<center>![franciscan-191384_1280.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYs6mY66uM8v1zoykA4K8LYj9vS4iLiVayfVnrdAijQ9x/franciscan-191384_1280.jpg)</center>

<center>**I almost became a priest. Yes. There was a period of my life that I was so engaged in the Catholic Church, attending the mass regularly, working in prayer groups and studies, helping the community wherever possible, that there was born in me an immense will to do more, to live dedicated only to that and that was when the desire for the priesthood was born in me.**</center>

<center>The days that followed after the decision to follow this vocation were not easy. I was coming out of a very troubled and somber adolescence. A teenage year that led me to very complicated paths, full of internal and external conflicts. I was really lost. But one day through a friend, I was invited to go to Sunday Mass and from there I set a new course in my life. It was the "way out of the darkness into the light."</center>

<center>**By my gratitude for all the blessings and deliverance I had, I devoted myself completely to the service of God and his church. I helped in the Mass, I began my studies in theology, I helped in the groups of studies and prayer, participating actively. At that time I was single, I did not have a girlfriend and I did not really feel the lack of having someone, because everything I did in the Church filled me completely.**</center>

<center>Perhaps there is the explanation why so many priests who are truly devoted take the matter of relationships to the almost unnecessary level, for the service rendered to Christ and to the Church fills them.</center>

<center>![priest-873855_640.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeuknfd8v8bH9FPv2xhwcKT4gmXovMh51LAGeaNaN3ozv/priest-873855_640.jpg)</center>

<center>**In this indecision between going to the convent or not, I went and talked to the priest of my Church. He thought it wonderful that I had awakened this desire for the priestly vocation and said that he had already watched me and "saw me as a priest" for all that I was doing in the Church.**</center>

<center>His excitement was so great that at a Sunday mass he called me through the church microphone, announcing that had a young man in the Church who had aroused the desire for the priesthood. He announced my name, and I was stunned, embarrassed, and startled in the middle of the church. He called me, gave me a hug and the whole Church applauded me.</center>

<center>**As if that were not enough, the next day the same priest had already written a letter of introduction to the dean of the convent introducing me. But then I had to "put a brake" on the thing, because I was not 100% sure if I wanted to follow the priesthood or not. It was so far a wish, but also a very big doubt in my head and heart. I did not want to do things this way and it would not be fair for me, for God and for the people to follow such a serious vocation, filled with doubts in my head.**</center>

<center>I made the decision that I did not want to go to the convent, start my studies and pursue a priestly career. It was not easy, because I did not want to disappoint the priest who was all excited, but also did not want to do things that way. After Mass, I called him, and we went to talk.</center>

<center>**I explained to him all my doubts, conflicts, and I saw disappointment in his face. But at the same time, he understood me and said that I did the right thing. I told him that I wanted to help the church in another way, with my service and my faith.**</center>

<center>![wedding-2606453_640.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdhgXzUfU2PFqvZsCHpCUKPn8T6KrD7koV3fzQVV6Pw7v/wedding-2606453_640.jpg)</center>

<center>**All this story of my real life told here always brings me good memories. After all that I have gone through, today I understand well all the conflicts suffered by those who choose to live a vocation as serious and profound as the priesthood. A voluntary choice but one that carries much symbolism and much renunciation is necessary so that they can live out their vocation fully.**</center>

<center>The service to God is never easy, especially in the world we live today. There are many distractions, many illusions, many immediate pleasures, much mental confusion, many futile and shallow feelings. It takes a lot of persistence, a lot of emotional control, and a lot of faith to overcome so many modern barriers.</center>

<center>**I chose to follow another path, another vocation. I got married. Marriage is a vocation, just like the priestly vocation and this vocation I dedicate myself completely today. I am lately a little away from the Church for a thousand reasons, but the flame of faith and hope is never quenched and will never be extinguished.**</center>
____
<center>[Portuguese Version](https://steemit.com/life/@jsantana/eu-quase-me-tornei-padre)</center>

<center>**Source IMG** - [1](https://pixabay.com/pt/franciscana-monge-verna-mosteiro-191384/), [2](https://pixabay.com/pt/padre-investido-adora%C3%A7%C3%A3o-santu%C3%A1rio-873855/), [3](https://pixabay.com/pt/casamento-massa-padre-noiva-noivo-2606453/)</center>
___
<center>Obrigado por ter lido o meu post!</center>
=

<center>Thanks for Reading My Post!
-

<center>![ezgif.com-resize.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcLKEf38uds7qGpYNRh9kVPSnxBJomKr3K4yEvk28XS34/ezgif.com-resize.gif)</center>