What kinds of motivation and personality characteristics would determine if a male was more interested in a religious priest or a secular priest?

Perhaps I should leave that question for a religious priest, but part of it is a desire to live in a deeply communitarian form of life.

It's a question I've asked a few of the Trappists up here, including one studying here at the university in preparation for the seminary. And what Master Kenobi said largely agrees with what they've explained as their interest in the regular clergy. The communitarian form of life was obviously a huge factor, the more contemplative aspects of the religious community was important, and these interests were generally combined with a more specific call to serve the community as a priest. I was told that a whole new level of meaning was opened up to them in living out their priestly vocation in a monastic setting, and that call to the priesthood also had a positive effect on their contemplative lives as religious. I hope that might help.

in addition to the above one may be attracted to a certain aspect of a religious order as well. One might be attracted to the contemplative life that some monastic orders have, or theological study that the Dominicans offer, or missionary work, etc. Likewise one might be attracted to parish life as a Diocesan Priest too.

I should note that the key question is, of course, which of the choices is what God is calling you to do. But your own attractions are certainly an element in discovering that.

Yes. Absolutely.

Answering His call
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVZNLbazoc0

Thread necromancy: it’s what’s for dinner!

What is the difference between a diocesan and religious priest?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp5mMc91yPE

To discern between the Diocesan Priesthood and the Religious Priesthood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-HGQCZfQvg