--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagine, to become a priest there are…" description: "\"Imagine, to become a priest there are eight years of study and preparation, and then if after a while you can't do it, you can ask for a dispensation, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/pope-francis-85_america_imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eig_2331296.png" --- # Imagine, to become a priest there are eight years of study… ![“Imagine, to become a priest there are eight years of study and preparation, and then if after a while you can't do it, you can ask for a dispensation, you leave, and everything is OK. On the other hand, to make a sacrament (marriage), which is for your whole life, three to four…” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/pope-francis-85_america_imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eig_2331296.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/pope-francis-85_america_imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eig_2331296.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/pope-francis-85_america_imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eig_2331296.png) > “Imagine, to become a priest there are eight years of study and preparation, and then if after a while you can't do it, you can ask for a dispensation, you leave, and everything is OK. On the other hand, to make a sacrament (marriage), which is for your whole life, three to four conferences...Preparation for marriage is very important. It's very, very important because I believe it is something that in the Church, in common pastoral ministry, at least in my country, in South America, the Church has not valued much.” [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Marriage preparation is essential and often undervalued, requiring deep commitment and thorough preparation. **In simple terms:** Marriage needs serious preparation and commitment. Key Takeaway Prioritize thorough marriage preparation. Themes marriage commitment preparation pastoral care Mood thoughtful serious Type pastoral educational When to use this quote - wedding planning - family counseling - church education - personal discernment Key Concepts theology of marriage counseling Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to prepare for marriage? - How can the Church better support couples? A Different Perspective Time constraints can limit deep preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Ministry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministry/) [Pastoral ministry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastoral-ministry/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Sacraments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacraments/) [South america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-america/) ## Related quotes > [Preparation for marriage is very important. It's very, very important because I believe it is something that in the Church, in common pastoral ministry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/preparation-for-marriage-is-very-important-it-s-very-very-important/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Imagine, to become a priest there are eight years of study and preparation, and then if after a while you can't do it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eight-years-of-study-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Yes, I was a parish priest for five years. I was a curate in a large working class parish in Bristol and the Vicar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/yes-i-was-a-parish-priest-for-five-years-i-was-a-curate-in-a-large/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [I might be celibate, but I appreciate the wonder of the sacrament of marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-o-brien/i-might-be-celibate-but-i-appreciate-the-wonder-of-the-sacrament-of/) [Keith O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-o-brien/) > [Love is not weakness. It is strong. Only the sacrament of marriage can contain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/love-is-not-weakness-it-is-strong-only-the-sacrament-of-marriage-can/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [The sacrament of marriage is based on a man and woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/the-sacrament-of-marriage-is-based-on-a-man-and-woman/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [“Being laughed at is excellent preparation for marriage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timberlake-wertenbaker/being-laughed-at-is-excellent-preparation-for-marriage/) Timberlake Wertenbaker > [In some states, it is illegal to turn down a same-sex couple when you're placing children for adoption. That's discrimination. But in the Catholic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-gjelten/in-some-states-it-is-illegal-to-turn-down-a-same-sex-couple-when-you/) [Tom Gjelten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-gjelten/) > [If someone talks about union, fidelity, a monogamous relationship, love, blessing; I would say it sounds like marriage to me. And blessing, you see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carey/if-someone-talks-about-union-fidelity-a-monogamous-relationship-love/) [George Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carey/) > [Most people spend far more time in preparation for their vocation than they do in preparation for marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/most-people-spend-far-more-time-in-preparation-for-their-vocation/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [No other human relationship can approach the potential for intimacy and oneness than can be found within the context of a marriage commitment. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rainey/no-other-human-relationship-can-approach-the-potential-for-intimacy/) [Dennis Rainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rainey/) > [“Cohabitation is a big issue, and how it is dealt with at the parish level is a big concern, so the pope is sending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cohabitation-is-a-big-issue-and-how-it-is-dealt-with-at-the-parish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What is ironic is that we recognize the need for education in all other pursuits of life and fail to recognize that need when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-chapman/what-is-ironic-is-that-we-recognize-the-need-for-education-in-all/) [Gary D. Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-chapman/) > [People do not get married planning to divorce. Divorce is the result of a lack of preparation for marriage and the failure to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/people-do-not-get-married-planning-to-divorce-divorce-is-the-result/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Marriage is one of the most important institutions we have. It binds families and society together. It is a building block that promotes stability.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-miller/marriage-is-one-of-the-most-important-institutions-we-have-it-binds/) Maria Miller ## More by Pope Francis > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Most people nowadays would not consider love as related in any way to truth. Love is seen as an experience associated with the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/most-people-nowadays-would-not-consider-love-as-related-in-any-way-to/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Listen to Jesus and follow him. That's the message of the Transfiguration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/listen-to-jesus-and-follow-him-that-s-the-message-of-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Proceed calmly in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/proceed-calmly-in-life/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I like to say that women are those who form life in their wombs - and this is a comparison I make - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-like-to-say-that-women-are-those-who-form-life-in-their-wombs-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [You cannot insult the faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/you-cannot-insult-the-faith-of-others/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [To all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/to-all-people-of-good-will-who-are-working-for-social-justice-never/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I pray every day for all who are suffering in Iraq. Please join me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-pray-every-day-for-all-who-are-suffering-in-iraq-please-join-me/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Certain realities in life are only seen through eyes that are cleansed through our tears. Let us learn how to weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-in-life-are-only-seen-through-eyes-that-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) [Explore all 1,479 Pope Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Imagine, to become a priest there are eight years of study and preparation, and then if after a while you can't do it, you can ask for a dispensation, you leave, and everything is OK. On the other hand, to make a sacrament (marriage), which is for your whole life, three to four conferences...Preparation for marriage is very important. It's very, very important because I believe it is something that in the Church, in common pastoral ministry, at least in my country, in South America, the Church has not valued much.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Francis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eight-years-of-study-and-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eight-years-of-study-and-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/pope-francis-85_america_imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eig_2331296.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/pope-francis-85_america_imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eig_2331296.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/pope-francis-85_america_imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eig_2331296.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Imagine, to become a priest there are eight years of study and preparation, and then if after a while you…” — Pope Francis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pope Francis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Imagine, to become a priest there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eight-years-of-study-and-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/imagine-to-become-a-priest-there-are-eight-years-of-study-and-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```