Most Holy Trinity Seminary

Should I Become a Priest?

Should I become a priest?

How do I know that I have a vocation?

What if I am in doubt about my vocation?

Shouldn't I wait to go to the seminary until I'm older
or have graduated from college?

Q.  Should I become a priest?

The Disaster of Vatican II

Never was there a time in the history of the Church when priests were so badly needed as today. But strangely enough, young men in our day have virtually abandoned the service of the Church.

Vatican II set into motion the project that had been the dream of the enemies of the Church for the previous 150 years: to change the Catholic Faith into a dogma-less, humanitarian religion---one whose goal would be to draw all religions and all peoples into one featureless church that would be an amalgam of all religions and churches. Because of the vast size and influence of the Catholic Church, it made more sense to the Church's enemies to change her from within, and to make her the vehicle to spread the creed of the "deification of man."

Since Vatican II, we have seen our Catholic institutions, while remaining the same in name and external appearance, undergo profound interior changes. We find in these institutions a religion completely different from that of pre-Vatican II times. While the same cathedrals, the same churches, seminaries, universities and religious orders still exist, the religion in them is entirely different.

The Heresy of Modernism

This new religion is the heresy of modernism, which St. Pius X called the "synthesis of all heresies" in his solemn condemnation of it in 1907. The saint also warned that even then the modernists had infiltrated the Church with express purpose of changing her from within.  He warned that if they ever succeeded in their goal to change the Faith according to the principles of modernism, it would result in the destruction of the Church, if that were possible.

This profound and substantial alteration of our Faith was accomplished by John XXIII and Paul VI, and has been augmented and continued by John Paul II. Having gained the position of power in 1958 in the person of John XXIII, the modernists wasted no time in promoting their destructive and heretical ideas, and consolidated their power in the hierarchy. The result is that the Catholic Faith, as it existed from the time of Saint Peter to the time of Pope Pius XII, is now outlawed in those institutions which were founded and built to be a home for it.

The Catholic Resistance Needs Priests

It is the will of God to work through men, and to overcome His enemies by giving power to men. The Church therefore, by the help and grace of God, must overcome this enemy within her by means of men. These men must be priests and bishops, since the Church cannot survive as the true Church unless she have priests and bishops. All of her essential functions of teaching, ruling, and sanctifying the faithful upon earth, which she derives from the sacred mission confided to her by Christ, can only be carried on by priests and bishops.

The only way the Faith will survive the modernist infiltration and poisoning is through the ministry of priests who reject the changes of Vatican II, recognize the enemy, condemn and resist him,and protect the flock of Christ from further devouring by wolves. This principle was true during every assault of heresy upon the Church in the past. How much more is it true during the intense and ultimate assault by her enemies in our own days?

The Church has never failed to be fruitful and vibrant in her resistance to her enemies. She has within her the very means to combat those who wish to bring her down. These weapons are Catholic doctrine, Catholic sacraments, the Catholic Mass, and Catholic discipline. For these things are the truth, and the strength of the Church is that she is in possession of the truth --- truth from God, supernatural and infallible.This is her strength, for the human race has a natural attraction to the truth. The more the Church displays her truth, the more she overcomes her enemies.

You are Called to Sacrifice

For this reason, despite terrible odds, she overcame the dire persecutions of the early centuries. To the terrifying decrees of emperors and to the machines of torture which they displayed in order to kill her, she displayed in return, by the blood of her martyrs, merely her truth. For three centuries the Church had to fight what seemed to be a losing battle. It was a battle of people with no human power or weapons against those who had all human power and weapons. Yet in the end it was the Church that was victorious. This glorious victory she gained by remaining steadfast to her Faith, and by showing it to the whole world by the blood of her martyrs.

So in these times, when she is not threatened from without but from within, the Church must display her truth. This she can only do through the ministry of priests and bishops who are faithful to true Catholic doctrine and true Catholic liturgy. Today's martyr must be the young man who is willing to give up the pleasures and opportunities of this world, and dedicate his life --- give up his life --- to God and His holy Church for the sake of the salvation of souls.

It was to train young men to become this type of priest that Most Holy Trinity Seminary was founded in 1995.

Return to top

A. A vocation to the priesthood is simply God's will that you become a priest. The problem arises in knowing God's will for you in this life. Vocations do not usually happen by visions or interior voices, but rather by signs � signs in your character, piety, and inclinations that the Holy Ghost is moving you to the priesthood. These are the ordinary signs of vocation:

A genuine and constant inclination of mind to serve God as a priest. You feel attracted to the life the priest, and to ecclesiastical things. You might be interested in the liturgy, sacred dogma, or missionary work. There is something about the priesthood that draws you.

A genuine desire to promote the glory of God and of His Church, and the salvation of souls. This is the real work of the priest, and at times demands great sacrifices. This is the only true motive of becoming a priest. It would be wrong to become a priest for the wrong motive, for example, because people would have great respect for you.

A good moral life. One of the signs of not having a vocation is the inability to stay out of mortal sin for a long time. But this requirement does not mean you must be a saint to consider the priesthood; it simply means that you must be serious about your spiritual life, that you frequent the sacraments often, avoid occasions of sin, and lead an upright life.

Piety. The life of a priest is a life of prayer, and part of a vocation to the priesthood is an inclination to prayer - liturgical prayer and private prayer.

Emotional stability. The priest must be a father to all, and must bear the problems of all, and cannot himself be burdened with emotional and psychological problems.

At least average intelligence. The priest must faithfully transmit Catholic doctrine to the faithful, and accurately diagnose their sins in the confessional. Hence he must have at least average intellectual ability to pass his seminary courses.

Good physical health. The priest must be in good physical condition in order to carry out his work. Those who suffer from chronic illnesses or who are handicapped cannot enter the priesthood.

Return to top

Q.  What if I am in doubt about my vocation?

A. You should go to a good priest whom you know and ask him what he thinks. Ask him to be your regular confessor, and acquaint him candidly with all of your weaknesses and temptations, as well as your strengths and gifts, and trust him to counsel you. Even more importantly, pray fervently and perseveringly to God that you be enlightened in this matter.

Return to top

Q.  Shouldn't I wait to go to the seminary until I'm older or have graduated from college?

A. Absolutely not. A vocation is frequently lost by delay. Four years of college will give you only distractions, heavy debts to pay, temptations, and courses that will not get you any closer to the priesthood. Better to heed the call as soon as you hear it. Remember, too, that the seminary is where a young man tests his vocation by living the clerical life. Whether or not you truly have a vocation will become clear after some time in the seminary.

Return to top

For further information contact:

The Most Rev. Donald J. Sanborn
Most Holy Trinity Seminary
1000 Spring Lake Highway
Brooksville FL 34602
352-799-0541

mhtseminary@gmail.com