At just 21 years old, Elliot Dobie is preparing to enter formation with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP) and begin discerning a possible vocation to the Catholic priesthood.

In this conversation, Elliot joins Mark Lambert and Katherine Bennett to talk candidly about the journey that has brought him to this point: falling away from the Faith, searching for something deeper, discovering the Traditional Latin Mass, and eventually confronting the possibility that God might be calling him to give his life to the priesthood.

Elliot also shares the remarkable story of his Catholic social-media apostolate, which began almost for fun but rapidly grew into something much larger. He reflects on the extraordinary opportunities social media provides for evangelisation — but also its addictive nature and the danger of allowing an online Catholic identity to replace a genuine life of prayer.

The conversation turns to Elliot's discovery of the Traditional Latin Mass and why its beauty, reverence, silence and Eucharistic focus had such a profound effect upon him. He explains why he believes so many young Catholics are being drawn towards traditional liturgy and why traditional priestly institutes are attracting young men at a time when many dioceses are struggling for vocations.

But is there also a danger of reducing Catholic tradition to an aesthetic? Elliot speaks openly about the difference between being attracted to the outward beauty of Catholicism and undergoing a genuine interior conversion.

Finally, Elliot discusses the reality of discerning the priesthood at only 21: the possibility of giving up marriage and children, his family's reaction to his vocation, the importance of community life for priests, and learning ultimately to say to God: “Not my will, but Thy will be done.”

In this conversation:
Elliot's return to a deeper practice of the Catholic Faith
Building a Catholic apostolate through social media
The opportunities — and dangers — of Catholic social media
Why giving up his phone will form part of his new life
Discovering the Traditional Latin Mass
Why young Catholics are travelling long distances for traditional and reverent liturgy
The universality of Latin in the Catholic liturgy
Beauty, reverence and belief in the Real Presence
When Catholic tradition becomes merely an aesthetic
Why Elliot chose the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest
The importance of priestly community
Why traditional seminaries and religious communities are attracting vocations
The crisis of vocations in many Catholic dioceses
Discerning priesthood at just 21
Giving up the possibility of marriage and children
What Elliot's parents think about his decision
Learning to surrender our plans to the will of God

Elliot must help fund his formation with the Institute. We will put a link to his GoFundMe below, and if you are able to contribute — however modestly — please consider supporting this young man as he begins his discernment.

Above all, please keep Elliot, his family and all those discerning a vocation to the priesthood and religious life in your prayers.

🙏 Support Elliot:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-my-candidacy-year-with-the-icksp-in-preston

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Please like, comment and share this interview — particularly with young Catholics who may themselves be wondering what God is asking of them.