Question

[scimitar60]

Hi, I come from a quite secular family and they know im very good at maths, english and history. They want me to become a Historian. I wanted this to, until lately; where somthing has changed in my mind. I feel that I am being called to join the priesthood. How do I tell a secular family this that will probably give me quite a bashing?

 

[St_Francis]

Hi, I come from a quite secular family and they know im very good at maths, english and history. They want me to become a Historian. I wanted this to, until lately; where somthing has changed in my mind. I feel that I am being called to join the priesthood. How do I tell a secular family this that will probably give me quite a bashing?

You should talk to a priest with whom you feel comfortable to find out about the process of discerning a vocation to the priesthood. If you have regular contact with a priest, he should be able to help you with a lot of your questions, including this one.

It is natural to feel scared about telling your family something like this, and it would be good if you had some support and someone with whom to discuss in real life.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Hi, I come from a quite secular family and they know im very good at maths, english and history. They want me to become a Historian. I wanted this to, until lately; where somthing has changed in my mind. I feel that I am being called to join the priesthood. How do I tell a secular family this that will probably give me quite a bashing?

I had a quick look at your profile. It appears you’re still at school, and you describe yourself as “still getting used to the Catholic way”. Which means you haven’t been Catholic for long by the sound of it. If you come from a quite secular family, then you’re one of a rare minority to make the jump, particularly in Australia which is not very religious as you know.

So the first thing you need to be sure about is that you’re really being called to the priesthood. I’m not trying to discourage you, but young people can be a bit starrry eyed at times. We need priests and if that is what God wants, then well and good. But if it’s just wishful thinking in your own mind, then you need to be careful.

If it is what God wants, then regardless of what your family thinks, He’ll see you through. But you may find it difficult. I assume they already know that you are Catholic and accept that to some extent.

If you were to become a Jesuit, you could probably still study Maths and/or History anyway. And I’d assume priests study other topics than purely religious subjects.

The main thing is that you need to be clear what God wants, not what you want. Easier said than done I can assure you.

 

[scimitar60]

I had a quick look at your profile. It appears you’re still at school, and you describe yourself as “still getting used to the Catholic way”. Which means you haven’t been Catholic for long by the sound of it. If you come from a quite secular family, then you’re one of a rare minority to make the jump, particularly in Australia which is not very religious as you know.

So the first thing you need to be sure about is that you’re really being called to the priesthood. I’m not trying to discourage you, but young people can be a bit starrry eyed at times. We need priests and if that is what God wants, then well and good. But if it’s just wishful thinking in your own mind, then you need to be careful.

If it is what God wants, then regardless of what your family thinks, He’ll see you through. But you may find it difficult. I assume they already know that you are Catholic and accept that to some extent.

If you were to become a Jesuit, you could probably still study Maths and/or History anyway. And I’d assume priests study other topics than purely religious subjects.

The main thing is that you need to be clear what God wants, not what you want. Easier said than done I can assure you.

Thanks for the Info, yeah I’m still trying to work things out. Im sorry If I sounded ignorant or anything I just have this feeling and wether its a coincidence that I repeditevily keep seeing scriptures saying to preach or spread the word or not. I’m not that great at saying things on the internet but I hope you understand!

 

[scimitar60]

Can I also ask, you said this country isn’t very religious, yet It says that 65% baptised christian? Does this mean they are practising or are just baptised?

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Can I also ask, you said this country isn’t very religious, yet It says that 65% baptised christian? Does this mean they are practising or are just baptised?

I’m Australian, like you.

The fact someone has been baptised, either as an infant or an adult, doesn’t make them “religious”. There are a lot of people out there who have been baptised, but whose only appearance in church is weddings and funerals, with Christmas and Easter attracting a few.

In other words, they’re Christian in name only.

Even those of us who are Christian have a different approach to Americans for example. An Australian politician wouldn’t be caught dead saying, “God bless Australia”, even if he was Christian yet American politicians do it regularly.

I suppose it goes back to our origins. The European settlement of the USA was first broached by a bunch of religious enthusiasts, regardless of how perfectly or imperfectly they may have approached their self proclaimed mission. Whereas our settlement was first broached by a bunch of convicts, transported for life, who had no real reason to love the established church of the time, the Anglican Church which was largely hand in glove with the British establishment of the time.

So the religious enthusiasm is not the same, even for those with Christian convictions.

In fact my old Protestant pastor, for whom I gained a lot of respect, once said to me that he thought God was “sick and tired of condemning them (Australians).” He thought God might give us a revival so He no longer had to do so. So far I haven’t seen much evidence He’s moving in that direction, but it might come. If it does, I think He’ll give the country an almighty fright first.

No, we’re not a very religious country.

 

[EmeraldWings]

Hi, I come from a quite secular family and they know im very good at maths, english and history. They want me to become a Historian. I wanted this to, until lately; where somthing has changed in my mind. I feel that I am being called to join the priesthood. How do I tell a secular family this that will probably give me quite a bashing?

when you are discerning a vocation, it’s best not to talk to anyone about it except your priest/spiritual director, until you are atleast mostly sure it’s what you want and have an order already picked out to join,
if you talk about it with your family or anyone else, there’s a very good chance they will make it much harder for you and influence you in a way that might ruin your vocation…so first and foremost, talk to your priest,
and also, listen to these sermons on vocations, they will help alot to -
audiosancto.org/categories/vocations.php

 

[JRKH]

The answer to your specific question in the OP, is that I would say wait a bit before telling them. If and when the subject comes up of career path, just say that you are considering a couple different things. That historian is one of them but that you are also considering something more church related, but your not sure yet.

One thing that I was going to mention, but Bob beat me to it , was that being a historian and being a priest are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Cardinal Henry Newman famously wrote that, to be deep in history is to cease being protestant.

The other thing that caught my attention was your mentioning that you keep seeing verses about spreading the Gospel. While this certainly could be a call to the priesthood, it may not be. There are many people in the Church who work to evangelize, teach etc who are not priests. It’s often natural for young catholic boys/men to consider the priesthood but there are also other avenues that can be pursued from the permenant deaconate, to Sunday School teacher or RCIA instructor, or Director of Religion Education in a parish. Heck a call to “spead the Gospel” could be as simple as a call to greater holiness in ones daily life. As St Francis of Asissi expressed it, “Preach the Gospel always. When necessary use Words.”

Ultimately the thing to do is to speak to a preist, keep praying for discernment and be ready to accept God’s Will for you.

So you see, you can tell your family that you simply haven’t decided on a career path yet. Welcome their (name removed by moderator)ut but don’t let them sway you either.
If they do begin getting “pushy” or start “bashing” the Church etc. Simply stop the conversation in as charitable a way as possible, even if that means getting up silently and leaving the room/house.

Peace
James