Inspiration: Top baseball prospect retires to pursue priesthood
Some uplifting news for your Monday morning, explained and reflected upon by Deacon Keith Fournier:
He was ranked as one of the best prospects for the Major Leagues by “Baseball America”. He was poised, perched and prepared for a professional career in Baseball. It would have brought with it all of the accompanying “perks”, the salary, the adulation of fans, and the excitement of the sport.
However, something happened to Grant Desme along the way. The same ‘something’ that happened to the original Twelve, prompting them to lay down their nets, or their other implements of trade and career, as well as their own plans for their own future. That some-thing was Some One. His name is Jesus Christ. The Apostles – and now Grant Desme – responded to his voice.
Desme is quoted on both the San Francisco Chronicle and Major League Baseball’s website as saying: “I’m doing well in baseball. But I had to get down to the bottom of things, to what was good in my life, what I wanted to do with my life. Baseball is a good thing, but that felt selfish of me when I felt that God was calling me more. It took awhile to trust that and open up to it and aim full steam toward him … I love the game, but I’m going to aspire to higher things.” (Catholic Online)
The news about Desme has attracted lots of attention. From Major League Baseball, the Associated Press/USA Today, ESPN, etc.
I understand, but have not yet seen it published, that he is becoming a Norbertine at St. Michael’s Abbey.
(While growing up, I attended the summer camp organized by the Norbertine fathers in Southern California. I wasn’t so great at the baseball games they would organize…)
update - The Huffington Post – a liberal online portal – has a poll up asking “Did Grant Desme make the right decision?” Let’s bomb this poll and vote that YES HE DID!
update 2 – thanks, papists! The poll is now a health 85%-15% in favor of Grant’s decision. 
Tweet this
Email
RSS
8 Comments
We think he did the right thing if God is calling him. There is much more than $$ and this young guy had choose the right one for Him. We should congratulate him and pray that he will be a GOOD APOSTLE in this age, we need many like him.
God Bless Him
Too bad he can’t play for the Padres 
okay, I couldn’t resist…
[...] Amazing story. Grant Desme was on his way to a successful Major League Baseball career but turned it down to pursue the priesthood. I’ve seen the argument that he is throwing away his God-given talent. I don’t buy it. Friends, this is a clear demonstration of the importance of vocation before profession. Fulfill the former and the latter will fall in place. I would not be a bit surprised if Grant finds a way to use his gifts in his ministerial future to help those in need. I know of one priest who did. [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Thomas Peters, La Crosse Catholic, La Crosse Catholic, Greg Keuter, Catholic Swag and others. Catholic Swag said: RT @americanpapist: New on AmP: Inspiration: Top baseball prospect retires to pursue priesthood http://bit.ly/8FJbKW {Please RT!} [...]
Just answered the poll, 80% in support of his decision.
We should remember Grant in our prayers as he goes through his time of discernment.
What a great story. My oldest son told me about it the other day.
You could not pay me to give HuffPo traffic.
Caption of the Day/PPOTD
