To be precise, a man only “knows” he is called when he is ordained! However, there are many positive signs that can point to a vocation, and which can help a man make the decision to enter the seminary and continue along the path towards the priesthood. There are many resources in this section of the website that may be of service to those considering a vocation to the priesthood.
Before you go any further, however, now that you are here and no one is watching or listening, read these statements to yourself, take them to prayer, then act on what you know is right. God knows, you may be called to the priesthood!
If some of these statements reflect how you feel, if your heart is pounding even harder, if you sense a greater desire to find out if God is calling you be a priest, get in touch with Fr. Mark Ivany, the Vocation Director of the Archdiocese of Washington or your diocesan vocations director.
The root word for vocation is vocare, which in Latin means, "to call." God has created each one of us for a particular calling or way to follow Him. Through the Sacrament of Baptism we become a child of God and thus called to live in holiness through love of God and neighbor. It is important to also remember that our true vocation does not come from the world, or from ourselves, but rather is an invitation directly from God to follow Him.
The process of making a decision about your life with the help of the Holy Spirit is called "discernment." It is the process of discovering God's will for you. Our common vocation as baptized Christians is to a life of holiness, to union with God in this life and in life eternal. Within that common vocation, some are called to a more specific way of service to God and others, such as the sacred priesthood. Remember, as you begin this process of discernment, that both you and God desire the same thing: your happiness. You want to make a decision about your life that will bring you the deep joy that comes with following God.
Do you have the courage to ask God the question that is seldom uttered in our busy world, “Lord, how are You calling me to follow You?”
Only after you are willing to ask this question can true discernment begin.
Spiritual Direction is assistance given to persons in discernment to help them grow in holiness and in the practice of Christian virtue. A spiritual director helps the directee under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is the true director.
Spiritual direction is not counseling or therapy, but rather guidance in the spiritual life. Spiritual direction should help one to become more open to the Holy Spirit and discern His action in one's life, to identify obstacles in the spiritual life and overcome them, and to grow in the life of prayer and virtue. It is a way that God works through the Church. It is important that one be as open and honest with a spiritual director as one would be with the Lord Himself, so that He can work through His chosen human instruments.
How do I decide upon a spiritual director?
Pray and ask the Lord to show you. Look for a priest who is faithful to the teachings of the Church, prayerful, seeking holiness, witnessing a life of holiness, with whom you are comfortable speaking, and can meet on a regular basis. A good confessor may be someone to consider. You might also ask someone you trust for a recommendation. When you find someone, meet a few times first to see how it works out. If you need help in deciding on a director, don't hesitate to contact the Office of Priest Vocations for assistance.
Entering the seminary is a big step in a man’s life, but it is also important to remember that it is not as big as it might first seem. By deciding to enter the seminary, you are simply stating that you feel the Lord calling you to discern a vocation to the priesthood. You first enter the seminary not to become a priest, but to discern if you are called to be a priest. It is, on the one hand, a small step because you will have made no commitment other than a willingness to spend the next year discerning a calling to the priesthood with the support and assistance of the seminary faculty, as well as your brother seminarians, so that you no longer undergo this discernment alone.
At the same time, it is a big step because you will be stating for the first time publicly that you may become a priest. Friends and family will react in different ways to this declaration, but don’t let that worry you. Never forget the phrase so often mentioned in Scripture: "Be Not Afraid!"
If you discern, through the guidance of your spiritual director, that you are not called to the priesthood, what have you lost? A year or two spent learning more about yourself, your spiritual life, the Church, your vocation….all this goes with you. If your discernment leads you to the sacrament of Holy Orders, you will have found your mission in life. Either way, it is a win-win situation and time well spent. Ask the vast majority of men who have spent time in the seminary discerning their vocation, and they will tell you that they were some of the best years of their lives!