I read an article some time ago from the Catholic Digest that spoke of a man who was ordained a priest at the age of 79, and his children and grandchildren were present for the occasion. I don't know how recent the article was, for it was only a photocopy sent to me by the priest himself, and it came with a letter that reflected the depth of his joy and the youth of his spirit at his calling to the priesthood.  

It was beautiful to read, and having dealt most my life with younger vocations, something quite new for me. God truly has his ways and his times, and how easy we are to establish categories to control the breath of his Spirit! 

There is, however, a facet to the Spirit that we have to take into account to discuss the matter of older vocations, and it is this: the Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church and of its institutions, the inspirer of every good thing that has happened or will happen in the Church, the real approver behind what the Church accepts and approves. And the Spirit does not contradict himself.  

This is very important, because in this matter of vocations at an older age there are two possible errors: one, to dismiss the vocation because I am too old; the other, to take the age policy of some community or other I am attracted to as unjust or a sign they are stifling the Spirit.  

what is too old?  

Any observer can tell you that the meaning of "old" as attached to vocations has shifted in recent decades. Whereas before someone in his late twenties was considered a "late vocation," now 30 or thereabouts seems to be the average age in many seminaries. Nevertheless, this does not stop some thirty-year-olds from thinking they are too old. I will not attempt to give a cut-off age or to say that up to a certain age you should try it - only your spiritual director can give advice that personal - but I will give a few pointers for your consideration: 

· The priesthood and consecrated life are a way of life and not a career.  

· Going into consecrated life or studying for the priesthood entails much more than taking a few more college credits, no matter how many, and some years of internship. It is a different type of life. A different approach. A different relationship with Christ no matter how good and perfect everything was in your life before.  

· It entails a very specific decision to follow him and dedicate your whole life to doing his work in the service of the Church to the exclusion of everything else, which has very concrete expressions and effects.  

· The chastity of a young, fervent Catholic for whom the time or circumstances are not right for marriage, for example, is very different from the celibacy of another who has given up plans for a family in order to follow a call from Christ. They will each relate very differently to members of the opposite sex. While the one will be open to or even actively cultivating an attachment to a particular person, the other will be making sure nothing and nobody interferes with the choice he has already made of giving himself totally to Christ alone.  

· Similarly, their living of Christ's call to poverty will be different. And the need for prayer is far greater for the consecrated person and the priest, the obligation to pray far graver, and the consequences of not doing so further reaching.  

· You therefore have to ask yourself if, with God's grace, you can adapt to this new way of living, thinking and approaching everything; this new mind-set and spirit. 

policies 

Many groups in the Church have "age policies" established by constitution, and you might be an older person trying to enter one but finding your age an obstacle.  

Does this mean they are going against the Spirit? No. We have to say that they are following the Spirit. This can be hard to understand at first, especially if you are really attracted to that life. Actually it can be understood only in faith, for the Spirit is behind the charism of each approved group in the Church. He speaks through their rules of life. 

Meanwhile, you are finding signposts.  

The call, and not only for the older vocation, is often unclear or confusing as we first perceive it, and it sometimes takes time, trial and error to gradually discover it in detail - exactly where, for example. When you come up against established and approved policies, it is a sign the Spirit will use to continue to direct you where he wants you to go. It is not enough to say, for example, "I see many older religious and priests doing great work - I'm healthy, how come they won't let me start off right now, even if I am in my fifties?" The one and only question that matters is, how do I find God's will for me, is what I am thinking really what he wants?  

not now, Lord, not now 

The other extreme of the age question is summed up by a dad who told me of his son who was graduating from high school and had bagged an enviable college scholarship: "I can assure you that if he has a vocation it is definitely a late one."  

Seeing older men being called and becoming exemplary, effective and holy priests might tempt some who are really called earlier to put it off for a while. Or might tempt a well-meaning but over-protective parent.  

From a natural point of view this might be understandable caution. It might also be an effort to soothe our conscience (I haven't said no to Christ, I just intend to say yes a little later). But what it really means is that we haven't, among other things, understood just how personal each vocation is. 

It is easy to say, "If I am called, the vocation will always be there," but you have to remember that we can't live "footloose and fancy free" forever. You can only be a teenager for so long. Pretty soon you are going to have to commit yourself to something (perhaps this is the essence of growing up) - studies, work, marriage...and the web of normal aspirations and commitments will, in all probability, compromise rather quickly our possibilities of following a vocation.  

The best time is God's time.  

And remember, you cannot put off till tomorrow the good you should do today. Tomorrow will have its own good works to do.