Thinking about the priesthood or religious life.

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As I look back at my journey from the protestant faith into the Catholic church I can see the Lords handiwork. He must have known that had he revealed the truth about the Catholic chruch to me prior to being married I would probably have presumtuously entered the preisthood or a monastary, but this was not His plan. Since I am married my desire to become a priest will be offered as a sacrifice to Him, not that I regret being married but that it will remind me to follow His will and not my will in every aspect of my life. And if He wills I would love to become a Deacon one day. But if not I hope I will always follow His path.

Thank you Lord!
 
Here I go again, picking at nits but…

In the Byzantine Tradition a monk may be a priest. They are called hieromonks. Again, in the Byzanitne Tradition the height of a calling is the monastic life.

When a hieromonk passes away, he is buried in his monastic habit.
 
I am discerning a call to the religious life, which is incredible seeing as how I was an atheiest up until about 6 years ago.

Currently, the following commnunity is looking promising:

oblatesofmary.com/

My only problem is that the age limit is quickly approaching and I’ve still got $20k in school loans I have to pay. Anybody know of a way around that, I’m all ears.
 
I am discerning a possible vocation to the religious life. I am 38 years old and the orders I have looked at thus far, to my surprise, have age requirements that render me too old. Does anyone know where I might find a complete list of religious orders for women who are older than 35 or that have no age requirement?
 
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4t1:
I am discerning a possible vocation to the religious life. I am 38 years old and the orders I have looked at thus far, to my surprise, have age requirements that render me too old. Does anyone know where I might find a complete list of religious orders for women who are older than 35 or that have no age requirement?
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The only religious orders that I know that may accept women over 35 is the Benedictines. I know for men, the upper range is anywhere from 40 - 55. It also varies congregation to congregation and abbey to abbey.

A very good sote that that lists the web sites of many relogious orders is: rosmini.org/order/.

I hope these help.

PF
 
You forgot to mention the vocations of sister (who are not nuns) and friar (who are not monks.)
 
I have a B.A. degree from The Citadel…and I am seriously considering Seminary…do I have to have a minimum GPA to get in…like Law School??? Do I need like a 3.7 or something? Also…what is the cost of Seminary and is ther any financial aid?

Also…what other things will bar me from going to Seminary?? Do I have to eliminate all debts? Because I have student loans LOL
 
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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?
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Tanais–you’re right. You’re not worthy. I’m not worthy, your local priests and bishops aren’t worthy. Even the pope is not worthy. The only one worthy of being a priest is the only real priest: Jesus Christ.

But God understands our plight and gives us the grace to overcome our own natures and our unworthiness. If “worthiness” was the only criterion then there would be no priests.

Don’t let your self-doubt stop you, since that’s exactly what Satan wants.
 
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dumspirospero:
I have a B.A. degree from The Citadel…and I am seriously considering Seminary…do I have to have a minimum GPA to get in…like Law School??? Do I need like a 3.7 or something? Also…what is the cost of Seminary and is ther any financial aid?

Also…what other things will bar me from going to Seminary?? Do I have to eliminate all debts? Because I have student loans LOL
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If you wish to enter the seminary as a seminarian rather than just a student working on a Masters degree you will need to be sponsored by a Bishop and most likely you will not be allowed to work.

So debt is an issue that needs to be discussed as well as money while you are in the seminary.

If you enter a religious order then debt is a bigger issue.

I believe your grades will matter as will classes you have taken. You need a good grounding in philosophy.
 
Sometimes I do wonder if I should become a monk. Only because I feel like I’m at my best and most holy when I am contemplative and simple. The priesthood crosses my mind from time to time, but my wretched sinful ways combined with my reserved nature seem to tell me no. But I feel such a strong desire to be married(and have children)…I just wonder if that’s my selfishness at work or if the married life is my true calling.

I applaud all of you who are honestly considering the religious life…you are an inspiration.
 
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michael8975:
Sometimes I do wonder if I should become a monk. Only because I feel like I’m at my best and most holy when I am contemplative and simple. The priesthood crosses my mind from time to time, but my wretched sinful ways combined with my reserved nature seem to tell me no. But I feel such a strong desire to be married(and have children)…I just wonder if that’s my selfishness at work or if the married life is my true calling.

I applaud all of you who are honestly considering the religious life…you are an inspiration.
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Michael:

Do not rule out the priesthood. All of us have temptation to sin. I am the same way when it comes to being reserved and I am considering a late vocation to the priesthood (my hometown diocese does allow late vocations).

What you need to do is talk to your the Pastor (or another priest). He will able to help you start the dissernment process or direct you to someone to help you.

In addition, try to find a spiritual director. He can help you with the dissernment process and will help you redirect you attention away from sin. Again, you Pastor may be able to help you there.

PF
 
I am strongly considering going FSSP. From everythign I read, they are in communion with the Church, unlike SSPX. I am spending the next couple of years eliminating all debts and evaluating my faith before making the decision, because I am still young. Can anyone offer any insight on FSSP…if they are in fact in communion with Rome? Does anyone know anything about their Seminary, besides what you can read on the internet? Any info at all would be helpful. Thank you very much.
 
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dumspirospero:
I am strongly considering going FSSP. From everythign I read, they are in communion with the Church, unlike SSPX. I am spending the next couple of years eliminating all debts and evaluating my faith before making the decision, because I am still young. Can anyone offer any insight on FSSP…if they are in fact in communion with Rome? Does anyone know anything about their Seminary, besides what you can read on the internet? Any info at all would be helpful. Thank you very much.
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dumspirospero:

The FSSP is in communion with Rome. Here is their web site:The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter The North American link has information on their seminary in Nebraska.

PF
 
Thanks Wander…that is what I thought…is there any on this board that knows about FSSP first hand…i.e., gone to Seminary there or know someone who has?
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WanderAimlessly:
dumspirospero:

The FSSP is in communion with Rome. Here is their web site:The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter The North American link has information on their seminary in Nebraska.

PF
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WanderAimlessly:
Michael:

Do not rule out the priesthood. All of us have temptation to sin. I am the same way when it comes to being reserved and I am considering a late vocation to the priesthood (my hometown diocese does allow late vocations).

What you need to do is talk to your the Pastor (or another priest). He will able to help you start the dissernment process or direct you to someone to help you.

In addition, try to find a spiritual director. He can help you with the dissernment process and will help you redirect you attention away from sin. Again, you Pastor may be able to help you there.

PF
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Thanks Wander. I am going to confession on Sunday, and will try to talk to my confessor about it then. Another problem is that I’m scrupulous…that might be my biggest problem. But I’ll leave that to my confessor to decide if that would be a “deal breaker” Finding a spirtual director has been tough…my current confessor offered his services, but I am looking for someone in the lay community who has more time to offer. I guess beggers can’t be choosers though 🙂
Thanks advice for your advice. God bless.
 
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michael8975:
Another problem is that I’m scrupulous…that might be my biggest problem. But I’ll leave that to my confessor to decide if that would be a “deal breaker” .
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michael:

If I remember right, St Therese of Lisieux had a problem with scruples too. :yup:

PF
 
I’ve recently started worrying about a vocation myself. But one of my chief sins and problems is I have a great deal of difficulty loving my fellow man and in seeing Christ in him. Feeling sympathy and not being selfish is very hard for me. There are many things about my current life I really don’t want to give up. I’m very independent and don’t take orders well. But I’m 41 and wonder what God wants of me. I’m finishing up RCIA and getting confirmed next month. Theology and scholarship and writing and apologetics fascinate me. But I can think of three reasons not to pursue a vocation for every one reason to do so. I’m to meet with my diocese’s head of vocations soon, and I’m scared to death about it.
 
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amarkich:
I have essentially finished discerning my vocation. I believe fully that I am called to be a priest. I absolutely detest the Protestant heresy, so it is a shame that was not born before the liturgical revolution, or I could have been a Jesuit (I do not think there is a need for me to give my reasoning that this is not the Order for me…). In any event, my only real options are the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter or a Traditional Latin Mass monastery (in this case, the abbot decides who will be a priest and who will be a brother). I have pretty much committed to the Fraternity, but I have to complete two years of college and be at least 19 years old (both of which I will fulfill in the next two years because I am in a joint-enrollment program where I can take college classes full time next year, my senior year). This is the only opportunity for me to be a parish priest who is non-diocesan (I could join the Institute of Christ the King or the Society of Saint John Cansius, which are also TLM Orders, but they can be told to say the NO Mass if there are priests lacking, so the Fraternity is my only way of assuring myself of being a parish priest and never saying a NO Mass). I suppose that I am happy with the fact that the choices are so narrow because there is no real, difficult decision to be made, so it is easier to focus on other endeavors (spiritual, theological, etc).
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The Institute of Christ the King says NO Masses? I’ve never heard of that
 
I am considering a vocation to the monastic life. I have visited two Benedictine abbeys. St. Peter’s in Saskatchewan and Christ in the Desert in New Mexico. I think I am called to the deeper life of prayer that I have seen at Christ in the Desert. though St. Peter’s is a wonderful abbey as well.
 
May God guide all who are diserning vocations! I will pray for you, and please pray for me too as I am diserning a call to be a Sister of Our Lady of Mercy.

God Bless!
 
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