The reply I am referring to is a response to God’s invitation to a vocation to the priesthood. The response is not always easy. God is continually calling but he calls us in the midst of an often self-centered materialistic society. His invitation is not one of self-serving but one of self giving. His call is demanding, because he is inviting us to let ourselves be "captured" by him completely. He is asking us to allow our whole lives to be seen in a different light. This new light is the light of faith, an opportunity to bask in the light of grace, which God offers, and by the power of this grace, which God offers, and by the power of this grace, we are able to respond to God’s invitation.

I know from first hand experience that responding to God’s invitation is not always easy. How many times I ignored, denied and eluded God’s call. Repeatedly the invitation was presented, but one which I continually offered a negative response. A common reason for my continual rejection came out of fear. A fear of the unknown, having to take the step to begin to rely on God’s grace and no longer on my own will. It is during these moments of fear and when doubts try to lead us astray that we need to hear God’s assurance; this He does provide. "Be not afraid, I am with you!" is God’s assurance to us.

As the journey in discerning God’s will unfolds itself we may continually be faced with struggles, obstacles and setbacks, which cause us to ask ourselves "is God really calling me." It is in these moments that we look for a sure and steady guide. I can think of no better a guiding hand than our Blessed Mother. Our Lady asked the very same question that we too may ask of our own call "How can this be?" Her obedient response to our Lord, "be it done to me according to your Word" should be a source of strength in responding to God’s invitation. We should never discount taking all our struggles, obstacles and setbacks to Jesus through Mary. Our Holy Father speaks of the essential role that Mary must play in all the lives of the faithful. But for those discerning God’s invitation to a vocation he has had a particular message. "You must welcome Mary into your life as the apostle John took her ‘to his own home’. May you allow her to be your mother. May you open your hearts and conscience to her. May she always help you find Christ, to ‘follow him’, on all the paths of your life." Mary has been my guide along the path, my sure and steady light, my mediatrix in responding to God’s invitation to the Priesthood. I’m confident that she will be the same for you if you let her by turning ti her in prayer regularly.




Click here to read an article by seminarian Daniel Kredensor
Click here to read an article by seminarian Stephen Paolin
Clck here to read an article by seminarian Joseph Haas