www.vocation.com - Should every young Catholic see if he has a vocation,

	Michael asks: Dear Fr. Anthony, The question has often come up in conversations with my friends whether every Catholic should at least give the priesthood and consecrated life their first shot. Is it, as one friend put it, "The duty of every Catholic man to discern the priesthood at some point?" Or do you think there can be people who simply know from earliest years that they are called to marriage or to a single life in the world, and that this is how they are to serve God? In Christ, Michael
	Dear Michael, Every Catholic should try honestly, using all the means that God places at his disposal, to find out what God wants him to do in life. This means that the question of "priesthood or not?" is one that should naturally come into every Catholic young man's mind. Some just "know" it is not for them, and are right; others just "know" that it is not for them, and they are wrong. And conversely. We shouldn't forget that each vocation is a grace and gift that God gives to the Church to build it up, but in giving it he works in a mysterious way in the interior of our souls to make his call known to us. Everyone should be open and willing to follow whatever call God wishes to give him. Discernment in some cases entails actually "giving it the first shot", in others the answer is clear enough without trying it out. God as well calls different people at different times and in differing ways. God bless.


	Type your question here to search the responses in the AnswerBase. If you don't find an answer, send your question to Fr Bannon online...