danny_1]

I have a pretty good career ahead of me but at times I feel like just dropping it all and becoming a “man of the cloth”. So my question is are only those who are called to be priests actually become priests or are there also those who simply WILL to become priests who are priests? Or would the will and calling coincide with one another?

At times I feel as I just want to try and enter a seminary out of sympathy for the Church and it’s current lack of priests and as far as I can tell, I know I would be up to the task. If many men have been turned away from the priesthood in recent years because of the lack of appeal would that mean there are many who would have been drawn to the priesthood, say, before Vatican II? I hope I make some sense. Thanks in advance.

 

[Fr.Joe]

I have a pretty good career ahead of me but at times I feel like just dropping it all and becoming a “man of the cloth”. So my question is are only those who are called to be priests actually become priests or are there also those who simply WILL to become priests who are priests? Or would the will and calling coincide with one another?

At times I feel as I just want to try and enter a seminary out of sympathy for the Church and it’s current lack of priests and as far as I can tell, I know I would be up to the task. If many men have been turned away from the priesthood in recent years because of the lack of appeal would that mean there are many who would have been drawn to the priesthood, say, before Vatican II? I hope I make some sense. Thanks in advance.

Hello Danny.

The will and the call coincide and work in conjunction with each other. At times the call is stronger than the will and at other times it’s the other way around. If one would simply “will” themselves to be a priest with no real calling, it would be an absolute disaster in more ways than one. Entering a seminary out of sympathy (or reasons other than that of truly serving Christ and His Church) is not a good idea…we are seeing the fall-out of that now.

That fact that you do feel some desire to check out the priesthood very well may be the first inklings of a call. With proper discernment, you will better understand the nature and reasons for that call and perhaps the Lord will lead you to service in His Church as a priest, and then again, maybe not. Take it a step at a time…but ponder that question more deeply of why you really have an interest…is it truly sympathy, or is there something much deeper and more substantial there?

God Bless.

Fr. Joe

 

[Danny_1]

Thank you for your reply Father and for giving me some things to think about. I guess ultimately my question comes down to how can one tell the difference between one’s own will and the will of God. It’s been on my mind for a while now but ever so more since I almost experienced my first communion service because there was no priest but luckily our deacon was able to catch the one who was leaving for the day since the parish doesn’t have a pastor. It might not seem like a big deal to some but the thought of Catholics not having someone to offer the holy sacrifice scares me and if the Church needs someone to do it then I am willing to step up. My ultimate goal in life is to do the will of God and not my own.

 

[Fr.Joe]

My ultimate goal in life is to do the will of God and not my own.

The will of God at it’s very core is the same for all of us; in a nut-shell, it is to love God with all your heart, mind, strength, to love others out of love for God, and to avoid sin (which destroys that love). Of course it’s the specifics of living out that will that can be the confusing part for each of us. We are all called to live out that basic plan in different ways. Some can do it best as a husband/wife, father/mother, some can do it best as a priest/sister/brother/deacon, etc. And God knows this, that’s why He calls us in a particular direction.

Something to think about is this: considering the particular gifts, talents and abilities that God has given you, what vocation/way of life would best enable you to love God, love others and avoid sin to the best of your ability? That’s the primary question to be answered in discerning a vocation. Keep in mind too that no matter what vocation God is calling one to, there will be ups, downs, joys, sorrows and plenty of difficulties along the road, but the sure sign that one is on the right vocational track is a real and lasting sense of peace in the midst of it all.

God Bless.

Fr. Joe

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

God may want to see how far you will go for him. I was ready willing and able to get rid of my possessions my home my comfort zone to become a priest and the desire was so strong that it made me feel say and want for things I never thought emaginable. There is one dream I always had had. Dressage. I was in South Dakota when things got real bad at the end. My discernment was about out of fuel and the hopes for it were as well. I had to leave South Dakota which I love as much as Missouri, to go to hell and that is Washington DC Area. Now i am showing horses losing boatloads of weight and training horses also will become an instructor. The thing is I still want to be a priest in a bad way. But I am thinking maybe God wants me to do this instead for his reasons. I hope you find your call and if it is the priesthood go for it. He may be seeing how far you will go for him then let you see in a clear picture of what he is realling wanting in your life. I don’t know that is what I am going through.

 

[Danny_1]

Thanks for sharing your story. It could very well be a case where God wants me doing something else as well and the priesthood might not wind up being my calling, but tomorrow I will be meeting with a local priest to sit down and have a nice long talk about this. Hopefully I get a clearer sense of direction.