How Should I Discern the Priesthood? (

[@jonathanbrodrick3302]

Thank you Bishop Barron. I've watched this video three times now and the only thing I can say and think is, "WOW!" The reason is I have more evidence our Father may be calling me. PLEASE pray for his guidance and will in my life. Peace be with you, in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

[@angelrodriquez6521]

Im ready to become a priest. I have decided! Look out Puerto Rico!! New guy in town.

[@christophersalinas2722]

how’s it going?

[@romanbenedetti733]

Update??

[@jflinn7401]

Thank you for all of your great videos, Father. I am happy to say that I recently got news of my acceptance into my home diocese's seminary. I would just like to ask that you keep me in your prayers, Father, as I promise to keep you and your Word on Fire team in mine.

[@BishopBarron]

J Flinn Blessings!

[@josephreagan9545]

Another good tip is to not only pray for YOUR discernment but also for others who are in the process of discernment, and that they pray for this intention as well. Create a spiritual positive feedback loop. The more you pray for others and that others pray for the same intentions, the more people will get prayers and so on.

[@thecatholicteen3017]

1 thing to help me discern Priesthood is through altar serving and paying attention in the mass.

[@chicagoman393]

The

[@chicagoman393]

The Father and the Son are the Parents of the Holy Spirit, if many churches are correct. If many churches are correct, The Trinity is a Family-- two Parents and a Progeny, just like a human family. (Humans are made in the "image" and "likeness" of God according to Genesis 1:26) In the Book of Job which is part of the bible,the Lord is compared to a father and also a mother with a womb. "From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens"--Job 38:29. Because God can also be thought of like a mother (Isaiah 42:14,Isaiah 66:13,Matthew 23:37), all three roles (father,mother,progeny) in a basic human family are filled in the Trinity. Saying that the "Father and the Son are the Parents of the Holy Spirit" is simply another way of saying that the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son" which has been official Catholic Church teaching for centuries. According to the Catholic Church, the Son is begotten from the Father. If this is true, the Father is the Father (Parent) of the Son. According to the Church, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.If this is true, the Father and the Son are the Parents of the Holy Spirit. According to the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" paragraph 264, "The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father as the first principle and...from the communion of both the Father and the Son" Of course, the scriptures are vague if the Holy Spirit is the 3rd or 2nd Person of the Trinity--whichever of these is true,the First Person and the Second Person may be the Parents of the Third.

[@christophersalinas2722]

how’s it going?

[@frjosemaria]

Joy is the key. Thank you Fr. Barron.

[@MichaelF144]

I am in the middle of reading St. Anselm of Canterbury. Doctor of the church. Truly eye opening for me and makes you attentive to god and what he claims is ontological existence. Truly spectacular.

[@FrJohnBrownSJ]

All good advice. I also suggest Ignatian discernment. Fr. Timothy Gallagher is a pretty good contemporary author on the subject.

[@Calder90]

I'm really thinking about doing it. I came here, kind of expecting to be dissuaded in a sense, but the opposite happened.

[@christophersalinas2722]

how’s it going?

[@yeti101]

God bless you and your family, Father.

[@jarkoer]

Archbishop Sheen made a distinction between joy and pleasure, but I have to say that I've experienced both joy and pleasure as a lay catechist for a number of years now and in my different functions around my parish. A lot of people have been saying I should be a priest or a deacon, but living alone in these economic times I've been very reluctant to "take my hand off the plow", so to speak.

[@RyanPatrickOwens]

Trust in God and have faith that He will give you all you need. When Our Lady said her Fiat, it would have undoubtedly been more comfortable for her to say "Thanks but no thanks". But then we would have no hope of salvation. God bless you.

[@sshealy1]

If you choose the diaconate, you won't have to take your hand "off the plow" or quit your day job, but you will need to sacrifice your free time for a lot of studying and all Saturday classes (for some dioceses). In the Archdiocese of Atlanta, 1st year aspirants meet 1 Saturday/month for 5 classes total. In the second -fifth year, they meet 2 Saturdays/month. No more TV.

[@CatholicForLife2]

When most of your friends are telling you, you would make a fantastic Priest, its a good indication, self knowledge hasn't peaked :) Wonderfull video Father. I pray for all our priests and for more pious Priests to come.

[@Fam494]

Thanks Bishop Robert Barron!

[@eve6594]

Can you talk about finding God and Trusting Him in times of struggle and despair! I think a lot of people can relate to it and have that question on their mind! Thank you Father for all the videos! They make a difference!

[@kylecamara343]

Thank you father.

[@emersonjohntiung]

Thank you very much... this helps me a lot in this present time....

[@TheDomVerde]

I am a proud husband and father of 7 children. I am drawn intensely to live out the rest of marriage in celibacy to protect my wife from health issues but to also in a much greater way grow closer to God by denying myself. Is this possible?

[@Chinedu_Emmanuel]

Thank you so much ❤❤❤

[@tylerpape4382]

Thank you for the advice.

[@garyshields2734]

It is the most terrible tragedy of the entire Church, all over the world, by all of the Christians; that all of the parishioners, don't say Mass for themselves and families and clergy. I'm not ordained by human hands, but trust me in this, I'm Very Very Very Ordained. I taught two protestants how to say Mass in minutes. I told them that I would prove to them that this works, and at 12 PM tomorrow, they would feel a buzzing sensation going through them. "That will be God going through them as I say Mass for them at 12PM," I told them. Exact at 11:55 AM the next day, I felt a buzzing sensation going through my body, like someone was saying Mass for me. They were just believing protestants and unordained, uneducated, and believers in Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. That is all, One male and One female. About 12 years ago, I said Mass for myself, and asked God to give me the knowledge of the future. About 9 years ago, I looked right into the future to see Obama win his election by 281 electoral college votes, "three days," before the voting took place. I immediately spread it all over Twitter and sent tweets off to Nancy Pelosi, MSNBC News, Kelly O'Donnell, Obama about seeing the final vote of 281; and the tweets are still on Twitter under Gary James Shields, on that time line spoken about above. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE. You could have all of the Parishes, all over the planet, praying for you both to live another hundred years with age regressing body's. You could have some praying for you to have Angels with you to talk to, Healing Powers, the Ability to Walk in the Water, To be bullet proof, to be invisible whenever your need to be, to be able to levitate and fly, A N Y T H I N G ! ! ! 500,000,000 Masses all said on the same day for you two; and you would have snapped your fingers and things would have been done for you. There is still time. Time is of the Essence ! ! ! DON'T IGNORE ME ! I Speak from Experience, Verily. Ask me what to ask God to give to you and I will instantly pray and say Mass for you to receive it. Reply to me in this comment section, and I will do it for you. Faith is, replying to this message and telling me what you would want. The rest is up to me and God. Those who call upon the Name of the Lord, shall not be disappointed. ..............................................................

[@ProudAmerican111]

Pray for me as I discern religious life.

[@christophersalinas2722]

how’s it going?

[@ProudAmerican111]

Married@@christophersalinas2722

[@shyakaxdeus2440]

Surely i have all these but am still asking God ,🙏🙏

[@justinphilip4235]

Thank you

[@2012aquinas]

Father Barron, What was your discernment journey toward priesthood? Was it an evolving process, or was it automatic?

[@2010teg]

For the very young, I think if someone asks you to enter seminary and give it a try, you should take it almost as a command. Put yourself as soon as you can in a practical context (seminary) for discerning.

[@jokerski3250]

Thomas E. Gullickson wow that's incredibly irresponsible to tell someone take it as a command. You have no idea what you are talking about. That's terrible advice

[@MrKevo9876]

Fr. Barron, I was wondering if you could make a video explaining the Catholic teaching about the authority of the Church (Papal authority and infallibility, the magisterium, the episcopate, councils etc) I'm really trying to understand how all of it works, but I'm struggling. Thank you.

[@FaithandReason101]

you can supplement from catholic answers. they have lots of information on the teachings of the church, particularly on the magisterium. also, there is good information in the catechism of the catholic church.

[@Sr.Biruta]

fast and efficient

[@kevintrujillo8777]

Thank you Fr. I have been discerning for a few months now. But my mother is not in favor nor does she help me discern if this is truely from God. What is there that i can tell her because i can tell her anything and she will just tell me that No your wrong and so on. -Kevin

[@BishopBarron]

+kevin Trujillo Kevin, be as honest and direct as you can with her. Finally, it's your vocation, not hers. But listen to her with an open heart--and make sure you have a good spiritual director.

[@Awakeningspirit20]

This is a question that haunts me, because I am a virgin and always really wanted a wife to spend my life with. But I’m unable to get in a relationship because I’m on the spectrum. I also don’t believe in a lot of Catholic beliefs such as the saints and Mary and relics and even the Eucharist being the literal body and blood. This is probably too much to ask, but I wish you could do a video on Catholic vs. Protestant vocations and how to pick. It’s probably not likely to be made since these videos are for a Catholic audience, but I wish I had the tools. I really align with the Lutherans and want to be a pastor in Lutheranism, but I do not deny at all that Jesus is in the Eucharist. I also want to avoid Bible literalism and fundamentalism, but the ECLA isn’t like that at all luckily. I just really don’t want to be a priest, but I do want to be a man of God working to spread his light in others. And I’ve always wanted to do this and yes, the idea of priesthood or pastor-hood really fills me with joy. If I was asexual perhaps I wouldn’t have any barriers and would go be a priest, but the celibacy is something I personally disagree with.

[@RobertGareau-z2b]

I feel your pain

[@2012aquinas]

Hey Father Barron, I am currently in the process of discerning a vocation with the Fraternal Society of Saint Peter. Do you have any further insights?

[@christophersalinas2722]

how’s it going?

[@jokerski3250]

I have the thoughts about priesthood. Followed by terror bewilderment frustration and despair. It has been a horrible experience for the past five years. Tortured by the ambiguous idea that keeps coming up. It's been hell on me.

[@BishopBarron]

You should find a good spiritual director or confessor with whom you could discuss these matters in detail. I'll say a prayer for you too, Jake.

[@jokerski3250]

Bishop Robert Barron Thank you very much. I met and talked with about 8 different preist and I talked to four different vocation directors. Met with one on two different occasions and was told not to enter into seminary both times. Talked with three other vocation directors two from different states. They mostly echoed what you said about the negative emotions not being of God or a sign that it is from God. One of them told me to go meet with someone he knew who could help me discern deeper. I ended up meeting with a Jesuit priest once a month for a while and every time I went it was torture. Every time i was driving to meet him I was sure that today was the day that he would tell me that I should go to seminary to discern. I was sure the thoughts that I was having was gonna be a sign that I am meant to be a priest. But every time he told me no and that what I was experiencing was not from God. It was a miserable time in my life. He ended up referring me to counseling and therapy and that put me on a path the helped me discover that I have OCD. I am actually married now and in process of treating my OCD. But I dont even go to church anymore because I end up feeling miserable and its not worth it. I end up in a bad way. Lack of love and tolerence, lack of peace of mind and it hurts my personal relationships with people.

[@Noone-bv9xr]

I have OCD too brother (sorry I'm six years in the future😂). I have a psychiatrist and a counselor. I was living in a horrible way as well. Feeling as though every little mistake I had was mortal sin and feeling I was doomed for Hell. The best way to treat OCD us to do exposure work (as hard as it may seem). This means stating your worst nightmare yo yourself over and over and saying all of the bad things with it. You want to go to your darkest place and face it head on. Eventually the stress will weaken. Prayers with God will also make you have better judgement. I know exposure work isn't easy, but neither is living with OCD. OCD is a great Cross to carry and God doesn't want us to go it alone. I would recommend exposure work even though it is frightening at first. I'll be praying for you. Love you! God Bless!

[@jokerski3250]

@@Noone-bv9xr thank you. I have come along way with all this. I have gotten much better at handling ocd. I have recovered for the most part and erp is what helped me get better.

[@Gullytale]

Dear Robert Maybe you can help me understand something. I went to discern religious life at a very young age - wholly naive and innocent. Was abused in every way - heart, body, mind and spirit. Years passed. I dealt with it - with help of a clinical psychologist, not affiliated with the Church. The Church did nothing to reach out or to help. In fact they made it far worse - fought me when I had nothing with which to fight, 'cept the little faith I had left. I succeeded. They were brought to their knees in the end. In time I asked again about religious life. I was told, "We would love to have you but could never be sure you'd not do that to one of us." All my fault - I asked for it and deserved it basically. More years passed. Many people, lay people are telling me I have this thing called a 'vocation' to priesthood or religious life - whatever the hell that is - 'vocation'. God calls everyone. I am deeply spiritual certainly or used to be. So I am left wondering if God is 'calling' me to something. I go again - just yesterday - 30th August 2014 - and again ask about vocation. I went to a place where I have been going to Mass daily, praying etc etc. The priest there knows me and my story. He said "I don't think you are suited to religious life. You might judge us...... " Talk about sticking knives in your heart, head, back and sides. Talk about mind wrecking crap. I am not only done thinking about religious life or priesthood. I am done with the Catholic Church. Wouldn't be happy till they had me slitting my wrists. Any advice ? [e-mail]

[@BishopBarron]

It sounds like you've dealt with some stupid and morally corrupt people. I'm truly sorry about that. I would simply ask that you not extrapolate from those experiences to the entire church. And above all, pray. Ask one of your heavenly friends to intercede for you.

[@Gullytale]

Fr. Robert Barron One thing I learned in all of this Robert. Spiritual abuse, clerical sexual or any other form of abuse - of the lay or the cleric blinds to beauty - Beauty. To God - to Jesus - the face of Jesus too. Mary is the reason I remain and helped me see the face of Jesus again. She is my Heavenly friend, sister, advocate, Mother. I was very angry, understandably for a very long time, and having it rubbed in my face time and again when I was trying to wholly reconcile with the Church - even re consider religious life was..... well. I went right back in there this morning. Mary won't let me be beaten down wholly. She raises me up again. Went to Mass which was beautiful and pray for ALL in the Church - Body of Christ. Even those men who seem to fear me for some reason when they say the inane things they do. I don't think they are 'morally corrupt' as much as emotionally and psychologically lacking in development for men their age. However. I feel deeply the call to pray for peace and that's what has me still here and intending to remain. The world needs peace. We all need peace - Christ's peace. God bless

[@RobertGareau-z2b]

I have severe obsessive compulsive disorder and feel the priesthood is being forced on my mind constantly against my will. I feel extreme pressure to make vows to become a catholic priest and I am afraid god is going to expect me to become a catholic priest if I say give in to saying the vows and this causing me severe torment and fear. This has been going on in my head for 7 years and I can't take it anymore and feel like god is forcing the priesthood on me and I don't want to be one because they don't allow priests to marry and I can't live with that and get sick of fellow catholic's suggesting its might not be gods will for me to marry and hoping for me to be single. I am having suicidal thoughts and can't take this being stuck in my mind anymore all day everyday

[@lopamusicrecords]

I understand you, it's part of the OCD, you are not alone

[@archsword2446]

Try visiting the sick and see Jesus in them and Jesus in you and read the Bible( the good Samaritan) reflect on the life of St. Camillus de Lellis and frequent mass attendance.

[@ericc1654]

I feel I have those sign but lack of opportunity to become a priest

[@jaimejimenezmacedonio323]

why do you lack the opportunity? Talk to your parish priest

[@jflinn7401]

Thanks for the advice, Father. I am a college student and I think I may be called to the priesthood. Do you have any recommendations for discerning whether you're called to the monastic or diocesan priesthood?

[@BishopBarron]

Read To Save a Thousand Souls by Fr. Brett Brannen.

[@jflinn7401]

Fr. Robert Barron Thank you very much for the reply, Father. Believe it or not, that is a book which I already have on my shelf. It has been immensely helpful in what it says about the diocesan priesthood and it is one that I've been returning to frequently these past couple of weeks. I don't suppose there's a similar book about the monastic priesthood?

[@splinterbyrd]

Me; age 45. Kids grown up. Single (yet again!) Mass every day Im able to. I dunno, I think Jesus would have to do the lightning bolt/ burning bush thing.

[@BassByRon]

Want to discern the priestly vocation? Read Ezekiel, especially Chapter 3. In the book of Ezekiel, you learn about how to minister among people (*especially* your own church leaders) who will absolutely and utterly despise you when you speak the truth of the gospel to them, after you yourself are first thrown about by the spirit (which, in Ezekiel, is a *mighty* wind). Double strike! Of course, I know your going to reflect on all the positive aspects, but if you dare speak the truth of the gospel in love to people, it will cost you your life (emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes even physically). Just look at Jesus, who loved everyone and still got hacked. And what did Ezekiel do to deserve the treatment he got, not from men, but from God, who picked him up by a hair on his head (8:3)?! I imagine that Ezekiel was absolutely terrified! Read this how you like, but this aspect of the priesthood is typically not shared until well after ordination (usually you find out the hard way).

[@IcepickL]

Who fairly considers the priesthood and doesn't feel joy? This seems like it needs to be qualified.

[@GoGuide888]

If the head of a seminary is uncomfortable about talking about the loneliness and depression celibate priests face with the public, I wonder how they must deem it unseemly, ill mannered, even voyeuristic, to talk about the sexual practices of bishops and priests. Only when transparency and accountability become realities in the public eye, will the priesthood ever be able to move beyond its failures.

[@BishopBarron]

Who's uncomfortable about it?! Sure, some priests fall into depression. And lay people don't?!

[@ariaanjonker]

Praying to Mary, celebrating the Mass, venerating the Pope-you won’t find those doctrines in the Bible. And yet more than one billion Roman Catholics throughout the world follow such practices in line with the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. With that many Catholics around the globe, it’s likely you know some of them as relatives, friends, neighbors, or co-workers. Find out what they don’t know-the origin and error of Catholic doctrine-so you can help the Catholics you know out of the darkness and into the light.