Signs

[strugglingalong]

For those discerning a vocation, or already pretty sure they are called to priesthood or religious life, what are some of the signs you consider that you’re called to this state?

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[Cloisters]

For those discerning a vocation, or already pretty sure they are called to priesthood or religious life, what are some of the signs you consider that you’re called to this state?

Pax Christi tecum.

The Holy Ghost works on attraction. Getting quiet and listening is the best thing you can do for yourself. Then, you’ll get more clarity.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[Neal]

For me the signs were that my friends always talked to me about religion and came to me for advice about spiritual/personal matters. That and people flat out told me that I would make a good priest.

This might be useful

archstl.org/vocations/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=184

Above all else start praying a lot. Got to mass as often as you can and If possible, Do a holy hour of adoration a week and talk to our Lord about your Vocation.

Look at your life and reflect, the sings for each person will be different, spend some time recollecting each night on the events of the day, say for 15 minutes, and conclude with a rosary and look for what might have been a sign. You might also start praying the liturgy of the hours morning, evening and night prayer. I don’t know how deep you have looked into the priesthood, but priests must pray these prayers so its a good tool for discernment and for sanctity of life in general.

amazon.com/Christian-Prayer-Catholic-Book-Publishing/dp/0899424066

instructions to get started

ebreviary.com/

universalis.com/

liturgyofthehours.org/

 

[strugglingalong]

For me the signs were that my friends always talked to me about religion and came to me for advice about spiritual/personal matters. That and people flat out told me that I would make a good priest.

This might be useful

archstl.org/vocations/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=184

Above all else start praying a lot. Got to mass as often as you can and If possible, Do a holy hour of adoration a week and talk to our Lord about your Vocation.

Look at your life and reflect, the sings for each person will be different, spend some time recollecting each night on the events of the day, say for 15 minutes, and conclude with a rosary and look for what might have been a sign. You might also start praying the liturgy of the hours morning, evening and night prayer. I don’t know how deep you have looked into the priesthood, but priests must pray these prayers so its a good tool for discernment and for sanctity of life in general.

amazon.com/Christian-Prayer-Catholic-Book-Publishing/dp/0899424066

instructions to get started

ebreviary.com/

universalis.com/

liturgyofthehours.org/

Thank you! Yes, I have also had people mention to me that I’d be a good priest. One time, in a confessional confessing mortal sins no less, I was asked by the priest if I’d ever considered the priesthood. I still find that a bit odd.

It just seems like what I desire is not like what many others desire. I don’t want a good job and a good paycheck and a house. I rather desire to be poor, to give everything to God and own nothing, to live a life of pray and penance and discipline, to study theology (which I love) and to lead others to Christ as He helps me to do so. But I often fear I am deluded, that it is just my pride in all of this thinking I am better than others so should be in a higher spiritual role…or that I am just running away from the issues of life. I guess that is all the stuff of discernment.

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[Neal]

Yep, all part of discernment

Pouring out your life as a libation and giving up yourself for the salvation of others. As you are formed and and you become more configured to Christ your true motives will become clear, and they will be purified. Remember, the seminary is 1 part school, 1 part house of discernment and 1 part house of formation. So if you feel a strong desire to go, I would not delay. There is no better place to discern than the seminary.

Peace brother!

 

[strugglingalong]

Yep, all part of discernment

Pouring out your life as a libation and giving up yourself for the salvation of others. As you are formed and and you become more configured to Christ your true motives will become clear, and they will be purified. Remember, the seminary is 1 part school, 1 part house of discernment and 1 part house of formation. So if you feel a strong desire to go, I would not delay. There is no better place to discern than the seminary.

Peace brother!

Yes the reason I don’t or can’t is because of chastity. I’ve had problems with habitual mortal sin and I am working to purify that area of my life first.

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[Rising_Suns]

Yes the reason I don’t or can’t is because of chastity. I’ve had problems with habitual mortal sin and I am working to purify that area of my life first.

Pax Christi tecum.

Good advice Neal.

Interestingly, I think it was St. John of the Cross who stated that all priests should be at the 5th mansion or greater. According to him, no priest is better than a bad priest. In other words, priests who are not holy cause more damage to the Church than if they were never a priest to begin with. He was very serious about this, and I think for good reason. The Church does not need numbers. It needs holy priests. And in this sense, I think you are on the right track, if you have concerns about chastity. Recognizing one’s weaknesses is an important step that many fail to take.

With that said, I do not believe there is a legitimate impediment to entering seminary, unless, perhaps, you are actively viewing pornography. It is expected that a discerning priest have developed enough self-control to resist looking at pornography. However, other lesser forms of impurity may be more of a grey area that one needs to discern individually (the screening process is *supposed *to be able to pick on on this)

Blessings,

-Davide

 

[strugglingalong]

Good advice Neal.

Interestingly, I think it was St. John of the Cross who stated that all priests should be at the 5th mansion or greater. According to him, no priest is better than a bad priest. In other words, priests who are not holy cause more damage to the Church than if they were never a priest to begin with. He was very serious about this, and I think for good reason. The Church does not need numbers. It needs holy priests. And in this sense, I think you are on the right track, if you have concerns about chastity. Recognizing one’s weaknesses is an important step than many fail to take.

With that said, I do not believe there is a legitimate impediment to entering seminary, unless, perhaps, you are actively viewing pornography. It is expected that a discerning priest have developed enough self-control to resist looking at pornography. However, other lesser forms of impurity may be more of a grey area that one needs to discern individually (the screening process is *supposed *to be able to pick on on this)

Blessings,

-Davide

I agree. I’d rather not be a priest then a not-holy one. For me it has involved pornography but also acts of impurity with others. I’m working on chastity and have been away from it for a pretty short period of time. My position is that I need to have a few years of firm chastity before I could enter anywhere to make sure I can live it.

 

[Rising_Suns]

I agree. I’d rather not be a priest then a not-holy one. For me it has involved pornography but also acts of impurity with others. I’m working on chastity and have been away from it for a pretty short period of time. My position is that I need to have a few years of firm chastity before I could enter anywhere to make sure I can live it.

Struggling,
I am not a spiritual director, but in my own unqualified opinion, I would say that this is a reasonable goal that you set for yourself.

Thank you for your openness and candor with this. Perhaps it will help others on this forum as well.

-Davide

 

[strugglingalong]

Struggling,
I am not a spiritual director, but in my own unqualified opinion, I would say that this is a reasonable goal that you set for yourself.

Thank you for your openness and candor with this. Perhaps it will help others on this forum as well.

-Davide

Yes, it is certain sad but true. I figure I have to be honest. If I am told I should not be a priest then I have to accept it as God’s will. These sins are part of why I stopped discerning, figuring it was not for me. But you know what, chastity is required for marriage too and it, at least for me, is easier to sacrifice then to be moderate in this area - although with God both are possible. I figure I need to get myself in order and if God grants me the grace and strength, as I know He will, to acquire chastity and celibacy over a few years then I think that may be acceptable for application to a diocese or order…does that sound right?

P.S. In my prior post above when I said, “I’ve been away from it” the it is sins of impurity. I’ve had months of chastity then falls. I’ve learned a lot and God is helping me a lot. I believe He will help me and give me this virtue.

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[lpp]

I have had people telling me to go and join a religious order many times. So far I’ve only tried two. The desire to get closer to God and to do His will only also increased dramatically. I don’t know if that is a sign, but it is getting me to consider a religious life. I know marriage is not for me, since I absolutely don’t want to be marry, I have no interest in it whatsoever. However, if it is God’s will then I will follow it.

 

[Nick9]

I have had many people suggest that I become a priest, even people who have just met me. I went for discernment but was told that I don’t have a desire for it deep down. This was because when I was asked if I wanted to be a priest, I could not give a positive answer one way or the other. It could have been fear preventing me from saying yes. I just accepted the director’s discernment and I did feel peaceful on doing so. I still find it strange that so many have said that I would make a good priest.

 

[strugglingalong]

I have had many people suggest that I become a priest, even people who have just met me. I went for discernment but was told that I don’t have a desire for it deep down. This was because when I was asked if I wanted to be a priest, I could not give a positive answer one way or the other. It could have been fear preventing me from saying yes. I just accepted the director’s discernment and I did feel peaceful on doing so. I still find it strange that so many have said that I would make a good priest.

See the weird thing for me is when I say the priesthood or religious life is not for me I have no peace. I’ve tried to convince myself married life is for me but had no peace about it…

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[Neal]

See the weird thing for me is when I say the priesthood or religious life is not for me I have no peace. I’ve tried to convince myself married life is for me but had no peace about it…

Pax Christi tecum.

Hey, if God’s lit a fire under ya then that makes perfect seince. I could see myself as a priest or a married man, but not a religious.

 

[strugglingalong]

Hey, if God’s lit a fire under ya then that makes perfect seince. I could see myself as a priest or a married man, but not a religious.

I could see myself as a priest or religious but not married Weird, eh? But if God’s will was for me to be married, I would do it. It’s all to love Him, right?

Pax Christi tecum.

 

[SenorSalsa]

Can I inquire as to how old you are Struggling?

I know for me, I have often struggled staying pure with my own sexuality.

However next week I will be starting school at a catholic University, and I expect that this surrounding is what I need to help me overcome. Just think of Jesus’ own words, “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”. We all want to change, but out human, worldly nature tells us no. And I can think of no better way to overcome this than to overwhelm that worldliness with the faith. Bombard it so that it can’t escape. Just think about Jesus, what did he do when he was struggling? he withdrew, and spent hours in prayer.

Also, take St. Paul as an example. He writes in one of his letters, I believe to the Romans, about a thorn in his side, that he prayed for God to take away, and God said no. There is a large amount of Theologians that believe this thorn to be a problem with purity. And yet Paul was possibly the greatest instrument in growing the faith

 

[peary1]

For those discerning a vocation, or already pretty sure they are called to priesthood or religious life, what are some of the signs you consider that you’re called to this state?

Pax Christi tecum.

It starts with a good and solid prayer life. Mass attendance. Rosary.

 

[Nick9]

See the weird thing for me is when I say the priesthood or religious life is not for me I have no peace. I’ve tried to convince myself married life is for me but had no peace about it…

Pax Christi tecum.

by peace, I mean relief, but is this really peace? I am still not settled with the idea of turning from priesthood as a vocation, so I probably don’t have peace of mind, as such. It keeps niggling away at me, but this could be scruples. Peace is a difficult thing to describe. Is *contentment *a good term for it?

 

[JohnnyReb]

I agree. I’d rather not be a priest then a not-holy one. For me it has involved pornography but also acts of impurity with others. I’m working on chastity and have been away from it for a pretty short period of time. My position is that I need to have a few years of firm chastity before I could enter anywhere to make sure I can live it.

I too struggled with impurity and chastity and was discouraged on my discernment of a vocation because of it. I am working currently at an outdoor program that helps troubled teenage boys right now, and it has helped me deal with this issue in more ways than one. One, it removes me from the temptation to begin with, yet on my time off I am in a place where I face it again, but I am not giving in to it now. The habit has been broken.

I am going to work there at least a year or two before while I am discerning a vocation in order to break my sin habits. Of course I am going to Mass and reconciliation when I can as well. I am reading and researching the priesthood and religious life on my time off.

 

[strugglingalong]

by peace, I mean relief, but is this really peace? I am still not settled with the idea of turning from priesthood as a vocation, so I probably don’t have peace of mind, as such. It keeps niggling away at me, but this could be scruples. Peace is a difficult thing to describe. Is *contentment *a good term for it?

Yes peace is difficult because we don’t always have felt peace. I think peace is just the knowing that what you’re doing is what God wants. Maybe it is contentment. You just know but don’t know why you know…maybe

Pax Christi tecum.