www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Why would you become a priest?

"Little Green Coat"'s post made me think. (I love when that happens.)

What my thoughts led to was this: it is the obligation of every baptized person to love God and love one's neighbor and to serve them with one's whole being.

I think we have been led astray with some of the "theologizing" about priesthood, Holy Orders, and even some of the religious order/monastic life. I've come to realize (even as a young Jesuit) that the priest/monk/nun is not some special personage, but rather an ordinary person who steps up and puts on the "uniform" of the sacramentally-armed forces to serve all of God's children. The "clergy" are the uniformed EMTs of the community. They have the mission to "save" [pun intended] those who they are called upon to help.

But it's really the same thing that we individual Christians are called upon to do. These folks just have the public responsibility to provide a role-model for the rest of us.

Blessings - and strength to serve to all!

I'm currently trying to discern whether I am called to be a Priest or not. There have been many times when I thought it would be beneficial to be a Priest. (Assuming I didn't have a 2nd job), I've thought many times that being a Priest would give me a lot of extra time for prayer and service to the Church, for seeking out God. On the other hand, I've also realised many times that being a Priest would seriously hurt my pursuit of God. Lay people can decide to lead a simple life and pray as much as they like, read as much as they like, etc.; Priests have countless other obligations that they can't shrug off, so there might be much less time for direct communication with God, not more.

In general I think it is very unhealthy to want to be a Priest. This is not to say that it is unhealthy to be attracted to various aspects of the Priesthood. Yet, as Saint Gregory the Theologian points out in his 2nd Oration, becoming a Priest, and being a good Priest, is an immensely difficult task. It is a huge burden. If it's approached as "just another job" then you'll be nothing more than "just another guy with funny clothes on". If you approach it as "something I want to do, something that seems like it would be 'cool'" (or 'fun') then you'll soon find yourself burnt out, disconcerted, and probably bitter. We like to think that somehow we will be the first Priest in thousands of years to be able to avoid all the political tomfoolery that goes on. We like to think that it would be 'joyous' to serve God all the time, to pray to him, to have services and whatnot, to help the community. "Sorrowful Joy" perhaps, but not "joy" in the typical American sense.

I think that if it is decided that you are called to be a Priest, you should become one. It has nothing to do with whether you want to be one. (A number of saints were forced into the clergy, including the afore-mentioned Gregory) It also has nothing to do with whether you are attracted to the Priesthood or not (and IMO, too much of an attraction can lead to overly romantacizing the Priesthood, which can lead to a huge fall later on). What is called for is a realistic outlook. Are you able to serve? (can you fulfill the duties of the office?) Are you called to serve in this capacity? (Is is discernable by the Church--though not necessarily by you--that God called you?) If you are able then, and you are called, then you should serve. God's will be done. And, God will grant you a special kind of joy--He does this as an allowance for our weakness, because the path of the Priest (the one who's dedicated, anyway) will be much harder.

PS. Saint Gregory the Theologian, Oration 2 - http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-07/Npnf2-07-33.htm#P3010_856772

Baloney!
Unless the priest has the only keys to the church, there is NOTHING stopping parishioners from gathering in THEIR church and singing vespers, matins, moleben, whatever they wish. When our people came to this country before they had their own priests, they got together and sang the Divine Office in homes. Sure, these services are nicer (and more "complete") when served by a priest, but if the priest lacks either the will or time to be in church for these services, then the laypeople--if they want them--can accomplish the services with reverence, piety and spiritual strength.

It seems to me that the people that complain the loudest about lack of services are the last ones who would show up when they are actually held. Do you pray these services at home? Great! But wouldn't it be that much better a witness to our traditional liturgical life to find somebody else who does too and go to your parish church and pray them? You might start a trend... and if your priest is the last one to catch the spirit, then it's his loss. The church isn't for sitting empty but one morning a week--it's for prayer.

Slava Isusu Christu!

Dear: Bri,

Im going to greece to end the schism, so all the orthodox will become byzantine catholic.
haha.
From: Daniel
In The Holy Theotokos

Then, My Son, you have quite a hard and bitter Journey ahead of you! They MIGHT imprison you on Athos for one

Peace,
Brian

Or the MP might send him to Siberia. LOL Don

I would only consider it if everyone in my parish physically dragged me before the bishop. Anyone who thinks he would either make a good priest or is worthy of that honor should be viewed with real suspicion.

Sometimes in a very literal way.

Brian:
Slava Isusu Christu!

I finaly got a response from the O.F.M. Cap, Vocations director in italy. It too so long because orginially he was stationed in greece but got moved to venice italy. so it went from USA, Greece, Italy, USA. He said its possiabley and very likley that i can come to europe to serve the church as a Capuchin their even though im from the US. Only 2 more years.

From: Daniel
In The Holy+Theotokos

Hi:

Oh yes, I've thought about it from time to time. My "current" answer is that no, I would not want to become a priest, but that might change in the future.

Since I am married and Roman Catholic, some serious changes would have to happen before that is even possible.

I am also a father of three children ages 6, 4 and 3, and therefore, unless I get a bull of excommunication from the Pope if I don't accept to be ordained, then I wouldn't even try for at least some 15 years. I will be there full time for my kids, at least through their childhood and teen years.

After that, who knows. Things can change wildly in much less than 15 years so it is not even worth making any specific plans for such a long term.

If I do become a priest, I would probably be among the first married men ordained to the priesthood without having to request an exception to the rule of celibacy, that would probably put me in the spotlight and if so, that would surely condition my ministry somehow.

It is very unlikely that a married priest would become pastor, not during the first few generations, at least, so I would probably be under the authority of a pastor and I would make that very explicit. I like authority, therefore I respect it. The Catholic Church in the US would be very different if obedience was viewed as a value by the majorty of Catholics.

I would spend a good deal of time knowing my community. Most of the pastoral problems in my parish would be at least considerably aliviated, if not solved, with a little more awareness.

I think I already am a man of prayer, I don't think that would change.

My liturgical celebrations would be decent, proper, following the rituals and promoting participation from the faithful in every way the ritual allows, perhaps even more than that for children and teens, but never to the point of clown masses.

I would easily get into trouble because of what I say. I will continue to be too liberal for the conservatives and too conservative for the liberals. I would be an orthodox Catholic priest and as such, a man of few friends.

I would identify the people who attempt to run the parish for their own benefit and will give them the hardest time that Chrisitian charity would ever allow. (And knowing me, that should be a pretty scary thought).

Ministries that actually reach out to people in need would have priority in getting my attenction and time. Ministries that spend too many resources in their own bureaucracy, or that are nice ideas but not really that useful wouldn't need me, I would have very little constructive collaboration to offer.

I do not believe in delegated management. I can delegate the execution of ideas, but I will be absoluetly on top of things entrusted to my care, even if somebody else is actually doing the work.

I would have zero-tolerance for heterodox teachers/formators.

I would still post to this board!

Shalom,
Memo.

So Memo,

When do you start your diaconal studies?



Sharon

Note to "Lemko Rusyn" -- Your point about the lay people gathering to pray in their own church is a very good one.
But I had to laugh when you started out with "baloney" -- were you trying to make a sandwich? Do you want some lettuce, as in Let Us.. Pray?
One good laugh deserves another!

Excellent point! Perhaps this will encourage people to begin getting together to pray these services!

Hi:

Oh, as soon as my wife gives me permission, which will not happen for some 14-15 years.

I don't know about the Byzantine Church, but in the Latin Church married men cannot be ordained as deacons without the consent of their wife.

Liliana will not have it until our younger child reaches adulthood, and I fully agree, by the way. Our reasons for not doing it would also apply to the formation process, so the formation would only start by that time and ordination would come some 5 years after that.

So, no Father Deacon Memo for some 20 years, I guess.

But that doesn't mean I will wait until that time to start with my agenda as stated above. There is a place for lay people in virtually every item I listed.

Shalom,
Memo.

<trashtalk>
Tell your wife it's her duty to obey you - and she shouldn't have time to meddle anyway, since there is a lot to do in the kitchen.
</trashtalk>

(That ought to bring Sharon Mech out of the woodwork )