Discernment Questions

Am I Called?

A call to priesthood in the Church is much more than just an individual, personal desire to serve and lead. While the call comes from God, it is mediated through the People of God, the Church. With input from the whole Church and assistance from professionals in the areas of discernment and formation, bishops are the ones who are entrusted with the responsibility of determining whether or not any candidate’s sense of being called is genuine. That determination is largely based on three factors:

• Does the candidate believe that God wants him to become a priest? Is this belief rooted in a solid, fruitful prayer life? Has it been tested in conversations with a spiritual director?
• Does the candidate have some or all of the gifts and talents that other members of the community of faith can recognize as the sort of gifts that could make him effective as a priest? Have any others in the Church pointed this out?
• Has the candidate demonstrated the ability to complete a course of studies in preparation for the priesthood? Are his skills for ministry strengthening and deepening with experience? Is he growing in love for the Church, that is, for the people he may be called to serve, and those with whom he will share leadership?

Of course, these factors are usually not fully developed in any candidate when he first applies to the seminary, but there should at least be evidence in him of the potential to develop them. The unfolding of these gifts, talents and attitudes continues throughout the time of formation, and the discernment of a call to ordination also matures and deepens over the years. In fact, this discernment is not really complete until the very day of ordination itself.

Who Is Qualified?

Men who enter the seminary have the following qualities (or an ability and willingness to learn them).

Spiritual – Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you pray regularly and attend Mass regularly? Are you active in your parish? Do you have a respect for the Church and her teachings?

Generous Heart – Do you have a love for service to God and his people? Are you willing to sacrifice for the good of others?

Love for the Poor – Do you see yourself working on behalf of the poor? Can you see yourself speaking up for those being treated unjustly?

Intellectual – Do you have the ability to do college study? How about an ability to articulate the faith to others?

Openness – Can you work well with cultures different than your own? Can you work well with men and women in a collaborative style? Can you function in a Church that will change over the next 50 years?

Emotional – Do you have good emotional health and a healthy self-image? Do you negotiate the ups and downs of life well? Do you have good, healthy friendships and an ability to make new ones?

Social – Do you like being around people? Do people like being around you?

Self - Discipline – Does your life reflect the ability to live the commandments? Do you keep commitments you’ve made?

Physical – Do you have good physical health? Do you have a healthy balance of work, recreation, exercise and rest in your life? Do you have the stamina needed for priesthood?

Is Celibacy for Me?

Together with Rev. Charles A.Gallagher, S.J., Rev. Thomas L. Vandenberg has co-authored the book "The Celibacy Myth, Loving for Life."
View and print Chapters 1 - 4, and Chapters 4 - Appendix of Father Vandenberg's book.

Let me say a few words about celibacy. Celibacy is never 'for me.' It is always for the life and well-being of the church. As a charism of the Holy Spirit, it is meant to facilitate and deepen a priest’s relationship with his people.

Unfortunately, the question is always phrased in terms of what celibacy costs a priest, and that leads us to speak of it in negative terms. "Celibacy means one cannot be married, share life with a wife and have children. It is never seen in terms of what celibacy is, a gift of the Spirit to help a priest live in a close relationship with his people. Ironically, the opposite of a celibate clergy is not a married clergy. It is a bachelor clergy. A priest is called to live in a relationship of love with his people. And when that love is there, celibacy will not be seen as a burden. It may not be easy at times, but it will not be a burden.

Celibacy helps a priest develop a depth of relationship with his people, a depth that is simply not possible for one who is married. If married, a priest’s primary obligations are to his wife and family, and secondarily to the people of his parish. A celibate priest truly belongs to his people and they to him. This is what nourishes the priest at an emotional level. I believe that it is not good for a man to be alone. A priest living the charism of celibacy is not really alone.

The question a young man thinking of the priesthood really is asking is, "Can I live a celibate life?" He wants to know if he can do it. He can’t if all he thinks about is what he gave up. In the priesthood we must keep our focus on what we are giving ourselves to, and it is to our people in the spirit of Christ. Nor can a celibate spend his time filling his mind with images that make living a chaste life difficult, maybe even impossible. We need support of people who believe in us, like family, brother priests and friends. If you sense a call to prayer and service in the spirit of Jesus, you’ll be okay. A good sign that you have what it takes to be a celibate priest is the respect you have for women as a healthy man. The last thing the priesthood needs are men who are suspicious of women. If you think you may make a good husband, you have what it takes to be a good priest!

~ Rev. Thomas L. Vandenberg

Rev. Thomas L. Vandenberg is a priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle. He has served as pastor in several parishes, as director of the Catholic Youth Organization of the Archdiocese and in leadership positions for the Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Together with Rev. Charles A.Gallagher, S.J. he has co-authored the book "The Celibacy Myth, Loving for Life," ã1987, The Crossroad Publishing Company, New York, N.Y.

What are the Signs of a Call?

Most men called to the priesthood have experienced several (not necessarily all) of the following.

Uncommon Passion for the Faith – Men who enter the seminary know they are different than their buddies … faith means more to them than many of their friends.

Sense of Responsibility – God doesn’t call many men to the priesthood. If those who are called don’t respond, how will our faithful people receive the Eucharist in the future? Men who respond to the call of priesthood do so partially because of a sense of responsibility to their Catholic brothers and sisters.

Can’t Shake the Possibility of Priesthood – No matter who they are dating, the job they have, the car they are driving or the house they own, the idea of priesthood keeps popping up in the minds of those called to priesthood.

Attracted to Serving God and Others – At their deepest level, men who enter the seminary will often say that serving God and his people are the things that bring them a deep sense of joy.

Scary but Thrilling at the Same Time – Fear often accompanies a calling to priesthood….initially, a man begins to think of all the reasons he could never become a priest. But there’s also a thrill at the same time…the thrill that comes when we think, "Maybe I could be good at that" or "Maybe I could do something remarkable with my life."

Envisioning Oneself Taking on Some Role of the Priesthood – Many of those who enter the seminary will speak about having envisioned themselves as being effective at some aspect of priesthood: preaching, visiting the sick, celebrating the Eucharist, working with youth, evangelizing, working with the poor etc.

Others Have Said, "You’d make a Good Priest." – God often speaks to us through other people. Men who have become seminarians, often have been told by friends, family members, co-workers or fellow parishioners that they have the qualities to make a fine priest.