Yesterday we considered how dangerous it is to stereotype priests and/or expect them to embody styles and appearances relevant to an age different to our own. The romantacised priest is not nearly as useful as the authentic priest, what use the man playing Cardinal Newman when living in 21st Century Britain? God calls many and various people to serve as priest within his church and each should focus on being the person God calls them to be, not the person they or others feel they should be!
However, that does not mean that there aren’t characteristics that every priest ought to embody. Firstly every priest, regardless of personality, must be rooted in prayer. How many defunct clergy actually burnt out because they stopped working on their own relationship with Jesus? Corporate prayer is not enough, we each need time alone with the Lord. After all, how can we possibly hope to do Christ’s work unless we are tuning our hearts to discern his will and purpose for our lives?
Which leads to a second essential- discipline! Ensuring offices are said is not a chore for the priest but a life-line. Every priest must find a way to organise life and this includes making time for family and self. Ministry is a marathon not a sprint, the demands are huge, and too many burn out because they neglected their own health and needs. The day off and time to unwind is vital if we hope to reach retirement in good health…but that is not an excuse to be lazy! It is all about balance, and every priest will tell you, this can be hard to maintain.
Priests also need backbone, a part of the body sadly lacking in many modern clergy! Unless we learn to say NO to those things that are not strictly necessary, and unless we learn to grasp thistles and deal with conflict, we are liable to be used and abused. Parishes are notorious places for bringing out the best and worst in people and strong, clear leadership is essential.
One could continue with this list for a long time. We might talk about a need for trustworthy listeners, good communicators, exemplars of good behaviour, inspiring preachers etc…. Chances are your priest is some of these but certainly not all, for the perfect priest does not exist. Like S. Peter and all the apostles, modern priests make mistakes and struggle to live up to their call. So be it, as long as they earnestly strive to do thier best, they deserve our love and support.
2009 is the official year of the priest and dedicated to the patronage of S. John Vianney, pictured above, the patron saints of all priests. Do you pray for priests each day? Do you pray for new vocations to the priesthood? Do you encourage vocations? No living person can possibly hope to succeed in ministry unless upheld by the prayer of the church. Perhaps that is why it is often said that parishes get the priests they deserve! So let us pray for the work of all in holy orders, praying that we might support them in all they do and say. Do that and, in return, they will do the same for us.
This is an interesting post, but why illustrate it with photographs of Roman Catholic priests of days gone by.
Thank you for this interesting post, Father. It reminds us of the essentials, but I rather think that Newman is a fine role model.
Oh do not mis-understand me. Newman was a hero- and that is precisely why we might be fooled into trying to be him. An exercise which would prove as silly as if he had tried to be us!