Dear Seth,

A vocation is usually manifested in an attraction to some aspect of the priestly life or ministry. The initial attraction may not be to the essentials of the priesthood, and much will depend on your age and your spiritual journey up to the point of first feeling the attraction.

 
The initial attraction of course has to be deepened, for even if there is a strong desire to say Mass or hear confessions, these are things that a priest does, and only a priest can do, but they are not the essence of the priesthood.

An important part of the maturing of a vocation that takes place in the seminary is the progress from this first attraction towards something that a priest does to a desire and decision to BE a priest, to identify with Christ, Priest and Victim, in your mind and heart, and to be willing to embrace the Cross of Christ in your own life, by doing his will always, to the best of your ability. This is aided by prayer, instruction and spiritual direction, but it is essentially a grace.  The priests identification with Christ the Priest takes place sacramentally at his ordination, which makes it possible for him to do what only a priest can.

What you have to ask God to enlighten you about, and ask him to strengthen you for, is whether he is really inviting you to give yourself totally to him through your desires to serve the Church as a teacher. Your spiritual director will have to help you determine if that total gift of yourself might entail being available to be a priest, or if it means consecration in religious life or a lay movement. If your soul was once open to the priesthood, I would suggest you open it again, and offer yourself to Christ to be his priest. People need teachers, for sure, but especially priests - and priests are all the time teaching: to crowds in their preaching, and one-on-one in confession and spiritual direction.