Venting about a priest
Long story short I am limerent for a Catholic priest shortly after converting. I feel horrible as this goes against my budding faith and is the first time Ive felt any serious attraction that breaks my wedding vows. Hes absolutelt beautiful, he has eyes like a fox or a wolf. I feel am irresistible pull because he represents an archetype to me, a perfect man, the shepherd-healer, a forbidden man, and the celibacy is itself attractive because I dont feel the mean competition of another woman. Every time I feel myself making progress I randomly see him and make eye contact with him. I interpret his sermons as being specifically about me which just ignites the limerence even more. Whenever I drive anywhere I "scan" for his car which is stupid because so what if I drove near him? What am I hoping for? Its like I need his presence around me constantly to survive so I just imagine it. The sad part is I saw him next to my husband in person and concluded my husband was more attractive but this man is idealized in my mind and I cant remove the haze that blinds me. He never speaks to me and acts kind of distant if I ever speak to him (likely because im shaking with fear of being found out which makes it obvious) yet somehow I catch any tiny look and presume hes limerent as well which creates an irresistible pull to this man. Ive confessed things to him nobody in the world knows. I feel like I need him/his approval to survive, like hes the phantom Ive been searching for my whole life. Please give me advice. I literally have kids and I feel like this secret is poisoning my family and I just imagine what would these innocent children think if they knew. I dont want to act on it, in fact i would be forced not to by my faith if it was even reciprocated, but its not since unlike him I dont perfectly encapsulate an archetype, Im not even attractive (LOL), yet I feel an extreme desire which leaves me uncertain of where I even stand. In some way I actually do want to act on it. I could go on.
Posted Jan 30, 2026, 5:23 AM UTC