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Traditional Catholic Faith => Anσnymσus Posts Allowed => Topic started by: 2Vermont on December 22, 2023, 11:23:57 AM

Title: Former Seminarians
Post by: 2Vermont on December 22, 2023, 11:23:57 AM
Lately, I am noticing more and more that there are a number of members here who were former seminarians.  I'm guessing all from the SSPX?  Also, did you all know each other at the seminary?  And, if you are willing to share, why did you decide not to become a priest?

**I also posted this in Members Only, but I thought this could raise some private details (and therefore some posters may prefer to respond anonymously).
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Änσnymσus on December 23, 2023, 08:00:44 AM
Why would you want to know this? 
It seems invasive to me.
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Quo vadis Domine on December 23, 2023, 08:46:26 AM
Why would you want to know this?
It seems invasive to me.

Why do you want to know why she wants to know? ;)
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Änσnymσus on December 23, 2023, 09:46:17 AM
Why do you want to know why she wants to know? ;)
Haha! I want to dive deeply into the recesses of her mind for an even more analytical assessment!:laugh1:
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: 2Vermont on December 23, 2023, 10:25:47 AM
Why would you want to know this?
It seems invasive to me.
Because I am just interested since there are so many on this forum?  Is something wrong with that?  And I put it in anonymous, so if there was anything that was too private, the poster could answer anonymously? It is interesting that you asked your question anonymously though. ;)

Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Änσnymσus on December 23, 2023, 10:48:56 AM
Because I am just interested since there are so many on this forum?  Is something wrong with that?  And I put it in anonymous, so if there was anything that was too private, the poster could answer anonymously? It is interesting that you asked your question anonymously though. ;)
I'm trying to be private. ;)
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Änσnymσus on December 23, 2023, 11:11:48 AM
This is turning into a "funny stuff" thread. :facepalm: :fryingpan: :laugh1:
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Änσnymσus on December 23, 2023, 01:11:27 PM
  And I put it in anonymous, so if there was anything that was too private, the poster could answer anonymously? 
Matthew would know
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Ladislaus on December 23, 2023, 02:48:36 PM
As you know, I've already answered on two different threads.  See my response there. ;)

I could list a number of those on here who stated they they've been in the seminary, since it has come up on threads, but then they may want a bit of the privacy of not constantly having it on the forum.  I've revealed my actual name and identity a few times, but I still prefer that it not be out in front all the time.  When people PM me, I use my real name (hint, my screen name is the Latin version/spelling of my first name).
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: 2Vermont on December 23, 2023, 03:59:20 PM
Matthew would know
Well then, they don't have to answer!  Unbelievable. 
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Änσnymσus on December 23, 2023, 06:37:25 PM
Here's another anonymous thread about missed vocations from earlier this year. A lot of the posts look like they're from females, so not all about former seminarians, but it could still be relevant and interesting.  https://www.cathinfo.com/anonymous-posts-allowed/missed-vocation/15/ (https://www.cathinfo.com/anonymous-posts-allowed/missed-vocation/15/)
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Änσnymσus on December 27, 2023, 10:57:12 AM
In my experience, EX-seminarians are usually lame.
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Giovanni Berto on December 27, 2023, 11:25:29 AM
In my experience, EX-seminarians are usually lame.
:clown:

Actually, that is exactly why they are ex-seminarians.

You cannot hold your walking stick and say Mass at the same time.

Image a poor lame priest trying to incense the altar.
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Änσnymσus on December 27, 2023, 11:38:59 AM
Might as well chime in, and I must offer a disclaimer, anonymity is not my strong suit.  I have a website devoted to the late Orestes Brownson, and my full name and PO Box is attached to the website for all the world to see.  If the commies take over in the US, I will probably be somewhere near the top of the list. 

My name is Bryan Shepherd, and my father was a private investigator, my mother was stay-at-home mom for the most part.  I am an only child as my mother had ovarian cancer and could not have any more. I was Novus Ordo until age 20, became a Trad of the Fr. Wathen variety, and entered SSPX seminary, St. Thomas Aquinas, in 1994.    (I did a preparatory year at Ridgefield, CT, prior to seminary) I left seminary in 1997 after completing my year of Metaphysics.  I did well in Logic, Latin, and Philosophy, but my other courses suffered a bit, which probably led to my dismissal.  The fact that I had a Fr. Wathen background (New Mass is a sacrilegious mortal sin) might not have helped my cause.  

Anyway, I came back home to Louisville, ended up finishing up the philosophy B.A. at UofL, and did the M.A. (online) Philosophy at Holy Apostles (Cromwell, CT, 2008).  I taught college philosophy/history in Louisville area for about ten years and ceased teaching in 2017.  My main employer wanted me to teach online, and, in a nice way I said, "Shove it."  Besides, my last year teaching, I taught eight college classes at two universities and made $14,900, so if any of you future traditional philosophers out there have grand aspirations of "making it big," it might not happen.  I currently run my Rumble channel/Brownson Site, and I work for a local internet provider in town.  I also have a Substack channel which I occasionally contribute to. My website if you are interested:

 Brownson site: Brownson Site (http://www.orestesbrownson.org/)   

Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Ladislaus on December 27, 2023, 12:55:14 PM
In my experience, EX-seminarians are usually lame.

MaterDominici, is that you?  :laugh1:

Matthew, will you stand for this?

Seriously, though, ex-seminarians take much of what they learned into whatever vocation they end up in, both in terms of their knowledge of the faith and spiritual formation, and none of it is wasted.  To paraphrase Evelyn Waugh, if ex-seminarians are lame, imagine how lame they (we) would be had we not gone to seminary at all.

Waugh:
Quote
I always think to myself, ‘I know I am awful. But how much more awful I should be without the Faith.’
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Ladislaus on December 27, 2023, 12:57:59 PM
I did well in Logic, Latin, and Philosophy, but my other courses suffered a bit, which probably led to my dismissal.  The fact that I had a Fr. Wathen background (New Mass is a sacrilegious mortal sin) might not have helped my cause. 

Logic, Latin, and Philosophy are usually the most common academic stumbling blocks.  If you can get through those, usually you'd do well in the others that build on them.  I suspect that your second sentence is closer to the truth.  Father Wathen's views about the NOM and EENS dogma are not highly regarded by SSPX.
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: ElwinRansom1970 on December 27, 2023, 02:29:47 PM
Father Wathen's views about the NOM and EENS dogma are not highly regarded by SSPX.
But Fr. Wathen's views on EENS and the NOM are in fact right opinion, whilst the views of the SSPX on these matters are woefully deficient.

I was once for a walk with Msgr. Williamson after dinner (late autumn 1989) and he broached to subject of the validity of the NOM. He did not seem pleased that I did not follow the SSPX line on the matter. I avoided discussing further, namely that my opinion hangs on the doubtful validity of NO episcopal consecrations. I think I redirected to conversation to Tannhäuser vs. the Ring Cycle.
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: 2Vermont on December 27, 2023, 04:21:47 PM
MaterDominici, is that you?  :laugh1:

Matthew, will you stand for this?

:laugh1:
Title: Re: Former Seminarians
Post by: Änσnymσus on December 27, 2023, 05:20:50 PM
MaterDominici, is that you?  :laugh1:

Matthew, will you stand for this?

Seriously, though, ex-seminarians take much of what they learned into whatever vocation they end up in, both in terms of their knowledge of the faith and spiritual formation, and none of it is wasted.  To paraphrase Evelyn Waugh, if ex-seminarians are lame, imagine how lame they (we) would be had we not gone to seminary at all.

Waugh:
Yes, perhaps it helps them to be better men.

There might also be the possibility that priestly knowledge can be wielded incorrectly by someone who, in fact, is not a priest.

I don't know. My general experience is that it has something to do with some kind of autism.

Could be wrong. But you meet five, ten, twenty over the years and you see patterns....