Starting with Prayer

Simply stated, in order to determine whether priesthood is where God is leading you, you must begin with prayer. Your relationship with God in prayer and frequent participation in the sacraments not only nourishes your soul, but also provides some clarity as to what the Lord is asking of you.

Prayer is sometimes defined as being a heart-to-heart conversation with the Lord. It is in the context of prayer that we can have a genuine heartfelt dialogue with God. Like the bell towers of many of our rural Catholic Churches, we pull on that rope - we rely on prayer - in the hopes of receiving a sound response. However, God also tugs on our heart strings in order that we may respond. We believe that our prayer, at the very least, is heard. At the same time we must give God the assurance, at the very least, that we will listen. When we do, we learn that God leads our hearts to happiness, directs our minds to peace, plugs into our passions and invigorates our souls in service.

When a man considers the vocation to the priesthood, it is essential that he realize that this vocation is a Calling from God and not simply an act of personal faith expression or occupational ambition. Priesthood is not for the faint of heart. It most certainly is an inspired vocation with its unique struggles, but it also has its special rewards. Undoubtedly, priesthood is a vocation that is not only sustained, but also energized through prayer.

Discernment

Discernment is a process of taking steps forward. Discernment is a special form of prayer which ultimately helps people take those steps and come to make a final decision of whether or not to choose a particular vocation. Discernment toward a vocation to the priesthood always starts with and includes our relationship with God in prayer. However, it also includes the wisdom and guidance of the Church and those charged with the responsibility of forming priests.

To begin with, asking the deeper questions of life is a great segway to discernment. Once we realize that there is so much more beyond our “self”, we start to ponder:

• How can I make a difference with my life?
• What things do I hold as significant and have lasting value?
• How can I apply my gifts and talents for the good of all?
• To whom or to what do I wish to entrust my life?
• Where is God in all this?

Is this you?

Making good, sound decisions requires that we have enough information, time for reflection and advice from experienced people. Likewise, discernment includes acquiring information, taking time to soulfully understand it and do so under the direction of a trusted priest who can serve as a mentor or Spiritual Director. After that is done, we take the information which we have gathered and process it in order to determine the life path we are called to follow. 

When a man feels that the Lord is calling him to priesthood, he enters into a more formal discernment process where he receives additional information which may affirm that Calling or reveal to him that priesthood is not God’s will for him. This includes a series of meetings with the Director of Vocations to gather information for assessing men and their possible vocations. If a man possesses the basic qualities of a priest, and feels confident in the nature of his Calling to the priesthood, he is then presented to the Director of Seminarians for process of application and affiliation to the Archdiocese.

The next steps of formal discernment depend on the candidate’s level of education and whether or not he has fulfilled the academic requirements for entry into major theology (30 hours of Philosophy and 12 hours of Religious Studies). If he does not have those prerequisites, he will be invited to join the St. Pius X College Seminary Program at Loras College and may live at Vianney House, the house of formation.

Back to Home Page