I've Been Thinking...

[PhuturePriest]

Well, it's been almost a year and a half of discerning the Religious life, and from the beginning I've been somewhat resistant to marriage. It was ironic, really. At first I wanted to be married and would've done anything to avoid being a Priest or a Religious, and when I wanted to be a Priest or Religious I would've done anything to avoid getting married. But now, it seems, I think I've opened my mind a little bit and I've taken marriage into consideration. I am still, of course, planning on going to Seminary, as I think this is what God really wants me to do, but there are some aspects of marriage that attract me and I've decided to keep my mind open. Thank you all for helping me to come to this decision.

[Slappo]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1338426866' post='2438269']
Thank you [s]all[/s] the171 for helping me to come to this decision.
[/quote]

Fixed

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Slappo' timestamp='1338427128' post='2438273']
Fixed
[/quote]

Hell hath no fury like the scorn of losing all your positive votes.

[IcePrincessKRS]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1338426866' post='2438269']
Well, it's been almost a year and a half of discerning the Religious life, and from the beginning I've been somewhat resistant to marriage. It was ironic, really. At first I wanted to be married and would've done anything to avoid being a Priest or a Religious, and when I wanted to be a Priest or Religious I would've done anything to avoid getting married. But now, it seems, I think I've opened my mind a little bit and I've taken marriage into consideration. I am still, of course, planning on going to Seminary, as I think this is what God really wants me to do, but there are some aspects of marriage that attract me and I've decided to keep my mind open. Thank you all for helping me to come to this decision.
[/quote]



Well, I was all set to make a joke about not hurting yourself, but then I read what you'd been thinking about. I think that's a very wise course of action. I applaud you for taking the time to look and listen and learn. Even if you do go into the seminary there are things about marriage and discerning that route that you should know about if and when you have to talk to your flock about it.

[the171]

Well, I guess it's out. I thought we were going to keep this on the down low until we discerned whether or not we were going to actually make that decision.

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Slappo' timestamp='1338427128' post='2438273']
Fixed
[/quote]

Joke as you may, she did help me to have an open mind.

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

AWWWWWWW

[PhuturePriest]

Well, huge gag on me as this may have been, I meant every word I said.

[BigJon16]

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QV674dsY0A[/media]

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='BigJon16' timestamp='1338433595' post='2438364']
[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QV674dsY0A[/media]
[/quote]

Yeah... You have your theories if you like.

[the171]

I am so sorry. I thought you knew it was a joke, FP.

Edited May 31, 2012 by the171

[Papist]

To really discern, you should detach yourself from the secular world and all its distractions.

[Jaime]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1338426866' post='2438269']
[s]Well, it's been almost a year and a half of discerning the Religious life, and from the beginning I've been somewhat resistant to marriage. It was ironic, really. At first I wanted to be married and would've done anything to avoid being a Priest or a Religious, and when I wanted to be a Priest or Religious I would've done anything to avoid getting married. But now, it seems, I think I've opened my mind a little bit and I've taken marriage into consideration. I am still, of course, planning on going to Seminary, as I think this is what God really wants me to do, but there are some aspects of marriage that attract me and I've decided to keep my mind open. Thank you all for helping me to come to this decision[/s]. A hot chick said hi to me.
[/quote]

fixed

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='jaime' timestamp='1338437066' post='2438451']
fixed
[/quote]

You know, perhaps if you were nicer people would take you seriously as a scholar.

Burn.

[Slappo]

[quote name='jaime' timestamp='1338437066' post='2438451']
fixed
[/quote]

[img]http://www.ranqit.com/u/20aafa92-e9fc-4b7d-a424-da9aa80339a0.jpg[/img]

It all makes so much sense now!

[Innocent]

Openness to the Holy Spirit is always a good thing. Good going, FuturePriest.

[kujo]

I don't think you should frame your discernment around avoiding one path in favor of another. Vocations don't work that way. If you've got some beef with marriage, that's sort of a separate issue. It's not a zero-sum game, here. You could be called to be a permanent deacon with a wife, or a consecrated single person, etc.

In any case, you're young, and your opinion on this will very likely vacillate over the next few years. When I was 15, I thought I was going to be a priest and was thrilled! When I was 18, I thought I was going to be a priest, and wasn't very enthusiastic about it. When I was 21, I met my fiancee, and that was sort of the end of the whole "I'm gonna be a priest" thing.

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='kujo' timestamp='1338442801' post='2438540']
I don't think you should frame your discernment around avoiding one path in favor of another. Vocations don't work that way. If you've got some beef with marriage, that's sort of a separate issue. It's not a zero-sum game, here. You could be called to be a permanent deacon with a wife, or a consecrated single person, etc.

In any case, you're young, and your opinion on this will very likely vacillate over the next few years. When I was 15, I thought I was going to be a priest and was thrilled! When I was 18, I thought I was going to be a priest, and wasn't very enthusiastic about it. When I was 21, I met my fiancee, and that was sort of the end of the whole "I'm gonna be a priest" thing.
[/quote]

Ha. I love your overview of your feelings on that.

As said, I've opened myself up to it. I'm starting to see the appeal in it, which I didn't used to see before. Plus, I love babies and children in general.

[kujo]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1338443650' post='2438543']
Ha. I love your overview of your feelings on that.

As said, I've opened myself up to it. I'm starting to see the appeal in it, which I didn't used to see before. Plus, I love babies and children in general.
[/quote]

At your age, you shouldn't be closed off to anything. Trust [color=#282828]me, so[/color][color=#282828]mewhere along the way, you're going to [/color][color=#282828]meet a girl that will totally knock your socks off. Of course, she won't want anything to do with a little snot-rag like you, but hey, she'll be there, and you'll be all "o[/color][color=#282828]mgsay what?! vocation?"[/color]

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='kujo' timestamp='1338443885' post='2438545']
At your age, you shouldn't be closed off to anything. Trust [color=#282828]me, so[/color][color=#282828]mewhere along the way, you're going to [/color][color=#282828]meet a girl that will totally knock your socks off. Of course, she won't want anything to do with a little snot-rag like you, but hey, she'll be there, and you'll be all "o[/color][color=#282828]mgsay what?! vocation?"[/color]
[/quote]

Phishy as you may be, you somehow have good advice. I'm trying my best to be open to everything. I suppose we sometimes get so zealous about things we shut everything out and focus on that one thing. Honestly, I needed to feel absolutely called to the Priesthood at the time. I was unwilling to do school, and as soon as I felt called I started studying like crazy. I'm to the point now where even if I decided it wasn't for me I would keep doing it, but I needed that initial zealousness. But, the time has past for zealousness and the time for true discernment has come.

Though I am wondering how you ever got a fiancee when you have nicknames for people you love like "snot-rag". It makes me wonder what you call your fiancee.

Edited May 31, 2012 by FuturePriest387