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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
vocation dilemma...	Matt	Monday, February 14, 2005
Question: Dear Brother, I am having a difficult time trying to understand what my vocation is. For about a year or so, I felt like it was bending more towards the Priesthood. I felt like that was my calling until about a month ago. I'm just gonna be perfectly honest here. This is going to sound really dumb but here it goes: the reason my vocation seems to be fading is because I'm becoming more and more attracted to Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the first American Idol. Done laughing? Hopefully this is just a phase or whatever, but it's killin me and I'm starting to realize that maybe I'm not as ready to accept the Priesthood as I thought. Now I don't even know if I'm called , so prayer is increasing, which I know is the first step. But do you have any other suggestions? Also, what if I was called to be a priest afterall, but I got married and joined into the Permanent Diconate instead? Would I be automatically damned? I'm lost here. I've had some priests tell me that the priesthood isn't for me, and others telling me it's just natural to be attracted to women and it won't be the last time I am, married or celibate. Sorry, I know I'm all over the place here. I know what I want to say, it's just kinda hard to put into words. Pray for me Brother. -Matt
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Matt: We will certainly pray for your vocation. We are all human beings. Sexual thoughts or thoughts of marriage are normal and to be expected from time to time. Even priests who have been priests for years can have these thoughts. For someone like yourself who is considering the Priesthood, such thoughts are quite normal. It is like a version of "cold feet" just before the wedding. In addition, it is common for Satan to try to tempt people who are just about to make a commitment to the priesthood or religious life. Just before I took vows I had two women, from out of nowhere, come on to me. I am have not the kind of guy women "come on" to, so this was quite a surprise, and a temptation. But, given I was about to take vows in a couple of weeks, it was obvious what was happening -- a little demonic temptation. Now, getting a crush on Miss Clarkson might show some immaturity (I am assuming you are a young man. If you are older, then there is a different problem ;) ), but the formation of a priest will be around eight years. There is plenty of time for growing in psychological and spiritual maturity and to test whether or not you are really called to the Priesthood. The Permanent Diaconate is not available to you unless you are 35 or older. If you end up marrying when God was calling you to the Priesthood, God will respect your decision. We all have a choice. It is not a sin. You have the choice to sit in any of the following "chairs": 1) to continue to pursue the priesthood, or 2) pursue marriage and then later pursue the diaconate, or 3) pursue marriage and the normal secular life, or 4) pursue the religious life, or 5) pursue the single secular life. These are the chairs you may sit in. Just sit in one. If you sit in the wrong chair, God will let you know. There is always plenty of time before making final "vows" to find out you are in the wrong chair. As for the temptations of thoughts about women, the best thing, after prayer, is to avoid the near occasion of sin. So STOP watching "American Idol" :) 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

vocation dilemma...

Matt

Monday, February 14, 2005

Question:

Dear Brother,

I am having a difficult time trying to understand what my vocation is. For about a year or so, I felt like it was bending more towards the Priesthood. I felt like that was my calling until about a month ago.

I'm just gonna be perfectly honest here. This is going to sound really dumb but here it goes: the reason my vocation seems to be fading is because I'm becoming more and more attracted to Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the first American Idol. Done laughing?

Hopefully this is just a phase or whatever, but it's killin me and I'm starting to realize that maybe I'm not as ready to accept the Priesthood as I thought. Now I don't even know if I'm called , so prayer is increasing, which I know is the first step. But do you have any other suggestions?

Also, what if I was called to be a priest afterall, but I got married and joined into the Permanent Diconate instead? Would I be automatically damned? I'm lost here.

I've had some priests tell me that the priesthood isn't for me, and others telling me it's just natural to be attracted to women and it won't be the last time I am, married or celibate.

Sorry, I know I'm all over the place here. I know what I want to say, it's just kinda hard to put into words. Pray for me Brother.

-Matt

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Matt:

We will certainly pray for your vocation.

We are all human beings. Sexual thoughts or thoughts of marriage are normal and to be expected from time to time. Even priests who have been priests for years can have these thoughts.

For someone like yourself who is considering the Priesthood, such thoughts are quite normal. It is like a version of "cold feet" just before the wedding.

In addition, it is common for Satan to try to tempt people who are just about to make a commitment to the priesthood or religious life.

Just before I took vows I had two women, from out of nowhere, come on to me. I am have not the kind of guy women "come on" to, so this was quite a surprise, and a temptation. But, given I was about to take vows in a couple of weeks, it was obvious what was happening -- a little demonic temptation.

Now, getting a crush on Miss Clarkson might show some immaturity (I am assuming you are a young man. If you are older, then there is a different problem ;) ), but the formation of a priest will be around eight years. There is plenty of time for growing in psychological and spiritual maturity and to test whether or not you are really called to the Priesthood.

The Permanent Diaconate is not available to you unless you are 35 or older. If you end up marrying when God was calling you to the Priesthood, God will respect your decision. We all have a choice. It is not a sin.

You have the choice to sit in any of the following "chairs":

1) to continue to pursue the priesthood, or
2) pursue marriage and then later pursue the diaconate, or
3) pursue marriage and the normal secular life, or
4) pursue the religious life, or
5) pursue the single secular life.

These are the chairs you may sit in. Just sit in one. If you sit in the wrong chair, God will let you know. There is always plenty of time before making final "vows" to find out you are in the wrong chair.

As for the temptations of thoughts about women, the best thing, after prayer, is to avoid the near occasion of sin. So STOP watching "American Idol" :)

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