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DL82
Guest
Happy Easter everybody!
This is the theme taken up by Christifideles Laici, which I’m reading at the moment. At the same time, I wonder whether it’s also a call, in the current vocations crisis, for more than that.
There are some who have the talent for the priesthood and the desire for it, and their call is pretty certain, and they often make awesome priests.
There are some who have the talent and feel the call even though they don’t really want to. The power of their self-sacrifice often makes them amazing priests too, and a great example to all.
There are some who don’t seem to have the normal ‘gifts’ but feel the call and want it. Their act of will and awareness of their own weaknesses often makes them powerful and joyful priests, and they bring unusual talents into the Church.
What if you have neither the natural talent for the priesthood, nor the desire to be a priest. What if, like the people hanging around the marketplace at the 11th hour, the ones nobody really wanted to hire, and that were probably quite happy not being hired for that matter, what if, in the present vocations crisis, God is also saying to them (i.e. to me) ‘Well, there’s still work to be done, and there’s nobody else here, so you also go’?
I’ve often thought I might be called to be a lay brother, but have never considered the possibility of being a priest. I know my own weaknesses, and particularly the need of priests to have family support, being a convert and an only child, I know I’d need the support of a Religious order, there’s no way I could cope as a diocesan priest on my own in a parish. All the same, I’m beginning to give it consideration.
Is it wrong to think that a call could come in this way? God deserves the best, but it doesn’t seem like the best are listening. Maybe I’ll do instead. Or maybe it’s my job to go out into the world, in my role as an academic in the world of education and politics, to build societal structures that will lead the best again to heed the call. Or maybe that’s just me making excuses.
Really could use your advice.
Thanks all.
Surreximus Dominus vere, alleluia, alleluia!
This is the theme taken up by Christifideles Laici, which I’m reading at the moment. At the same time, I wonder whether it’s also a call, in the current vocations crisis, for more than that.
There are some who have the talent for the priesthood and the desire for it, and their call is pretty certain, and they often make awesome priests.
There are some who have the talent and feel the call even though they don’t really want to. The power of their self-sacrifice often makes them amazing priests too, and a great example to all.
There are some who don’t seem to have the normal ‘gifts’ but feel the call and want it. Their act of will and awareness of their own weaknesses often makes them powerful and joyful priests, and they bring unusual talents into the Church.
What if you have neither the natural talent for the priesthood, nor the desire to be a priest. What if, like the people hanging around the marketplace at the 11th hour, the ones nobody really wanted to hire, and that were probably quite happy not being hired for that matter, what if, in the present vocations crisis, God is also saying to them (i.e. to me) ‘Well, there’s still work to be done, and there’s nobody else here, so you also go’?
I’ve often thought I might be called to be a lay brother, but have never considered the possibility of being a priest. I know my own weaknesses, and particularly the need of priests to have family support, being a convert and an only child, I know I’d need the support of a Religious order, there’s no way I could cope as a diocesan priest on my own in a parish. All the same, I’m beginning to give it consideration.
Is it wrong to think that a call could come in this way? God deserves the best, but it doesn’t seem like the best are listening. Maybe I’ll do instead. Or maybe it’s my job to go out into the world, in my role as an academic in the world of education and politics, to build societal structures that will lead the best again to heed the call. Or maybe that’s just me making excuses.
Really could use your advice.
Thanks all.
Surreximus Dominus vere, alleluia, alleluia!