Searching for an Order

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RomanRiteTeen

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I’m 14, and in all honesty, I am completely and utterly unsure of my vocation, whatever that may be.

The ‘idea’ of the priesthood, or a religious order intrigues me a great deal. I realize that this desire of mine does not amount to a calling, and I wont follow through unless I’m sure.

I was raised a High Anglican, and most recently was involved in the Presbyterian Church until coming ‘Home to Rome’. I have a Catholic Background in my family. Since I began to take faith seriously, I’ve considered whether or not I had a calling to become a ‘pastor’ when I was involved in the Protestant Churches, but this desire has carried over to my Catholic Faith. I will enter the Church this Easter.

Because this possible ‘calling’ and roots in the Protestant Churches, I am unsure of it’s authenticity.

Either way, I am looking for an order that interests me, just in case.
I am a devotee of our Blessed Mother, so I’m hoping to find a very orthodox, solid, and Marian-oriented order. If you have any suggestions, please help.

J.M.J.
 
Welcome Home ! Your question and story are wonderful. Don’t stop asking questions. Pray the rosary every day and ask Our Lady to help guide you. Their are many wonderful orders that have a strong devotion to Mary. Coming from High - Anglican, it does not surprise me that you would seek out a very orthodox, very solid religious order. The one that comes to mind that, you may want to look into is the Discalced Carmelite Order. An order that traces is origin all the way back to Elijah. Three doctors of the Church come from this order. St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, and St Terese the little flower. Pope John Paul II follows this spirtuality.

A couple books you may want to read:

The life of Teresa of Jesus by St Teresa of Avila and Story of a Soul by St Terese

Keep asking questions, and keep praying. Our Lord will guide you. Know that by just posing this question, many will be praying for you …

In His peace !
 
RomanRiteTeen - I’d stay away from the Jesuits until they get their house in order; they used to be very orthodox and strict (they were the Catholic Marine Corps 🙂 ), but now they’ve got serious problems with liberalism.

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter is about as orthodox as it gets; check them out.

Of course, I’d also invite you to attend Divine Liturgy at an Eastern-Rite Catholic Church near you and see another aspect of Catholic worship. It may be that you find a true calling to that Rite, in which case you would want to undergo instruction there.

I won’t encourage one way or the other, but the priest who baptized me into the Eastern Rite was two weeks away from ordination as a Roman priest when he went to a Byzantine liturgy; he fell in love with it so hard he changed ritual churches and went through seminary all over again to be ordained Byzantine.

Whether Latin Rite or Eastern, be welcome to the true Christian Church. God bless you!
 
It’s too bad the high school seminary has largely gone by the wayside. Many religious orders used to have them and that would be an excellent place for a guy like you to consider the call.

At this point, I think that the best thing to do would mainly just be focusing on your own spiritual life. Make friends with a good priest who could serve as a mentor and spiritual advisor. He might even help you to discern whether you have a call and how to explore it further as you get a bit older. As far as the religious orders, I think that in part you will first need to identify what sort of charism is attractive to you such that you might want to follow in that way of life. Again, this will come as you mature. For now, just learn as much as possible about all of the orders as well as the diocesan priesthood. Eventually, you may find that you are most drawn to a particular type of life and apostolate which is appropriate to one of them.
 
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Sir_Hubert:
Welcome Home ! Your question and story are wonderful. Don’t stop asking questions. Pray the rosary every day and ask Our Lady to help guide you. Their are many wonderful orders that have a strong devotion to Mary. Coming from High - Anglican, it does not surprise me that you would seek out a very orthodox, very solid religious order. The one that comes to mind that, you may want to look into is the Discalced Carmelite Order. An order that traces is origin all the way back to Elijah. Three doctors of the Church come from this order. St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, and St Terese the little flower. Pope John Paul II follows this spirtuality.

A couple books you may want to read:

The life of Teresa of Jesus by St Teresa of Avila and Story of a Soul by St Terese

Keep asking questions, and keep praying. Our Lord will guide you. Know that by just posing this question, many will be praying for you …

In His peace !
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Thank you very much for your reply, Sir Hubert. The Carmelites are a very attractive order, and I plan to purchase and read the books you suggested.
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rcwhiteh:
RomanRiteTeen - I’d stay away from the Jesuits until they get their house in order; they used to be very orthodox and strict (they were the Catholic Marine Corps 🙂 ), but now they’ve got serious problems with liberalism.

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter is about as orthodox as it gets; check them out.

Of course, I’d also invite you to attend Divine Liturgy at an Eastern-Rite Catholic Church near you and see another aspect of Catholic worship. It may be that you find a true calling to that Rite, in which case you would want to undergo instruction there.

I won’t encourage one way or the other, but the priest who baptized me into the Eastern Rite was two weeks away from ordination as a Roman priest when he went to a Byzantine liturgy; he fell in love with it so hard he changed ritual churches and went through seminary all over again to be ordained Byzantine.

Whether Latin Rite or Eastern, be welcome to the true Christian Church. God bless you!
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I thank you for your post and invitation. I find the Eastern Rites very rich in tradition and reverence, though I haven’t attended Divine Liturgy. There are only three Eastern Catholic parishes in my state, the closest being over an hour away. I’ll probably want to stay in the Roman Rite, though.
I’ve heard a bit about the FSSP here and there, I’ll check them out.
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chicago:
It’s too bad the high school seminary has largely gone by the wayside. Many religious orders used to have them and that would be an excellent place for a guy like you to consider the call.

At this point, I think that the best thing to do would mainly just be focusing on your own spiritual life. Make friends with a good priest who could serve as a mentor and spiritual advisor. He might even help you to discern whether you have a call and how to explore it further as you get a bit older. As far as the religious orders, I think that in part you will first need to identify what sort of charism is attractive to you such that you might want to follow in that way of life. Again, this will come as you mature. For now, just learn as much as possible about all of the orders as well as the diocesan priesthood. Eventually, you may find that you are most drawn to a particular type of life and apostolate which is appropriate to one of them.
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I would love Highschool Seminary, ah well.

Very good advice, I had a Spiritual Director at a former parish, we just moved to another that is much closer. Two very good Benedictine Monk/Priests here. One of which is an Abbot.

I plan to look in to the orders, and become an altarboy once I join the Church. I think I may contact the Abbot and see about Spiritual Direction, too.
 
(1) The first choice, if you decide that you want to be a priest, is diocesian or order priest. You may find that a particular diocese suits you, that you want to serve as a priest in that area. You may find that a particular religious order is appealing.

(2) Research all the options. There are lots of orders and lots of dioceses. Check them out and let the Holy Spirit guide you.

(3) Learn your gifts. God has given you talents to be used, what are they? What orders and dioceses are they best suited for? This may help you find a good match.
 
Dear Teen:

Since you say you are looking for an order that is oriented toward our Blessed Mother, you might want to consider the Servants of Mary (Servites). They are orthodox.

Deacon Ed
 
I highly recommend the Franciscans of the Renewal. They are loyal to the Church, genuinely devout, and manly. At least two of their priests are regulars on EWTN. They have many apostolates but always stress a solid prayer life and the path of holiness above all.

www.franciscanfriars.com
 
I don’t know much about the order, but in college I knew a guy who was extremely orthodox and Marian, probably the most spiritual person I’ve ever met, and he became a Redemptorist priest. Another fellow who was similarly Marian joined the Franciscans (of the Renewal, I believe, but not sure).
 
RomanRiteTeen,

I think it’s realy cool you want to know what God wishes of you. Pray the rosary and ask Mary for her help! I’ll pray for you as well, if you don’t mind. :gopray:

My father always said he wanted to be a priest… until he met my mother. 😃

Victoria J

Ps: I sent you a PM, BTW.
 
quote=T.A.Stobie, SFO The first choice, if you decide that you want to be a priest, is diocesian or order priest. You may find that a particular diocese suits you, that you want to serve as a priest in that area. You may find that a particular religious order is appealing.

(2) Research all the options. There are lots of orders and lots of dioceses. Check them out and let the Holy Spirit guide you.

(3) Learn your gifts. God has given you talents to be used, what are they? What orders and dioceses are they best suited for? This may help you find a good match.
[/quote]

Actually, “shopping” for a diocese isn’t recommended. While some do it nowadays (and bishops may accept them as candidates), it is generally expected that if one desires to become a diocesan priest, he should ideally stay with the diocese in which he resides (and was probably raised). The idea is that this is “home base” for him. He understand the local culture, the people, the Church of that area. He is an interwoven part of it. And, so, it is natural that he would minister there.

Concerning religious life, one also has to generally be called to the communal life, firstly and distinct, from just being called to the priesthood. And, further, one must be attracted to that particular charism and apostolate.
 
(I got your message Pro-life, thanks! 🙂 )

I also thank those who have replied. Stobie, your advice is very helpful. Like I said, I’m simply trying to find out what God calls me to. I have a ‘tugging’ desire towards the Priesthood, or Religious life, it seems. For all I know, I may end up getting married. I’m reading up on various orders. If, however, I was called to serve the Diocese, I would serve -the- Diocese, rather than search through them.

I particularly find the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal -very- intriguing, especially inspiring. The Servites and Marians I’ll need to look into a bit further.

Keep the replies coming, my friends!
 
((Welcome. The forum doesn’t say for some reason when you have a new one…And I replied))

:getholy: nods I would become a nun, but I really wish to be married someday. God calls us all to do something in our lives. I do apologetics with a passion, and I also write. Hope you find your calling, whether priesthood or marrige. 😃
 
I’m a candidate for the Dominicans. We surely have a long history of devotion to Our Lady. Might I suggest The Priest in Union with Christ, by Garrigou-Lagrange, or The Quiet Light, a novel of the life of Aquinas by Louis de Wohl?
 
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