"Provides much useful advice to young men..."
—Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, Prefect, Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura
The full comment from Cardinal Burke on this
marvelous book about how young men can
discern their vocations:
"Fr. Doyle's book expresses in a most
inspiring way the sublime dignity of the
priestly vocation, and provides a much-needed
exhortation to young men who
might be dissuaded from the priestly
vocation by the many distractions of the
world. His exhortation to 'overcome
the world' by choosing to follow Christ
completely in the priesthood is even more
important today than when he wrote it 50
years ago....The book also provides much
useful advice to young men [through the
author's] explanation of the objective
signs by which a priestly vocation can be
recognized...should be a helpful antidote to
the subjectivism which can often confuse
young men who are struggling to discern
the will of God in their lives."
Adds Monsignor Richard Soseman, former
vice postulator for the beatification cause of
Bishop Fulton Sheen:
"Discernment of a vocation does not come
with a thunder clap. When I was considering
entering the seminary, our vocation
director, now the archbishop of Newark,
was very encouraging. He said that if I felt
sure enough of God's call that I was ready
to investigate the seminary, I should be sure
enough to give the process of discernment,
in seminary, a couple of years—to make
sure that the life I thought was for me was
indeed for me. Discernment, certainly a
religious call, is found in quietness, and
often by a candidate who thinks he might
have a vocation, but is uncertain as he
enters a seminary. In Looking Toward the
Priesthood, Msgr. Charles Hugo Doyle
encourages young men to pursue a vocation
even if they have heard no thunder clap,
even if they have certainly only in their
willingness to inquire. God does not call
to the priesthood all who find themselves
attracted to it, he states—but the man who
has the right intention and lives a good
moral life is often called. And he finds the
confirmation of his vocation when he is, in
turn, called by a bishop.
"Msgr. Doyle lays the solid foundation for
a call: the glories of the priestly life. He then
turns to eminently practical guidelines for
any young man who has, even remotely,
considered a possible vocation and
considered himself able to lead a priestly
life. Looking Toward the Priesthood is a very positive and
interesting treatment
of vocation."
In six searching chapters,
major topics confronting
serious young
Catholic men are explored...
answers provided...
dozens of the
most significant Scripture
passages for young
men provided...uplifting
notes sounded...
and means of prayerful
meditation explained.
How many young men have heard practical
considerations like:
- The Sign of a Vocation
- Obstacles in the Way
- An Honor Beyond All Honors
- "But I Have Chosen You!"
- Overcoming the World
- Our Enemy, the World
Captivating the young heart of sincere teens
and young adults in formation, Msgr. Doyle's
reflections—as more than one reviewer pointed
out at the time of the book's first publication
almost 60 years ago—serve two purposes:
1. To enable those with no vocation to the
priesthood to rule it out, in a healthy way.
2. To assist those with vocations to come to the
conclusion God desires. And to them, Msgr.
Doyle outlines the precise way forward.
Here is a small book that will change lives—
and already has.
A Message to Young Men
You will discover Monsignor Doyle to be
a competent and sympathetic guide to help
you surmount such hurdles as:
- Can I be happy in the priesthood?
- Can God really be calling me, unworthy
as I know I am?
- How do I know whether to go for the
diocesan or a religious order priesthood?
- Do I have the requisite qualities of body,
mind and character?
- "How can I overcome the opposition, if
any, of my parents?"
