Normally such words would gladden the heart of any priest. To learn that someone has received the calling from God and is only too willing to respond. But this was not the reaction of Father Ignatius at Norman’s sudden announcement.
“Father … did you hear me?” continued Norman sitting uncomfortably in the armchair in the priest’s office. Father Ignatius sat back behind his desk and said calmly:
“When did you decide that this is what you wish to do?”
“It took a long time … I didn’t decide as such … I felt, and still feel and believe, that God is calling me to the priesthood …” stammered Norman.
“At first I was confused … this can’t be, I thought. I tried to get the thought out of my mind … but it kept coming back … stronger than ever … I know deep in my heart that this is what I have to do … God is asking me to be a priest …”
“Have you discussed it with Helen?” enquired the priest.
“No … no … I can’t” replied Norman looking down to the ground, “not yet anyway … I thought I’d talk to you first … I … I … I wanted your opinion, and advice.”
“Norman … you realize it is impossible for you to become a priest!” Father Ignatius said as gently as he could.
“Just because I’m married … why should that stop me becoming a priest?” interrupted the young man, “it happens in other denominations …”
“I know it does,” Father Ignatius continued, “and perhaps at some date in the future it may well happen in our Church too. I don’t know about that … But right now, a married man with children, as in your case, cannot become a priest …”
“But … I feel God is calling me …” interrupted Norman.
“That may well be true … Again, I don’t know about that. Would God invite you to be a priest as a married man …”
“I’ve often felt drawn to the priesthood …” Norman interrupted once more.
“Do you remember Father, all those years ago; when Helen and I came to tell you we wished to marry? You jokingly asked me whether I wish to become a priest instead! And you asked her whether she’d like to be a nun rather than be shackled with me …”
The priest smiled.
“And do you remember even earlier than that … well before I even met Helen … you suggested to me once that I might consider priesthood …”
“Yes … I always thought you’d be well suited to the vocation. You would have made a good priest.” Father Ignatius agreed.
“But at the time I was not ready … somehow I believed that’s not what God wanted. Perhaps I was mistaken … or just did not listen to God’s prompting. Then I met Helen and we fell in love. But now I’m sure that’s what God is asking me to do. I’ve been a Deacon for four years … yet it’s not enough … I want to be a priest.”
“Why is it not enough?” asked the priest gently.
“I don’t know … I just feel and believe that’s what God wants of me … At first I thought it was my mind making things up. I dismissed the idea believing it to be impossible … but it keeps coming back …
“Why can’t I be a priest and married … St Peter was married was he not? He was good enough to be chosen by Jesus … why not me?”
Father Ignatius ignored the question.
“How do you envisage being a priest and married at the same time, with your family responsibilities?” he asked Norman.
“I don’t know …” mumbled the distraught young man.
“I’ve thought it over again and again. You know in the Bible Jesus saying in Matthew Chapter 16 Verse 24; I looked it up … ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me’.
“I suspect Peter and the other disciples must have left their families behind to follow Jesus wherever He went …”
“And is that what you’re planning to do? Leave Helen and the children to fend for themselves?” Father Ignatius asked in his quiet and calm tone of voice.
“No … of course not. I couldn’t do that.” retorted Norman, “I love my wife and children. I couldn’t possibly leave them … That’s why I came to you. I’m all confused. I couldn’t leave my job and responsibilities … the house is not fully paid for … I … I … I don’t know what to think anymore …
“These thoughts have been torturing me for some time now. I know and understand my responsibilities as a husband and a father … but I firmly believe that I am called to the vocation …”
“I believe you are …” replied the priest surprisingly.
“I’ll tell you what I’ll do.” he continued, “I’ll discuss what you’ve told me with Monsignor Thomas at Bishop’s House. I’ll seek his advice. In the meantime I suggest you pray some more about this, and discuss it with Helen … I’ll pray for you too, and leave it in God’s hands to show us how to proceed.”
All this happened a long time ago. The Church understood and sympathized with Norman but could not accept him as a priest. He eventually left and became a priest in another denomination, supported by his wife and children. Father Ignatius still keeps in touch.
If there is a will - there is a way - that is what I got out of this today. Glad he didn't give up.
ReplyDeletesandie
I guess I can understand why priest can't be married
ReplyDeleteBut I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world--how he may please his wife. (1 Co 7:32-33)
However, it is not wrong to be married and be a priest:
But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better. (1 co 7:36-38)
Basically, both ways honors God.
Paul
Hello Chatty Crone and Paul,
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to see you visiting here and commenting for the first time. I hope you return soon.
The question of married priests has long vexed the Catholic Church. Although lately they have accepted married priests from other denominations to become Catholic priests - i.e. those who were already married and priests elsewhere. This will no doubt cause friction amongst existing un-married Catholic priests. I have known at least 4 such priests who left the Church altogether to get married.
God bless you Chatty and Paul.
Hi Victor! You sure like to bring up touchy subjects, don't you? Lol! Personally, I believe the Church is correct in not wanting priests to marry. I think that if someone is leading others to such a large degree that it's best if they remain single-hearted. There are married priests who have come over from other denominations and some of them have spoken about the difficulty of balancing their duties as a husband and father with their duties as a priest. It can't be easy.
ReplyDeleteDespite my personal beliefs, I can understand how it might seem unfair to some priests when they see that some married priests from other denominations are allowed to become Catholic priests. I know a priest who left the priesthood to get married, too, and I'm sure he would have liked to do both. I also know a married couple where the man was a priest in a different denomination and was turned down when he wanted to become a Catholic priest so I guess they don't accept ALL married priest from other denominations. He was disappointed but accepted the decision.
God bless you, Victor :)
Hello Mary,
ReplyDeleteI really don't know where I stand on the question of married priests.
But I do know of one problem with married priests - having a mother-in-law !!!
God bless.
Read the story. I don't know, I just don't know....Norman so wanted to be a priest that he left the Catholic Church - just to be a priest. Did he love the idea of being priest more than anything else? Was fatherhood and marriage so hard that priesthood offered an escape? I'm not sure I'd be happy with a Norman-priest.
ReplyDeleteHi Caitlynne,
DeleteWe don't know, of course, Norman's motivation. It could indeed be genuine and he may well be called for the priesthood. The story ends that he remained married albeit also a priest.
The question of married priests has long taxed the Catholic Church. You might be interested in my book on the subject - "To Love A Priest" - see: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Priest-Victor-S-Moubarak/dp/1505908558/ref=sr_1_2/163-7470234-4628408?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474040865&sr=1-2
God bless.