Why?

[Benedict]

I have struggled with the same thing.

I am one of those people who is willing and able to do whatever to help out and I came from a parish that ends every mass with a prayer for vocations.

I still feel an urge to become a priest in order to help but my reflections on the priesthood lead me to believe that that is not where my gifts were intended.

[Paladin D]

[quote name='Benedict' date='Jan 4 2005, 04:59 PM'] I still feel an urge to become a priest in order to help but my reflections on the priesthood lead me to believe that that is not where my gifts were intended. [/quote]
That's what I've been thinking, many of my talents wouldn't be as effective if I were in the priesthood. It would probally be do-able, but very limited.

[cathqat]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Jan 4 2005, 02:55 PM'] It shocks me how many people just couldn't care less about thier children's spiritual upbringing. [/quote]
What's really weird to me is that some do seem to care, but only in a really vague way.

I used to teach CCD, for example, in a small-town parish, for example. There were about 7 to 8 kids in my 3rd-5th grade group. None of their parents ever went to Mass, nor took their children to Mass. They just dropped the kids off [i]after[/i] Mass for CCD.

[karin]

When I first felt called to be a nun i didnt tell people because my peers (not my friends) made it seem like being a nun or a priest was sort of shameful embarrassing. Like you were a freak not to be associated with if you did stuff like that. I am of course telling everyone now (it is hard to tell my non catholic friends) actually me and my friends are the only ones who know our prayers or care to learn anything in ccd its just not cool i guess to know your faith.
I think the rates have dropped because everyone in todays society are to pushed when they are young to go out and date and make out and love money and be very worldly. In todays society if you didnt get good catholic teachings in your family and didnt have good catholic upbringing, then you dont think about being a nun or priest because you will be made fun of and persecuted (i know i speak from experience) by your own friends, so you just push it out of your mind and emmerse yourself in whats "popular" at the time.

I dont know if any of this makes sense guys but i hope you get the jist of what i am trying to say.

God Bless
Karin

[Socrates]

For me personally, one of the strongest witnesses to the Faith was a friend I had who became a cloistered nun. She was a very attractive, good-looking woman, and could probably pretty much have any man she wanted. Earlier in her life, she was not a bad girl, but didn't act particularly different than anyone else. But before she entered the convent, there was a noticable change about her, a certain joy and charity and a holiness you could almost feel. She did not seem bitter towards the world and seemed quite happy about her choice to join the convent.

This was weird because her behavior did not make any sense at all from a worldly perspective, or from a psychological perspective. However, it spoke louder than any verbal argument about the Faith.

So don't worry about being "weird" - this can be a powerful witness that people will respect.