I just read an interesting article that claims that divorce among faithful Catholics is just as common as divorce among the general population. While some may be shocked, I can’t say that I am. Back when I first entered seminary, I naively thought that Catholic seminary was a place where the cream of the crop gathered. Seminary was an ideal community of holy men, I thought. My idealism has since been shattered, not just because I’ve witnessed imperfections in others, but because I see so many imperfections in myself.
If orthodox, prayerful seminaries are wrought with difficulties, how much moreso will the Catholic marriage be difficult! Marriage is a permanent thing, whereas seminary is temporary. Furthermore, many seminarians can get through seminary bitter without ever having someone correct them; in marriage, one cannot get bitter with one’s situation without severely hurting the marriage.
Anyway, it was an interesting article. It’s recommended reading.
June 25, 2009 at 3:31 pm |
“Marriage is a permanent thing, whereas seminary is temporary.”
That’s where you’re wrong; priesthood (which is the ultimate end of seminary training) is permanent as well.
If you end up bitter, your very vocation whence ordination and ultimately priesthood is conferred upon the individual will severely hurt a priest’s own marriage not only with regards to Christ but to his parish as well.
That is a very egregious error which I hope certain seminarians in like mind will correct accordingly before their discernment inevitably proves a waste of time.
June 25, 2009 at 3:34 pm |
Paul,
On another entirely different matter, what’s with the ‘Pope as Anti-Christ’ article that’s being featured on the bottom of your post?
I know you’re not responsible for it, but it’s just a blatant (not to mention, seemingly offensive) eyesore.
June 26, 2009 at 3:11 pm |
e, I see your point. I honestly can’t remember what I was thinking when I wrote that part, but your criticism seems to be the obvious one.
June 26, 2009 at 3:13 pm |
e,
Yes, the Pope as Anti-Christ article is rather annoying. Come to think of it, that automatically-generated link thing seems new; I don’t remember seeing it before. I wonder if I can turn it off…
June 26, 2009 at 4:53 pm |
Paul,
No prob!
Just to be clear though, I wasn’t necessarily focussing my comments towards you even though it was meant to address a certain of your comments contained therein; it was more so those seminarians specifically who have (and may) suffer from such a sad symptom such as that which may, in the long run, prove fatal to their vocation if they should ever find themselves taking up the priesthood.
God bless.
P.S. Yeah, hopefully, you might be able to turn that offensive linking thing off; such a bother.