[Nurfzerne]

Hey guys

Well this is my first post in these forums. I lurk around the Orthodoxy forums at some other sites and was blessed to find this one today.

Anyways, I am becoming Christened in the Holy Church this weekend and my priest wants me to go through confession. I am still in High School and have intentions to enter seminary after my completion of an undergrad theology college. My fear is mainly this, that my priest will think I am "Unworthy" or "Too sinful" to enter the priesthood if I truly confess all of my sins.....

I fear that these thoughts are from Satan and they are making me afraid to REALLY open up about ALL of my past sinful actions. Any insight guys or some advice?

May God have mercy on my soul!

[zlopikanikanz]

Brandon, dude. We all are "unworthy" and "too sinful". No priest I have ever met was a saint. And they will all tell you the same. If you don't listen to anythign else in your catachism classes, listen to this...

In order to receive forgivness of your sins, you must confess them. If you don't confess them, you will not be forgiven them.

Ok, that said. you need to develop a relationship with your priest. You don't need to be friends per se, but he needs to know you in order to heal you spiritually. You are not confessing to him, you are confessing through him to God. God is forgiving you, the priest is absolving you on behalf of God.

It is not up to your priest but your bishop to allow you to be a priest (fathers please check me on this) If you can't get honest, refer to the parable of the talents.

Be honest! Be brutally honest. Clean house. Lay it all out. You're still in HS. I guarantee you he has heard worse confessions than anything you can come up with. Don't worry about him. Worry what God will retain if you don't allow the priest to absolve you. My first confession, well all my confessions scare the heck out of me. They are satanic suggestions. Don't listen to them!!!!!

Paul

[zzarratusstra]

It's funny, isn't it? We're not scared to do the sins but then we are scared to tell them to God Who's already seen them!

[GAGNAPPEAPH]

Yes it is! Lord have mercy......

Again my main fear is this. I will confess the doubts that I sometimes have about God, and the eating disorder I have struggled with for a good amount of time, etc. And my priest will say I am unworthy to become a priest. Again I think these thoughts are from Satan and I pray that I can overcome them and be honest with my priest.

Thank you both for you replies

[bawayTeen]

How can a doctor help heal you if you do not tell him what is wrong? There is probably nothing you can tell him that he hasn't heard many times already unless he is a brand spanking new priest, or that he probably hasn't done himself.

We must show the physicain our wounds, especially the ugly ones, if we want to be healed.

Or so it seems to this bear of little brain.

Herman the Pooh

[qzgCVHex]

Hey guys

Well this is my first post in these forums. I lurk around the Orthodoxy forums at some other sites and was blessed to find this one today.

Anyways, I am becoming Christened in the Holy Church this weekend and my priest wants me to go through confession. I am still in High School and have intentions to enter seminary after my completion of an undergrad theology college. My fear is mainly this, that my priest will think I am "Unworthy" or "Too sinful" to enter the priesthood if I truly confess all of my sins.....

I fear that these thoughts are from Satan and they are making me afraid to REALLY open up about ALL of my past sinful actions. Any insight guys or some advice?

May God have mercy on my soul!

Dear Brandon,

Welcome to the Orthodox Church, and to monachos!

You say you're still in high school. Priesthood is a long way away yet. Don't worry about it. The best way to prepare to be a good priest, is to be a good orthodox Christian. And a good orthodox Christian, practices shameless confession as frequently as possible. Don't worry about whether or not your sins will keep you from entering priesthood or not. How can anyone know that? Only God knows that. If it is in His will for you to become a priest, then nothing will be in your way. However, if He doesn't wish for you to be a priest, then it would be very bad if you insisted on being one.

So, leave that to God, and just go confess. The more you practice being a brutally honest confesser... the easier it becomes. And if you don't practice it yourself, you cannot teach it or model it to others under your care - and as a priest, there will be many under your care, and many who will look to you to set the standard, and all other such scary things. =)

In Christ,
Mary.

[Alex]

By the way, no one should be ambitious to become a priest. It's not the same as wanting to be monk. A priest has two callings: one from God and another from the people. One does not call onesself.

[jPNy2BP5]

By the way, no one should be ambitious to become a priest. It's not the same as wanting to be monk. A priest has two callings: one from God and another from the people. One does not call onesself.

That's nice sounding, however, I doubt you will find a single priest that had to be forcibly ordained. Motives are complex things and logismoi of pride or envy can cloud the judgment of all but the most saintly.

Regardless of why someone became a priest, they have the same responsibilities we do to love God and love man as best as they can and fulfill their duties. The Holy Spirit makes up for what is lacking. This is either true or we do not believe in Chrism.

Besides what is the saying? "You get the priest you deserve." How could this be if all priests were saints? :-)

Incidentally, I've been told that there is only one reason to become a monk, that is, if your salvation requires it.

[sandracuk]

Ordination involves being 'dragged' around the altar to symbolise the reluctance of the ordinand; one would like to think this was not entirely pantomime. The ordinand's own feeling of unworthiness are contrasted by the people's (be it noted) exclamation, 'Axios!'.

[usaneisfiecup]

Ordination involves being 'dragged' around the altar to symbolise the reluctance of the ordinand; one would like to think this was not entirely pantomime. The ordinand's own feeling of unworthiness are contrasted by the people's (be it noted) exclamation, 'Axios!'.

If this were so, then we would have no discussions of "priesthood" as vocation. Certainly you would have many seminary students trying to deliberately fail their exams. Perhaps in a great many of the circumstances it is the "dragging" that does it's salvific work even though the heart needed no dragging beforehand.

I'm just asking that we not expect our priests to be other than human, like us, working out their salvation and ministering with the assistance of the Spirit just as we do.

[mpxricyNimb]

I'm just asking that we not expect our priests to be other than human I doubt anyone does ask any other from our priests.

[interznakinfo]

Brandon,

Your first priority is Holy Confession. Without it, you would have unconfessed sins. What you hold back intentionally in confession will be unhealed. How can a man who holds back sins truly encourage others to confess their sins to God before the priest so that they might receive forgiveness? Don't be afraid.

The devil plays a lot with giving others feelings of unworthiness. This is to lead us to more evil through despair. Don't listen to the devil. Confess all your sins, and keep doing so. This will be your work, your work on yourself. Through it you will gain spiritual experience.

Anyway, a priest must feel himself to be unworthy, for in truth, he is. As the prayer he reads before the anaphora states in the Liturgy of St. Basil, "not through our own righteousness, for we have done no good deed on earth." A priest who knows himself to be the worst of all sinners will be able to weep with the penitents who come to him so that he can witness their confession, and he will be able to apply the right spiritual medicines. And the Holy Spirit will lead this humble one and give him everything needed do do the awesome work laid on him.

Personally, I would say, please, think first about becoming an Orthodox Christian--not just up till your reception into the Church--but every day thereafter in every moment and action and happening of your life. Lots of young male converts think about the priesthood, but not all of them are called to it. Not all who think they have a calling to something actually have one. Time, patience, work on yourself and getting to know yourself with your spiritual father will help discern whether or not the priesthood is for you, or, rather, you are for it.

God give you wisdom
Eric John

[XVzrlWIv]

That's nice sounding, however, I doubt you will find a single priest that had to be forcibly ordained.

You mean other than St john Chrysostom - or his friend Basil whom he describes "tricking" into being ordained (see "On the Priesthood")

I personally attempted to avoid ordination for many years and did in fact "slip away" from ordination at least twice that I know of before I could not avoid it any longer. I am a priest today only because I could not run away from God faster than He pursued me.

My personal opinion that is if someone is actively pursuing the priesthood, that is a good indication that they are not even close to being ready for ordination. Either the person is proud and believes that they can manage being a priest and bear the burden of ordination - or they are so ignorant that they have no idea what being a priest really entails. (it is no coincidence that there are very few among the saints that are priests - with the exceptions of monastic priests. The notable exception was St John of Kronstadt who was very unique to say the least).

Incidentally, I've been told that there is only one reason to become a monk, that is, if your salvation requires it. And the same applies to the priesthood.

Fr David Moser

[VYholden]

It's funny, isn't it? We're not scared to do the sins but then we are scared to tell them to God Who's already seen them!

It sounds to me like the fellow is actually more scared to tell his priest than he is to "tell" God.

By the way, no one should be ambitious to become a priest. It's not the same as wanting to be monk. A priest has two callings: one from God and another from the people. One does not call onesself.

And yet the most initial and minor part of the discernment of the call from God is usually on the part of the individual, no?

Ordination involves being 'dragged' around the altar to symbolise the reluctance of the ordinand; one would like to think this was not entirely pantomime. The ordinand's own feeling of unworthiness are contrasted by the people's (be it noted) exclamation, 'Axios!'.

Feeling wholly unworthy of the presbyterate and recognizing that, for whatever reason, God is calling you, are not mutually exclusive realities.

[Grzqbmhy]

You mean other than St john Chrysostom - or his friend Basil whom he describes "tricking" into being ordained (see "On the Priesthood")
...
My personal opinion that is if someone is actively pursuing the priesthood, that is a good indication that they are not even close to being ready for ordination.

I was making the case that it was rare, not non-existent (I'm sure you're not the only modern case of such resistance either, just that such are exceptions not the rule.)

Forgive me if I'm speaking out of ignorance, however, this isn't how the priesthood is presented. The public assumption is that we do have a "late vocations program" to accommodate those that are not the "norm". That would imply that many kids grow up with the idea of being priests, go to college and/or seminary expecting to be priests and end up, in fact, being priests.

I would assume this is even more true in the old world than in America.

I am in an awkward position here. I highly respect your opinion on the matter, but I've met so many people who didn't resist at all, but rather planned on being priests, some their whole lives. Many converts who were ministers seem to expect to be priests upon conversion.

My father was a Protestant preacher and I (as many "PK"s preachers kids do) ran as far from ministry as I could until I was put into a position where people called on me to retrieve my heritage. So I was chased into ministry. However it turned into a disaster that led to my conversion to Orthodoxy.

So, (obviously we're talking about heretics here, but) I represented exactly the right attitude and it still went awry.

This makes me think that there's a certain benefit in detachment in this case (just like in all our lives) but it isn't a deal breaker by any means.

[cmruloah]

Had confession today and it went great.
I was caught a little off guard and did not get a chance to write stuff down though.

Next time this is a must. I forgot so many things that I remember now I wish that I confessed. Other than that it went great.

Thanks again guys.


By the way, do you think it would be weird to schedule ANOTHER meeting with my priest to talk about my priesthood ambitions?

[Arrecteve]

Yes it is! Lord have mercy......

Again my main fear is this. I will confess the doubts that I sometimes have about God, and the eating disorder I have struggled with for a good amount of time, etc. And my priest will say I am unworthy to become a priest. Again I think these thoughts are from Satan and I pray that I can overcome them and be honest with my priest.

Thank you both for you replies

Hello, Brandon.

Please don't worry about your confession. I know that saying that is easier said than done. But I have been right in your shoes!

I have been completely embarrassed to confess many of my sins. Two things have helped me: First, other people have far greater sins to confess. Your priest has probably heard much, much worse. And, without judgement, I do mean much, much worse. Don't let the Adversary make you hide something you already feel awkward about; tell your loving priest that you feel awkward (perhaps guilty) and want guidance. You'll get it.

Second, I hope you know that your priest doesn't act as a Forgiver. He makes this clear in confession. God forgives. The priest won't judge you, largely because he has sworn not to. Or, to give it a personal touch, I've told my priest things that I thought he could have SLAMMED me with. And he doesn't; he gives me Christ's love. He's heard terrible things that I've done. Thanks be to God that I told him, and glory to God that I'm forgiven.

Your priest will do the same. Confess all. Don't worry. When you do confess everything, you will be very much strengthened by your confession. The freedom you will feel will be immense.

With the love of Christ,

Matthew

[chadnezzrr]

Incidentally, I've been told that there is only one reason to become a monk, that is, if your salvation requires it.

When my wife passes away, (no not anytime soon God willing) I see no way for my salvation outside a monastery. And a very strict one at that.

[VZF74G0M]

When my wife passes away, (no not anytime soon God willing) I see no way for my salvation outside a monastery. And a very strict one at that.

For those of us who know how needful our marriages are to our salvation I could not think of things any other way.

[Kiliunjubl]

And yet the most initial and minor part of the discernment of the call from God is usually on the part of the individual, no? I hope the individual does not try to discern God's will in such a matter (or any matter) by himself but that he is submits to the guidance of his spiritual father. The following of a vocation for the priesthood is thus undertaken from obedience to the spiritual father (or should be) and so should not be interpreted as self-willed. Any apparent willingness is then evidence of the man's willingness to obey.