Guess who might be called to be a priest?

[magnificat]

Mel,

I think that perhaps you're confusing the general call to holiness that we have (via Baptism) and the call to a specific vocation. And trying to attain perfect holiness does last a lifetime...with perhaps the exception of the saints.

Perhapse what PCPA2be was trying to say is that we do have a choice because of our free will...there really is nothing to stop us from being married or being a religious. But if that's not God's call for us, then we are falling short of attaining the "maximum" holiness that we could attempt to attain. Not to say that we couldn't be a decent or even good spouse or religious, but that God's vocational call for each of us is the unique path to holiness for each of us.

So you're right, God doesn't impose his will on us, yet discernment is not the same as picking out what shirt to wear or what to have for dinner. As you said, God HAS called us and continues to call us...to a SPECIFIC vocation. Discernment is the process of being open and hearing the Spirit leading us to knowledge of what that vocation is.

[HisChild]

Thank you, Magnificat, for that post, and for clarifying what I was trying to say. You were most eloquent and articulate.

God bless you.

[HisChild]

double post. Mea Culpa!

Edited March 27, 2006 by PCPA2Be

[TheresaMF]

Slightly different topic . . .

Hi Randall! Tonight I happened across the story of another Randall who responded to God's call to the priesthood in the Dominican order's [url="http://www.op-stjoseph.org"]Eastern Province[/url]: [url="http://www.op-stjoseph.org/Students/profiles/sullivanprofile.htm"]Br. Ezra Sullivan, O.P.[/url] (Ezra is his religious name.) Just thought I'd pass that on. God bless and Our Lady keep you!

+TMF

[Funky_R]

Wow! Lots of things have been going on here!

PCPA2Be, your posts have been very helpful, as well as everyone else's. I wish I had something to update with, but I don't. Not much has happened, but God's sense of time is different from ours, so it could be a day, or a week, who knows? But I hope to get in contact with some people this week, I'll let y'all know as it progresses.

Good to know I've got support from everyone.

God Bless,
Randall

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

[quote name='Funky_R' date='Mar 24 2006, 07:59 PM']Dear pham:

    However this will be difficult, because I am going to still be attracted to girls, just as I will throughout the rest of my life. So doing this will also test my ability to remain celibate. But personally, this is not being easy. I'm pretty much giving up any oppourtunity to find my spouse, to just listen to God and find out if he means for me to take another path.
Thanks,
Randall
[right][snapback]921354[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]


Boy you are so lucky, i wish i had a community like this to help me out...

A friend of mine entered the jesuits a year before i entered the augustinians. I made the decision not to date two years prior to entering. He didnt have a long period like that of not dating, and i know from talking to him that i am struggling in that area much less than he is. It is not a matter of loosing his vocation, its just a matter of the practicality of life.

The simple fact is, some people WILL feel like they cannot be friends with you anymore, especially girls, well at least that is the way it has been with me. But to my friends who i have eased into my vocation have stuck very close to me.

I personally find that when i have many close friendships with many women and men, that i really have little or no desire for physical romance. (I will always have desire for a romantic relationship with God, but by romantic i mean adventurous)

SHALOM