Fiat

An internet newsletter from the Joliet Diocese Vocation Office

 

Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.

December 2004

Why do men want to become priests today?

 by Father John Regan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


WANTED: 

Doctor of Souls

* Spiritual Leadership

* Compassionate Presence

* Sacramental Ministry

                         

Consider the Priesthood …

Answer the Call

 

To find out more join the

Priesthood Discernment Group

 

Next Meeting on

Monday, December 13

  

Topics:  Priestly Support, Conscious Celibacy,

The Pastor and his Parish

 

Contact: 

Father John Regan Joliet Diocese Vocation Director

402 S. Independence Blvd.

Romeoville, IL  60446

(815) 834-4004

frjohnr@aol.com

www.vocations.com

 

 

   On Holy Thursday we celebrate the institution of two sacraments by Christ, the Eucharist and the Priesthood.  These two sacraments are intimately connected.  Priesthood exists for the sacramental life of the Church, especially for the celebration of Eucharist, and Eucharist depends on the priesthood.  It would seem in an era when the importance of Eucharist is felt, that the importance of the priesthood should also follow.  If we love the Eucharist, we should promote priestly vocations. 

           

   As vocation director, a common question I often hear is “Why do men want to become priests today?”  There is no single answer to that question, just as there is no single age or stage of life when men respond to the call.  There is a personal nature to each man’s call to follow the Lord in a priestly way.  There are, however, some common elements to the call. 

 

   Many young men today are attracted to the priesthood because of the sacramental role of the priest in the Church today.  They are simply intrigued by the ministry of the priest.  They have a desire to fulfill the age-old mission of the priest, to bring people to God and bring God to people.  There is something unique about the priest in his ability to consecrate the Eucharist, offer absolution of sins in Penance, bring healing through the Anointing of the Sick, and celebrate the presence of Christ in the significant human experiences of birth, marriage, and death.  Many are drawn to the priesthood today out of a desire to be another Christ in the midst of a world in need of healing and compassion. 

 

   Another common element of the call is the example of priests that they know and who know them.  Priesthood remains a noble and important calling in the minds and hearts of most Catholics today.  They see how hard we work, the commitment we have, the sacrifice we offer, and the difference we make.  They know that the vast majority of us have been true to our commitments and have served the Church faithfully.  Many men coming forward today want to help the Church grow and flourish.  They know their pastors and see the value of their lives and ministry and want to give their lives for a similar cause.  They want more out of life than what the world seems to give.  Seeing faithful priests care for their people makes priesthood more doable for them.  They want to give themselves to a noble cause and a life of deeper meaning in service as a priest. 

 

   Several candidates have pointed to the importance of Eucharist in their lives, both in the celebration of the Mass as well as in Eucharistic adoration and devotion.  Most are involved in liturgical ministries, and many have been involved in parishes where adoration in encouraged.  Adoration is a regular part of our monthly discernment groups now, and all of our seminaries have increased the amount of time for daily adoration.   Young men who love the Eucharist cannot help but at least consider priestly life as an option for themselves. 

 

   Some consider priesthood today because of a love of the Holy Father and a fidelity to the teachings of the Church.  The magnetic personal attraction Pope John Paul II has had with young people is well documented.  They see him as the witness to hope and a courageous light that they want to follow.  Some young men describe a lack of clear teaching of the faith in their religious education and a desire for more understanding of the Church’s teaching.  There is a renewed appreciation of apologetics in many candidates for priesthood and a desire to defend and bring others to the Catholic faith. 

 

   Almost all candidates will point out that they considered priesthood because someone invited them to.  When I was a senior in high school, my pastor said to me after Mass one Saturday afternoon, “John, if you ever think about being a priest, I think you would be good.”  That’s all he said, nothing more, but it was enough.  I wasn’t ready to respond yet, but the seed was planted.  It is great when a priest asks a man in the parish to consider following the path of service he has trod, but that seems to become more difficult as time goes on.  It takes perseverance in a priest to ask a young man to consider priesthood and not take his negative responses personally.  The invitation, however, does not have to come from a priest.  Sometimes it is more effectively given by a parent, a teacher, a coach, a friend, and even a stranger.  Some of our candidates have said that a stranger in their parish came up to them and asked, “Are you thinking of becoming a priest?”  These invitations have had a powerful influence on our future priests. 

 

   This list of reasons of why men are considering priesthood is different today than from a generation ago.  The world in which we live is different from a generation ago.  What remains constant is the fact that it is the Lord who calls.  The means of the call and the ways that the call are listened to may vary, but it is the same Lord who called Peter and Andrew, Benedict and Scholastica, Francis and Clare, Teresa of Calcutta and John Paul II, who calls us to follow Him today.  What unites priests of various generations and our candidates today is not why they are responding to the call to priesthood.  We are united by the one we are responding to, Jesus Christ, the one we are committing our lives to.  

 

 Merry Christmas from the Joliet Diocese Seminarians

and the Joliet Diocese Vocation Office.

                                                            

May Christ be born anew

in your lives this Season

and may the coming year

bring you many of God’s choicest blessings!

 

Vocation FAQs:

How smart do I have to be to be a seminarian?

Diocesan seminarians should have above average intelligence and above average grades. They don't need to be geniuses, but they have to be able to do well academically in college. Sometimes men struggle with math and sciences and do very well in English and history. That's okay, because some fields are more critical than others. Many seminaries also provide special help for students who have certain learning disorders, such as dyslexia. Most seminaries have a very supportive learning environment that helps each student excel to their capacity.

How important is prayer in your life?

Because we have chosen a way of life which says by its very nature that God is most important, prayer has a central role in our lives. Prayer is communication with the Lord whom we love and is as necessary for us as communication is for any two persons who expect their relationship to continue. Can you imagine having a best friend (or husband or wife) to whom you never spoke?

Since prayer is so important, most priests spend approximately two hours a day in prayer; part of that time with others, at Mass and in common oral prayer; part alone, in reading and quiet attentiveness. One of the main benefits of prayer is that it makes us more sensitive to God's activity in the people, events and circumstances of daily life.

 

Qualities Desired in a Candidate For Priesthood

 

Discerning Priesthood in College

He is:

1. One who considers a personal relationship with God as an important and vital part of life.

2. One who has an ability and willingness to talk about his faith and experience of God in his life.

3. One who has a desire to serve others and make a difference in people's lives.

4.  One who is willing to sacrifice personal or material gain for the service of the Gospel and the Church.

5. One who is recognized as being approachable.

6. One who enjoys life, people, and has a sense of humor.

7. One who has the ability to lead and work with people of all ages.

8. One who recognizes the importance of the Church and the role of the Church as teacher.

9. One who forms and maintains healthy relationships with both men and women.

10. One who feels good about himself, has average to above average intelligence, and has good physical, mental and emotional health.

 

 

There is no “one time” in life that God calls people to consider priestly life.  Men experience the call at different ages and stages of life.  One common time when people sense the invitation to priesthood very powerfully is during the college years.  It’s a natural, human time of discernment when decisions about careers and relationships are in the forefront of life.  It’s also a time of further discovery of self, of learning more about who we are as persons. 

  It is also natural, then, for people of faith, to approach these questions of identity and purpose from the perspective of faith.  Sometimes people feel the call as a continuation of what they felt in high school.  It’s a persistent tug on the heart to think about priesthood that doesn’t go away.  

  Some experience the call anew after several years of having not thought much about priesthood.  They might have been attracted to priesthood when they served Mass in grade school.  They might have felt God’s invitation when they were involved in a Confirmation service experience.  But other things in life, such as dating and material things, may have taken on greater importance, and priesthood was seemingly left behind.  As college life carries on, though, the chosen field of study may lose its appeal.  The social scene on many college campuses leads some to realize that there must be more to life than worldly pleasures and pursuits.  Sometimes the call to priesthood is reinforced by some kind of campus ministry involvement.

  Still others have their initial thoughts of priesthood while they are in college.  A retreat experience, a service or mission trip, involvement in some liturgical ministry on campus, late night conversations about issues of faith, lead some men to recognize the gifts that they have for helping people and leading people to Christ.  These serve as the starting and confirming points of a priestly call. 

   If you are a college student and the idea of priesthood is growing stronger in your heart and mind, this may indicate that God is truly calling you.

   What should you do now? Here are some places to start.            

  • Go to mass frequently, perhaps daily
  • Develop a regular prayer life
  • Receive reconciliation at least monthly
  • Talk with a priest
  • Visit a seminary with some friends. Check out what seminary life is all about. Note the quality of the men there.

                                                                       

 

                                                                                          

Discernment Prayer

Gracious God,
I have seen the great work that others have done
by saying "YES" to your call. 
I see how your hand has worked
through them in our world.

Help me to also say "YES" to your call,
and give me the strength and courage
to joyfully go wherever that call may lead me.

Amen.

 

Thoughts on Priestly Celibacy from the Holy Father

An excerpt from Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way!

by Pope John Paul II

Book Cover                                                                                              

   It is important to point out that there are profound theological reasons supporting the discipline on celibacy.  The encyclical Sacedotalis Caelibatus, published in 1967 by my venerable predecessor Pope Paul VI, synthesizes them as follows (cf. nn. 19-34).

 

·         First and foremost there is a Christological motivation: as Mediator between the Father and the human race, Christ remained celibate so as to dedicate Himself totally to the service of God and men.  Those whose fortune it is to share in the dignity and mission of Christ are called to share also in this total gift of self.

 

·         Then there is an ecclesiological motivation:  Christ loved the Church, offering Himself entirely for her sake, in order to make her a glorious, holy, and immaculate Spouse.  By choosing celibacy, the sacred ministers themselves manifest the virginal love of Christ for the Church, drawing forth the supernatural vigor of spiritual fruitfulness.

 

·         Finally there is an eschatalogical motivation:  at the resurrection of the dead, Jesus said, “they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven” (Matt 22:30).  Priestly celibacy proclaims the arrival of a new dawn of salvation, and in a way it anticipates the fulfillment of the kingdom as it sets forth its supreme values that will one day shine forth in all the children of God. 

 

Pages 141-142

 

 

Want to learn more about your talents and gifts?

Take the Story of My Life guide online at www.vocations.com/story.html

The Story of My Life is a ready-made way for you to describe yourself - your background, experience, expertise, goals for life, thoughts about leadership, and understanding of God.  Think about the possibility that you have been asked to write a book about the kind of person you are. What are some of the thoughts about yourself, becoming a leader, your spirituality and life itself that you might include in this book?  When you complete this online instrument, results will be shared with you immediately. 

 

Previous Fiat Newsletters

The Fiat internet newsletter is published by the Joliet Diocese Vocation Office, Father John Regan, Director.  Please send suggestions for future issues to frjohnr@aol.com.

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