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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Possible Vocation	Marie	Thursday, October 7, 2004
Question: Dear Br. Ignatius Mary, My 13 yr old son recently confided that he thinks he may have a vocation to the priesthood or religious. life. He does not want me telling anyone. Typical to being a boy, he does not really want to talk about it. He just wanted to tell me. I am not sure where to go from here. I want to encourage him to discern this, but do not want to push him one way or the other? The past 4 yrs, we have gone on some type of pilgrimage or retreat. He attends Catholic grammar school, goes to Mass and confession, lately, monthly, and is an altar server. I am not entirely surprised. He’s the kind of kid who prays the rosary on the bus nearly every afternoon. He asks me to pray it! He enjoys adoration. This past weekend, I took him to Catholic Underground, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and instead of hanging out with some new acquaintances we met on family retreat, he went upstairs to the Church to go to confession. That priest asked him if he had considered a vocation to the priesthood and suggested a book to read. Anyway, on the way home, my son said he felt great after confession. Then, he made his confession to me, which just like the real sacrament, I now have to keep secret. A few people over the past couple of years have suggested he may have a vocation. But, I don’t know. Should it come from a desire in him, not something someone else suggests? A few other factors come to my mind. I am a single parent, he is an only child. His father is absent. My father and brother are very involved in his life, but are not the best influence. I don’t want him to mistake a vocation for what could simply be approval or affirmation from a man, with the power of the priesthood. I am not trying to be critical of the priest or his intentions, but instead want to be conscious of everything. What do you think? Looking forward to your response and grateful for your work. -Marie
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Marie: I would advise praying for your son's vocation of course and encouraging him in any way you can. Encouragement can come in the form of letting him go to retreats, visit shrines, become a altar boy, facilitate his desire for daily Mass, etc. Just be supportive and encouraging -- not pushing him into these things, but supportive when he expresses a desire for these devotions and activities. There is plenty of time for him to discern if the priesthood is what God is calling him to do or not. In addition, you need to encourage your son to be a normal teenager too. He needs to experience something of the world before separating from the world in Holy Orders or religious life. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Possible Vocation

Marie

Thursday, October 7, 2004

Question:

Dear Br. Ignatius Mary,

My 13 yr old son recently confided that he thinks he may have a vocation to the priesthood or religious. life. He does not want me telling anyone. Typical to being a boy, he does not really want to talk about it. He just wanted to tell me. I am not sure where to go from here. I want to encourage him to discern this, but do not want to push him one way or the other? The past 4 yrs, we have gone on some type of pilgrimage or retreat. He attends Catholic grammar school, goes to Mass and confession, lately, monthly, and is an altar server. I am not entirely surprised. He’s the kind of kid who prays the rosary on the bus nearly every afternoon. He asks me to pray it! He enjoys adoration. This past weekend, I took him to Catholic Underground, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and instead of hanging out with some new acquaintances we met on family retreat, he went upstairs to the Church to go to confession. That priest asked him if he had considered a vocation to the priesthood and suggested a book to read. Anyway, on the way home, my son said he felt great after confession. Then, he made his confession to me, which just like the real sacrament, I now have to keep secret.

A few people over the past couple of years have suggested he may have a vocation. But, I don’t know. Should it come from a desire in him, not something someone else suggests? A few other factors come to my mind. I am a single parent, he is an only child. His father is absent. My father and brother are very involved in his life, but are not the best influence. I don’t want him to mistake a vocation for what could simply be approval or affirmation from a man, with the power of the priesthood. I am not trying to be critical of the priest or his intentions, but instead want to be conscious of everything.

What do you think? Looking forward to your response and grateful for your work. -Marie

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Marie:

I would advise praying for your son's vocation of course and encouraging him in any way you can.

Encouragement can come in the form of letting him go to retreats, visit shrines, become a altar boy, facilitate his desire for daily Mass, etc. Just be supportive and encouraging -- not pushing him into these things, but supportive when he expresses a desire for these devotions and activities.

There is plenty of time for him to discern if the priesthood is what God is calling him to do or not.

In addition, you need to encourage your son to be a normal teenager too. He needs to experience something of the world before separating from the world in Holy Orders or religious life.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum