I’m in a deep crisis at the moment. I am 16 years old, by the way. I feel called to enter the seminary, but at the same time I feel called to follow the example of my parents and to live a Christian marriage and take part in the mystery of Creation. It’s a really weird feeling. Whenever I see a priest fulfilling his duties, I really feel like the Lord is calling me to be a servant to his people. On the other hand, I see families from my parish and my own family having many kids and living faithful marriages. I’ve always thought of becoming an OB/GYN that would find pro-life alternatives to all medical treatment. I’m not sure what the Lord is calling me to do! I haven’t told my parents, catechist, or parish priest mostly because I’m too proud (and scared for that matter). The anonymity of these forums is great! Can anyone help me out?
Dude, I feel the same way, though I’m not a teen anymore. Hahah! When I was your age, I considered the priesthood. But then, I decided that that wasn’t for me. Then I decided that I am being called to marriage. I have the desire to do that: to raise a family centered in Chirst; to raise a family as I wished I would’ve been raised , always centered in Christ(because my parents never really provided guidance for me in that area) But recently, I read a thread in this sub-forum that talks about vocations. And I read that we can actually make a wrong decision in our vocations. This scared me a good deal because I used to believe that God would bless us in any vocation we chose. I used to believe that he would give us whatever grace necessary in the vocation we chose that we may serve him as best as we can. Now I’m like, “If I believe that I am called to marriage, could it be possible that I’m making a mistake in choosing that?” Could it be possible, even if I have pure intentions and everything seems right with my choosing marriage as a vocation, Could I be going against God’s will? I wondered why it was that I considered the priesthood then, if later, I decided if wasn’t for me. Then I thought, I’ve also considered many different careers, but I’ve changed my mind about that so many times too because I realized those weren’t for me. They wouldn’t make me happy. Could it be the same for a vocation? Could it be that I’m merely changing my mind about this too? Is that wrong? I think I know what I want to become(carreer-wise) and I’m sticking to that. Was the decision to go with matrimony God’s will, or mine? Maybe I’m just scrupulous, because all of these doubts came shortly after reading this very scary sermon by written by Saint Leonard of Port Maurice. It pretty much terrified me to no end. Just as I don’t believe I could be happy being anything but a dietitian(my career choice), I don’t believe I could be happy being a priest. I don’t feel called to it, but maybe I am being called to it?I’m confused.
This is a quote from the sermon I
should have payed more attention to:
** “Pious souls, you may leave; this sermon is not for you.** Its sole purpose is to contain the pride of libertines who cast the holy fear of God out of their heart and join forces with the devil who, according to the sentiment of Eusebius, damns souls by reassuring them.”
I looked up a definition of the word pious online and it said: " having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations."
I think I fit under that definition, so I probably shouldn’t have read that sermon. It wasn’t for me, and now I see why it wasn’t for me…It didn’t help me at all. It only shook me to my foundations with fear. I wouldn’t recommend reading this to anyone that already wishes to follow Our Lord. Show it to those who are “libertines” whom you’d like to lead back to Jesus, but don’t read it yourself I say. It won’t help you at all.
May God bless you all, In the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
Adi
:nun1: 