Too act rashly or improve one's prayer life, that is the question

[89ARIES]

As much as I feel a pull towards marriage, my relationships were all disasters.
I am too burned out, or too proudful, or self-conscious and cowardly to even consider another courtship right now. I can’t help feeling a coldness towards women now, yes, I have issues. Plus, I need to make more money. I have sometimes felt a “pull” towards priesthood, even though I really want to have a family. I love little kids. This all comes from a spiritually confused person working to discern God’s will. Compelling emotions for becoming a priest (probably not good reasons):

1. Escape the financial problems.
2. Escape the stress of having anything to do with women.
3. Escape the stress of family members in a chaotic business.
4. Break loose of any material possessions.
5. Basically, it just seems I’d be a lot less stressed and happier as a priest,
   unless someone put a gun to my head.
6. Feeling like acting rashly and applying to the seminary immediately, boom or
   bust, cause I will know THEN what my vocation is as it still isn’t crystal clear to me at 31.
   Not passing seminary training would be proove.
7. The family business needs me, hhmm? Am I that indispensable? I guess I do some good for those who need to be saved from the IRS.

Pray for me. Thanks.

 

[Jenny35]

As much as I feel a pull towards marriage, my relationships were all disasters.
I am too burned out, or too proudful, or self-conscious and cowardly to even consider another courtship right now. I can’t help feeling a coldness towards women now, yes, I have issues. Plus, I need to make more money. I have sometimes felt a “pull” towards priesthood, even though I really want to have a family. I love little kids. This all comes from a spiritually confused person working to discern God’s will. Compelling emotions for becoming a priest (probably not good reasons):

1. Escape the financial problems.
2. Escape the stress of having anything to do with women.
3. Escape the stress of family members in a chaotic business.
4. Break loose of any material possessions.
5. Basically, it just seems I’d be a lot less stressed and happier as a priest,
   unless someone put a gun to my head.
6. Feeling like acting rashly and applying to the seminary immediately, boom or
   bust, cause I will know THEN what my vocation is as it still isn’t crystal clear to me at 31.
   Not passing seminary training would be proove.
7. The family business needs me, hhmm? Am I that indispensable? I guess I do some good for those who need to be saved from the IRS.

Pray for me. Thanks.

Not sure what your impressions of a priest’s life are exactly, but using the priesthood as a form of escapism from real life is not a good reason to become a priest. It’s a very stressful (though rewarding) calling that requires a great deal of patience, emotional stability, and time. I am sorry that you are having trouble in your life right now. In regards to romantic relationships, the best ones often happen when we are not “looking”. Work on yourself and figure out what makes you happy. I will pray for you.

 

[underacloud]

1. Break loose of any material possessions.

This is the only positive reason you’ve listed in favour of your desire to enter the priesthood. The rest are negative reasons…running away from problems.

You should enter the priesthood in response to a perceived calling from God, not merely because your life seems devoid of another calling or seems too hard generally. As Jenny35 points out, the priesthood is very challenging, so you’d only be swapping one set of troubles for another set…in fact many other sets as you take on the burdens of other people.

So definitely, for now, focus on prayer. If you are meant for the priesthood, it is through prayer that God will reveal this to you and make His calling known. You are still a young man, so be patient…whatever your eventual calling is…priesthood, marriage, family, other…you will find that the practice of patience is always important.