John O'Donohue Quotes

I am surprised that I cannot recall whether my desire to become a minister transformed itself into a wish to lead the more militant life of missionary, by a slow process or suddenly.

At different points in my life, I had grappled with the idea of going into the priesthood - in high school or law school. Where it ends, I'm not quite sure. Perhaps it ends with death, grappling with one's spirituality.

Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus.

I wanted passionately to be a priest.

I have nothing against priests. In fact, I tried for a time to be one... It should be clear, then, that I respect, and am often fond of, the many priests in my life.

When I was in Kansas City and having a tough time in my career, I decided to go to seminary to continue my spiritual growth.

I've twice been on the point of giving up my performing career to train for the priesthood.

Really I feel less keen about the Army every day. I think the Church would suit me better.

Whatever your calling is as a service, follow it - that's beautiful.

I left because I decided it just really wasn't for me, and I got a better understanding of what the Catholic Church needed from its priests and ministers.

I wanted to be a Priest at one point. I was pretty religious. I was an altar boy, and I was good at it. Then, I started meeting girls and I'm like 'You know, maybe I shouldn't be a Priest.'

I was very serious about being a priest, twice in my life. Almost joined the Montfort Seminary after I graduated from high school. Almost went back in the seminary during college.

As a senior in high school, I had a strong sense that God wanted me in some kind of ministry.

The level of study that I was at, I was probably only about two or three years away from being ordained as a rabbi, so I really needed to figure out in my head where I wanted to go with things. And I just couldn't do it habitually anymore.

My grandmother and my father always said I would end up as a missionary. Well, I feel like I am one now.

I gave my life to Christ, and I thought that would be it for me, and He was, like, 'No, you're not finished with acting; acting is not finished with you. This is your talent. Go back into it, but you're going back into it with a heart that's not obsessive over it.'

I realized during my time as a chaplain that I didn't want to be a minister.

I have to say that I have no regrets about my decision to become a priest or about the major directions my ministry has taken me... I have been and am happy as a priest, and I have never been lonely... I could have used a bit more solitude.

I started making some proper decisions, getting things in order. It's kind of like cleaning up your house. I was looking for direction for what God wanted me to do - and that's when I got a call about The Passion.

When I gave my life to the Lord, I thought I'd be a preacher.

When I was young, I was dedicated to become a minister - my brothers and I were formally brought in front of the congregation in a dedication ceremony, where we were dedicated to the future service of God.

I feel in me the vocation of the Priest. I have the vocation of the Apostle. Martyrdom was the dream of my youth, and this dream has grown with me. Considering the mystical body of the Church, I desired to see myself in them all.

Even though it's my job to be an actor, I have given my life to God.

I am a pastor so I eat and breathe the Church.

The task of a priest, in some respects, may be different today, but the principles upon which Herbert built his life as a priest are of universal application.