{"id":20881,"date":"2013-08-20T07:00:40","date_gmt":"2013-08-20T14:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?p=20881"},"modified":"2015-03-19T13:52:41","modified_gmt":"2015-03-19T20:52:41","slug":"dating-discernment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2013\/08\/20\/dating-discernment\/","title":{"rendered":"Catholic Dating: “Discernment”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Before we get to the subject of today’s post, I wanted to say that I can tell from the site statistics and the conversations I’ve had over the last couple of weeks that a lot of people have been reading these posts.\u00a0I would like to thank everyone for taking the time out to read this Englishman’s musings on a rather delicate subject.<\/p>\n

Additionally, I would just like to encourage everyone to give their two cents in the Comment Box at the end of each article. You don’t have to use your real name or email address if you’d prefer to remain anonymous. It’s perfectly acceptable to submit comments under the name of\u00a0“Balaam’s Donkey”<\/em>\u00a0or with an email address of\u00a0papa_francis@gmail.com<\/em>…<\/p>\n

It was my hope that publishing this series would spark some much-needed open discussion among our community. I know that conversations certainly have been going on among different groups, but I’d invite everyone to make use of the Comment Box since, if you share your perspective here<\/em>, you’ll get to enlighten the entire world (wide web)!<\/p>\n

\"Benedict

“Hey guys, look! A new post at RestlessPilgrim.net!”<\/p><\/div>\n

So, now that’s been said, let’s get underway with today’s subject.\u00a0Today will be a short post about another\u00a0potential cause for confusion in the Catholic dating scene and a reason why guys might sometimes refrain from asking out the lady folk. It is\u00a0a uniquely Catholic issue,\u00a0the question of “discernment”<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I used to be indecisive…now I’m not so sure<\/h2>\n

If you’re a non-Catholic, your dating life should not be\u00a0too\u00a0<\/em>greatly impacted if you find within yourself a growing desire to become an ordained minister. However, if you’re Catholic, it’s “kind of a big deal”<\/em>, just\u00a0like\u00a0Ron Burgundy<\/a>. Although this is not the case for all Catholic\u00a0rites<\/a>, within the Roman Rite of the Church, those who are called forward to ordained ministry must be willing to submit to the celibate<\/a> lifestyle.<\/p>\n

As I’m sure most Catholic guys can attest, the question of vocation is one over which many struggle. Am I called to the celibate life? Am I called to married life? \u00a0These are weighty questions and ones which are rarely easy to answer. This can, unfortunately, have some nasty consequences…<\/p>\n

Unable to determine his calling, a guy may neither<\/em> pursue priesthood nor<\/em> marriage, but instead half-heartedly vacillate between the two. Unfortunately, even worse, the question of discernment can be used by a guy as an easy escape out of a romantic relationship which has got a bit heavy and complicated… \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n

My suggestion to the guys here is simple: be purposeful<\/a>! If you’re discerning, then discern<\/a>! Contact the vocations office<\/a>, got to explorer days<\/a>, get a spiritual director and make your discernment a priority!\u00a0Don’t let your discernment be\u00a0aimless!\u00a0If God wants you to become a priest, then that’s the best place for you to be.\u00a0Give it your all and do not be afraid!<\/p>\n