ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD
OFFICE OF VOCATIONS
Hartford Priest BLOG
But what if I’m also attracted to marriage?
August 17, 2022
In an interview, the late Francis Cardinal George, stated that a man who cannot see himself as a husband and father cannot be a priest; the reason, as Cardinal George explained, is that a priest is married to the Church and through his ministry, he brings forth new children to the Church, his bride (Ellen Rossini, June 27, 2004, www.ncregister.com).
Seeing yourself as a husband and father isn’t necessarily a sign that God is not calling me to the vocation of priesthood. A healthy attraction to marriage points to a man who is willing to give his gifts and talents for love of his wife and family. A man with a healthy attraction to marriage is a man willing to sacrifice for the good of his spouse, his children; who not only wills to provide for their physical wellbeing, but most of all, would strive to help his spouse and children received the best gift any human person can receive: God’s gift of salvation.
If you find yourself conflicted between marriage and the perceived voice of God calling you to the priesthood, remember that God calls priests who are willing to take His Church as bride. A priest conforms his life to Christ’s, and the Church is Christ’s bride. Consider whether God is calling you to be a ‘father’, meaning a priest, a man, willing to use his gifts and talents to bring forth new children to the Church, his bride.
~ Fr. Jaime G. Maldonado
Seeing yourself as a husband and father isn’t necessarily a sign that God is not calling me to the vocation of priesthood. A healthy attraction to marriage points to a man who is willing to give his gifts and talents for love of his wife and family. A man with a healthy attraction to marriage is a man willing to sacrifice for the good of his spouse, his children; who not only wills to provide for their physical wellbeing, but most of all, would strive to help his spouse and children received the best gift any human person can receive: God’s gift of salvation.
If you find yourself conflicted between marriage and the perceived voice of God calling you to the priesthood, remember that God calls priests who are willing to take His Church as bride. A priest conforms his life to Christ’s, and the Church is Christ’s bride. Consider whether God is calling you to be a ‘father’, meaning a priest, a man, willing to use his gifts and talents to bring forth new children to the Church, his bride.
~ Fr. Jaime G. Maldonado
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Vocations Director
Fr. Michael Casey
Fr. Michael Casey
Message from Fr. Casey
"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain." (John 15:16). The call of the Lord Jesus to serve him in the Holy Priesthood arises directly from the love of his Sacred Heart. He is still calling many more men today to leave their worldly desires and ambitions behind and set out on the great adventure of the Catholic Priesthood, to dedicate their lives to the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
A call to the priesthood usually begins with some attraction to priestly life and ministry, a call to give oneself to God in a deeper, more radical way. From there through prayer and participation in the Church's sacramental life, one usually is led to greater trust in beginning to take the first steps of answering God's call. If you think God may be calling you, do not be afraid! Spend time in prayer, particularly in Eucharistic Adoration and participation in the Sacraments, in order to come to know Christ better. Also, it would be helpful to reach out and speak to a priest who you may know and trust, just to see what his thoughts are.
The Lord God promised to send shepherds for his Church. Today, the people of God need good and holy priests who will proclaim the Gospel and celebrate the Sacraments for our world. If God is calling you, be courageous in answering, knowing that with St. Paul "we can do all things in him who strengthens us" (cf Phil 4:14).
A call to the priesthood usually begins with some attraction to priestly life and ministry, a call to give oneself to God in a deeper, more radical way. From there through prayer and participation in the Church's sacramental life, one usually is led to greater trust in beginning to take the first steps of answering God's call. If you think God may be calling you, do not be afraid! Spend time in prayer, particularly in Eucharistic Adoration and participation in the Sacraments, in order to come to know Christ better. Also, it would be helpful to reach out and speak to a priest who you may know and trust, just to see what his thoughts are.
The Lord God promised to send shepherds for his Church. Today, the people of God need good and holy priests who will proclaim the Gospel and celebrate the Sacraments for our world. If God is calling you, be courageous in answering, knowing that with St. Paul "we can do all things in him who strengthens us" (cf Phil 4:14).
Associate Directors
