Should I be a Tridentine Rite priest or a Novus Ordo one?
Joseph asks:
Suppose one has a deep calling to one of the legitimate religious orders that exclusively offer the Mass and sacraments in the Tridentine Rite, yet the need for priests in his own diocese is very great. Does one follow one's deep calling to the Tridentine Rite order where he will be serving a comparatively small number of people or does he forego this calling to serve in his diocese in the Novus Ordo on a much larger scale, where the need is so great?
Dear Joseph,
Your question gets right to the heart of what a vocation is. It is not what we prefer, what we like, but where we see God is leading us. You have to search in your soul for the answer to your question. If despite your deep attraction (I think this is a better word than 'calling') to a legitimate religious order that exclusively follows the 'Tridentine Rite' the Holy Spirit is moving you to consider and address the larger needs of the Church it may well be a sign of where God wants you to be. You have to make the premise of your search that you want to do what He wants, not what you want. And then you have to be prepared to draw the conclusions, to give up what you are attached and attracted to (no doubt for many good reasons) if he asks something else of you, and not look back.
Be sure of my prayers.
Fr. Anthony Bannon
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