Received Email from the FSSP Regarding my Possible Vocation

[bben15]

Hello. I recently emailed the FSSP regarding my vocation. I got their response today. Again, please pray for my possible vocation.

Dear Ben;

Thank you for your email and your candid characterization of your conversion. Please allow me to express some thoughts and ideas for your particular situation.

In seeking to know the Catholic faith, and to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, you will find that there is no compromise to the knowledge of full communion with Him. The fact that you are receiving persecution from your own mother is understandable, although you did not indicate what her faith persuasion is. Jesus promised we would be persecuted and marginalized in this world for the sake of His Kingdom.

However, as a young man, you must respect your parents in all but this most important way. Living at home, and under their roof, makes you responsible to them and obligates your respect, obedience, love and admiration for at least the past sixteen plus years when they have loved and cared for your every need. No matter what the disagreement, they are the parents God gave to you – and they always will be.

Your statement about waiting until age 18 to convert is prudent, but you can also be preparing your heart and soul for this event every day. You should carefully select sound, orthodox Catholic books and publications to read, study and pray about.

You should also find a holy and orthodox priest to discuss your spiritual progress, and arrange to meet with him on a periodic basis.

In the matter of a vocation to the priesthood, it is far too early in your spiritual journey to consider this move. Please put this aside for now, and focus on deepening your relationship with Jesus, and becoming a disciple of His. This is a lifelong journey in itself, and there are no shortcuts that are profitable.

In the interim, you could certainly read and examine materials that pertain to the priesthood, but try not to become fixated on the idea. The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter requires a convert to the faith to wait a minimum of two years before applying to the Seminary. This is to allow a zealous young man time to consider and learn the basics of the Faith before immersing him into a seminary formation.

I pray that you will heed my humble advice and to take matters one step at a time. If we can be of any further service to you at this time, please contact us.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

What a nice response from them. I hope you have found it encouraging. The advice is good: seek good, orthodox priests, study a lot, and grow in faith. See what happens in a few years.

I wish you all the best.

 

[TRH1292]

That is a really awesome and encouraging response.

 

[daisybee]

Best wishes. You have much to look forward to. I pray that your journey toward Christ will be blessed every step of the way.

 

[bben15]

Best wishes. You have much to look forward to. I pray that your journey toward Christ will be blessed every step of the way.

It may be worthwhile in the future to be cautious about posting specific information about your situation. For example, it may be prudent in the future not to post specific names of people, maybe not even the name of the order(s) you consider in the future. Priests have to have much discretion, and an order may consider whether a candidate has that quality.

Perhaps I should have taken out the name.

But it is hard for people to pray for you and give you advice if they do not know what you are discerning a vocation to. For example, if you said that you are discerning a vocation to be a monk, but didn’t say which order, you won’t get very good advice. But if you said you are discerning a vocation to be a Benedictine monk, then someone could give you specific information about the Benedictines and experiences with them.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Sounds like very wise advice.

 

[Cartesian]

Hi Ben, those are really good advices and I am praying that you can keep collecting spiritual fruits in your vocational journey.

 

[bben15]

Hi Ben, those are really good advices and I am praying that you can keep collecting spiritual fruits in your vocational journey.

P.S: In case it is late to do it yourself, I kindly recommend you to PM/email the moderator and ask to edit the personal information exising in the letter.

I asked him to remove the “Yours in Christ…” Do you think that is enough, or is there more information that should be removed?

 

[Cartesian]

I asked him to remove the “Yours in Christ…” Do you think that is enough, or is there more information that should be removed?

Great. In my opinion that’s enough

Prayers said for your vocation.

 

[ClearWater]

Good luck!

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death
Amen.

:angel1:

 

[landon13]

That is awesome. God bless you! I am glad to see you are discerning a traditional vocation with FSSP. I am discerning my vocation as well so, if you have any questions or would like to talk, please PM me.

God bless!

 

[adawgj]

I hope everything goes well my friend. I’ll pray that the FSSP will accept you.

From a fellow person in discernment for priesthood

adawgj

 

[BertBlyleven]

There are plenty of converts in the FSSP. If it’s God’s will, it’ll happen, and don’t worry about the rest!

In the meantime, enjoy your time living at home, as a lay person. It’s even a very important part of priestly formation.