Thread for all discerning priesthood and for those already studying for priests

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About a week ago I met with my Bishop and he made it official. I’m a seminarian 👍 I start in January.
 
I’m 32 yrs old discerning the priesthood for over a year now. I have currently been challenge about this discernment. I meet someone whom I rather enjoy being with. She is a devout Catholic. Since I just meet her, she is just a friend. The problem is that I found myself completely attracted to her. Despite that, I still have the call for the priesthood, because I am not officially in a relationship with her. I am not married to her. I don’t know if this feeling is love because love is more than just feeling.
 
What do you think about this statement?

If you do not get accepted to a seminary it means that you do not have a vocation to priesthood.

Anyways, congratulations to you all. We need more vocations.

Two of my friends are applying this year so if I apply and get accepted next year (and they will end up in the same seminary - which they most likelly will) I will see them there. 🙂
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
What do you think about this statement?

If you do not get accepted to a seminary it means that you do not have a vocation to priesthood.

Anyways, congratulations to you all. We need more vocations.

Two of my friends are applying this year so if I apply and get accepted next year (and they will end up in the same seminary - which they most likelly will) I will see them there. 🙂
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If you are not accepted to the priesthood, your vocation is either married life or single life.
 
GandalfTheWhite said:
If you do not get accepted to a seminary it means that you do not have a vocation to priesthood.
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This is not necessarily true. Maybe the seminary you are applying to is not for you. Maybe instead of a diocesan priest you are supposed to be in a religious order or vice versa.
 
I am 15 and have been discerning my vocation for sometime. I have no interest in the married life and feel a pulling towards the priesthood. I have a spirtual director who I talk about this with and I love immersing myself in my faith.

My question is when I was younger, I was confused and didn’t really believe in the Church’s teachings. I also masturbated. I have confessed all this with a sincere heart and truely feel this calling. Should any of my past fallings mean I should not continue following this call?
 
LtPaint,

Past sins often are not an impediment to a priestly vocation, provided that there is sincere repentance, and a firm resolve to not continue in the sin. You only need to look as far as St. Paul: he persecuted the Church and killed Christians, yet he became an Apostle and a saint (and because of his role as Apostle, also a priest).

By all means, continue to pursue the calling! You mentioned that you have a spiritual director, I would recommend discussing these things with him, as I am sure that he will give you peace of mind about this.
 
And then there’s the example of St. Augustine…

You’re in good company, LtPaint!
 
I’m in Middle School, I have already confirmed my call to the priesthood, but now am discerning my call to the Franciscan Missonaries of the Eternal Word (EWTN brothers). I am praying for all of you guys in my next chaplet of divine mercy!
 
SacredHeartFan said:
I’m in Middle School, I have already confirmed my call to the priesthood, but now am discerning my call to the Franciscan Missonaries of the Eternal Word (EWTN brothers). I am praying for all of you guys in my next chaplet of divine mercy!
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I’m guessing you were an altar server?😉
 
Actually, no. I am trying but my pastor won’t set up a date for training. You might want to look at my thread about that.
 
SacredHeartFan said:
Actually, no. I am trying but my pastor won’t set up a date for training. You might want to look at my thread about that.
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Oh:o 😃

At my parish, altar servers are grades 4-8. I trace the beginning of my discernment to when I became an altar server.

Do you have a link, or will I have to look it up on my own?😉
 
Tim_Kirchoff said:
And then there’s the example of St. Augustine…

You’re in good company, LtPaint!
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That’s what I was thinking, but I just wanted to be sure. I’m reading Confessions at the moment and have read the Bible so I am aware of what St. Paul did.
My spirtual director is also usually the priest I do confessions with(My spirtual director is also the pastor), so he was already aware of said sins.

I’m wondering if a Diocese Priest would be a good spirtual director for a person considering joining a religious order. My spirtual director is extremely learned and spirtual, so I don’t think it will be a problem, but I was wondering if others would like to comment on this.
 
And You Are Christ’s: The Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life – Thomas Dubay

This book was (and continues to be) a great help in my discernment process. The Church desires that Her priests are celibate (latin rite). The Church, being Christ, has the authority to do so. It is important that one discerns this before tackling a lot of the other questions.

Though one who doesn’t have this charism won’t be called to be a latin rite priest, one who does discern the charism isn’t necessarily called to be a priest…

Great book.

I also can’t stress enough the importance of a spiritual director. Dubay has another book on this subject, though I haven’t read it.

peace,
Michael
 
Ok. I am 31. I felt called to the priesthood at a young age, and started talking with my priest about it when I was 23. Already by then I was a bad guy. I did alot of drugs and had alot of sex before and after that. In fact I never felt worthy of such a calling and figured I was mistaken. I told this to my priest and he said that told him that I WAS right for the priesthood. ? Anyways I eventually gave it up, but have always been bothered by that. So, my question is, and forgive me if it has been asked before; may I, being such a sinner and not anywhere close to chaste or sober (well, now, but not for most of my life) still pursue a vocation in the priesthood? I just can’t stop that nagging voice in the back of my head that tells me I belong! I watch the mass and I just love watching the priest. I love helping others and trying to serve the Church to the best of my ability. But maybe I’m just called to be a very active layman? idk. I would talk to the priest at my new parish but don’t know him very well- besides i sleep days so would not be able to schedule a meeting with him. Any thoughts?
 
jfallaw said:
Ok. I am 31. I felt called to the priesthood at a young age, and started talking with my priest about it when I was 23. Already by then I was a bad guy. I did alot of drugs and had alot of sex before and after that. In fact I never felt worthy of such a calling and figured I was mistaken. I told this to my priest and he said that told him that I WAS right for the priesthood. ? Anyways I eventually gave it up, but have always been bothered by that. So, my question is, and forgive me if it has been asked before; may I, being such a sinner and not anywhere close to chaste or sober (well, now, but not for most of my life) still pursue a vocation in the priesthood? I just can’t stop that nagging voice in the back of my head that tells me I belong! I watch the mass and I just love watching the priest. I love helping others and trying to serve the Church to the best of my ability. But maybe I’m just called to be a very active layman? idk. I would talk to the priest at my new parish but don’t know him very well- besides i sleep days so would not be able to schedule a meeting with him. Any thoughts?
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God Bless you for being able to give up your old ways. A lot of people aren’t that strong. Good for you.

No, it’s not too late to pursue a vocation, if you still feel called. If you’ve given up all those sinful acts, and there’s no other impediments (children, marriages, etc.), it’s still possible to become a priest. Some of our Church’s greatest saints did far worse things… St. Augustine lived a life of immorality for years, and he’s a doctor of the Church. St. Paul persecuted the first Christians, and went on to become one of the greatest of the apostles. It’s not too late.

If you don’t want to talk to your pastor, talk to another priest you know. If you don’t have any you can talk to, call your diocese or an order you might be interested in and ask for the vocation director. There’s plenty of people out there who can talk with you on this. Also, get a spiritual director; go to confession regularly; spend time in prayer, especially before the Blessed Sacrament.

God Bless you for considering a call. Don’t hesitate to post more questions!
 
I just want to thank you guys and let you all know that I’m prayin for you! I’ll be back to ost. (trust me!)
 
Timmay said:
God Bless you for being able to give up your old ways. A lot of people aren’t that strong. Good for you.

No, it’s not too late to pursue a vocation, if you still feel called. If you’ve given up all those sinful acts, and there’s no other impediments (children, marriages, etc.), it’s still possible to become a priest. Some of our Church’s greatest saints did far worse things… St. Augustine lived a life of immorality for years, and he’s a doctor of the Church. St. Paul persecuted the first Christians, and went on to become one of the greatest of the apostles. It’s not too late.

If you don’t want to talk to your pastor, talk to another priest you know. If you don’t have any you can talk to, call your diocese or an order you might be interested in and ask for the vocation director. There’s plenty of people out there who can talk with you on this. Also, get a spiritual director; go to confession regularly; spend time in prayer, especially before the Blessed Sacrament.

God Bless you for considering a call. Don’t hesitate to post more questions!
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Thank you! lol that siggy reminds me of my best friend, Kimmay!, a huge SP fan.
 
Hello Everyone! My name is Gabriel, I am 16 and I began my discernment of the priesthood last year. As my screen name implies I am thinking about joining the Society of Jesus. 😃 Anyways, I am really glad to have found this forum as I think it will be a great help to me and all of those involved. I know I will be praying for you!
 
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