Celibacy isn’t just about “not having sex.” There’s an aspect of celibacy that is more important for a man to consider when discerning the priesthood: the inclination to natural fatherhood. Healthy men usually have a natural inclination to want...
There are lots of charming Catholic women who want to get married to a good Catholic man. The problem is, when a man feels called to marriage, all these women go into hiding. But when a young man begins to discern a vocation to the priesthood, lots of wonderful...
Ask most seminarians, and they can remember the precise moment when they told their parents they felt called to the priesthood. Some received overwhelming support right away. Some encountered raised eyebrows. And some found themselves having to defend their decision...
“How I long for a poor Church for the poor!” Pope Francis voiced this urgent desire shortly after his election, and much of his papacy has been devoted to encouraging the Church to live Christian poverty. But what exactly is Christian poverty? The Holy Father...
God is calling you to be a missionary. He is calling you to leave behind what may be familiar to you and boldly proclaim the Gospel to everyone you meet. But He may be calling you to do this without going anywhere! This is because every Catholic is called to bring the...
When people think of strength, of manliness, of courage, how likely is it that they think of the example of a saint? Holiness and virtue are frequently maligned by common opinion, but that certainly doesn’t mean that a saint is weak, or ignorant, or that he has...
Sometimes God speaks to us most clearly when we do the wrong thing. This is especially true in vocation discernment. Of course, “the wrong thing” here doesn’t refer to something that’s morally wrong. Rather, we’re talking about making a choice which...
“Without question, I have spent more time helping Carla than any other person during my priesthood,” says Fr. Joe Hirsch, a priest from Wisconsin. “I remember the first time I saw her. I was working as a high school chaplain, and saw a timid 14-year-old girl nearly...
As part of discerning your vocation, meditate on this powerful passage from British archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville. If you are wondering what to do with your life, if you feel you want to do something really great with it, if you don’t want to fall into a...
For years, Jacob has thought about being a priest. Sometimes it has been just a passing thought. A few times, especially during Mass, it’s been a very strong attraction. And sometimes — especially when he is dating — the thought seems to be altogether absent. Jacob’s...
The way to perfect happiness is by giving up the pursuit of happiness. While this is not the conventional wisdom of the world, it is a staple of Christian spirituality. Ask most people you meet what makes them really happy and you’ll probably get answers like...
“You can forget the past, but it will never forget you.” When discerning your vocation, it’s essential to deal with wounds from your past that may be keeping you from moving toward God’s will for your life. Past events can be damaging even...
Consider this remarkable statement: “The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator.” CCC #1603 That’s a strong statement. It makes it sound as if everyone is called to the vocation...
“No two days are alike,” say many priests when speaking of their day-to-day work. Ask an older priest to reflect on the history of his priestly ministry, and the likelihood is that you’re in for an interesting story. Because priesthood is a vocation, not a job, the...
Nobody is called to do nothing with his life! God calls everyone to a specific vocation. And while discerning your vocation takes time, and can often be difficult, rest assured that God is not calling anyone to perpetual indecision. It might be easy to confuse the...
In 1966, when the bloody Vietnam War was raging, Fr. Vincent Capodanno volunteered for service as a United States Navy Chaplain serving with the U.S. Marines. His mission was to minister to soldiers on the battlefront—an assignment that cost him his life. Born on...
St. Teresa of Jesus said that a good spiritual director is one who combines spirituality and learning. So you’ve been working hard to live as faithfully as you can, receiving the sacraments, and especially going to confession regularly. You are doing what is...
“If you don’t change direction, you’ll end up where you’re heading.” ~Chinese proverb Failure to Launch was the title of a popular movie a few years ago about a shiftless young man with no direction in life. The term “launch” in the movie’s title is used by...
What can the words of the Mass teach us about the priesthood? Plenty, says Msgr. James Moroney, a liturgical scholar who has traveled the country preparing priests to understand and celebrate Mass better. “The liturgy itself tells us who the priest is,” explains Msgr....
If you wanted to be a journalist, it would make sense to talk to someone who works at a newspaper. If you wanted to be a chef, it would make sense to talk to someone who works at a restaurant. Just so, if you feel an attraction to the priesthood, sooner or later you...
