When people tell me that I should become a priest, is it wrong if I feel insulted?

[lufty]

You might want to take a deeper look at your anime obsession (if you indeed have an obsession). Otaku, in the Japanese culture translates into an obsession with a popular media artform.

From your profile, and previous posts, Japanese anime seems to be something you are interested in. While I like allot of anime out there, referring to ones self as *“otaku” *seems extreme. Any obsession, regardless of the subject matter, isn’t really healthy.

As human beings, and from an artistic viewpoint, having a well rounded appreciation of all art is beneficial to the artist. Working in a major art university here in the US, I’ve seen students who focus on one type of art form, and they typically fail to move on within the industry of their interest, particularly in animation. Individual style is actually the most important factor in the animation business these days.

Anyhow, hope that helps.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I have a feeling you perception of priests is not for who they really are. They are most certainly not robots, but for some reason people like to view them as such.

Somehow I feel the fact that they are traditionally stereotyped to be quite holy might play a part in that. :\

Some may think that but it is not the truth.

Some orders and seminaries may wish to mold a candidate into a mold but most are not like that.

Really? I’ve always had a different impression whenever I read people’s posts when they desire for a religious vocation.

Again, your understanding of the priesthood (and most likely religious life) is very naive.

Um, this is just a little pet peeve of mine. I’m not naive. Naive would be the complete opposite of how I view the priesthood. If anything, you should call me biased cuz my take on vocations is quite negative.

You might want to take a deeper look at your anime obsession (if you indeed have an obsession). Otaku, in the Japanese culture translates into an obsession with a popular media artform.

From your profile, and previous posts, Japanese anime seems to be something you are interested in. While I like allot of anime out there, referring to ones self as *“otaku” *seems extreme. Any obsession, regardless of the subject matter, isn’t really healthy.

There are actually two definitions of otaku. Those inside Japan and those outside. It’s really an issue of international semantics. For example, when people say ninja outside Japan, it’s actually quite different from the historical ninja.

The same with otaku. As far as people outside Japan are concerned, anybody who takes anime beyond watching it amongst Saturday morning cartoons is pretty much an otaku.

Inside Japan, it’s considered a degrading term. Still, who knows? Maybe even there, it could change.

Besides, the only thing I’m obsessed with is getting ideas for my own anime-inspired stories. I’m currently on a writer’s hiatus right now and I hate it!! DX

As human beings, and from an artistic viewpoint, having a well rounded appreciation of all art is beneficial to the artist. Working in a major art university here in the US, I’ve seen students who focus on one type of art form, and they typically fail to move on within the industry of their interest, particularly in animation. Individual style is actually the most important factor in the animation business these days.

Actually, I’m more of a story person (words are my art not pictures ) so I’m not exactly in agreement with you in trying to make a style as different as possible. I’ve seen people attempt to “deviate” and create something “original”… the result is something I find so hideous, I’d be more than happy to stick to generic.

Personally, if the design is cool and the characters are cute, it’s enough for me. I’d pick you as my illustrator any day over some overpaid, overrated “original” artist who draws his/her characters like they jumped out of a Picasso painting (I mean sure Picasso’s good but his modern art style is not what I see when I imagine my characters >_>;; ).

 

[carm_bro]

Hello,

Speaking as a Brother, I would personally not be insulted if someone thought I should be a priest. However, if it were to come from the same person repeatedly and I repeatedly asserted my contentment to remain a Brother, then I would begin to get annoyed, and if I could establish somehow (I know I probably couldn’t though unless they vocally expressed a disdain for the brotherhood.) that the person were belittling the vocation of Brotherhood, then I may begin to feel insulted.

Like others have expressed here, it is important that one follow the vocation they have from God, not a vocation imposed or projected on us by others.

 

[JReducation]

Allow me to jump in here and speak to the point between the OP and ByCath regarding the “mold”. There may be a problem of semantics here. Religious life is a school that molds an individual in the perfection of charity according to its mission and vision, unlike the married state or the secular seminary where the individual molds himself according to his vision and mission. In that respect the members of a religious family do assimilate and accommodate to a mold. It’s called a way of life. A Carmelite is going to be different from a Franciscan or a Jesuit, as it should be. The vision and mission of each family is a unique gift of the Holy Spirit given to the Church for its sanctification and for the sanctification its members.

This kind of molding is very different from the popular use of the term mold. Within each religious family the brothers and sisters retain their unique personalities and gifts. They voluntarily place these at the service of the mission and vision of the religious family. In other words, we are not clones of each other.

There are religious families that have very strong bonds to their founder. The Franciscans are an excellent example of this. Among us there is a strong love for Francis of Assisi and a bond that can be called filial. We are his spiritual sons and daughters. Like all good sons and daughters we look to our father for guidance on how to live the Gospel. We try the best we can to imitate his evangelical perfection. Another way of looking at it is this. Francis is the teacher, the master in Evangelical perfection. Therefore, we freely choose to follow the Gospel in his manner. We show great devotion to him and he is consulted by the individual Franciscan and the entire order as we move along the spiritual journey. This fidelity is necessary to preserve the charism.

Other religious families have similar bonds to their founders. Another good example is the Missionaries of Charity, men and women. Bl. Mother Teresa is their guide. They mold their lives and mission according to her vision. If they lose sight of her vision, then they become something other than what the Holy Spirit intended to give the Church.

But this kind of molding does not violate the individual, because God only calls people who can freely assimilate the charism of the founder and who can adapt to it. He does not call those who do not have the gift to live according to the spirit that he gave the original founder. That would be a violation of human freedom. God never violates human freedom.

One of the serious problems that many religious communities are facing is that they have placed so much emphasis on individuality and freedom, that the brothers or sisters have lost sight of the origins of their religious family. They have become individuals living in some amorphous state that is neither religious nor secular. While the diocesan priesthood and religious life do not oppose individuality, by necessity, there must always be an order that guides the life and work of the person.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[JReducation]

Hello,

Speaking as a Brother, I would personally not be insulted if someone thought I should be a priest. However, if it were to come from the same person repeatedly and I repeatedly asserted my contentment to remain a Brother, then I would begin to get annoyed, and if I could establish somehow (I know I probably couldn’t though unless they vocally expressed a disdain for the brotherhood.) that the person were belittling the vocation of Brotherhood, then I may begin to feel insulted.

Like others have expressed here, it is important that one follow the vocation they have from God, not a vocation imposed or projected on us by others.

This is an aside, but a rather interesting one. In my congregation we call everyone Brother, except the superior. He is always called Father, because we follow the ancient Franciscan tradition where all the friars were called Brother, except Francis who was called Father.

We often get comments like, “Why don’t you become a priest?” or “Why is he called Father and he’s not a priest and he’s called Brother and he’s a priest?” It has proven a wonderful way of helping the laity understand that a vocation to the consecrated life is autonomous from a vocation to Holy Orders. Most people believe that all priests are consecrated religious and that all religious men are priests or worse, that religious men who are not priests “didn’t go all the way.” They don’t understand that the consecrated religious is God’s gift to the Church and the gift is complete and perfect as it is, just as the diocesan or secular priest is a gift to the Church and is complete and perfect as it is, without the addition of the vows and the religious life. I find this question to be an opportunity for good catechesis, not one that is annoying in the least.

I have never met anyone with a contempt for non-clerical religious men or brothers as some communities call them. But I have found that Catholics tend to be minimalistic when it comes to religious men. The Orthodox have a much greater appreciation for the religious life without Holy Orders than Roman Catholics. The only explanation that I can come up with is that Western Society is much more service oriented. People are often valued by what they give us, not by how they live. Clerics (deacons, priests and bishops) provide sacraments, run parishes and perform other necessary ministries. They are often looked at as being more important to the laity. This is not the way that the Church looks at it. But most people do not know this, because most people are not familiar with the great religious families, the Desert Fathers and Mothers or with the ancient religious traditions such as the Carmelites, Benedictines and Basilians who were the progenitors of the consecrated life dedicated to the perfection of charity, obedience and contemplative prayer.

We should use these opportunities to help people understand that the Holy Spirit has vested the Church with many gifts and each of us is given the gift that best serves God’s plan for salvation.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[carm_bro]

I think you are right Bro. JR. I have not met anyone either with an active contempt for non-ordained religious men, but many through no fault of their own, just do not know what to make of the whole thing. I totally understand it, but hopefully we can be part of the hopefully new trend whereby people become accustomed to seeing male non-ordained religious, and actually understand who they are (most important) and also what they do.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Allow me to jump in here and speak to the point between the OP and ByCath regarding the “mold”. There may be a problem of semantics here. Religious life is a school that molds an individual in the perfection of charity according to its mission and vision, unlike the married state or the secular seminary where the individual molds himself according to his vision and mission. In that respect the members of a religious family do assimilate and accommodate to a mold. It’s called a way of life. A Carmelite is going to be different from a Franciscan or a Jesuit, as it should be. The vision and mission of each family is a unique gift of the Holy Spirit given to the Church for its sanctification and for the sanctification its members.

You know, that’s exactly the reason why I feel like I’m being called to marriage. Just like good 'ol Captain Jack from PotC, I’m a man who seriously values his freedom. I’d like to grow as a person and walk on my own path in life (and eventually share it with that special someone ). I find it more independent and individualistic compared to religious life (not that you can’t completely be an individual if you’re religious but I hope you know what I mean).

There are religious families that have very strong bonds to their founder. The Franciscans are an excellent example of this. Among us there is a strong love for Francis of Assisi and a bond that can be called filial. We are his spiritual sons and daughters. Like all good sons and daughters we look to our father for guidance on how to live the Gospel. We try the best we can to imitate his evangelical perfection. Another way of looking at it is this. Francis is the teacher, the master in Evangelical perfection. Therefore, we freely choose to follow the Gospel in his manner. We show great devotion to him and he is consulted by the individual Franciscan and the entire order as we move along the spiritual journey. This fidelity is necessary to preserve the charism.

Other religious families have similar bonds to their founders. Another good example is the Missionaries of Charity, men and women. Bl. Mother Teresa is their guide. They mold their lives and mission according to her vision. If they lose sight of her vision, then they become something other than what the Holy Spirit intended to give the Church.

But this kind of molding does not violate the individual, because God only calls people who can freely assimilate the charism of the founder and who can adapt to it. He does not call those who do not have the gift to live according to the spirit that he gave the original founder. That would be a violation of human freedom. God never violates human freedom.

I guess this makes me even more less likely to have such a calling. I am neither a kind evangelist like St. Francis nor am I a charity worker like Mother Teresa. Nor would I freely desire to assimilate myself along their lines (not that they’re bad but… well… it’s just not me). Like I said, I may have one part of me that I hate but that’s just a persistent tiny bug in my personality. Other than that, I like who I am and I don’t wanna change that.

Besides, I’m pretty entrenched up to my chest in pop culture (seeing as I’m trying to be a writer and plan on making a career out of it ). I’ve realized that casual religious folks can be too but it seems to be only up to the knee.

One of the serious problems that many religious communities are facing is that they have placed so much emphasis on individuality and freedom, that the brothers or sisters have lost sight of the origins of their religious family. They have become individuals living in some amorphous state that is neither religious nor secular. While the diocesan priesthood and religious life do not oppose individuality, by necessity, there must always be an order that guides the life and work of the person.

Whoa man, that really sucks.
What’s wrong with those people? If they didn’t want rules why’d they join? I mean people really should think hard about whether or not they’re cut out for a life walking their own road or aspire to follow the road of some of Christ’s dignified servants.

Neither road is better than the other but that doesn’t mean you can choose something in between.

 

[JReducation]

You know, that’s exactly the reason why I feel like I’m being called to marriage. Just like good 'ol Captain Jack from PotC, I’m a man who seriously values his freedom. I’d like to grow as a person and walk on my own path in life (and eventually share it with that special someone ). I find it more independent and individualistic compared to religious life (not that you can’t completely be an individual if you’re religious but I hope you know what I mean).

I guess this makes me even more less likely to have such a calling. I am neither a kind evangelist like St. Francis nor am I a charity worker like Mother Teresa. Nor would I freely desire to assimilate myself along their lines (not that they’re bad but… well… it’s just not me). Like I said, I may have one part of me that I hate but that’s just a persistent tiny bug in my personality. Other than that, I like who I am and I don’t wanna change that.

Besides, I’m pretty entrenched up to my chest in pop culture (seeing as I’m trying to be a writer and plan on making a career out of it ). I’ve realized that casual religious folks can be too but it seems to be only up to the knee.

Whoa man, that really sucks.
What’s wrong with those people? If they didn’t want rules why’d they join? I mean people really should think hard about whether or not they’re cut out for a life walking their own road or aspire to follow the road of some of Christ’s dignified servants.

Neither road is better than the other but that doesn’t mean you can choose something in between.

No one is saying that you should become a priest or a religious. You, like me, are called to holiness. What you are called to mold yourself to is to the person of Christ. There are many ways to do that.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Ferds_Guiang]

Hi Lost Wanderer. Im also from the Philippines and guess what I’m a dispensed priest. Was in the ministry for almost 12 years and have no regrets. Why did I resign? Well Im writing a book about it and believe me there’s no simple black and white answer to that question. But I still believe that You CAN determine through prayer, spiritual direction and discernment if you truly have a calling. Also your inclinations to the opposite sex can be a clue whether you have a gift of celibacy which comes with the ordained ministry. You’re very young and there’s no rush my friend. I’ve had contemporaries who were in their 40s before they truly realized they were called to the priesthood. God bless kabayan!

 

[Hater_free]

That assumption would be wrong. I am honored that these people believe that I am spiritually, emotionally, and morally pious enough.

I do not believe that I deserve such an honor but it does appear to be where God is calling me and one of the first way I knew this was through such people.

I am sorry but I just do not see how I could ever feel insulted when someone pays me a compliment, especially one that I do not deserve.

I see what your saying but at the same time that is your personal perspective based from your personal dealings with people and personal experiences.I think that understanding should come into play with this subject as well as others because one has to ponder the what and why of which someone would be offended by someone telling them they need to be a priest,nun or what have you.For me I would wonder what the people around that person are like,what the environment is like,ect. These things play a part in that. I do know too that for one to insult another person they don’t have to necessarily be straight forward by calling that person a derogatory name or making an obviously offensive remark.Some people insult with a more subtle approach.

I personally have had people say that I should become one too and some try to pressure it on me.I don’t take it personal depending on the intention of the individual saying it.Some I knew where saying it with the best of intentions while some(because of how they carried themselves and previous dealings with them) would say it and stuff related to the topic and their intentions where strictly from left field.Either way I made it clear that it wasn’t my calling and for the one’s who tried to pressure it on me I told them to let God be the one to tell me and not to impose their personal will on me.

Funny things,at least to me,about people like that is that when one challenges them to take on their own advice or suggestions they’re the first to cop out,make some type of excuse,and ect. I have strong respect for the role of Holy Orders and it’s for God to choose who He wills to fill those shoes.As we all know there are some individuals in the Holy Orders that shouldn’t really be there(the weeds).God has a will and calling for all of us but some choose their own instead.

To the OP,you are in my prayers and I wanna say please don’t let the critics and the modern day Pharisees and Sadducees get you down and hinder you from coming closer to God. I can relate to your story and one thing you gotta do is forgive those that wronged you. Easier said than done I know but it must be done so you can be free from that bondage. God bless and keep your head up!!!

 

[JReducation]

One of our local bishops told me that I should be ordained. I told my superior and he said, “I don’t think so. You’re definitely called to do theology and serve the vulnerable, not priestly ministry.”

I was not offended by the bishop. In fact, I admire him very much. He’s a very holy man. He was mistaken. My superior confirmed that. But it’s very kind of him to say this.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF