The Spirituality of the Priest
The Spirituality of the Priest
Its Importance and Its Seriousness:
The priestly father is not merely a source of activity in the church, nor merely a storehouse of information, nor merely leadership and administration. Rather, he is before everything else a spirit… an example, and a light.
The mistake of a priest is far more dangerous than the mistake of a layperson.
Therefore, when the priest offers the Lamb oblation, he prays saying: “Grant that it may be acceptable for my sins and for the ignorances of Your people.” He considered the sins of the people as ignorances. As for himself, they cannot be ignorances, because “The lips of the priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 2:7).
How dangerous is the mistake that comes from a person who is considered an example!
He is one of those to whom Christ said: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). He also said: “You are the salt of the earth,” and followed it by saying: “But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matthew 5:13). How difficult this last phrase is, and how deeply painful it is to the soul.
The mistake of the priest is considered a stumbling block for the people,
and it may be attributed to the entire Church or even to the religion itself.
Many people do not distinguish between religion and men of religion. At the very least they will say: this is the Church and its men, or this is Orthodoxy and its leaders. Thus the priest’s mistake extends to include a very wide circle.
The mistake of the priest is dangerous because he is a steward of the divine mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1),
or he is an ambassador for the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:20). The Lord says of him: “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?” (Luke 12:42). The meaning is that he gives spiritual food to the people. If the steward and ambassador becomes a stumbling block, how will people view religion in practice?
The mistake of the priest is dangerous because he is supposed to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
If being full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom is a condition for deacons (Acts 6:3), how much more for priests who also receive the Holy Spirit in ordination, by the laying on of hands and by the holy breath (John 20:22). The Spirit works in them and grants them authority for the forgiveness of sins (John 20:23).
To the extent that people look at the priest as an example, to that extent are his mistakes or shortcomings magnified.
People look at him as a visual illustration of every virtue and as a practical model of every commandment. Naturally, when the people choose someone to be ordained a priest, they choose the best workers among the people, the most spiritual, competent, and knowledgeable. If this best one errs, how great then is the stumbling block! “If the light that is in you is darkness…!”
People do not imagine that the priest sins.
They say: it is impossible that this happens! He is our spiritual father and our teacher; from him we learn virtue and the way of the Spirit. He is Christ’s steward on earth. He is the one who stands at the altar, sanctifies the mysteries, from whom we partake, and before whom we confess. Thus the people are extremely sensitive toward what proceeds from the priest in word and deed, and they measure him with a golden scale.
Before outsiders, however, the priest’s mistake harms the entire Church.
The mistake of an ordinary person may be overlooked, but the mistake of a leader affects everyone and makes them ashamed before others.
When David sinned, although he was not a priest but the anointed of the Lord for rule and administration, Nathan the prophet said to him from the mouth of the Lord while announcing his punishment: “Because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14). Even if they do not mock, at the very least they marvel and are astonished.
Especially the manifest sins such as sins of anger and of the tongue.
The priest’s tongue is supposed to overflow with blessing and knowledge, and words of life should proceed from it. If an improper word comes from him, what will people say? And if he becomes angry in a way no one expects, what will be the effect on the people? Will he then be able to stand on the pulpit and speak about the virtues of meekness and gentleness?
There is an important observation that we state frankly:
the extent of care and preparedness in approaching Communion.
Laypeople prepare for Communion with great care and precision, with repentance and confession. If they are not in a fitting spiritual state, they postpone approaching Communion as unworthy.
But the priest is compelled to partake every Sunday or at the time of his service, and he cannot cancel the liturgy on the pretext that he is unprepared or unrepentant. So how then will he stand at the altar, serve, and partake?
Is not the reality that he will partake regardless of the reasons and obstacles?
Truly, how dangerous this matter is!
Therefore, it is the duty of the priest to be continually prepared for the divine mysteries and continually watchful in his spiritual life. I do not wish to enter into the details of this subject, for they are many and complex.
The phrase “I have sinned, forgive me,” which he says in every liturgy—does he say it from his heart, or in a routine way without meaning it, such that if he were asked, “In what have you sinned?” he might not find an answer?
The Prayer of Preparation:
Therefore, the Holy Church wisely placed a prayer of preparation that the priest says while spreading the altar before the liturgy, in which he says:
“O Lord, who knows the heart of everyone, the Holy One who rests in His saints, who alone is without sin and able to forgive sins… You, O Lord, know that I am unworthy, unprepared, and undeserving of this holy service that is Yours, and I have no face to stand before Your most holy glory. But according to the multitude of Your mercies, forgive me, I the sinner, and grant me mercy and compassion in this hour, that I may begin, prepare, and complete…”
Would that we all pray this prayer from the depths of our hearts,
and not only refrain from sins and negatives, but also grow in the fruits of the Spirit and in a life of purity and perfection, so that we may possess spiritual experience that benefits our children who are in need of it on their spiritual journey.
Seriousness and Spirituality in Prayers:
If the priestly father prays with spirit and seriousness, people feel the depth and impact of his prayers, unlike one who prays quickly and routinely.
Let us give one or more examples:
Anointing a Sick Person with Oil:
There is a great difference between two priests anointing a sick person with oil:
- One anoints him quickly, perhaps while speaking to him or to those around him, or in silence.
- Another priest places his hand on the sick person, then recites with great reverence and in an audible voice some Gospel readings, including:
A passage from the Gospel according to our teacher Luke the Evangelist, his blessings be upon us, Amen:
“Now Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them” (Luke 4:38–40).
Yes, Amen. Please, O Lord, come and heal this sick person.
Then he recites (Matthew 10:1–8) about the authority the Lord granted to His disciples to heal the sick. Then he takes the oil vessel with great reverence, signs it with the three signs of the cross, and recites:
From the Epistle of our teacher James the Apostle, his blessings be upon us, Amen:
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14–15).
Then he anoints the sick person with oil calmly, saying in an audible voice, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…” in Coptic or Arabic.
After that, he says a prayer of supplication for the sick person from the depth of his heart and with love. The sick person feels the priest’s blessing, prayers, and supplication, and also senses the seriousness of the prayer, and even its effectiveness. Perhaps at the same time the priest reads the absolution over him, or the third part of the absolution prayer.
Preparation for Communion:
It is known that the layperson cares greatly about Communion and prepares for it with repentance, reconciliation, and many spiritual matters. What about you, O priestly father?
You are required to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on known days and to be the first to partake. Are you prepared in every liturgy, or do you approach the Divine Liturgy and Communion regardless of your spiritual state? You cannot stop the liturgy because of mistakes that many people may know about. This is undoubtedly a dangerous matter.
The circumstances of the priest regarding the service of the divine mysteries require continual preparedness. If he practices the prayers without preparation, out of necessity imposed upon him—especially if he is the only priest in his church or in the entire town—this may become a habit in which he seeks excuses for himself.
Thus contempt for the mysteries, the prayers, and the service of the altar arises.
Therefore, the priestly father is chosen from the best elements, the deepest in spirit, and the most virtuous, so that he may be prepared every day, indeed at every moment, for the service of the divine mysteries.
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