Signs of a priestly vocation

Father Joseph Lopez, JCL, is Vocations Director for the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

Anyone who has spent any time in the world of vocations knows that the number one, most effective way to help young men discern the priesthood is direct contact. If you know a young man who shows signs of a call to the priesthood, say something to him.

"The Class of 2016: Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood," published by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, backs that up with data, in a big way.

Of all the respondents to the survey of men to be ordained to the priesthood in 2016, 93 percent reported being encouraged to consider the priesthood by someone in their lives. Ordinands reported that, on average, four people encouraged their vocations. The top three encouragers were parish priests, friends and fellow parishioners.

That is you!

So, we know that we need to directly encourage young men to consider a priestly vocation, but that brings us to the next question; who should we be encouraging? There are several signs to look for in young men who might have a vocation to the priesthood. 

The Lord is the center of his life. Not all men who attend adoration and the sacraments regularly are called to become priests, but many men who are called to be priests attend adoration and receive the sacraments regularly. In fact, 75 percent of respondents to the CARA survey reported regularly praying before the Blessed Sacrament. Do you know a young man that always seems to be at adoration? Say something to him.

He has a heart for service. That young man who volunteers for Habitat for Humanity or teaches CCD or reads as a lector or serves at the altar already has characteristics of a parish priest. Let him know.

He is sociable and likable. St. John Paul II wrote in Pastores Dabo Vobis, "In order that his ministry may be humanly as credible and acceptable as possible, it is important that the priest should mold his human personality in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ the Redeemer of humanity.” The affable young man who always seems to get on well with other people, both his peers and those older and younger, has a head start in that regard, so tell him.

He is a gentleman. He is good mannered, kind, understanding, well dressed, articulate—an all-around Christian gentleman. If that sounds like the type of man who makes a wonderful husband and father, well, that is because he is. But that is also the kind of man God calls to serve him in his priesthood. The good men make the good priests.

He is intelligent. You can tell a lot about someone’s intelligence just by having a conversation. Does a young man demonstrate a deep understanding of theology and politics? Is he a straight-A student? Do people confide in him about questions of faith? It takes a lot of intelligence to get through philosophy and theology in the seminary, let alone tackle the responsibilities of being a pastor, so that intelligent young man is exactly the type of person God is calling to his priesthood.

The evidence shows that suggesting the priesthood to a young man goes a long way in aiding in his discernment, so when you come across a young man who has the characteristics of somebody you see as a good pastor, confessor, celebrant, preacher or spiritual director, let him know. There is a chance it will be the first time he ever considered the priesthood.

Be courageous. Be kind. Be bold. The simplest question such as: “Have you ever thought about being a priest?” may change his life forever.