Major Decision Announced

[srmarymichael]

You have our support Eddie!
Don't be so afraid.... believe in Divine Providence. If it doesn't work out (whatever you try), then trust that someone or someOne is in your future. Whatever you are doing, always trust and pray that God will lead you to what you are called to do.

Jesus, I Trust in You! We'll be praying too!

[Guest phatdaddy]

[quote name='the_rev' post='974476' date='May 7 2006, 04:03 PM']
After much prayer, thought, and getting the opinions of other people I have come to reach a decision, which I feel is one of the most important decisions of my youth as it will effect me in the long run no matter what.

[color="#FF0000"]YOU ARE RIGHT, THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE IN YOUR YOUTH CAN HAVE LIFE LONG CONSEQUENCES. EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT KNOW YOU OR YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, I OFFER THIS "FOOD FOR THOUGHT". AS AN OLDER PERSON, I HAVE EXPERIECED BOTH GOOD AND BAD DECISIONS AND HAVE MANY REGRETS CONCERNING MY BAD CHOICE.

LET ME PREFACE BY SAYING EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. GOD'S PROVIDENCE HAS, IS AND WILL CONTROL YOUR LIFE.[/color]

As many of you know my Bishop has encouraged me to attend a college seminary. He sees me as an individual of strong faith and devotion to God. However, that is the only environment I have been raised in.

[color="#FF0000"]OBVIOUSLY YOUR BISHOP SEES SOMETHING IN YOU THAT YOU DON'T SEE. DO NOT DISMISS THE OPINION OF YOUR BISHOP LIGHTLY. HE IS TRAINED TO RECOGNISE AND FOSTER GOD'S WORK IN A MAN'S SOUL MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO TAKE THE WORDS OF YOUR BISHOP AS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU AT THIS TIME IN YOUR LIFE. YOUR BISHOP, BY GOD'S DESIGN, IS THE CHIEF SHEPHERD IN HIS DIOCESE AND AS SUCH SPEAKS FOR GOD IN MATTERS OF FAITH AND MORALS (OF COURSE WHEN IN UNISON WITH THE POPE). GOD HAS PUT THIS BISHOP IN YOUR LIFE TO GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE IN HIS CALL, AND BELIEVE ME NOT EVERYONE IS AS FORTUNATE AS YOU ARE TO HAVE THIS GRACE. IF I WERE YOU I WOULD FOLLOW THE BISHOP'S ADVICE[/color]

My entire life, I have gone to daily mass with my grandmother, I have served daily mass and served weekend mass. Whenever there were doings at church I would be there. My entire life as a youth has revolved around the church. The age in which I felt called to the priesthood was from a very young age. Being in that environment for most of my life is why I feel called to the priesthood because it is all I know.

[color="#FF0000"]GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU FROM YOUR CREATION TO BELONG TO HIM. HE HAS GIVEN YOU AN INCREDIBLE GIFT ALLOWING YOU TO GROW UP AND BE FORMED IN THE SCIENCE OF FAITH AND LOVE OF GOD. YOU FEEL CALLED TO THE PRIESTHOOD BECAUSE HE HAS CALLED YOU. ITS ALL ABOUT HIM. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GREAT GIFT. [/color]
[color="#FF0000"]
TO BE GOD'S INSTRUMENT EFFECTIVELY, MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO BE A MAN. BE CONVICTED, BE STRONG, PREPARED TO FIGHT FOR GOD'S PEOPLE. PREPARED TO DIE FOR HIS NAME. PREPARED TO LIVE FOR RIGHTESNESS. LIVE YOUR MANLY QUALITIES OF PROTECTOR AND LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. BE A LEADER IN THE FAITH. HE HAS PREPARED YOU IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. IT MAY BE UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS, BUT I THINK HE DID IT FOR YOU FOR HIS PURPOSE.[/color]

I've been on one date in my entire my life. And that didn't go so well because that girl never wanted to do anything with me again and never returned my phone calls.

[color="#FF0000"]THIS MEANS NOTHING. GET OVER IT AND GET USED TO IT. SOME WILL LIKE YOU, SOME WILL NOT. NOTHING HAPPEN HERE, BECAUSE GOD DID NOT WILL IT.[/color]

It is my decision, even though my entire life has revolved around the church, and that I somewhat feel called to the priesthood, I have decided not to enter the college seminary.

[color="#FF0000"]I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION OR NOT. HOWEVER, GOD KNOWS AND IF HE WANTS YOU AS BAD AS I SUSPECT, HE'S NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON YOU EASILY. [/color]

Recently A&E aired, God or the Girl. The guy who made a pilgrimage to Niagra Falls and then decided not to enter the seminary, was in the college seminary, he left. He never dated before. It is my opinion that he was not prepared to make that committment.

[color="#FF0000"]I BELEIVE YOU ARE ARE BEING TEMPTED BY THE THOUGHT OF WHAT YOU ARE MISSING IN TERMS OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH A GIRL. I DID NOT SEE THE PROGRAM BUT I DO HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT IT WHAT LITTLE I KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT I WOULD NOT SO EASILY HAVE THE OPINION THAT THIS YOUNG MAN DID NOT HAVE A VOCATION BECAUSE HE WAS NOT "EXPERIENCED" WITH WOMEN. IF ANYTHING, HE LEFT THE SEMINARY BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE A VOCATION, IT WAS NOT BECAUSE HE HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN DATING, WHICH THUS THIS MADE HIM UNABLE TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT, IT WAS BECAUSE GOD DID NOT CALL HIM TO THAT LIFE. IT SEEMS TO ME YOUR REASONING SEEMS SHALOW.[/color]

I also am not able to make a committment. For I am to young. I really don't know who I am as an individual. I have never explored area of dating because one of my fears in life is rejection. I have seen many failed relationships in my life, including my mother's engagement ended when her fiancee wanted time to think, he returned everything he ever gave her. I don't want to be involved in a bad relationship or be rejected.

[color="#FF0000"]YOU MAY VERY WELL BE TOO YOUNG TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT. AND YOU KNOW SOEMTHING, GOD IS NOT ASKING YOU TO MAKE THIS COMMITTMENT AT THIS MOMENT. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR THE EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL MATURITY TO MAKE THIS VERY NOBLE COMMITMENT. GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE WHEN YOU NEED IT.

WHEN YOU DO GAIN MATURITY YOU WILL COME TO REALIZE REJECTION IS A PART OF LIFE WHETHER YOU ARE WITH GOD OR AGAINST HIM. LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIED, AND TELL ME YOU WILL NOT EXPERIENCE REJECTION. BE A MAN, BE STRONG, EXTEND YOUR ARMS FOR THE NAILS.

YOU WILL FIND OUT WHO YOU TRULY ARE BY FOLLOWING HIS WILL. YOU WILL DISCOVER YOURSELF IN DISCOVERING HIM. WHETHER YOU DATE OR NOT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS CALLING YOU TO PRIESTHOOD. BUT IN MY OPINION YOU SHOULD NOT TRY TO DISCERN BOTH VOACTIONS TOGETHER. YOU SHOULD IN FACT NOT DATE IF YOU ARE ACTIVELY DISCERNING A VOCATION TO PRIESTHOOD, AGAIN IN MY OPINION. IF HE IS IN FACT CALLING YOU TO THIS PRIESTLY VOCATION, HE WILL PLACE THIS DESIRE IN YOUR HEART AND IT WILL CONSUME YOU. BUT WE MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DESIRE TO HAVE A WOMAN WILL NEVER GO AWAY EITHER, BECAUSE IT IS IN YOUR GOD GIIVEN NATURE AND IT IS GOOD. HE WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO MAKE THE SACRIFICE TO CHOOSE THE BETTER PART AS MARY DID.[/color]

I honestly have no life experience. My only life experience is getting drunk in Europe, and telling the Taxi Driver the wrong city to take me to. The last movie I saw was Chronicles of Narnia, before that, it was the Passion. I really do nothing a normal teenager does.

[color="#FF0000"]GOD HAS WALKED AHEAD OF YOU AND REMOVED THE STONES THAT WOULD HAVE MADE YOU TRIP AND FALL. DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE LOVED YOU MORE HAD HE LET YOU STUMBLE AND THEN PICKED YOU UP? LIFE EXPERIECES MANY TIMES INVOLVES SIN, A SAD FACT, ONE THAT I CAN ATTEST TO. YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY GOD. YOU HAVE HAD REAL LIFE EXPERIECES LIFE WITH GOD. DON'T BE SO QUICK TO EMBRACE THE WORLD AND WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER. IT MAY GIVE PLEASURE BUT YOU WON'T LIKE IT IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO GOD. SEEK GOD FIRST AND JOY WILL BE GIVEN.[/color]

I have made this decision so I can truly find out where I am called. I have never explored dating, I always feared it and thus ran away. I now want to embrace that. I have decided that going through four years of a normal college will help me be certain of my calling insteading of throwing money away on a degree in Philosophy that really would serve me no good in life.

[color="#FF0000"]I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION OR NOT, BUT I DO THINK YOU ARE MAKING IT FOR THE WRONG REASON. IF YOU TRULY DESIRE TO DO GOD'S WILL. IF GOD'S CALL AND HIS PROVIDENCE IS TRULY YOUR DESIRE, THEN PURSUING YOUR VOCATION TO PRIESTHOOD IS THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES SENSE. IF YOU DISCOVER LATER ON AFTER A FEW YEARS OF STUDY THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE A VOCATION THEN YOU WILL HAVE DONE ALL THAT WAS NECCESSARY TO TRULY DISCERN HIS WILL FOR YOU.

YOU DO KNOW THAT IT IS THE CHURCH THAT CONFIRMS YOU IN YOUR VOCATION. IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU ARE ORDAINED A DEACON THAT YOU WILL HAVE CERTITUDE OF GOD'S CALL. THAT OF COURSE WILL NOT HAPPEN TILL YOU RECEIVE ABOUT 7 YEARS OF EDUCTATION AND SPIRITUAL MATURING. WILL YOU BE IN A POSION TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT THEN, I WOULD SAY ABSOLUTLY. ARE YOU BEING ASKED TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT RIGHT NOW ENTERING THE SEMINARY, ABSOLUTLEY NOT.[/color]

To be an effective priest, if that is where I'm called, I need to be able to relate to many situations in life, and if I was in those situations I will then be more effective.

[color="#FF0000"]AND BY THE TIME YOU ARE ORDAINED A PRIEST, YOU WILL BE. YOU DON'T NEED TO EXPERIECE SIN TO EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH IT. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED HIS CHOOSEN ONES TO FALL FOR WHAT EVER REASON AND THEY HAVE USED THIS MISFORTUNE TO BETTER TEACH OTHERS, BUT THIS IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR JUMPING IN THE WORLD TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVING GOD BETTER.[/color]

Thus as I begin a life at a new parish, it is my hopes that God will show me a good Catholic girl to whom I can relate to and share some time with at the movies, at the mall, baseball games, etc.

[color="#FF0000"]I HAVEN'T A CLUE AS TO WHAT VOCATION GOD HAS CALLED YOU TOO. YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT THROUGH PRAYER. IF YOU ARE CALLED TO THE MARRIED STATE, I HOPE YOU DO FIND A GOOD CATHOLIC GIRL WHO IS LOOKING FOR A GOOD CATHOLIC BOY TO SHARE GOD'S GIFT AS CO-CREATORS.

IF I MAY THROW OUT ONE LAST CAUTION, IT IS VERY EASY FOR ANYONE TO ENTER IN TO THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY IN A IMMATURE STATE, NOT BEING PREPARED TO MAKE THE COMMITTMENT THAT IS NECCESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRAIGE. IT IS BY FAR MUCH MORE DIFFICULT ENTERING INTO A PRIESTLY VOCATION UNPREPARED FOR THE COMMITTMENT.[/color]

Please keep me in your prayers!

[color="#FF0000"]OK I WILL. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU.[/color]

Yours in Christ,

Ed L.

[color="#FF0000"]ED, I'M WAY OUT ON A LIMB HERE AND I HEARD THE BRANCH CRACK. FORGIVE ME IF I HAVE OFFENDED YOU.[/color]
[/quote]

[be_thou_my_vision]

Ed,
I think you are making a wise decision. I think people need to learn how to love humanly before making a decision to love all of humanity. I think it is wise for you to check out dating because it teaches you a lot about yourself. And you need to learn how to get over that fear of rejection and hurt. I will pray for you!
Jenny

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

Not everybody is against you Eddy. I hope you take advantage of the support you will always find here, and not disregard opinions that you may not like.

As for me, i believe if you continue this path in prayer, God will reward you immensenly with whatever experience he graces you.

SHALOM

[let_go_let_God]

Eddie,

This had to be a hard decision to make, and I support you. Take your time and keep praying, and ask long as you stay open to the will of God, He will lead you where you need to be. I will pray for you.

God bless-
LGLG

[Domine ut Videam]

Wow....phatdaddy.....that was some pretty awesome advice. I'm pretty much speechless. Eddy, all i can say once again is too pray, just pray and take into consideration this sage advice.

-Yours in Christ
Lauren

P.S. Daddy....got any of that for me..... I sure could use some nice definitive advice like that.....

[the_rev]

[quote]
After much prayer, thought, and getting the opinions of other people I have come to reach a decision, which I feel is one of the most important decisions of my youth as it will effect me in the long run no matter what.

YOU ARE RIGHT, THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE IN YOUR YOUTH CAN HAVE LIFE LONG CONSEQUENCES. EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT KNOW YOU OR YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, I OFFER THIS "FOOD FOR THOUGHT". AS AN OLDER PERSON, I HAVE EXPERIECED BOTH GOOD AND BAD DECISIONS AND HAVE MANY REGRETS CONCERNING MY BAD CHOICE.

LET ME PREFACE BY SAYING EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. GOD'S PROVIDENCE HAS, IS AND WILL CONTROL YOUR LIFE.

As many of you know my Bishop has encouraged me to attend a college seminary. He sees me as an individual of strong faith and devotion to God. However, that is the only environment I have been raised in.

OBVIOUSLY YOUR BISHOP SEES SOMETHING IN YOU THAT YOU DON'T SEE. DO NOT DISMISS THE OPINION OF YOUR BISHOP LIGHTLY. HE IS TRAINED TO RECOGNISE AND FOSTER GOD'S WORK IN A MAN'S SOUL MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO TAKE THE WORDS OF YOUR BISHOP AS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU AT THIS TIME IN YOUR LIFE. YOUR BISHOP, BY GOD'S DESIGN, IS THE CHIEF SHEPHERD IN HIS DIOCESE AND AS SUCH SPEAKS FOR GOD IN MATTERS OF FAITH AND MORALS (OF COURSE WHEN IN UNISON WITH THE POPE). GOD HAS PUT THIS BISHOP IN YOUR LIFE TO GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE IN HIS CALL, AND BELIEVE ME NOT EVERYONE IS AS FORTUNATE AS YOU ARE TO HAVE THIS GRACE. IF I WERE YOU I WOULD FOLLOW THE BISHOP'S ADVICE

My entire life, I have gone to daily mass with my grandmother, I have served daily mass and served weekend mass. Whenever there were doings at church I would be there. My entire life as a youth has revolved around the church. The age in which I felt called to the priesthood was from a very young age. Being in that environment for most of my life is why I feel called to the priesthood because it is all I know.

GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU FROM YOUR CREATION TO BELONG TO HIM. HE HAS GIVEN YOU AN INCREDIBLE GIFT ALLOWING YOU TO GROW UP AND BE FORMED IN THE SCIENCE OF FAITH AND LOVE OF GOD. YOU FEEL CALLED TO THE PRIESTHOOD BECAUSE HE HAS CALLED YOU. ITS ALL ABOUT HIM. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GREAT GIFT.

TO BE GOD'S INSTRUMENT EFFECTIVELY, MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO BE A MAN. BE CONVICTED, BE STRONG, PREPARED TO FIGHT FOR GOD'S PEOPLE. PREPARED TO DIE FOR HIS NAME. PREPARED TO LIVE FOR RIGHTESNESS. LIVE YOUR MANLY QUALITIES OF PROTECTOR AND LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. BE A LEADER IN THE FAITH. HE HAS PREPARED YOU IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. IT MAY BE UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS, BUT I THINK HE DID IT FOR YOU FOR HIS PURPOSE.

I've been on one date in my entire my life. And that didn't go so well because that girl never wanted to do anything with me again and never returned my phone calls.

THIS MEANS NOTHING. GET OVER IT AND GET USED TO IT. SOME WILL LIKE YOU, SOME WILL NOT. NOTHING HAPPEN HERE, BECAUSE GOD DID NOT WILL IT.

It is my decision, even though my entire life has revolved around the church, and that I somewhat feel called to the priesthood, I have decided not to enter the college seminary.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION OR NOT. HOWEVER, GOD KNOWS AND IF HE WANTS YOU AS BAD AS I SUSPECT, HE'S NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON YOU EASILY.

Recently A&E aired, God or the Girl. The guy who made a pilgrimage to Niagra Falls and then decided not to enter the seminary, was in the college seminary, he left. He never dated before. It is my opinion that he was not prepared to make that committment.

I BELEIVE YOU ARE ARE BEING TEMPTED BY THE THOUGHT OF WHAT YOU ARE MISSING IN TERMS OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH A GIRL. I DID NOT SEE THE PROGRAM BUT I DO HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT IT WHAT LITTLE I KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT I WOULD NOT SO EASILY HAVE THE OPINION THAT THIS YOUNG MAN DID NOT HAVE A VOCATION BECAUSE HE WAS NOT "EXPERIENCED" WITH WOMEN. IF ANYTHING, HE LEFT THE SEMINARY BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE A VOCATION, IT WAS NOT BECAUSE HE HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN DATING, WHICH THUS THIS MADE HIM UNABLE TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT, IT WAS BECAUSE GOD DID NOT CALL HIM TO THAT LIFE. IT SEEMS TO ME YOUR REASONING SEEMS SHALOW.

I also am not able to make a committment. For I am to young. I really don't know who I am as an individual. I have never explored area of dating because one of my fears in life is rejection. I have seen many failed relationships in my life, including my mother's engagement ended when her fiancee wanted time to think, he returned everything he ever gave her. I don't want to be involved in a bad relationship or be rejected.

YOU MAY VERY WELL BE TOO YOUNG TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT. AND YOU KNOW SOEMTHING, GOD IS NOT ASKING YOU TO MAKE THIS COMMITTMENT AT THIS MOMENT. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR THE EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL MATURITY TO MAKE THIS VERY NOBLE COMMITMENT. GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE WHEN YOU NEED IT.

WHEN YOU DO GAIN MATURITY YOU WILL COME TO REALIZE REJECTION IS A PART OF LIFE WHETHER YOU ARE WITH GOD OR AGAINST HIM. LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIED, AND TELL ME YOU WILL NOT EXPERIENCE REJECTION. BE A MAN, BE STRONG, EXTEND YOUR ARMS FOR THE NAILS.

YOU WILL FIND OUT WHO YOU TRULY ARE BY FOLLOWING HIS WILL. YOU WILL DISCOVER YOURSELF IN DISCOVERING HIM. WHETHER YOU DATE OR NOT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS CALLING YOU TO PRIESTHOOD. BUT IN MY OPINION YOU SHOULD NOT TRY TO DISCERN BOTH VOACTIONS TOGETHER. YOU SHOULD IN FACT NOT DATE IF YOU ARE ACTIVELY DISCERNING A VOCATION TO PRIESTHOOD, AGAIN IN MY OPINION. IF HE IS IN FACT CALLING YOU TO THIS PRIESTLY VOCATION, HE WILL PLACE THIS DESIRE IN YOUR HEART AND IT WILL CONSUME YOU. BUT WE MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DESIRE TO HAVE A WOMAN WILL NEVER GO AWAY EITHER, BECAUSE IT IS IN YOUR GOD GIIVEN NATURE AND IT IS GOOD. HE WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO MAKE THE SACRIFICE TO CHOOSE THE BETTER PART AS MARY DID.

I honestly have no life experience. My only life experience is getting drunk in Europe, and telling the Taxi Driver the wrong city to take me to. The last movie I saw was Chronicles of Narnia, before that, it was the Passion. I really do nothing a normal teenager does.

GOD HAS WALKED AHEAD OF YOU AND REMOVED THE STONES THAT WOULD HAVE MADE YOU TRIP AND FALL. DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE LOVED YOU MORE HAD HE LET YOU STUMBLE AND THEN PICKED YOU UP? LIFE EXPERIECES MANY TIMES INVOLVES SIN, A SAD FACT, ONE THAT I CAN ATTEST TO. YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY GOD. YOU HAVE HAD REAL LIFE EXPERIECES LIFE WITH GOD. DON'T BE SO QUICK TO EMBRACE THE WORLD AND WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER. IT MAY GIVE PLEASURE BUT YOU WON'T LIKE IT IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO GOD. SEEK GOD FIRST AND JOY WILL BE GIVEN.

I have made this decision so I can truly find out where I am called. I have never explored dating, I always feared it and thus ran away. I now want to embrace that. I have decided that going through four years of a normal college will help me be certain of my calling insteading of throwing money away on a degree in Philosophy that really would serve me no good in life.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION OR NOT, BUT I DO THINK YOU ARE MAKING IT FOR THE WRONG REASON. IF YOU TRULY DESIRE TO DO GOD'S WILL. IF GOD'S CALL AND HIS PROVIDENCE IS TRULY YOUR DESIRE, THEN PURSUING YOUR VOCATION TO PRIESTHOOD IS THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES SENSE. IF YOU DISCOVER LATER ON AFTER A FEW YEARS OF STUDY THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE A VOCATION THEN YOU WILL HAVE DONE ALL THAT WAS NECCESSARY TO TRULY DISCERN HIS WILL FOR YOU.

YOU DO KNOW THAT IT IS THE CHURCH THAT CONFIRMS YOU IN YOUR VOCATION. IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU ARE ORDAINED A DEACON THAT YOU WILL HAVE CERTITUDE OF GOD'S CALL. THAT OF COURSE WILL NOT HAPPEN TILL YOU RECEIVE ABOUT 7 YEARS OF EDUCTATION AND SPIRITUAL MATURING. WILL YOU BE IN A POSION TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT THEN, I WOULD SAY ABSOLUTLY. ARE YOU BEING ASKED TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT RIGHT NOW ENTERING THE SEMINARY, ABSOLUTLEY NOT.

To be an effective priest, if that is where I'm called, I need to be able to relate to many situations in life, and if I was in those situations I will then be more effective.

AND BY THE TIME YOU ARE ORDAINED A PRIEST, YOU WILL BE. YOU DON'T NEED TO EXPERIECE SIN TO EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH IT. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED HIS CHOOSEN ONES TO FALL FOR WHAT EVER REASON AND THEY HAVE USED THIS MISFORTUNE TO BETTER TEACH OTHERS, BUT THIS IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR JUMPING IN THE WORLD TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVING GOD BETTER.

Thus as I begin a life at a new parish, it is my hopes that God will show me a good Catholic girl to whom I can relate to and share some time with at the movies, at the mall, baseball games, etc.

I HAVEN'T A CLUE AS TO WHAT VOCATION GOD HAS CALLED YOU TOO. YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT THROUGH PRAYER. IF YOU ARE CALLED TO THE MARRIED STATE, I HOPE YOU DO FIND A GOOD CATHOLIC GIRL WHO IS LOOKING FOR A GOOD CATHOLIC BOY TO SHARE GOD'S GIFT AS CO-CREATORS.

IF I MAY THROW OUT ONE LAST CAUTION, IT IS VERY EASY FOR ANYONE TO ENTER IN TO THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY IN A IMMATURE STATE, NOT BEING PREPARED TO MAKE THE COMMITTMENT THAT IS NECCESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRAIGE. IT IS BY FAR MUCH MORE DIFFICULT ENTERING INTO A PRIESTLY VOCATION UNPREPARED FOR THE COMMITTMENT.

Please keep me in your prayers!

OK I WILL. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU.

Yours in Christ,

Ed L.

ED, I'M WAY OUT ON A LIMB HERE AND I HEARD THE BRANCH CRACK. FORGIVE ME IF I HAVE OFFENDED YOU.
[/quote]

Thank you for this great advice. I will be making the official announcment this evening on my blog. This was a preliminary announcment. The official announcment to blog readers will be made tonight.

[url="http://mariandevotion.blogspot.com"]http://mariandevotion.blogspot.com[/url]

Yours in Christ.

Ed

[Seven77]

rev: i prayed for you. God is with you and wants your happiness.

pray for me little brother.

[Guest Rick777]

Prayers Ed!

[dUSt]

Wow. Phatmass has failed you...
























...unless, of course, your potential wife is hot.

[shortnun]

[brandelynmarie]

Ed, I trust & believe you will "take the Faith" with you as you try to be open to other things... Follow Church teachings in all things & you will be safe...discernment is a winding road!

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='"phatdaddy"']OBVIOUSLY YOUR BISHOP SEES SOMETHING IN YOU THAT YOU DON'T SEE. DO NOT DISMISS THE OPINION OF YOUR BISHOP LIGHTLY. HE IS TRAINED TO RECOGNISE AND FOSTER GOD'S WORK IN A MAN'S SOUL MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO TAKE THE WORDS OF YOUR BISHOP AS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU AT THIS TIME IN YOUR LIFE. YOUR BISHOP, BY GOD'S DESIGN, IS THE CHIEF SHEPHERD IN HIS DIOCESE AND AS SUCH SPEAKS FOR GOD IN MATTERS OF FAITH AND MORALS (OF COURSE WHEN IN UNISON WITH THE POPE). GOD HAS PUT THIS BISHOP IN YOUR LIFE TO GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE IN HIS CALL, AND BELIEVE ME NOT EVERYONE IS AS FORTUNATE AS YOU ARE TO HAVE THIS GRACE. IF I WERE YOU I WOULD FOLLOW THE BISHOP'S ADVICE

------------

GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU FROM YOUR CREATION TO BELONG TO HIM. HE HAS GIVEN YOU AN INCREDIBLE GIFT ALLOWING YOU TO GROW UP AND BE FORMED IN THE SCIENCE OF FAITH AND LOVE OF GOD. YOU FEEL CALLED TO THE PRIESTHOOD BECAUSE HE HAS CALLED YOU. ITS ALL ABOUT HIM. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GREAT GIFT.

TO BE GOD'S INSTRUMENT EFFECTIVELY, MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO BE A MAN. BE CONVICTED, BE STRONG, PREPARED TO FIGHT FOR GOD'S PEOPLE. PREPARED TO DIE FOR HIS NAME. PREPARED TO LIVE FOR RIGHTESNESS. LIVE YOUR MANLY QUALITIES OF PROTECTOR AND LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. BE A LEADER IN THE FAITH. HE HAS PREPARED YOU IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. IT MAY BE UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS, BUT I THINK HE DID IT FOR YOU FOR HIS PURPOSE.

-----------------

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION OR NOT. HOWEVER, GOD KNOWS AND IF HE WANTS YOU AS BAD AS I SUSPECT, HE'S NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON YOU EASILY.

----------------

I BELEIVE YOU ARE ARE BEING TEMPTED BY THE THOUGHT OF WHAT YOU ARE MISSING IN TERMS OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH A GIRL. I DID NOT SEE THE PROGRAM BUT I DO HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT IT WHAT LITTLE I KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT I WOULD NOT SO EASILY HAVE THE OPINION THAT THIS YOUNG MAN DID NOT HAVE A VOCATION BECAUSE HE WAS NOT "EXPERIENCED" WITH WOMEN. IF ANYTHING, HE LEFT THE SEMINARY BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE A VOCATION, IT WAS NOT BECAUSE HE HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN DATING, WHICH THUS THIS MADE HIM UNABLE TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT, IT WAS BECAUSE GOD DID NOT CALL HIM TO THAT LIFE. [b]IT SEEMS TO ME YOUR REASONING SEEMS SHALOW.[/b]

-----------------------

YOU MAY VERY WELL BE TOO YOUNG TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT. AND YOU KNOW SOEMTHING, GOD IS NOT ASKING YOU TO MAKE THIS COMMITTMENT AT THIS MOMENT. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR THE EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL MATURITY TO MAKE THIS VERY NOBLE COMMITMENT. GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE WHEN YOU NEED IT.

WHEN YOU DO GAIN MATURITY YOU WILL COME TO REALIZE REJECTION IS A PART OF LIFE WHETHER YOU ARE WITH GOD OR AGAINST HIM. LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIED, AND TELL ME YOU WILL NOT EXPERIENCE REJECTION. BE A MAN, BE STRONG, EXTEND YOUR ARMS FOR THE NAILS.

[b]YOU WILL FIND OUT WHO YOU TRULY ARE BY FOLLOWING HIS WILL. YOU WILL DISCOVER YOURSELF IN DISCOVERING HIM. WHETHER YOU DATE OR NOT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS CALLING YOU TO PRIESTHOOD.[/b] BUT IN MY OPINION YOU SHOULD NOT TRY TO DISCERN BOTH VOACTIONS TOGETHER. YOU SHOULD IN FACT NOT DATE IF YOU ARE ACTIVELY DISCERNING A VOCATION TO PRIESTHOOD, AGAIN IN MY OPINION. IF HE IS IN FACT CALLING YOU TO THIS PRIESTLY VOCATION, HE WILL PLACE THIS DESIRE IN YOUR HEART AND IT WILL CONSUME YOU. BUT WE MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DESIRE TO HAVE A WOMAN WILL NEVER GO AWAY EITHER, BECAUSE IT IS IN YOUR GOD GIIVEN NATURE AND IT IS GOOD. HE WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO MAKE THE SACRIFICE TO CHOOSE THE BETTER PART AS MARY DID.

-------------------

GOD HAS WALKED AHEAD OF YOU AND REMOVED THE STONES THAT WOULD HAVE MADE YOU TRIP AND FALL. DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE LOVED YOU MORE HAD HE LET YOU STUMBLE AND THEN PICKED YOU UP? LIFE EXPERIECES MANY TIMES INVOLVES SIN, A SAD FACT, ONE THAT I CAN ATTEST TO. YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY GOD. YOU HAVE HAD REAL LIFE EXPERIECES LIFE WITH GOD. DON'T BE SO QUICK TO EMBRACE THE WORLD AND WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER. IT MAY GIVE PLEASURE BUT YOU WON'T LIKE IT IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO GOD. [b]SEEK GOD FIRST AND JOY WILL BE GIVEN.[/b]

-------------------

[b]I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION OR NOT, BUT I DO THINK YOU ARE MAKING IT FOR THE WRONG REASON.[/b] IF YOU TRULY DESIRE TO DO GOD'S WILL. IF GOD'S CALL AND HIS PROVIDENCE IS TRULY YOUR DESIRE, THEN PURSUING YOUR VOCATION TO PRIESTHOOD IS THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES SENSE. IF YOU DISCOVER LATER ON AFTER A FEW YEARS OF STUDY THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE A VOCATION THEN YOU WILL HAVE DONE ALL THAT WAS NECCESSARY TO TRULY DISCERN HIS WILL FOR YOU.

YOU DO KNOW THAT IT IS THE CHURCH THAT CONFIRMS YOU IN YOUR VOCATION. IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU ARE ORDAINED A DEACON THAT YOU WILL HAVE CERTITUDE OF GOD'S CALL. THAT OF COURSE WILL NOT HAPPEN TILL YOU RECEIVE ABOUT 7 YEARS OF EDUCTATION AND SPIRITUAL MATURING. WILL YOU BE IN A POSION TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT THEN, I WOULD SAY ABSOLUTLY. ARE YOU BEING ASKED TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT RIGHT NOW ENTERING THE SEMINARY, ABSOLUTLEY NOT.

----------------------------

AND BY THE TIME YOU ARE ORDAINED A PRIEST, YOU WILL BE. [b]YOU DON'T NEED TO EXPERIECE SIN TO EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH IT.[/b] THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED HIS CHOOSEN ONES TO FALL FOR WHAT EVER REASON AND THEY HAVE USED THIS MISFORTUNE TO BETTER TEACH OTHERS, BUT THIS IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR JUMPING IN THE WORLD TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVING GOD BETTER.[/quote]

I agree with all above advice, especially the bolded sections (emphasis mine of course). You do not need to be an alocholic to effectively deal with alcoholism. In the same respects, you do not need to be of the world to effectively deal with the world.

I believe many of your reasons, though seemingly sound, are shallow.

Whatever happens, I know God will guide you. You have to let Him, though. Let Him guide you and put down all selfish thoughts.


God bless you now and always.