Parental blocks on a Vocation?

[Deo_Gratias42]

Yup… absolutely right, on this count!

Agreed. And, as a teen, coming right out of high school, I think that I would feel somewhat obligated to defer to my parents’ wishes and their perspective on the situation. At the very least, “honor thy father and thy mother” speaks in some way to obedience to God…

Not if they’re trying to hinder God’s call to a vocation. Parents can be pretty selfish with these things. Imagine what would have happened if Thomas Aquinas had ignored God’s call to obey his parents’ demand that he get married and live a prestigious life?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Priests get a PhD in Philosophy anyway, why not? You are getting a very solid education in most Seminaries…

No they do not.

They usually get a Bachelors in Philosophy and a Masters of Divinity.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Not if they’re trying to hinder God’s call to a vocation. Parents can be pretty selfish with these things. Imagine what would have happened if Thomas Aquinas had ignored God’s call to obey his parents’ demand that he get married and live a prestigious life?

If parents are paying for the eduction then they should have a say in it.

That has nothing to do with selfishness nor with trying to hinder a vocation.

A person having a feeling that they are called is not the call.

We must remember that no call is present until it comes from the Church.

A call to religious life comes when the community/religious superior calls one forward to vows. A call to the diaconate/priesthood comes when the bishop, or again community/religious superior, calls one forward to be ordained.

 

[SecretGarden]

I think you are jumping the gun here. Just because you think God is calling you to become a priest doesn’t mean the people involved with the process do. I think your best bet is to get some spiritual direction, go to university, apply for seminary and see if you get in. It’s one thing to think one has a calling, it’s another to actually get in. From what I gather, there is a long process one has to undergo before someone is even accepted, never mind becoming a full priest. The local bishop had his BA in business maybe even his MBA and was working full time before he felt the call.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Is it possible that they do not want you to become a priest and are hoping you will change your mind once you have a “secular” education?

 

[FriarDon]

Priests get a PhD in Philosophy anyway, why not? You are getting a very solid education in most Seminaries…

Actually MOST Priest have a Bachelors in Theology with a minor in Philosophy. Many have a Master in Theology. Several have a PhD in some religion base. Many older priest may have a Bachelors in some other field and a second Bachelors in Theology.

Canon requires that a Priest has 2 years (24 hours) of Philosophy (with 6 more hours of classes added by our current Pope recently) and 4 years of Theology. Many Seminaries graduate a person with a Bachelors Majoring in Theology and Minoring in Philosophy and a Masters in Theology.

It is up to the (Arch)Dioceses as to rather or not the Priest will go on for a PhD and in what field.

In Christ,

Friar Don, OBR

 

[Stella101]

Ask yourself the question what is important ???,education or responding to the call to the priesthood ,tell your parents that you are so grateful and thankful for all that they have done for you ,for loving ,supporting you and giving you the best education money can get ,but that this is your vocation and that it is important to you , that you want to fulfill God call to being one of his priest ,his shepherds to look after HIS PEOPLE …
And pray that your parents will be lead by the Spirt of trust and know what an honor it is to be entrust with the work that God is calling you to do .
God bless and peace be with you .

 

[Julia_Mae]

My parents are not thrilled with the idea of me being a priest because they spent quite a sum on a private education, and want me to get a “real” education in secular college before seminary.

what should i tell them?

help

I think if you have to ask people on a forum this question, you really aren’t mature enough to make this decision, anyway.

If you feel called right now, your first step is a meeting with a vocations director. You call this person’s office yourself and make an appointment. You find out what the different paths to priesthood are. You specifically ask about education. You can get a degree in theology, philosophy, religion, or a variety of things that incorporate the necessary requirements for priesthood later on. You can attend a Catholic University without being in seminary.

You have a lot of options to research and then you can discuss these with your parents, because, I assume, they are footing the college bill?

Go educate yourself and bring information and respect along with willingness to hear their point of view to the table.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Actually MOST Priest have a Bachelors in Theology with a minor in Philosophy. Many have a Master in Theology. Several have a PhD in some religion base. Many older priest may have a Bachelors in some other field and a second Bachelors in Theology.

Where do you get this from?

From what I have seen those who go straight to college seminary are coming out with a Bachelors in Philosophy.

Canon requires that a Priest has 2 years (24 hours) of Philosophy (with 6 more hours of classes added by our current Pope recently) and 4 years of Theology. Many Seminaries graduate a person with a Bachelors Majoring in Theology and Minoring in Philosophy and a Masters in Theology.

The Program for Priestly Formation, 5th edition, which is in effect for the United States requires 30 credits of Philosophy and 12 credits of Theology before entering the Major Seminary. Each Major Seminary has its own program for the Masters of Divinity which range anywhere from 90 to 110 credits.

Friar Don, OBR

OBR?

 

[ParvaDei]

I second the friar’s questions here: do you have any sources, Friar Don?

In regards to “OBR”, though, I found this: brothersreconciliation.org/donations.html Apparently, “OBR” stands for the Order of Brothers of Reconciliation. Never heard of them until now, however,and I don’t know their standing with the Vatican.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

My parents are not thrilled with the idea of me being a priest because they spent quite a sum on a private education, and want me to get a “real” education in secular college before seminary.

what should i tell them?

help

I had two friends who went to the seminary. One stayed three years and the other stayed six or seven years. Both later earned Doctorate degrees, one in Philosophy and one on Theology. Each have had a full and happy married life with lots of kids. Your Mom and Dad couldn’t ask for a better outcome - unless you persevered to ordination. That would be the best outcome of all.

 

[TCostello]

As a parent to five children, I tell all of my children to pursue what God wants you to do or be and not what you want to do/be. This may not align with your parents ideas of the path you should take, but you can pray on it and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through this process. Also, pray for God to change your parents hearts on the matter if the vocation truly is coming from God then he will help you fulfill it. Sometimes, he will test you in ways you do not care for; however, Our Lord always guides in your best interest.

One good way to determine if an inspiration is truly coming from God is to ask yourself: when you made this decision to enter seminary, do you feel at peace with it or do you feel anxiety? If it is anxiety, then the inspiration is most likely not coming from God. As strange as it may sound, Satan is much smarter than we are and he will use us to gain leverage in the Church as he has done for centuries - remember he was an angel!

Also, maybe you can ask your parents what their motives are for asking you to take this path and why they are not ecstatic with your vocation. Best wishes and God Bless you!

 

[Stella101]

@4givemeasinner
Right now you must be thinking or wishing you never asked for help ,we cannot possibly understand what you are going through and what you need to do ,so the only way you can make up your mind is by prayer and reflection ,Psalm 118:8 says"8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.

So I say go to our Heavenly Father and ask him for help ,for we as people will just keep on confusing you ,we mean well, but we don’t really have all the answers .We cannot really understand your parents reasoning ,but you know what there are alot of priests that in the past also went through the same problems you are going through.
So Pray about it ,make a novena ,say your rosary ,pray and ask our Lady to pray for you and with you .go and sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament as times as you can .
Go speak to your parish priest ,if he cannot help you ,he will know someone who can . It is an honor to be called to the vocation of the priesthood or holy order ,not everyone is that lucky .

And do not shut your parents out, your parents had another future plan out for you …but we as humans sometime forget that our plan is not Gods plans …and that at our baptism each and every one of us got a gift and destiny we have to fulfill according to GOD’S will and not ours .

And lastly trust in God .
Here a prayer you can use if you have not seen it before.

Prayer to Know our VocationMy Lord Jesus Christ, who didst die for my salvation, I implore Thee, through the merits of Thy passion, to give me light and strength to choose that state of life which is best for my salvation. Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. Let me know what Thou wishest from me, and I will do all; and let me especially know in what state Thou wishest me to serve Thee; make Thou known to me the way in which I should walk, in order to reach heaven. And Thou, my loving Mother Mary, obtain this grace for me through thy powerful intercession. Amen.

Good luck and God bless

 

[FriarDon]

Where do you get this from?

From what I have seen those who go straight to college seminary are coming out with a Bachelors in Philosophy.

The Program for Priestly Formation, 5th edition, which is in effect for the United States requires 30 credits of Philosophy and 12 credits of Theology before entering the Major Seminary. Each Major Seminary has its own program for the Masters of Divinity which range anywhere from 90 to 110 credits.

OBR?

Hello Brothers David,

I got it from talking to 4 Seminaries, and over 18 priest. In fact, many priest that are over 55-60, and that started Seminary right out of high school, do not have a Masters, just an “extended” Bachelors in Theology. The Masters program started about 15-20 years ago.

Yes, with revision 5 of the Formation of Priest, you must have 30 hours of Philosophy now. This did not come into effect until 2006, and the first priest under this rule graduated this year at the earliest (those already in formation were grandfathered out of the requirement), so I stand by my original statement.

OBR=Order of Brothers of Reconciliation.

Friar Don, OBR

 

[FriarDon]

I second the friar’s questions here: do you have any sources, Friar Don?

In regards to “OBR”, though, I found this: brothersreconciliation.org/donations.html Apparently, “OBR” stands for the Order of Brothers of Reconciliation. Never heard of them until now, however,and I don’t know their standing with the Vatican.

We are a new Order, in the second stage (will can last for many, many years) of Public Lay Association, and are accepted as such by the Vatican.

Friar Don, OBR

 

[Julia_Mae]

We are a new Order, in the second stage (will can last for many, many years) of Public Lay Association, and are accepted as such by the Vatican.

Friar Don, OBR

I have a question and I don’t at all mean for it to sound offensive or like I am implying anything negative. Anyone can say anything on a forum or online. How can we check if this is true? Not just of your Order, but for any Order? Since you are new, there must be some place you were approved by and has oversight, if I am saying that correctly. So, who can independently confirm for me, when someone comes in and says they are in an Order, that the Order exists, and is approved by a Bishop or the Vatican or whatever. (I promise you aren’t the only one this applies to and I am not expressing doubt of you, personally.)

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

We are a new Order, in the second stage (will can last for many, many years) of Public Lay Association, and are accepted as such by the Vatican.

Friar Don, OBR

Technically the Council of Trent has forbidden the creation of new religious orders. All that is left is Societies of Apostolic Life and Congregations.

You need the bishops approval to call yourself a Catholic group.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Hello Brothers David,

I got it from talking to 4 Seminaries, and over 18 priest. In fact, many priest that are over 55-60, and that started Seminary right out of high school, do not have a Masters, just an “extended” Bachelors in Theology. The Masters program started about 15-20 years ago.

Yes, with revision 5 of the Formation of Priest, you must have 30 hours of Philosophy now. This did not come into effect until 2006, and the first priest under this rule graduated this year at the earliest (those already in formation were grandfathered out of the requirement), so I stand by my original statement.

OBR=Order of Brothers of Reconciliation.

Friar Don, OBR

Before version 5 of the PPF the requirements were 24 credits of Philosophy and 9 credits of Theology.