www.vocation.com - How can I balance my college studies with entering the

	Nate asks: I am a 21yr old student at a secular university. Over the past year I have come to hear God's call to priesthood and I have talked with my diocesan vocations director about entering the seminary. I feel a very strong call to serve God as a priest and I find myself anxious to enter seminary. However, I am a college junior and I was advised by my vocations director to finish my secular degree. I see the wisdom in this, it is important to be prepared for life if my calling is not true, and I am only a year away from graduation. My question is, with one year left until I graduate, I find that I have trouble concentrating on my studies and yearning for that seminary experience. How can I keep focus on my secular education, something I do value, and keep my urge for seminary at a healthy level?
	Make the priesthood more and more the center of your life. Don't think to yourself that you will start studying for the priesthood when you enter the seminary in more than a year's time. Begin now. Take as many credits as you can carry well, even if it's more than you are required. Why? because it will enrich your preparation for the priesthood. Don't look on your studies as something you are doing just in case you don't have a vocation. They are part of God's path for you to the priesthood. At the same time, develop and deepen your prayer-life - this will keep you from getting discouraged and will give you the spiritual drive and motivation to do as well as you can. And, get involved in the parish, teach CCD next year, start or help out in the youth group, etc. That will teach you a lot, and you might even bring someone else into the seminary with you next year. God bless


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