Reading and Discipleship
Reading and Discipleship
Some father priests mistakenly think that their life in discipleship ends with their ordination as priests, since they become teachers of others!
But the truth is that the priest must continue learning constantly, so that he may be filled and thus be able to teach others.
New books fill the markets, and the people read, including the servants and those making confessions. The priest will inevitably face, while receiving confessions, certain questions regarding what those confessing to him have read. So how will he answer?
It is not fitting for the priest to appear in a position in which he is less knowledgeable than his children. In this way, confidence in him as a teacher is lost!
His reading, however, should not only be for the sake of his people, but also for himself, especially the spiritual readings that nurture him spiritually in his personal life and grant him spiritual feelings beneficial to him personally.
Likewise, reading is beneficial to him for the sake of the pulpit ministry…
So that his thoughts may not be repeated and recurring, causing people to grow weary of hearing them. Rather, whether in sermons or talks, he must present to the people deep thoughts that satisfy them, and they feel that they have received from him something new from which they benefit.
He needs in his readings to be acquainted with many things…
Not only regarding spiritual information, but also regarding theological, doctrinal, and liturgical information… along with information in Church history, the lives of the saints, antiquities, the Holy Bible and interpretation, and Church canons… Added to all this are general pieces of knowledge as well…
Thus he will be able to satisfy his people when he speaks…
The time suitable for the priest in reading may be the morning time on days in which there are no liturgies or baptisms.
He must determine for himself a time according to his circumstances in order to read and benefit, and a time in which to prepare his sermons and talks.
Discipleship, with regard to the priest, is not limited to reading.
He may also become a disciple under persons who are greater than him in spiritual stature, whether among the father priests or the bishops.
He also benefits from the monthly or periodic meetings held by the father bishop for the priests of his diocese, or those held by the Pope.
The important thing is that he have the desire for discipleship and carry it out.
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