Seminary deciding whether to accept me, feel pessimistic

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Lazerlike42

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I have applied to enter the seminary to begin formation for the priesthood. I have been through all sorts of interviews at this point, including psychological ones which in honesty I didn’t trust too much in the first place for various reasons.

I had a meeting yesterday, and it is not looking good. There are particular reasons they may not accept me, and it’s really bothering me. The reasons range from - at least in my perception - misunderstandings to things that seem almost like I’m being looked at questionably because of trying to follow Christ. Now I could be wrong about all of this, and I don’t want to speak negatively at all about those involved because I certainly don’t think they’re trying to do anything wrong nor do I know what they are thinking exactly.

In any case, the prospects of what I would do if I am not accepted are looking worse and worse every time I think about them… The single thing I need more than anything else right now is to be in that sort of a atmosphere, with other men of strong faith, in a prayerful, Liturgical, and simply Catholic setting - a place where Jesus is the center and others there - even if imperfectly - embrace Him as their center. I just can’t imagine having to wait and try again next year… I don’t see how I would make it. I have been feeling suffocated living the life I have… my soul is gasping for breath. I can’t possibly imagine being in a job of some kind, or going back to some sort of college (which I probably couldnt afford anyhow)… I really don’t feel like I’d make it. As it is, I am struggling to maintain the status quo - growing very little if at all in my faith. The home I am living in is just stifling any spiritual oxygen that there may be, and I have absolutely no way to leave.

If I am left in the situation I’m in, I’m going to be in this situation with a family who doesn’t understand me a bit pushing me almost violently towards very wordly places which are going to end up choking me to death if I ever went to them, and won’t give any consideration or support to my trying to find something which would be good for me.

I am having a hard time explaining it all… it’s really a huge mess. They will be deciding over the next few days, please pray for me. 😦

Peace and God bless
 
Dear Lazerlike42,

I see you hail from Massachusetts, a very liberal state. Have you thought about applying for the priesthood in a diocese and seminary where you are absolutely sure they are solidly in union with the Pope? Also, there’s a book called “Goodbye, Good Men” by Michael S. Rose which details how some Catholic seminaries turn away perfectly good candidates to the priesthood which may shed some light on what you are going through. Particularly Chapter 2, “Stifling the Call: How for Some Men the Road to Ordination Is Cut Short Before It Really Begins.”

As for me, I once contacted my Diocesan Vocations office to tell them I was interested in perhaps becoming a contemplative nun. The sister who answered the phone seemed to throw cold water on the idea by the tone in which she said, “Oh, well you know, being a nun isn’t being a bride of Christ, it’s living your Baptism more fully.”

I had her send me a vocations book anyways, which ended up being so bad I threw it out. It included Orders which advertised things like “We chant in inclusive language” and “Come on a retreat where we will focus on discovering gender identity.”

I remain at this point a middle-aged single woman. And who knows, maybe that’s what I was meant to be all along, in my case?

If you are 100% intent on continuing to pursue a priestly voaction, please seek out a good diocese where you will be appreciated for being loyal to and enthusiastic about Holy Mother Church, rather than being attacked for your faith.

Prayers for you!

~~ the phoenix
 
we will pray to Venerable Solanus Casey and to St. John Vianney, both exceedingly holy priests who had great difficulty being admitted to seminary and completing their priestly formation.
 
Lazerlike42:

God has a plan for you and I’m praying for you to follow it whatever it may be.

I’m praying for you.

Prayerfully,

Renato
 
the_phoenix said:
Dear Lazerlike42,

I see you hail from Massachusetts, a very liberal state. Have you thought about applying for the priesthood in a diocese and seminary where you are absolutely sure they are solidly in union with the Pope? Also, there’s a book called “Goodbye, Good Men” by Michael S. Rose which details how some Catholic seminaries turn away perfectly good candidates to the priesthood which may shed some light on what you are going through. Particularly Chapter 2, “Stifling the Call: How for Some Men the Road to Ordination Is Cut Short Before It Really Begins.”

As for me, I once contacted my Diocesan Vocations office to tell them I was interested in perhaps becoming a contemplative nun. The sister who answered the phone seemed to throw cold water on the idea by the tone in which she said, “Oh, well you know, being a nun isn’t being a bride of Christ, it’s living your Baptism more fully.”

I had her send me a vocations book anyways, which ended up being so bad I threw it out. It included Orders which advertised things like “We chant in inclusive language” and “Come on a retreat where we will focus on discovering gender identity.”

I remain at this point a middle-aged single woman. And who knows, maybe that’s what I was meant to be all along, in my case?

If you are 100% intent on continuing to pursue a priestly voaction, please seek out a good diocese where you will be appreciated for being loyal to and enthusiastic about Holy Mother Church, rather than being attacked for your faith.

Prayers for you!

~~ the phoenix
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Actually the diocese is pretty good, and the seminary program seems orthodox so far as I can tell. I wouldn’t want anyone misjudging them :).
 
Lazerlike42 said:
Actually the diocese is pretty good, and the seminary program seems orthodox so far as I can tell. I wouldn’t want anyone misjudging them :).
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Good to hear it, Lazerlike42,

In which case, remain joyful despite adversity, and know that we are praying for you.

~~ the phoenix
 
Lazerlike42 said:
Actually the diocese is pretty good, and the seminary program seems orthodox so far as I can tell. I wouldn’t want anyone misjudging them :).
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That’s good. I would echo, though, the thought that just because 1 diocese rejects you, doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t apply to others.

Different dioceses have different criteria.

God Bless
 
Take a deep breath, trust that God knows what is best for you-go see Him -kneel and ask Him to give you the Grace to accept the crosses that you will have to bear in this life.

Then ask Our Mother Mary to put in a good word for you!

May God Bless you on your journey.

And try to remember that how you learn to handle disappointment can only make you grow stronger.
 
I personally know two men - one rejected from the first seminary to which he applied, one rejected from the diaconate formation, both for being “too orthodox.”

One is now in seminary and says things are turning around and good bishops are replacing the ones who needed to go.

I will pray for you and your intentions. God bless.

:signofcross:
 
I will most certainly keep you in prayer. God bless you!

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.
 
Lazerlike42 said:
I have applied to enter the seminary to begin formation for the priesthood.

I am having a hard time explaining it all… it’s really a huge mess. They will be deciding over the next few days, please pray for me. 😦

Peace and God bless
Click to expand...
Praying for you! Our Pastor was told the same thing many years ago and also told he would not be a good priest. Let me tell ya he is awesome and I thank God each day for him. Hang in there because God will open the doors where he wants you.

God’s many blessings to you!
Linda
 
Lazerlike42 said:
I have applied to enter the seminary to begin formation for the priesthood. I have been through all sorts of interviews at this point, including psychological ones which in honesty I didn’t trust too much in the first place for various reasons.

I had a meeting yesterday, and it is not looking good. There are particular reasons they may not accept me, and it’s really bothering me. The reasons range from - at least in my perception - misunderstandings to things that seem almost like I’m being looked at questionably because of trying to follow Christ. Now I could be wrong about all of this, and I don’t want to speak negatively at all about those involved because I certainly don’t think they’re trying to do anything wrong nor do I know what they are thinking exactly.

In any case, the prospects of what I would do if I am not accepted are looking worse and worse every time I think about them… The single thing I need more than anything else right now is to be in that sort of a atmosphere, with other men of strong faith, in a prayerful, Liturgical, and simply Catholic setting - a place where Jesus is the center and others there - even if imperfectly - embrace Him as their center. I just can’t imagine having to wait and try again next year… I don’t see how I would make it. I have been feeling suffocated living the life I have… my soul is gasping for breath. I can’t possibly imagine being in a job of some kind, or going back to some sort of college (which I probably couldnt afford anyhow)… I really don’t feel like I’d make it. As it is, I am struggling to maintain the status quo - growing very little if at all in my faith. The home I am living in is just stifling any spiritual oxygen that there may be, and I have absolutely no way to leave.

If I am left in the situation I’m in, I’m going to be in this situation with a family who doesn’t understand me a bit pushing me almost violently towards very wordly places which are going to end up choking me to death if I ever went to them, and won’t give any consideration or support to my trying to find something which would be good for me.

I am having a hard time explaining it all… it’s really a huge mess. They will be deciding over the next few days, please pray for me. 😦

Peace and God bless
Click to expand...
If you don’t have one yet, find a spiritual director - ideally, a priest. If the seminary tells you that you must wait and apply again in another year or so - remember that they MUST tell you that if you’re giving them the impression that you’re looking to “escape” from your own situation. Ideally, one enters the priesthood or a religious community because one is so fully involved in following Christ that one is looking for to make a greater commitment, a greater way to express that commitment, not because life in the larger “secular” society is too hard (at home or in the workplace). A good spititual director can help you sort through your issues.

I hope you can hear what I’ve said to you.
 
catharina said:
If you don’t have one yet, find a spiritual director - ideally, a priest. If the seminary tells you that you must wait and apply again in another year or so - remember that they MUST tell you that if you’re giving them the impression that you’re looking to “escape” from your own situation. Ideally, one enters the priesthood or a religious community because one is so fully involved in following Christ that one is looking for to make a greater commitment, a greater way to express that commitment, not because life in the larger “secular” society is too hard (at home or in the workplace). A good spititual director can help you sort through your issues.

I hope you can hear what I’ve said to you.
Click to expand...
Code:
This was also going to be my response…please get a director during this ‘dark night’. It is incaluable. One cannot direct oneself. I have had one for over 20 years. When I was thrown out of the convent, I wish I would have had had one to help me through the mess…chances I would have still been a nun today. One is too immature in spirituality to really be able to discern on one’s own soul and emotions.

Prayers going up!🙂
 
Email Fr Corapi…he was actually asked to leave a seminary.He thought his vocation was dried up

Look where he is today…How about Fr Groeschels order? They are growing rapidly…Do let the closing of one door stop you from finding another…Sometimes things we thing are really bad end up being very good in the long run
 
catharina said:
Ideally, one enters the priesthood or a religious community because one is so fully involved in following Christ that one is looking for to make a greater commitment, a greater way to express that commitment, not because life in the larger “secular” society is too hard (at home or in the workplace). A good spititual director can help you sort through your issues.

I hope you can hear what I’ve said to you.
Click to expand...
Exactly what I was thinking.

Entering the priesthood is a calling, not an escape. Sometimes we confuse desire with vocation.

I’ll pray, too.
 
Lazerlike42 said:
I have applied to enter the seminary to begin formation for the priesthood. I have been through all sorts of interviews at this point, including psychological ones which in honesty I didn’t trust too much in the first place for various reasons.

I had a meeting yesterday, and it is not looking good. There are particular reasons they may not accept me, and it’s really bothering me. The reasons range from - at least in my perception - misunderstandings to things that seem almost like I’m being looked at questionably because of trying to follow Christ. Now I could be wrong about all of this, and I don’t want to speak negatively at all about those involved because I certainly don’t think they’re trying to do anything wrong nor do I know what they are thinking exactly.

In any case, the prospects of what I would do if I am not accepted are looking worse and worse every time I think about them… The single thing I need more than anything else right now is to be in that sort of a atmosphere, with other men of strong faith, in a prayerful, Liturgical, and simply Catholic setting - a place where Jesus is the center and others there - even if imperfectly - embrace Him as their center. I just can’t imagine having to wait and try again next year… I don’t see how I would make it. I have been feeling suffocated living the life I have… my soul is gasping for breath. I can’t possibly imagine being in a job of some kind, or going back to some sort of college (which I probably couldnt afford anyhow)… I really don’t feel like I’d make it. As it is, I am struggling to maintain the status quo - growing very little if at all in my faith. The home I am living in is just stifling any spiritual oxygen that there may be, and I have absolutely no way to leave.

If I am left in the situation I’m in, I’m going to be in this situation with a family who doesn’t understand me a bit pushing me almost violently towards very wordly places which are going to end up choking me to death if I ever went to them, and won’t give any consideration or support to my trying to find something which would be good for me.

I am having a hard time explaining it all… it’s really a huge mess. They will be deciding over the next few days, please pray for me. 😦

Peace and God bless
Click to expand...
God’s Holy Spirit please clear away any impediments or perceived impediments to our brother’s vocation to priesthood. Flood him and his assessors with Your overwhelming grace.
Saint Pio, please pray for him. St John Vianney, whom only Your intervention brough to ordination, please intercede most powerfully for our brother. I will keep you in my prayers, Trishie

Hear us our God, and please also grant Steve’s prayers to be allowed to be received into the seminary
 
Shoshana said:
Code:
This was also going to be my response…please get a director during this ‘dark night’. It is incaluable. One cannot direct oneself. I have had one for over 20 years. When I was thrown out of the convent, I wish I would have had had one to help me through the mess…chances I would have still been a nun today. One is too immature in spirituality to really be able to discern on one’s own soul and emotions.

Prayers going up!🙂
Click to expand...
My dear Shoshana - can’t even imagine your early life but since I checked your profile and find you are a wife, mom and grandma, I’m guessing that the will of God led you to your life today!
 
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