Dear Fred,

I admire your enthusiasm for the priesthood, but before acting on it and setting off to merrily pursue it I think you need to dig a little more deeply into the reality of the vocation to the Catholic priesthood.

Two things move me to say this. First, you describe the priesthood as a job; second, celibacy comes across as just a bothersome rule that there must be some way around. Neither reflects the reality of the priesthood and vocation.

The priesthood is a calling. It certainly involves work, but it is more than a job. It is the total gift of yourself in answer to a total call by Christ. If anyone would come after me he must take up his cross daily and follow me, for whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. This is especially true of the priest. I send you as sheep among the wolves, if they hated me they will hate you, where the Master goes the disciple must follow take my words to the ends of the earth.  All of these things that Jesus spoke to his apostles describe something more than a job something you take on, put in your time and change when the a better opportunity comes along, they speak about a way of life, a way of being, a commitment.

This becomes even clearer when you read St Paul and absorb his experience. For me, to live is Christ. Everything else is rubbish, only having Christ matters, woe to me if I dont spread the Gospel.

In this context is how you can understand priestly celibacy. It is one aspect of the priest living in himself the mystery of Christ, it is a sign we are not just doing a job, it is the total taking up of the Cross, the total sacrifice of ourselves and any personal plans, ambitions or satisfactions for the good of the Church.

God bless.