The Priest’s Spiritual Life
The Priest’s Spiritual Life
The priest is not merely a source of activity or an encyclopedia of knowledge; he is also a living example whose life influences others.
The mistake of an ordinary person is called ignorance, but the mistake of a priest is a stumbling block.
When we choose someone for priestly ordination, we must select the best among the people — the best in his spiritual life, in his relationships with others, and in solving the people’s problems — the kindest in heart and the deepest in love.
A priest’s life should be more influential than his sermons.
Indeed, his life should be the true, practical, and continuous sermon before everyone — a living illustration of all virtues. People draw life from him and see in him a father in spiritual life, a good example and model.
The priest must care for his own salvation just as he cares for the salvation of others.
His responsibility toward others must not make him neglect his own soul and his concern for eternity, as Saint Paul the Apostle said to his disciple Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine; continue in them” (1 Timothy 4:16).
The priesthood should increase a priest’s humility, just as the Lord Jesus Christ was meek and humble in heart.
After ordination, he should remain just as kind and gentle; the authority of priesthood should not change him, nor should leadership replace fatherhood in his life.
Just as the priest must be an example, so must his household be an example.
His wife and children should together form a model of a spiritual home, a testimony to his care for his family — for as he succeeds in raising his children in the flesh, he should also succeed in raising his spiritual children in the Church.
The priest must always keep the reverence of the altar before his eyes.
Frequent entry into the sanctuary should not lessen his awe or caution. He must remain careful and spiritually prepared for Communion, and his prayers should retain their depth, focusing on the spirit rather than the melody.
Let the priest know that as his spirituality grows stronger, so too does the spirituality of his congregation; and if his spirit weakens, their spirit weakens as well.
There is still much to be said on this subject — may the Lord grant us time.
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