What characteristics must a man have to be a good candidate for the priesthood?
- Love Jesus Christ and desire others to love Him.
- Be a believing, practicing Catholic. Go to Mass every Sunday and on Holy Days.
- Live a life of virtue and striving against sin.
- Live and desire a life of service in my Church and community.
- Live and desire a life of prayer. Attend daily Mass or make visits to the Blessed Sacrament. Frequently make use of the Sacrament of Confession. Read the Bible and take time for personal prayer.
- Desire to be a priest. Be attracted to the priesthood, even though it involves personal sacrifice.
- Have one's call validated by other people who suggest that you should consider the priesthood.
- Live a life of virtue. Know what is right and wrong according to the teaching of Jesus and his Church.
- Have a basic human goodness. Be a relatively generous and unselfish person.
- Be a "people person", i.e., have good social skills and like to be around people.
- Have at least average intelligence to complete eight to ten years of college-level and masters-level coursework in Theology.
- Have a good sense of humor!
- Be physically, emotionally, and psychologically stable.
- Have a "priest's heart" full of kindness and compassion for others.
- Possess self-discipline. Be courteous, punctual, and composed.
- Display stability in life-style, i.e., consistency as a student or employee.
- Have a healthy psycho-sexual orientation.
- Be a gentleman, i.e., have good manners, correct grammar in communication, a neat appearance and proper hygiene.
- Able to accept failure.
- Be open to the will of God for his life.
If you definitely have most of the qualities of a good candidate! You should be actively discerning your vocation by speaking to a vocation director and attending vocation retreats. E-mail Fr. Tim McKeown, vocation director at vocations@diosav.org.
If you have many of the qualities of a good candidate. Continue seeking God's will in daily prayer and take steps to find a spiritual director. You could be called to be a priest!
If you have a few of the qualities of a good candidate then continue praying that God strengthens your vocation to holiness. Regardless of your "secondary" vocation, be encouraged that God has great plans for your life! Continue thinking about the priesthood.
