Case 2. A Doubtful Vocation

Julius, the youngest son of a certain nobleman, who was soon to be initiated into the subdiaconate, came to Caius, a priest who was giving spiritual exercises to certain clerics about to be ordained. Caius had described the burdens of the priesthood in grave words, and thereby had aroused anxieties and doubts in Julius’s mind. For Julius had never seriously thought about those burdens; almost from infancy he had always heard from his parents and from a certain bishop who was a very close friend of the family that he ought to devote himself to the service of the Church, which needs such men to hold ecclesiastical prelacies. Led by this purpose he had pursued his studies at college, and had become a cleric rather to answer the expectation of his parents and friends than to indulge his own inclination. He intends faithfully to fulfill, with God’s help, whatever the duties of the state may be; he hopes that he can bear the burdens, and moreover he is imbued with good morals. When Caius heard these things, he began to doubt Julius’s vocation and whether he ought not advise Julius to return to his parents and to the world. Hence it is asked:

1. What is a divine vocation to the priesthood?

2. What is the obligation to follow a divine vocation?

3. Does one who becomes a priest without being called sin, and to what extent?

4. What is to be said of the case?

1. This question is answered above, p. 23.

2. What obligation is there to follow a divine vocation?

A vocation to the priesthood is a great favor bestowed by God and it should be thankfully received. It is not commonly imposed by God as a precept, and so there would not be sin in neglecting to follow it except in cases where by so doing he who is called knowingly exposes his salvation to danger.

3. Is sin committed and how by becoming a priest without a vocation?

One who is unfit for the priesthood or who does not intend to live up to its obligations and yet becomes a priest sins grievously. One who is not unfit and who intends to live up to his obligations, but who becomes a priest from natural motives without a divine vocation, acts rashly, but in the judgment of many theologians he does not sin grievously. The reason is because such a one violates no grave precept, nor does he expose himself to serious danger of losing his soul or doing serious harm to others.¹

1 Ballerini-Palmieri, Opus Morale, tract, ix, c. ii, n. 6.

4. The case. Julius is not unfit for the priesthood, though the motives which have led him so far. are natural rather than supernatural. Caius would do well to tell him to take the opportunity of the retreat to think seriously over his position. He might teach him how to make his election of a state of life on supernatural principles. Let him think therefore on the duties and helps of the priesthood, and of its dangers as well, and then if in the presence of God he thinks that he can serve God and the Church and save his soul as a priest, and if he can purpose to do this, let him be ordained. If any doubt remains he should defer ordination for a time until his course is clear. But if he can not look at things from this supernatural point of view he had better return to his family.