Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
vocation dilemma part 2	Matt	Thursday, February 17, 2005
Question: Dear Brother, Thanks for answering my question, it gave me peace for the time being. Couple things I guess you should know: 1.) I'm actually 17 years old. Hope that's not too old to have a crush on a pop star :) . I'm sure you understand why I said I was 18, but hey, it's close enough right :) ? 2.) No matter what happens, I will be working for the Church in SOME way, whether it be apologist, deacon, or priest. 3.) I've been praying the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet everynight, asking God to reveal his vocation to me each time. So far, nothin, but I plan to continue. I told God that I wouldn't understand any signs that he sends, so just give it to me straight (nothin wrong with that is there?) I was wondering why it isn't a sin to reject Christ's call to the Priesthood. Wouldn't it be more like the story of Jonah? Anyway, thanks for your help and your prayers are still needed. -Matt
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Matt: Do not look for signs. God rarely will send obvious signs and to "give it to you straight" almost never happens. On reason for this, I think, has to do with faith. You need to exercise some faith that God will guide you without holding your hand. If you still feel interested in the Priesthood by the time you graduate high school, then visit your Vocations Director of your diocese. In the meantime you might want to check out the Vocations Information and Aptitude testing at the Institute for Religious Life website. Under the page title you will find three drop-down boxes. The middle one says, "Do I Have a Vocation". Go through the material in that section, including an aptitude test. As to your question, it is not sin to go in a different direction that what God may call because such callings are voluntary opportunities. God does not force anyone into the priesthood. He calls, and the person must decide one way or the other. Becoming a priest involves a lot more than God's perceived call. The Church must confirm that call or one will not be a priest. The Church does not make that confirmation of a person's call until after they have studied in school and been formed for around 6-8 years. You have plenty of time to find out if the priesthood is really for you or not. Your first step is to contact the Vocations Director of your diocese and to begin college. 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 part 2

Matt

Thursday, February 17, 2005

Question:

Dear Brother,

Thanks for answering my question, it gave me peace for the time being. Couple things I guess you should know:

1.) I'm actually 17 years old. Hope that's not too old to have a crush on a pop star :) . I'm sure you understand why I said I was 18, but hey, it's close enough right :) ?

2.) No matter what happens, I will be working for the Church in SOME way, whether it be apologist, deacon, or priest.

3.) I've been praying the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet everynight, asking God to reveal his vocation to me each time. So far, nothin, but I plan to continue. I told God that I wouldn't understand any signs that he sends, so just give it to me straight (nothin wrong with that is there?)

I was wondering why it isn't a sin to reject Christ's call to the Priesthood. Wouldn't it be more like the story of Jonah?

Anyway, thanks for your help and your prayers are still needed.

-Matt

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Matt:

Do not look for signs. God rarely will send obvious signs and to "give it to you straight" almost never happens.

On reason for this, I think, has to do with faith. You need to exercise some faith that God will guide you without holding your hand.

If you still feel interested in the Priesthood by the time you graduate high school, then visit your Vocations Director of your diocese.

In the meantime you might want to check out the Vocations Information and Aptitude testing at the Institute for Religious Life website. Under the page title you will find three drop-down boxes. The middle one says, "Do I Have a Vocation". Go through the material in that section, including an aptitude test.

As to your question, it is not sin to go in a different direction that what God may call because such callings are voluntary opportunities. God does not force anyone into the priesthood. He calls, and the person must decide one way or the other.

Becoming a priest involves a lot more than God's perceived call. The Church must confirm that call or one will not be a priest. The Church does not make that confirmation of a person's call until after they have studied in school and been formed for around 6-8 years.

You have plenty of time to find out if the priesthood is really for you or not.

Your first step is to contact the Vocations Director of your diocese and to begin college.

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