S
SomeCatholicGuy
Guest
I just wanted to share this story. I had been contemplating the priestly vocation for a short while, not seriously, because I’ve always felt that I was being called to marriage.
One day coming home on the subway from an evening Bible study - and buying a gift for a lady friend, a homeless man got on the train and sat right next to me. He said he just got out of prison and asked people for money. At first I was afraid, then I remembered that in a book that I had just finished reading, the author, who is a priest, was the prison chaplain right after his novitiate and he had been afraid at first when ministering to gang members and prisoners, but eventually he had become grateful for the experience, and it helped him in his vocation. After that thought, I promptly took out my wallet and gave the man money.
He was very grateful, and kept thanking me. He asked me if I was a father and whether I had any kids, to which I said no. He kept talking to me, and I said “God bless you.” He asked me again if I was a father. Again I said no. He finally asked me again, are you sure you’re not a father? I said I’m sure a third time.
In all, he asked me if I’m a father three times, and I said no each of those times. I probably didn’t realize this at the time, but in retrospect, I believe he may have meant if I was a priest. Finally one day, it hit me. I can see now that this man was a messenger from God, who asked me whether I was called to the priesthood.
I have not seen him again, but I’m grateful to him, for being the messenger of God. To all those out there who are discerning your vocation, I just wanted to say that God will let you know in good time what He wants for you, and all you have to do is listen.
God bless you!
One day coming home on the subway from an evening Bible study - and buying a gift for a lady friend, a homeless man got on the train and sat right next to me. He said he just got out of prison and asked people for money. At first I was afraid, then I remembered that in a book that I had just finished reading, the author, who is a priest, was the prison chaplain right after his novitiate and he had been afraid at first when ministering to gang members and prisoners, but eventually he had become grateful for the experience, and it helped him in his vocation. After that thought, I promptly took out my wallet and gave the man money.
He was very grateful, and kept thanking me. He asked me if I was a father and whether I had any kids, to which I said no. He kept talking to me, and I said “God bless you.” He asked me again if I was a father. Again I said no. He finally asked me again, are you sure you’re not a father? I said I’m sure a third time.
In all, he asked me if I’m a father three times, and I said no each of those times. I probably didn’t realize this at the time, but in retrospect, I believe he may have meant if I was a priest. Finally one day, it hit me. I can see now that this man was a messenger from God, who asked me whether I was called to the priesthood.
I have not seen him again, but I’m grateful to him, for being the messenger of God. To all those out there who are discerning your vocation, I just wanted to say that God will let you know in good time what He wants for you, and all you have to do is listen.
God bless you!
I thought about this direction as well instead of the opposite.