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Question

Dear Father Angelo,
I’m a 20 year old boy, a university student, very active in my parish life.  Very often, as I meditate on the Word of God and when I pray, a question emerges in me: ”What am I called to do in my life? What does the Lord want from me?”.  One of the answers that comes to mind is a possible priestly vocation, as well as other scenarios involving my university career, the job I might pursue after completing my studies, and my political commitment.  All this makes me wonder what the Lord really wants for me.  I have to say that when I think of a possible priestly vocation, I do feel the desire to announce the message of Christ to everyone and to witness His love.  At the same time though, I feel that I can bear witness to Christ and to His love also as a student or as a worker as I realize that I do not possess  a strong-enough faith and will  to undertake such  a journey …  I have  never confessed this doubt to anyone,  and you are the first person whom I confide it to.  Alas, I am very shy,  and I find it difficult to talk about this with my parents and my parish priest.  As I wait for your answer I send my best regards and I thank you in advance for the time you devote to the Church with the answers you provide to the questions of both believers and non believers.  Praised be Jesus Christ.

Priest’s answer

Dear friend,
1. In each of us there is more like a multitude of vocations.
If by vocation we mean a specific propensity, some kind of calling to a particular service, one should not be surprised to find different inclinations within oneself.

2. St. Therese of the Child Jesus felt different vocations in herself: “Forgive my folly if I venture to tell Thee once more of my hopes, and my heart’s well nigh infinite longings—forgive me and grant my desire, that it may be well with my soul. To be Thy Spouse, O my Jesus, to be a daughter of Carmel, and by my union with Thee to be the mother of souls, should not all this content me? And yet other vocations make themselves felt—I feel called to the Priesthood and to the Apostolate—I would be a Martyr, a Doctor of the Church. I would like to accomplish the most heroic deeds—the spirit of the Crusader burns within me, and I long to die on the field of battle in defense of the Holy Church” (The story of a soul: chapter 11). 
St. Therese lived them all in her being a Carmelite.

3. You say you feel a possible priestly vocation, but you’re afraid your faith and will are not strong enough to sustain you on such a journey. I say you should not be afraid. He who calls you can provide everything you need to be his apostle.
Did he not do so with his first apostles? They were mostly poor fishermen from Galilee.  He called them to become fishers of men.  He sent them to the furthest reaches of the earth with no money and without knowing any foreign language.
They were fearful for a long time, especially after the Lord died.  But on Pentecost day they were thoroughly transformed inside. Earlier on they lay low behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, now they come out in the open, they speak, they preach.  And to whomever commands them to preach no more, they rebut that they cannot be silent about what they heard and saw (Acts 4,20).
The Lord transformed them in due time.

4. At the same time you believe you can say that you can give witness to Christ also as a student or as a worker.
That is true.
There is no doubt however that the priestly ministry commits you totally to serving Jesus Christ, and allows you to give people precious gifts, such that no lay person could ever give: the remission of sins in confession, the celebration of the Eucharist which perpetuates the sacrifice of Christ among men, and brings to them the Body and the Blood of our Lord.
Of the two vocations, the lay one and the priestly one, the latter is particularly precious today.
Many are left without a priest and the sacraments because there is someone who does not heed the call of the Lord.

5. It goes without saying that as you offer yourself to the Lord as a future priest you make a greater sacrifice of yourself.  It is a sacrifice that resembles a lot that of Mary of Bethany, when she broke the alabaster vessel containing a very precious oil whose fragrance filled up the entire house (Jn 12,3).
The mere news of your consecration to the Lord will do a lot of good to many who maybe will be inspired to be more generous with the Lord.

6. Keep this thought with you for now.  You will have to complete your studies first.  That will give you time to mature and further assess the signs the Lord will give you.

I assure you of my prayer.
I wish you a happy continuation of the Easter holidays and I bless you.

Father Angelo