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My friends think I'm a goody-two-shoes for wanting to be a priest, and people say I'd be wasting my talents on the priesthood. What do I say?

Damien asks:

Hello Father, 

I have two questions. First of all, as I try to live a life of holiness at the high school level, I do my best to keep humble and realize my faults. I also try to lead a normal life, still keeping a social life and enjoying these years. But lately I have been seen by my friends as a goody-two-shoes, disconnected kid who is missing out on life. My friends, I think, are turned off from religion because of this. How can I fight that, and help them see I'm normal like everyone else? And when they ask me if I think I have a vocation to the priesthood, which I believe I do, how can I answer them honestly without being ridiculed? My second question is this: many people in my life are telling me I am "too smart" to be a priest. I am thankful to God that he has allowed me to excel in school with good grades, etc, but does this mean He wants me to be an engineer or a doctor instead of a priest? Is there any particular path I can pursue within the priesthood to still use God's gifts to me? Thanks in advance for your answer.

Dear Damien, 

First off, no matter how smart you are you will be challenged in the priesthood and will use all your gifts to the extreme, (just look at John Paul II); so forget about the thought that becoming a priest will be tantamount to throwing away your talents. If God wants you to be a priest and gave you intelligence at the same time it is because you will need and will have to develop that intelligence in order to do all he wants of you. 

About being a "goody-two-shoes", I wouldn't give it too much thought. Not everything your friends may consider normal is going to be the best for you, and there is something wrong or weak with their own faith if they say your behavior turns them off from religion, so don't sweat too much about "appearing" normal. Just have it clear in your own mind what is right and what is wrong, know why you do things, make your own choices, live your own life well, join in what you can of what your friends do, opt out of what you see is damaging or just plain stupid. That is "being" normal and it's much more important than "appearing" normal. 

It is interesting that they would ask you if you have a vocation to the priesthood. It may be that they recognize that your behavior is right, but it will get them off the hook if you say you are going to be a priest, because they aren't, and so will feel excused from the same standards. So I wouldn't answer yes. Instead I would ask them why they ask - so as to have the opportunity to say that the reason you do what you do is because it is what is right to do, not for any other reason. Maybe that way you will jog somebody's conscience a little.  

God bless.

 

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