Thinking about the priesthood or religious life.

[meep]

Tanais:

however one of the things that is really holding me back is my own unworthiness. I view the priesthood as a holy and dignified calling, i just wonder if I am worthy enough.

We are all unworthy. But does where you are right now (spiritually) make a difference to where God wants you to be? You have a vocation, a specific calling from God. Put simply, if you aren’t holy enough to be a priest, you’re called to become that holy. You’ll never be worthy to celebrate Mass–how could any of us be? But if God is calling you to the presthood, it is a challenge to become worthy! Perfection is a goal we strive for, even if we can’t obtain it in this life.

Being a parent is a pretty dignified vocation too, and can require a lot of holiness at times. Just ask my parents.

 

[yves]

Tanais:

I just wanted to know how many people out there are considering serving the Church as a priest or monk or nun. I have thought about it from time to time, however one of the things that is really holding me back is my own unworthiness. I view the priesthood as a holy and dignified calling, i just wonder if I am worthy enough. I also wanted to know anyone out there considering the vocation?

As others have pointed out, we are all unworthy. Even the apostles considered themselves unworthy, but aren’t we glad they didn’t refuse His call?

I’ve noticed some of your other posts and I peeked at your website (awesome.) Do you recognize how spiritually mature you are and that you’ve already acquired an impressive amount of knowledge? That you can and do express yourself so well is yet another gift. I can hardly believe you’re still in high school!

Keep doing what you are doing. I don’t think I’ve ever read that discernment is a generally easy process.

God bless you.

 

[SHEMP]

When I was young I thought about the priesthood. I thought that I was not good enough however. Now that the abuse scandle is out in the open I realize that I’m a saint compared to some of the preists that have been in the news.

I voted no since I am no longer considering the priesthood since I am happily married. If tragedy ever struck however I cannot see myself ever marrying another person. I could see myself devoting my life to a religious vocation.

 

[theodorro]

I voted “Priest”, I want to be a Priest, i fell the vocation, but the problem is that I am the only child, and my parents want grandsons.
I prey and I hope God will show them that I should serve Him.

 

[Delgadoajj]

Theodorro:

I will say a prayer to s. padre Pio so you become a good priest and make your parents happy and also yourself happy! I feel very proud for you!!!.

Your brother in Christ,

Jorge.

 

[SHEMP]

theodorro:

I prey and I hope God will show them that I should serve Him.

I am sure you meant pray. Freudian slip?

 

[dcmac]

I have spent a long time discerning this myself. After my reversion to the Church on 8-15-1993 at World Youth Day I have felt a great calling. I went to undergraduate school and began to discern the first time around. Now with more education I am going to formally transfer to the Maronites and become, by the grace of God, a Maronite Catholic priest.

My first time around I was guided to not become a priest by a priest who is no longer a priest. He said I was not forward thinking enough (because of my devotion to the Holy Eucharist and my reverence to Him). I believed him. But now after spending three years with a great Franciscan (Fr. Joseph) as my Roman spiritual advisor and having just said goodbye to my Maronite spiritual advisor (Fr. Shane who went to Minnesota) I am convinced of my vocation.

My recommendation would be that it is OK to have questions. Frankly you should. You should always feel unworthy, for we all are. However, it is not our worthiness that enables God to call us, rather it is God’s great, true Worthiness that calls us. It is He, not us, who is worthy, and it is by His Grace that we are able to be what He calls us to be. Do not mind others, be they friends, family, co-workers, or even fellow MB posters. Do not let them dissuade you from your vocation, or at the very least seeking out what that vocation truly is! Keep that in mind, and God’s Grace in your heart and soul, and all the rest in the circular file (trash) and you’ll make out fine.

You are all in my prayers.

Your unworthy brother in Christ and by the Grace of God a future priest,

Donnchadh

 

[theodorro]

Thank you all.

God bless you all.

 

[Jason_Hurd]

futurepriest:

I am 29 years serminarian from the Archdiocese of Seattle and I will be starting my pre-theology at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California.My advice is that if guys consider to enter into holy order is to get an undergraduate degree from a non-seminary college and experience the outside life before making a comittment of entering into the seminary.

Bao

Bao, I’m envious of you! St. Patrick’s Seminary is just around the corner from my house, and every time I go past I think of all the students inside studying to be future priests, and I have a twinge because I just don’t seem to have the calling. Good luck to you in your endeavors!

 

[frdave20]

I have been considering the priesthood in one form or another since high school. I finally made my decision to do it last October (2003). I am in college now, but after September 8th, I will begin my application process to enter a religious Order. THe plan is for me to finish college with my degree and then enter in September of 2005.

I pray that more young men would consider the Holy Priesthood; and that more women would consider consecrated life.

 

[Traditionalist]

What a blessing to have come upon this thread. It is comforting to know there are so many considering vocations. For any who think they are not worthy, remember who Jesus called, and continues to call. There was Peter, Paul, John, Judas. The important thing to keep in mind is He always gives the grace to follow His call.

Do not worry about your parents; you are merely on loan to them. I told my daughter I was praying for one of her boys to become a priest, and she said the same thing. “Don’t do that, I want to be a grandmother.” The statement stunned me because she has three boys, and one girl. I would think the odds are pretty good she will have grandchildren.

I would be inclined to vote for joining an order unless one would happen to live in the diocese of one of the 12 bishops identified on another thread.

Daily Mass and spending time in adoration will help anyone hear the Lord much more clearly. God Bless-- you will be remembered in my prayers.

 

[legeorge]

Traditionalist:

What a blessing to have come upon this thread. It is comforting to know there are so many considering vocations. For any who think they are not worthy, remember who Jesus called, and continues to call. There was Peter, Paul, John, Judas. The important thing to keep in mind is He always gives the grace to follow His call.

Do not worry about your parents; you are merely on loan to them. I told my daughter I was praying for one of her boys to become a priest, and she said the same thing. “Don’t do that, I want to be a grandmother.” The statement stunned me because she has three boys, and one girl. I would think the odds are pretty good she will have grandchildren.

I would be inclined to vote for joining an order unless one would happen to live in the diocese of one of the 12 bishops identified on another thread.

Daily Mass and spending time in adoration will help anyone hear the Lord much more clearly. God Bless-- you will be remembered in my prayers.

for vocations!!

 

[cmom]

We have a board section over at Phatmass.com called vocation station who people discerning religious life. Its moderated by a seminarian and a priest.

phorum.phatmass.com/index.php?showforum=17

 

[Steve_M]

I’m considering the priesthood. Now a bit of back story. I was raised Souther Baptist. Both of my parents are Sunday School teachers, and my dad is a deacon. When I was a senior in high school I surrenderred my life to the ministry. I wasn’t sure what, but I knew I was supposed to do something. Over the years I drifted away from God. At the age of 32, last April, I ended up in rehab for alcohol. The 12 steps of AA were posted on the wall. When I saw that they were about God, I felt like Jonah. After I got out, I began getting back in church. I began feeling like I was called to be either a missionary or a priest. The priest think kind of shocked me, since I was Baptist. I decided to contact a Catholic church near where I lived. The priest said he would be glad to talk to me. I was just looking to find out about Catholicism. I knew next to nothing about it. My basic attitude was, I’m going to look at it then I can say why it’s wrong. Needless to say six months later, over Memorial Day weekend, I officially came into the Church. I truly belive God led me where he did for a reason. Of all the priests in Houston, the one I just happened to contact used to be the dioceses vocationally director for 12 years. He’s been a great help. I know I’ll have to be Catholic for 2 years or so before entering seminary, but I fell very sure that in two years, that’s where I’ll be. The moral of the story I guess is that if God has really called you, he has ways of opening your eyes. In my case it was going throug the absolute hell (for lack of a better term) of alochol addiction. If something happens over the next two years to show me that I’m not called, then so be it. If not, I’ll be in seminary in a couple of years. The more I pray about it and spend time in the Church, it seems more clear that walking away form my job (I’m a CPA, have an MBA and am a tax analyst) won’t be all that difficult. I’ve done everything I could do to please my flesh, and I woke up one day with two choices, put a gun to my head or get help (that’s really what happened). That help turned out to be God. Now it’s my turn to help spread his word here in this life.

That’s kind of a long rambling answere, but hey, it’s an answer.

 

[Catholic29]

I am and have been discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life, though it seems very unlikely I will ever be ordained givin the educational requirments for ordination and how much pressure our priests are under in my diocese. I am simply not that academically gifted or am able to emotionally handle the stress of being in constant demand. It takes a particularily blessed individual to cope with being in active ministry today, at least in my parish and diocese.

I know the Church could probably get along without nuns or monks, but having priests is absolutely vital to the Church’s survival, because they are the only one’s who can dispense the sacramental graces necessary for our redemption. But sadly not quite as many men as are needed seem to be responding to the Lord’s call today, certainly not enough in Ireland deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595076528,00.html

for more vocations, particularily for the priesthood.

 

[seeker63]

Tanais—

Wow, what a website! Your Church needs you, bubba!

 

[rfk]

Catholic29:

I am and have been discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life, though it seems very unlikely I will ever be ordained givin the educational requirments for ordination and how much pressure our priests are under in my diocese. I am simply not that academically gifted or am able to emotionally handle the stress of being in constant demand.

I wouldn’t let yourself get self-talked into placing obstacles in the path that may or may not be genuine.

The bottom line is if the Holy Spirit is really calling you to the priesthood, and you are truly trying to cooperate with His Grace, then no obstacle can stand against you.

Regarding, “I am simply not that academically gifted”, I saw a wonderful biography of Fr. Solanus Casey on EWTN this weekend. When he was ordained, they considered him “too dumb” to be a “real” priest. So he was forbidden to preach and forbidden to hear confessions, but he was allowed to say Mass.

Now he is Venerable and has an active cause for sainthood under way. He was widely recognized as a “living saint” in the first half of the 20th century, similar to the way people feel about Mother Teresa today.

He was a Capuchin monk. The show quoted something like 600 miracles attributed to him during his lifetime.

Similarly, St. John Vianney was considered to be “too dumb” to be a priest. Instead, he went on to become the patron saint of all parish priests.

Never give up on the Holy Spirit. We will include you in our family prayers tonight.

 

[Catholic29]

I wouldn’t let yourself get self-talked into placing obstacles in the path that may or may not be genuine.

The bottom line is if the Holy Spirit is really calling you to the priesthood, and you are truly trying to cooperate with His Grace, then no obstacle can stand against you.

Regarding, “I am simply not that academically gifted”, I saw a wonderful biography of Fr. Solanus Casey on EWTN this weekend. When he was ordained, they considered him “too dumb” to be a “real” priest. So he was forbidden to preach and forbidden to hear confessions, but he was allowed to say Mass.

Now he is Venerable and has an active cause for sainthood under way. He was widely recognized as a “living saint” in the first half of the 20th century, similar to the way people feel about Mother Teresa today.

He was a Capuchin monk. The show quoted something like 600 miracles attributed to him during his lifetime.

Similarly, St. John Vianney was considered to be “too dumb” to be a priest. Instead, he went on to become the patron saint of all parish priests.

Never give up on the Holy Spirit. We will include you in our family prayers tonight.

I appreciate your prayers and encouragement. But the educational requirements in 1904 when Fr. Solanus was ordained is a whole different ballgame than in the Church of 2004 where you need at least a BA to even enter a major seminary, which I do not have. Along with thorough psychological screenings for candidates in the post sex abuse scandal era. To add to it all, you have the politics that to this day continue to pervade many parishes and dioceses, including my own. Where aspiring candidates are and have been turned away for their orthodoxy. So if Fr. Solanus or Fr. Vianney were pursuing a vocation in today’s Church they would of had a rougher ride than in their day.

Call it a cop-out, but it is quite difficult to cooperate with the Holy Spirit when the obstacle standing against you is the very Church you want to serve.:banghead:

 

[rfk]

Catholic29:

I appreciate your prayers and encouragement. But the educational requirements in 1904 when Fr. Solanus was ordained is a whole different ballgame than in the Church of 2004 where you need at least a BA to even enter a major seminary, which I do not have.

Are you kidding me? Educational standards have actually slipped enormously in this country since 1900. A high school graduate in 1900 was typically far better educated than most people I know who have completed college today. For two examples, they knew how to write well and they knew their history.

If you don’t believe this, take a look at the entrance examination to enter High School in Jersey City, N.J in 1885. Mind you, this is not the exam to graduate, it is the exam to enter.

digitalhistory.uh.edu/quizzes/highschool_test.cfm
(That test certainly doesn’t look anything like the 9th grade proficiency tests they are using today…)

Regarding Fr. Solanus Casey, he entered minor seminary with 13 and 14 year-old boys in 1892, at age 22, because he had never gone to high school. He had a hard time because it was a German-speaking seminary in Milwaukee, and he couldn’t speak German (after all, he was an Irishman)!

So don’t talk yourself into defeat before even starting. When Fr. Solanus was asked to leave the seminary, he didn’t quit. He hit the brick wall, turned right, and kept on moving forward.

Catholic29:

Along with thorough psychological screenings for candidates in the post sex abuse scandal era.

OK, so what? Do you want to abuse young boys? “No!” Great, now get back into moving ahead.

Catholic29:

To add to it all, you have the politics that to this day continue to pervade many parishes and dioceses, including my own. Where aspiring candidates are and have been turned away for their orthodoxy.

Look at what Fr. John Trigilio had to go through before becoming a priest. He had to get accepted to seminary in three different dioceses, because the first two rejected his orthodoxy and dismissed him. That is an obstacle to be overcome, not an excuse for avoiding even starting the process.

Switch dioceses. Find an order if you have to.

Catholic29:

Call it a cop-out, but it is quite difficult to cooperate with the Holy Spirit when the obstacle standing against you is the very Church you want to serve.

It is a cop-out. Get off your rear end and at least try. If you don’t have enough internal strength of character to at least get out there and try, then maybe you aren’t really called to the priesthood.

I am sorry if this sounds uncharitable, but I think back to the times in my life when obstacles seemed hard. I had people who mattered to me reminding me that life is difficult. That I needed to “suck it up and act like a man”. There were times I needed the kick in the rear with the pat on the shoulder.

You can’t quit before you start. Certainly not if you want to live with yourself the rest of your life.

 

[cestusdei]

No one is “worthy” to be a priest. The vocation is a gift. If you have it then be open to God making you worthy and using you despite your faults.