Discernment of a Teen: SURPRISE!




I actually found this incomplete post in the blogspot archives today, so I thought I would finish it and post it =).....HERE GOES!!!!: It was a typical school night (probably filled with homework) when I decided to take a break to watch a DVD my Sophomore religion teacher gave me. After a conversation earlier that week about the priesthood, he handed me a DVD called "Fishers of Men". Within the first 5 minutes of watching, my face was lit up and I could feel a sense of awe and wonder inside of me. After the movie finished, I went to my room and simply prayed in amazement.





Above is just a 2 minute trailer for the full 20 minute video; however after watching the full 20 minute video, I was just filled with so much inspiration to become a priest. When people ask me, "How can you consider the priesthood?" well I've always wanted to respond, "How can you not?" Why not be a deacon? You can be married and still serve God in the church. What about just being really involved? Why be a priest?

Well when it comes down to it, what I find most appealing about the priesthood is having the blessing of being able to be an instrument of God through the sacraments. As my faith grew, my desire to serve God grew as well. Being a person of faith isn't about being pious or knowing all the prayers or being "holier than thou"; I truly believe that it really comes down to being an instrument of God. And that is what truly excites me about being a priest.

I can remember so many masses when I would be staring at the Eucharist being consecrated by the priest (well by the Holy Spirit, through the Priest) and saying to myself, "Wow, that would be such a humble blessing to be used by God to provide "Living Bread" for His people. For some reason (well I KNOW the reason) it just excites me knowing that one day I could be behind that alter saying "This IS my Body" or that I might be raising the Monstrance and saying the Divine Praises. I don't want to be a priest for the spot light or the praise; I want to become a priest because, ultimately, I know that my true joy does not come from the things of this world, but from allowing God to truly use me.

I know what you're thinking, Rence, you're sounding too much like a prideful mystic who might be taking chemical enhancing stuff or whatever teens these days do. But to be honest, that's the best I can do in relating my reasons to be a priest. I have this great love for God and whenever I pray, I feel like compelled to offer my entire being to him; and during my junior and senior year of high school, it meant giving my entire college future to him.

(This is where I added my current stuff)

And after a year and a half of seminary, God has proven faithful and loving. These past three semesters have been the best time of my extremely short life. I have no doubt in my mind that going to the seminary has been God's will. There have been so many moments this past year and a half where my love for the priesthood has grown. I've met so many priests during my time as a seminarian who have inspired me through their personal love for God and for his people. Ranging from the joyful holiness of my Vice-Rector Fr. Paschal, to the intelligent priest that is Fr. Bong of Davis.

But no other time has inspired me the most to become a priest then my time at ST. James in Davis. I remember my first home visit during my summer assignment. Fr. Bong brought Derf and I with him to administer the anointing of the sick to an elderly man several miles away. When we got there, we were greeted enthusiastically by his wife. When we walked into the room of the elderly man (whose name I will withhold for privacy reasons), his face lit up and his entire attitude was filled with joyful enthusiasm, despite his physical condition. After Fr. Bong administered the sacraments, the Five of us began singing, laughing and enjoying each others company. I left their house that day filled with a sense of having encountered Christ. When I went home that night, I prayed to God saying, "This is why the priesthood calls to me, to encounter you through his people in this special way." As the summer went on, many other experiences refined my discernment and the call to priesthood grew evermore. However, the day before my assignment ended, the wife of the elderly man came to the rectory to see Fr. Bong. The elderly man past away the night before and she and her son turned to Fr. Bong and the other priests in the rectory for guidance. During that time, despite the emotional sadness in my heart, I also realized how much priests are needed in our world as a source of comfort and of hope.

And that, my brothers and sisters, are a few small reasons of why I want to be a priest. (Trust me, these are only a few =)

Pax et Caritas,
Rence