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...
Discernment Articles
Seminary 101
Many people, even many Catholics, have a vision of seminary as a very strict monastery. They imagine men walking around in hooded robes with folded hands, observing strict silence, and never smiling or laughing. But that is not even true of a monastery, much less a...
The art of self-knowledge
“The unexamined life is not worth living,” Socrates famously said. He really meant it, too, as he also said that a man must “interrogate his own nature” and “work precisely” or else he will “miss what is good and become involved in what is bad.” Every Christian man...
How to leave seminary
God calls some men to seminary whom He does not call to become priests. Yep, you read that right. God leads us one step at a time, and it’s impossible to see around corners. And sometimes He wants us to know for sure where He's not calling us. You may know, on an...
Discernment spirituality
Spirituality is the individual approach to one's relationship with God. It involves making use of the tools of prayer and devotion which help you to live as a Christian the best way possible. Spirituality is, therefore, personal and many details of your spirituality...
Pope Benedict’s message to seminarians
"It does make sense to become a priest: the world needs priests, pastors, today, tomorrow and always, until the end of time." In an open letter on October 18, 2010, Pope Emeritus Benedict spoke from his heart to seminarians throughout the Church. Addressing the...
The heart of a priest
Fr. Rother's mission Church in Guatemala where he carried out his priestly missionary work. What does it take to be a priest? This is the remarkable true story of an American priest martyred for his ministry. Fr. Stanley Rother, a priest for the diocese of Oklahoma...
Be it done to me according to your word
I’m my own man! I’m self-made, and I alone should determine my destiny! I will let nothing stand in the way of what I want. There is no other road to happiness! At least that’s what contemporary society would have us believe. But the Christian viewpoint is much...
Talking to family and friends about interest in the priesthood
Maybe you’re considering the priesthood and you feel peaceful about following God’s call and applying for seminary. But what about your family and friends? What if they don’t understand? What if they reject your choice, or — even worse — you? It’s true that breaking...
Why celibacy for priests?
You might think that the issue of priestly celibacy is a “newer” matter in the Church. After all, the Roman Church has continuously reiterated the law of priestly celibacy for most, if not all, of her history. So it seems that celibacy must have been pretty well...