Pondering entering the seminary

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SawGodThere

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OK, I’ll be short with this. How does one know when they are called to be a priest? The more people I talk to, the vaguer the answers get. Let me explain my situation: I am a young man, and a music student. Since early in high school, I have been having thoughts about becoming a priest. When I think about this, I can never actually see myself as a good priest. Sure, I know a lot about the faith, I have read the works, and I thoroughly enjoy discussing faith with others. It is not as though I would hate to be a priest, but I can just never see myself being the right material for one who could actually do somebody a service. I serve quite a bit in the music ministry, and I feel that I do offer much of my time, talent, and treasure to the Church. But, even though I never think that this is the right decision for me, the thought keeps coming back…again, and again. I seriously ponder it for about a week a month. I have prayed, and I have not gotten a full response. There were times in which it seemed that God was responding and telling me to become a priest, and times that it seemed as if he was saying to serve in a different capacity. I just don’t know where to go. Any others with similar experiences please chime in.
 
You are describing what a lot of us experience when we first hear the call. The first time someone asked if I had ever thought about the priesthood my response was, “Yeah right. I am not priest material. Heck, I’m not even Catholic yet.” That was almost four years ago during RCIA.

My advice would be to start looking into the life of a priest or religious. Try and do some discernment retreats or vocations visits with religious communities. I visited a Benedictine monastery and a friary run by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

You will likely continue to go back and fourth for a while, I know I did. But, eventually I felt I needed to take the first step and contact someone and start a formal process. This in no way makes the decision final. A good vocations director is there to help you discern whatever your call is, even if it’s not tot he seminary.

Keep an open heart and God will speak to you. You’ll be in my prayers.
 
SawGodThere said:
OK, I’ll be short with this. How does one know when they are called to be a priest? The more people I talk to, the vaguer the answers get. Let me explain my situation: I am a young man, and a music student. Since early in high school, I have been having thoughts about becoming a priest. When I think about this, I can never actually see myself as a good priest. Sure, I know a lot about the faith, I have read the works, and I thoroughly enjoy discussing faith with others. It is not as though I would hate to be a priest, but I can just never see myself being the right material for one who could actually do somebody a service. I serve quite a bit in the music ministry, and I feel that I do offer much of my time, talent, and treasure to the Church. But, even though I never think that this is the right decision for me, the thought keeps coming back…again, and again. I seriously ponder it for about a week a month. I have prayed, and I have not gotten a full response. There were times in which it seemed that God was responding and telling me to become a priest, and times that it seemed as if he was saying to serve in a different capacity. I just don’t know where to go. Any others with similar experiences please chime in.
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No one ever knows 100% one way or the other. My advice is to build a good relationship with the Church by going to daily Mass if at all possible. If not possible, try to go at least every Sunday and Holy Day (you should be doing this anyway) 🙂

I started going to daily Mass and then Adoration where we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Rosary. Get involved in the community. I have become a Lay Minister in the Church and I’m seriously thinking about joining the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus and being an RCIA sponsor.

I started discerning religious life as a sister 1 year and 1 month ago. I had no idea that the first 2-3 months of discernment would be so rocky and confusing because I did not know anything about religious life. I gave up. 😦 But then I was drawn back to the Carmelites after watching a movie about St. Therese and talking with a friend who is entering the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus. I could feel Jesus reeling me back in to discernment. I wanted to be sure, so I went to Adoration (we are blessed to have Perpetual Adoration at the Church I go to for daily Mass!) and just knew that I had to begin again. That’s when I got started getting involved with the Church. I got commissioned by my priest and bishop to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. I also made a visit to the Carmelite Sisters’ convent in St. Louis. I’m about to make another visit the Carmelite DCJ sisters, but I’m going to go to Milwaukee, WI this time.

If you feel the call, but don’t know what to do at this juncture, I would recommend that you get a spiritual director and make some visits to religious communities. Franciscan Friars of the Renewal is a great place to start because I have met them and they are on fire for God! 😃 Keep praying about it. I’ll be praying for you!
 
Many men make the mistake of thinking that once they enter the seminary they are committing to becoming a priest. This is NOT true.

Part of the reason that seminary formation takes years is to give time for the seminarian (and the Church) to discern if one is meant to actually be a priest.

Obviously, once one is in seminary, one has many more resources–including regular spiritual direction–to make the discernment clear. You will not have this information by staying out of seminary.

And besides, one is free to leave seminary at any time. It’s not the army.
 
I completely hear what you’re saying SawGodThere, I’m in the same dilemma. I’ll keep you in my prayers, please keep me in yours. Oh, and let me know how it goes as you continue your discernment process, I need all the advice I can get on mine.

Dominus tecum, SGT.
 
Why don’t you send an e-mail to standrewsabbey.com and ask the vocation director your questions? (St. Andrew’s is a Benedictine monastery in So. Calif.) It couldn’t hurt and might help!🙂
 
I think you have a calling of some sorts…because, I have been trying and praying for Gods answer. I am going through a big transition in my life and your web page really helped me out. How to hear what God is telling us…(determining God’s voice).
Thank you for having that web page available.

Praying for you to walk in faith…and to keep doing what your doing.

God bless you!
 
Drilling is (IMHO) correct about this. Almost EVERY story I have read about men being called to the priesthood begins with a story just exactly like your own. (I personally would never know about the priesthood as I’m a married grandma:p, but have read several accounts of “your story”) Sorry for crashing this thread, but I have an interest in vocations in general and am praying for my very young (7 yr old) grandson to become a priest some day. (thought I would start early! 😉 ) I will keep you in my prayers, and heed the wonderful advice these other posters have given. Certainly go more in depth to discern, just because you enter a seminary, doesn’t mean you have entirely committed yourself. If you are thinking this much about it, God is certainly telling you “something” about serving him, whether as a Priest or something other (Brother or Deacon or?) Keep an open heart to the Lord, and He will guide you!
 
I have seen this phrase on more than one sign
God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called
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I think in the end, the only way to really know if you are called is to give it a shot. If it means entering Seminary, then enter seminary. If it means finding a vocations group in your Diocese, do that.
 
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