On the Priesthood

The following is by Fr Aris Metrakos.

Why do some men who are called to this role fail miserably while others succeed? Can seminarians be prepared for the presbytery in a way that is neither hyper-spiritualized (“just send them all to a monastery for a few years”) nor McDonaldized (“we need to produce a consistent and dependable product to serve our parishes”)? Can older priests learn to mentor young clergy without becoming their tormentors? What criteria do veteran priests use to evaluate themselves and and avoid stagnation in their ministries?

The frequent abuse of priests at the hands of the irrational, the ignorant, and the down right mean is the 300 pound gorilla of American Orthodoxy. Why are our seminaries filled with converts? At least one priest’s young son knows the answer. When his father suggested that the 12 year-old would make a good priest, the boy responded without hesitation: “I’ve thought a lot about it and it would be pretty cool. But I see the way people treat you. I couldn’t do that.”

Not knowing ourselves can lead to disaster. Don’t be a chancellor if you don’t like administrative work. Don’t apply for a Ph.D. program unless sitting in a library for hours on end doesn’t bother you. Don’t be a parish priest unless you know how to take a punch.

Read it all H E R E.

Thanks to FWD from Jean-Michel.

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