Torn between the world & God

[Fortis_Fide]

For a long time,I have felt called to serve God but I have trouble staying committed to Him.I often sin against chastity,but often people tell me I’d make a good priest or ask me if I’d ever considered taking holy orders (once totally out of the blue!). I have a deep love of God & the Church and the beauty of the Mass is one of the things that made me become Catholic.I want to be a force for good in the world in terms of improving the lives of others,working for the public good.In short,I want to make the world a better place.In virtually every other area of my life I am strong against temptation,but my sex-drive is barely under control-at times it isn’t at all. Is it possible that I may have a vocation to the priesthood (or religious life)despite my lustful nature? How would you recommend an effective way of keeping myself free of lust?

 

[antunesaa]

Hi! It’s difficult to give advice, but at some point in my teens I had the same dilemma. I decided that I would not be a good priest because I just couldn’t stop falling in love with girls. I married and have been extravagantly happy ever since. Looking back I think I made a good decision, both for my family and for the Church. But even today, when I’m in Mass, my heart is on fire - I would really have liked to become a priest. I am persuaded that I would have been a fulfilled person had I made that decision.

 

[Cominghome89]

Don’t worry! Don’t let sexual sin distract you from your vocation. And remember, marriage requires quite a bit of chaste living as well.

The fact that you have a problem with one specific sin is not so bad, it will be easy to work on. Find a good spiritual director, and tell him right from the beginning that you feel called and have a struggle with sexual purity. Tell him you would like to meet frequently. This will give you an opportunity to confess frequently, and also to have a wise priest who can help you find ways to control yourself and lust, and also to find the causes as to why you do not have this under control. Having a priest that you can trust to help you through this and hold you accountable is a great way to overcome a sin. As Father Bill Casey heard from a good, old priest “I never saw a person with a habitual sin, who could not in the end overcome it with frequent confession and communion.”

There is always hope, and it starts with the desire that you have to stop sin. Have faith, no matter what God is calling you to, He will give you the grace to overcome this. I can’t recommend a good spiritual director enough. If you are uncomfortable with your parish priest, go to a few parishes and find a good, holy priest that you would be comfortable being honest with. Ask him if he is available for spiritual direction, and I’m sure you will find the right one for you. May God bless you in your journey closer to him!

In Christ and Our Blessed Mother,
Frank

 

[JTheresa]

I have to agree with Frank. Find a good spiritual director and try to work through your temptations. The devil will try to do anything he can to keep you from dong what God is calling you to do. And if God is calling you, He will give you the grace and the strength you need to overcome these temptations. You will have, with Gods help, won that battle and prepared yourself for the future that God has in store for you.

I’m so happy that you are consdering a priestly vocation!! If I were a guy I would totally become a priest. But I’m a girl, and obviously God has something else in store for me, so I’m going to be a Sister.

I’ll be praying for you and God bless!!