The Joy and the Heartbreak

Last updated on: August 22, 2014 at 4:02 pm by Rebecca Frech

The Joy and the Heartbreak 2014-08-22T16:02:38-05:00 Rebecca Frech

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today our eldest son went on a field trip with his Confirmation class to the seminary in our diocese. He’s been talking about the priesthood since he was five years old, and has been looking forward to this trip since he first heard about it back in August.

When I picked him up this evening he was glowing. He chattered all the way home about the school itself and the students he had met on his tour. He had asked all the important questions like how he would know that he had a vocation, and when should he approach the diocesan vocations director to discuss it. He asked the other kind to and discovered that they have a game room, a swimming pool, and that the food is pretty good.

And he glowed. He came home more certain than ever that is was something he should be praying about.

The Catholic mom in me was elated. I couldn’t imagine anything greater than giving one of my children over to God. My husband was silent on the subject as he has been since the subject first came up almost eight years ago. He can’t imagine our son wanting a life without a family. He was raised Protestant, and the idea of a celibate priesthood is still foreign to him after all these years of being Catholic. This is his eldest son, and this isn’t the picture he had in his mind for him. He struggles with it all, and so he remains silent and waits on God’s will.

There was a huge part of me that didn’t understand. A priest! What could be finer than that? If not this son, I have always thought, I have three more and God can take his pick. I got it intellectually, but the emotional part – the pain my husband felt at the idea – escaped me.

Until my son went upstairs to get ready for bed and my nine year old daughter curled up next to me and said “Mom, tell me about nuns. What is it like to live in the convent? What do you think my new name would be?” in a way that was more than idle curiosity….

and I pulled her into my embrace and cried.

I get it. The heartbreak and the joy of having a child pondering a vocation. The convent is as foreign to me as the priesthood is to my husband…and the unknown is frightening.

Which leaves us wondering what we do now… How do we let go of our plans of weddings and grandbabies with our children, and just be open to the maybes that God is showing to them? How do we help them to walk down paths where we’ve never ventured? How do we let them wander towards whatever will be without encouraging or discouraging them with our own personal prejudices? How do we let go of the dreams that we have dreamed for them and learn to be open to the things God has in store for us all? Whether that be clericals or business suits, wedding dresses or habits…

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 6, 2013

Through Hell and Buffalo, Texas - an epic journey - Part 6

Next Post

December 16, 2013 Jolly Old St Nicholas

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am a day when the high priest enters the Most Holy Place once a year to make atonement. What day am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Sabbath The Day of Trumpets Passover The Day of Atonement