Me, a priest?

[pax]

I really need to get this off my chest.

Ever since I was 7 years old I thought I was supposed to become a priest. There was something about Mass on Sundays that always intrigued me (even though when I was that young I hated going), and something about the priesthood in particular that always struck me as something I wanted to do. It's been in the back of my mind and I never really started to tell people until this year. I was talking with one of my friends one night and I told her and I also did finally briefly mention it to my mother (who wasn't totally surprised). I'm really not sure what to do next, though.

Last Thursday I went to confession at a neighboring parish and the priest was very good to me. He always struck me as a good priest and I had gone to him for confession before, but only occasionally before Mass so it was a little rushed (he makes himself very easily accessible for confessions). During one day each month they have a Eucharistic adoration day and have confessions on the hour every hour. So I went in after Mass and he gave me some really good advice and then started talking to me about the priesthood. I was having doubts recently about my ability to pursue the priesthood because of problems I've been having recently with sin and temptations have been hitting me really hard. One night I really felt as though I was being attacked by the devil with doubts about my worthiness and my ability to live the life of a priest. Confession that day really helped put things in a better perspective and I thank God for compassionate priests. Unfortunately, the past few days I've been having problems praying. I don't like to rely on "feelings" too much in prayer, but I haven't been having any lately (which I know is normal, but it's really different for me). I've been getting really distracted in prayer and temptations have been flying at me left and right even when I'm at Mass or Adoration. It's really confusing and I seem to be getting mixed signals.

So basically what I think I'm getting at is, how do I know what God wants from me? Does anyone have any advice about discerning or pursuing a religious vocation? Is anyone else discerning?

Thanks,

Pax

Glory to Jesus Christ!

 

[Brother Simon]

Dear Brother,

Prayer prayer prayer! But I know you already know this. I think one of the most powerful tools of the devil to dissuade discerning priests from taking the path to the Priesthood of God is causing them to feel unworthy.

I know the devil uses this on me very often, and many times it can lead to depression. However, with the right mindset, confession, recieving the Eucharist, and prayer, our doubts can be put aside.

I feel an extremely strong discernment to the Priesthood, or maybe just as a lay religious brother, but even as strong as it is - I will continue to pray until the time comes for me to make an ultimate decision!

My advice is that if God, religion, theology, prayer, and the Church take up nearly 100% of your thoughts, that's normally a pretty good sign of where God wants your attention to be!

God Bless and Pax et Bonum!
Simon

 

[Brother Simon]

By the way pax, I just noticed that we're both the same age...sometime when I'm not too busy perhaps we could talk on instant messenger or something!

God Bless and Pax et Bonum!
Simon

 

[stray bullet]

The bible has a few things to say about patience

Don't worry about it. Things reveal themselves in time. If we were born with a card telling us what to do as adults, we'd be missing out on so much. I think with assurance can come a sense of arrogance.

Things from God need to come at the right time and place I believe. If someone told me at 17 I'd be Catholic, I would have laughed myself silly...

 

[stray bullet]

Or being told I'd be going to mass every week... or even worse, being told I would be going to confession!

You got plenty of time, just make sure you are open to what God wants.

 

[eightfoot514]

I also have felt a strong calling to the priesthood, however, I am a convert and the rest of my family didn't join the Church with me, and I sorta doubt they will. So, I also feel very called to ensure that the line of Catholics in my family doesn't end with me, but will continue forever when I have kids of my own. I sorta go back and forth on the issue, but I usually ultimately discern that my vocation is to the married life. I'm definately open to either though, and I'm not making any assumptions one way or another. I do know that my mom would be terribly sad if I decided to become a priest, so that is definately a large issue weighing on me. In all aspects, I would love to be a priest, but I'm just not sure it is my calling. But, I do remember some very inspiring words in the Gospel reading at daily Mass yesterday:

From Matthew 19:3-12 - Jesus answered, "Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

I felt as if those words were directed at me. But, for some reason I still suspect I am probably called to the married life, but like I said, I'm not ruling out the priesthood. It is definately a possibility.

 

[FullyMT]

Pax,

First of all with the distraction during prayer, Mass, and adoration, I've been going through a lot of that too lately! One thing that's helped with at least prayer and adoration is writing down my prayers in a book. It helps me concentrate more AND I can look back at what I've written and pray the same prayers again at another time (very helpful when spontaneous prayers come to mind). During Mass, if you find yourself distracted by random thoughts or anything else, I suggest saying a quick prayer to Jesus to help you concentrate on hearing His words during the Mass. Not much else I can advicese on that...
As to the priesthood, bro, be patient and keep praying as you've been praying. God will over time take away our faults and mold us to His will if we let Him. Also, God will let you know what He wants of you in His time, so remain patient and alert.
I'll edit in the link to the Discernment Room for everyone here
http://christianforums.com/t77156

 

[geocajun]

Pax, I will remember you and your vocation in my prayers.
As to your struggles with prayer; you should know it is completely normal, and you need to be particularly patient with yourself concerning prayer. You will grow from this experience.
For the tempations you are suffering, remember to stop each time you feel a temptation, and cross yourself, or say a hail mary, or bless yourself with holy water. Whatever you do now to help resist temptation, step it up a notch. Let satan know you will call upon God to help you resist him.
Remember, tomorrow being the feast of the Assumption of Mary is a great oppurtunity for you to thank God for the example of Mary, and help you bring back into focus the purpose of your own life; that is, your own assumption into heaven.
God bless you.

 

[Atomagenesis]

Ask St. Therese to send you a rose if you are suppose to become a priest, continue to pray about it, she sent me one.

St. Therese the Little Flower
Please pick me a rose from the heavenly garden
and send it to me with a message of love
ask God to grant me teh favor I thee implore
and tell him I will love him each day more and more
(say request)
then pray 5 Our Father's, 5 Hail Mary's, and 5 Glory Be's before 11a.m. on 5 consecutive days.

It works, it did for me.

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

Pax, I will remember you and your vocation in my prayers.
As to your struggles with prayer; you should know it is completely normal, and you need to be particularly patient with yourself concerning prayer. You will grow from this experience.
For the tempations you are suffering, remember to stop each time you feel a temptation, and cross yourself, or say a hail mary, or bless yourself with holy water. Whatever you do now to help resist temptation, step it up a notch. Let satan know you will call upon God to help you resist him.
Remember, tomorrow being the feast of the Assumption of Mary is a great oppurtunity for you to thank God for the example of Mary, and help you bring back into focus the purpose of your own life; that is, your own assumption into heaven.
God bless you.

Pax,

The above is all good advice, and I would like to add something to that list. If you are being tempted to do something selfish, then fight that temptation of selfishness by fighting it with love. At the moment you feel tempted get up and do something for somebody else, and if you are in a place that doesn't allow you to do something for somebody else, then pray for somebody that is on your heart.

I find that when I am tempted by things, love kills it in an instance. Love is the antithesis of sin and selfishness.

As St. Therese of Lisieux said, "At every moment do what love requires."

Additionally, I will pray for you and your vocation, may you grow in this time of trials and challenges.

 

[Brother Simon]

To add on to what proud2bcatholic suggested about fighting temptations with love, which is -excellent- advice, I always think about all the children out there being aborted day after day and planning my next pro-life action. It really helps me to forget myself and focus my attention on something worthy.

God Bless and Pax et Bonum!
Simon

 

[ej]

keep praying and working on it

I always suspected (and hoped) my brother would join the Priesthood. He was bursting to become an alterboy for years until he was allowed, and he used to come home from Mass on Sundays and give Mass in the garden to his toys, using raisins as Eucharist.

He's now (age 24) in the army, and also swimming profesionally. I wonder whether he'll ever realise the hopes he had as a boy.

 

[pax]

Thank you guys for all the responses and prayers, they really help.

 

[Markh]

eightfoot514-

As a priest you will have the oppertunity to ensure that many famies have Catholics in them...that's the way I see it.

 

[eightfoot514]

This is true. There is an emerging vocation crisis. I think the current average age for a priest is about 60 now...so mathematically, we're going to have an even larger problem in the next decade or so.

 

[frettr00]

Ask St. Therese to send you a rose if you are suppose to become a priest, continue to pray about it, she sent me one.

St. Therese the Little Flower
Please pick me a rose from the heavenly garden
and send it to me with a message of love
ask God to grant me teh favor I thee implore
and tell him I will love him each day more and more
(say request)
then pray 5 Our Father's, 5 Hail Mary's, and 5 Glory Be's before 11a.m. on 5 consecutive days.

It works, it did for me.

So does that work for a Deacon too?

 

[Brother Simon]

I'm not quite sure I understand what kind of "rose" a person is supposed to recieve. I think I'm overlooking the obvious.


God Bless and Pax et Bonum!
Simon

 

[Rising_Suns]

Peace be with you Pax,

The very fact that you even have these desires is one of the biggest signs you will get. Don't let your frustrations with your weaknesses deter you from a vocation that God may be calling you to. I'd suggest you go to this website below and order the free tape; "Myths and Misconceptions regarding Vocations". You can also hear part of the tapes streamed directly from that page.


http://www.religiouslife.com/free_tape.phtml

God be with you on your journey,
-Davide

 

[Rising_Suns]

This is true. There is an emerging vocation crisis. I think the current average age for a priest is about 60 now...so mathematically, we're going to have an even larger problem in the next decade or so.

Wow. That is quite shocking to say the least. Are these statistics from/confirmed by the Vatican?

 

[DevotedFollower]

You will be in my prayers Pax, Our Parish Preist has asked our parish to make one day a month extra to come to daily mass, and for this to be expecially for asking for God to show this light of preisthood to those chosen as if it keeps going the way it is there will be very very few priest's in the years to come, this is a great idea I think and hopefully it works.