[crich70]

Becoming a catholic priest in 19th Century Mexico?
What would have been the procedure for a young man to become a catholic priest in 19th century mexico? I'm working on an idea for NaNoWriMo where the hero is trying to become a catholic priest in 19th century Mexico around the time of the "war of the reform." His plans get changed as he joins the fighting between the liberals and the conservatives on the side of the conservatives. I'm guessing that there might be a conflict between being a priest and taking part in the fighting that would have been taking place. Being neither a priest nor a catholic I'm a bit lost on at what point my hero can still not be a priest and be able to take part in the fighting. I'm looking for background details on how he'd have gotten his training and what would have been expected of him back then. Now they have colleges and other such I understand but what would the steps have been in the 1850's? Who would have taught him? The local priest? Someone higher? And could he just leave prior to being ordained or would it have been more complex than that?
I want to make sure that his background is accurate for the time period.