Psychiatric testing for priesthood candidates?

[SeekerM]

I understand seminary as applicants have to undergo psychiatric testing, and I understand why, but according to Catholic theology it is possible for someone to receive a private revelation or calling.

St. Francis heard a voice telling him to rebuild Christ’s Church before he became a monk, and St. Paul had a vision and heard a voice before he became an apostle.

Could either of them have passed the psychiatric test the church requires of seminary.students today?

 

[Mtatum1958]

I see no reason that would present a major problem. It might also help identify it more as a true calling.

 

[Seagull]

Why not start with the actual Priests, not the wide eyed seminary students ?

I know what you’re driving at though, SeekerM.
I think of Joan of Arc - and her voices !
To me, she was walking a very fine line - burned as a witch !
And - took over 400 years of Catholic thought - till finally - canonize her a saint.

 

[FloridaCatholic]

She could’ve been mentally ill AND a saint, just saying

 

[FloridaCatholic]

You don’t have to fully comprehend your actions to do good and be in the state of grace. Sometimes the lord just wants us to trust

 

[FloridaCatholic]

We should emulate Christ. We look to the saints because they’re in the body of Christ and throughout their life they ended up making it to heaven. But if she’s mentally ill she’s even more of an inspiration

Still, I think a great many saints were mentally ill, holy, but mentally ill according to today’s standards. I don’t know if that says more about today’s standards or them personally

 

[runningdude]

Everyone hears voices in there head - the vast majority, however, recognize those voices as their own thoughts!

Private revelation is a supernatural triggering of ones natural thought process. The individual would have no trouble discerning the voice as a call to holiness coming from deep within.

Certain mental illnesses cause confusion as to whether ones thoughts are one own. Ones ordinary thoughts are misinterpreted as the “voices” of others.

Mental illness results in confusion and chaos, whereas private revelation will inspire confidence and clarity.

 

[FloridaCatholic]

There is more than just one type of mental illness. I’d say a great many saints suffered from scrupulousity or obsessive compulsive disorder

And god can use someone’s schizophrenia to reveal something to them btw

 

[Genesis315]

If God makes such an extraordinary call, He will make sure it is fulfilled. In fact, it not being fulfilled would be conclusive evidence that the revelation wasn’t authentic.

 

[runningdude]

There is more than just one type of mental illness.

Yes, only certain mental illnesses are disqualifying for the priesthood. However, private revelation is not mental illness, nor does it meaningfully resemble a disqualifying mental illness, which was the OP’s concern.

And god can use someone’s schizophrenia to reveal something to them btw

The Lord can certainly use any natural phenomenon in supernatural ways, and severe mental illness even on its own is certainly a cross one must bear that can inspire affinity towards the Lord.

A person with schizophrenia may require special spiritual guidance to properly discern God’s voice from his own disordered thoughts. It would not be wise or healthy to inadvertently encourage delusions with religious overtones.

 

[11101]

I’m not worried about God poisoning the waters against people he really wants to be priests. If anything, let’s have tighter psychiatric screening.

 

[Kathleen18]

ummmm you started two other threads on the same topic…