Posted on 11/08/2006 7:57:28 PM PST by Pyro7480
"Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was" (Hebrews 5: 1-4, New American Bible).
These words were proclaimed to me at Mass on Sunday October 29, just as they were to hundreds of millions of Catholics around the world. As they were read, a grace was given to me, and my eyes were finally opened. God has been calling to the priesthood, and I have finally accepted my calling.
For years, I've had this interest in the priesthood. I was an altar boy from 4th grade until 12th grade, and even after I stopped being a "full-time" altar boy, I have continued serving the Church by being a lector, a server when needed, and for a time, an eucharistic minister (before I realized that St. Thomas Aquinas was right in saying that only consecrated hands should hold the Blessed Sacrament).
For years, people have asked me if I had ever considered being a priest, if I was a seminarian, and even one time, if I was priest. The questions, most of the time, made me feel uncomfortable. It was mainly because of the awareness I had of my weaknesses and bad inclinations that I had, and the many sins of my past. I still struggle to this day, and as a fallen creature, I will struggle to my dying breath.
Again, the question popped up on the night of October 27, after meeting a Maronite Catholic who was helping me and my boss work against the proposed Amendment 2 in Missouri (we both traveled from Virginia to work on the campaign against it). He asked the question, and immediately, I felt the frustration I had felt in the past. I told him I wasn't sure, even with the fact that I currently have a girlfriend. So in response, I asked him, and everyone that was in the car with me (I was driving) to pray for me.
Sunday night, almost forty-eight hours later, I went to Mass. After the awfully-modernistic rendition of the responsorial psalm was sung, something (or someone) was "telling" me to pay close attention to the words of the reading. As the above excerpt was being read, I had, what I can only best describe as a moment of clarity (what it really was I cannot describe). I came to the realization that I should no longer resist my calling.
Mass "progressed" as it normally does, and after I received Communion, and went knelt back down at my place, and prayed the first part of St. Thomas Aquinas' prayer for after communion, which I have memorized in Latin (Gratias tibi ago, Domine Sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus...). As I prayed, tears started to flow from my eyes, and I had to find the strength to stop from breaking down and crying right there in the Church. They were tears of joy, but also because of my realization that I had been acting like hard-headed ignoramus towards God.
After Mass, I knelt in front of the tabernacle, which was on St. Joseph's side of the Church, and the place where I knelt was also under the statue of my patron saint, St. Joseph (whose name I took at my confirmation). I thanked God, and if memory serves, I asked for the intercession of Our Lady and St. Joseph. After a short time there, I got up, and walked towards the back of the church. In one corner, I saw some lit candles. As I walked towards, I saw there were two wonderful images there. One was the Icon of the Mother of Perpetual Help, my favorite image of Our Lady, and the other was an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I prayed in front of the icon of Our Lady, saying a prayer that I say most days to her, invoking her under the title of "Mother of Perpetual Help." I also said "Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us," three times before leaving that corner.
As I walked towards the entrance of the church, I stopped in the lobby, and to my right, I saw two statues, one of Our Lady of Grace, and the other of St. Francis of Assisi. I walked towards the statue of Our Lady, and as I stooped down to venerate the feet of the statue, a middle-aged man approached me. He asked, "Are you two seminarians?" (meaning myself and my boss). I said, "Not yet," and I explained that my boss was actually married. I talked to him for a few minutes about vocations, and when he had to go, I went back to my boss, who was talking to the pastor and a few other people about Amendment 2. Everyone in the conversation agreed that this amendment must be defeated, since it would defend human cloning, and thus endanger human dignity across the world. Though I am unemployed at the moment, and there was no promise that I would be paid for going to Missouri, I still accepted my boss' offer to work with him, because I believe the intrinsic dignity of human beings she be defended when it is threatened.
I arrived back on the East Coast on Thursday November 2nd, and I now have quite a future ahead for me. I prefer to first pay off my debt from college, and my credit card debt before I apply for the seminarian. In the meantime, I can work on deepening even further my spiritual life. Please pray for me, and for all those lives that I will touch in the future. By myself, I cannot successfully complete this mission, but with the assistance of your prayers, the intercession of the saints, and by the grace of God, I will run the course of my life, saving souls until the end of my life.
Hopefully, I will be able to enter seminary sooner, rather than later. It all depends on finding a solution to my debt. All I want to be is a parish priest. I'm thinking about three possibilities: being a priest in my home diocese of Wilmington, Delaware; joining the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter; or joining the Institute of Christ the King. I know God will direct me to where I am truly needed. Again, I ask for your prayers.
Read the above post. It's the reason I asked for your prayers.
Catholic ping!
prayer bump
God bless you! You will be in my prayers regularly!
Loving God,
You speak to us and nourish us through the life of your church
community. In the name of Jesus, we ask you to send your Spirit to us
that men and women among us, young and old, will respond to your call
to service in the church.
We pray especially in our day for those who hear your invitation
to be a priest, deacon, sister or brother.
May those who are opening their hearts and minds to your call be
encouraged and strengthened through our enthusiasm in you service.
Amen.
(((Hugs)))We prayed on the air that day.I knew it all along.Priests for life has a new order for priets too.I have a # if you want it.This is just getting started,God bless,Fatima
On the air? What do you mean?
You better believe you'll be in my prayers!
God bless you Pyro, and I will definitely be praying for you!
I told you in the freepmail I think.No names no nothing just a very special intention.
I lift you up to the Lord in Prayer!
Whether or not you know the way God wants you to go, you will know the Hand of God leading you - and you will follow.
God is with you; listen to Him, and follow His voice.
You are in my prayers. Please keep us posted when you are accepted into the seminary.
Good luck. We'll keep you in our prayers.
God bless you, Pyro. I will remember you in prayer.
Wow.
I feel so humbled that you chose to share this.
You are in my prayers.
Thanks you, in advance, for giving your life to the service of God and of us, His people.
I will pray for you when I walk the dog in the morning (Rosary: I'll give you 3 beads, OK?) but on one selfish condition, that you will pray for my sons Ben and Vanya.
You will doubtless run into trials, but get lowly and stay lowly, and God will keep you in His inner vest pocket for sure!
Let us know how it goes: we'll be your faithful companions in prayer---
Wow! That's great news! You will be in my prayers, God Bless. Good luck.
P.s. You (and Aquinas) are right about the consecrated hands.
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