My name I chose to keep private but I’m 21 years old, I am from the Madison, WI diocese. I’ve discerned the priest hood for four years now, I discerned hard for two years and just as it picked up I decided it was not my calling, due to outside forces, hence the reason for the deciding to have a confidential name. But as God usually does, if you’ll listen, he has communicated to me to rethink my decision. I’ve come to the idea that that’s what I should be searching again. With my ability to forgive with such ease and love for all people help push me in that direction. As I read the bible more I see myself in it a lot, mainly the 1st 2nd and 3rd John, also elsewhere, the good things and the bad. The thing is my faith in God and our relationship is so great and so strong that at times I find it not so much a necessity to know the bible inside out. Also, I am a Roman Catholic, but I don’t always agree with the ritual of church. However, much I understand but some I disagree with. I’ve come to find out that it varies from Catholic Church to Catholic Church. It even varies from priest to priest in the same church. I just don’t understand why some Catholics are stuck in the past. I mean I get why they would put up an alter rail, but to send that message to the congregation, that they aren’t holy enough to enter the area where Jesus is held (the alter), I find very hurtful. But anyway, I feel to learn anything about my faith is a necessity to understanding some of the crazy things we crazy Catholics do. I think we’ve got everything right, but we need to understand that there is nothing wrong with accepting other peoples ideas of having the possibility of being right also. I mean we aren’t God. No one is greater than the Father. The pope is a very holy man, whom I respect very much, but I wouldn’t bow to him, as he is just another human with a lot more experience. Yes, most likely he is more holy than I am, but he doesn’t know God like I know him and I don’t have the same understanding as he. The pope making infallible statements (only like 3) seems hard to believe. He is not God, he is human only God is infallible. Also another concept I’ve been struggling with is, if man is fallible and man wrote the bible not God. Then how do we know the bible is always infallible. I understand it was divinely inspired, but inspired or not, God gave us free will, thus making us vulnerable to the earthly world around us. I desperately need some help, I’m getting it from my spiritual director and two priests who are very good friends of mine. But I could use as much as I can get, someone please comment.
The pope is the head of the Church, placed there by the Holy Spirits work though the conclave that selected him. So he is God’s man.
The pope is only infallible when he speaks on faith and morals in a specific way, when he does so he is protected from error by the action of the Holy Spirit, by God.
If you have issues “bowing” before a man then you are most likely not called to be a priest as part of being a priest is the promise of obedience to the Church and your bishop.
The best place to seek the help you want is from your spiritual director. Any help you get on the internet should not replace that as this is an anonymous place and we do not know you like your spiritual director does.
