For the third year, the Office of Vocations has hosted the Holy Family dinner after Chrism Mass in Spokane. The premise is simple: create a space for parents of seminarians and priests to engage with one another in fellowship over a meal. This year, we sat down with several parents who were present to ask them a few questions. We wanted to know how they led their family in growing closer to Christ in a way that may have inspired or created an openness to the discerning of the priesthood in their sons.
While many answers varied, they all shared a common thread: They focused on three main themes or practices.
The most common theme among the parents interviewed was the integration of prayer into the family life. They believed that frequent prayer in the home was the most beneficial to their son’s openness to discernment because it opened him up to a living relationship with the person of Christ.
Living this out looked different for each family. Some families prayed rote prayers like the rosary or Night Prayer together, while others prayed more spontaneously. Nearly all cited praying with their children before bed, and one family even spoke of parental blessings of their children in accord with their Sunday family dinners.
Secondly, parents discussed the importance of the Sacraments. Nearly all parents mentioned the necessity of attending Mass every Sunday. Every parent knows that Mass can be challenging for little ones; helping them understand Mass, even at a young age, can be very beneficial. Frequenting the Sacrament of Confession was also cited.
Thirdly, many parents mentioned that a role model or mentor played an essential role in their young son’s life. One parent recounted his son’s grandmother, who deeply impacted him. He believed her witness to Christ and her holiness inspired his son.
Outside of the home, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Catholic Applied Research of the Apostolate (CARA) released a report on this year’s ordinands—or men who will be ordained priests this summer. “According to a new survey, nine in ten men who will be ordained to the priesthood this year were encouraged to consider this vocation by someone in their life. Three-quarters of them regularly participated in Eucharistic Adoration before entering the seminary.” (Bishop Boyea, USCCB)
While many things may help children discern, one couple responded to the question with laughter, humbly recognizing their human limitations and saying, “It can only be the Holy Spirit.” This is the ultimate reality: while we can create a home and space for discernment, it is entirely up to God’s will and the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
St. Alphonsus Liguori, patron saint of vocations, pray for us!