The Priest and Anger

The Main Idea of the Lecture

This lecture discusses the danger of anger in the life of the priest and its negative impact on his ministry and his spiritual image before his people. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the priest is called to be a gentle father, not an authoritarian leader, because anger causes him to lose the spirit of fatherhood and distorts the image of God that people should see in him.

Anger and the Loss of Spiritual Virtues

When the priest becomes angry, he loses meekness, humility, longsuffering, and cheerfulness, and these are replaced by harshness, loud voice, and sharp style. Anger may cause him to cling to authority at the expense of love, demanding submission instead of building respect based on inner conviction.

The Difference Between Submission and Respect

The teaching emphasizes that submission may be outward and driven by fear, but respect comes from the heart as a result of conviction and love. Obedience that results from persuasion endures, but obedience that results from command and compulsion is not stable.

The Danger of Justifying Anger

The priest may justify his anger as “holy anger” or defense of the dignity of the priesthood, while in truth the dignity of the priesthood appears in spiritual virtues, not in domination. Christ taught meekness and humility, and His voice was not loud nor His manner harsh.

Anger and Selfishness

Sometimes anger is mixed with selfishness and the seeking of personal dignity, turning into a means of humiliating others instead of winning them. This contradicts the message of the priesthood, which is service, self-giving, and love.

Treating Mistakes with a Spiritual Spirit

Not every mistake needs harsh rebuke or anger, but many matters can be treated with patience, teaching, gentle indication, kind words, and persuasion. The true shepherd is not by nature quick-tempered, but patient, longsuffering, and wise in dealing with others.

The General Spiritual Message

The essence of the message is that the priest is an image of Christ the meek Shepherd, and he must solve problems with love, not violence; with persuasion, not compulsion; and with humility, not pride, so that he may preserve the dignity of the priesthood and be a cause of blessing, not stumbling.

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