Is it harder to be a priest nowadays?
There is some truth in saying that the priesthood had more stability and better status in years past. Recently, the priesthood has undergone considerable criticism for the scandals and sins committed by its members, and this has caused the Church much anxiety. Every generation of priests has its own challenges.
Humanly speaking the priestly vocation today would be a burden for any man to undertake. It certainly takes a real man to stand up for Christ in such a radical way give his life over to the service of the Church. However, this only highlights the need for each individual to respond to the supernatural grace that God offers to live out his vocation as he ought. God can do some pretty amazing things for those who have faith!
Does a priest get to choose where he is being assigned?
The process of assigning a diocesan priest to a certain parish depends on the needs of the parish and the needs and abilities of the priest. There is dialog between the bishop and the priests in order to assess such things, but ultimately the archbishop of the diocese has the final say as to where a priest goes.
Are priests allowed to own things?
It depends on the type of priest/religious community member. Many religious orders (i.e. Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites etc.) take a vow of poverty, and so members of these orders do not own anything of their own. It is important to understand that the vow of poverty doesn’t simply mean that a person is to live like a beggar forever. Instead, it means that everything that belongs to a religious order is for the common good of its members.
Diocesan priests do not take a vow of poverty and so they do own things. In the Bible, Jesus never condemned the possession of material goods. In fact, things such a car, computer, cell phone, property etc. are often necessary for type of ministry a diocesan priest is called to do. However, Jesus does warn us that an inordinate attachment to these things can lead us away from God and even pose a threat to our salvation. Having said this, any priest, whether he is a diocesan or religious should try to live as free and detached from material possessions as possible so as increase the effectiveness of his ministry.
What vows do diocesan priests make?...need some clarification!
Priests do not take any vows. Instead, they make promises to remain celibate for the sake of building up the kingdom of God, to be obedient to the bishop, and to live a life of pastoral poverty (i.e. striving to live as free and detached from material goods to the degree that his ministry affords).
The difference between a vow and a promise is that vows are much more binding for the person making them, and they can only be rescinded in extreme circumstances. Promises can be revoked in less serious circumstances. When a diocesan priest is laicized (removed from active ministry by his bishop), he is no longer bound to the promises of obedience to the bishop, and pastoral poverty. However, he must receive a special dispensation from Rome to rescind the promise to live a celibate life.
Why do we call priests “Father” when the Bible says to call no man “father”?
It is true that in the Bible says in Matthew 23:9: “And call no man on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in Heaven”. However, the verse does not distinguish between spiritual fatherhood and biological fatherhood, which means that, if we took the verse literally, we would be violating Scripture if we referred to the man who is married to our mother as, “Father”. The point of this verse is not to extinguish the roles of spiritual and biological fathers, but rather to emphasize the supreme fatherhood of God the Father. It is okay to call a priest “Father”, just as long as we recognize that God the Father is our one true Father, and that all other forms of fatherhood derive from this meaning.
Why must we confess our sins to a priest? Can’t I confess my sins directly to God?
It is legitimate and good to ask forgiveness immediately after committing a sin. However, the truth is that Jesus gave us the sacrament of reconciliation as the ordinary means of receiving forgiveness. After the Resurrection, Jesus instituted this sacrament by giving His apostles the authority to forgive sins and to retain sins – a power that was once exercised only by God (cf. John 20:19-23). And so the choice to go to confession is really a choice to cooperate with Christ’s mission of passing on the power to forgive sins.
Secondly, we must also go to confession because the condition for obtaining forgiveness is that we must have perfect sorrow and contrition for our sins. That is, we must be sorry not because we fear the punishments of sin, but because we have offended God. However, very often we do not express absolute perfect contrition for our sins, and so the Sacrament of Reconciliation allows us to receive forgiveness in spite of our lack of true contrition.
Thirdly, because we are part of the Body of Christ, any sin we commit is not only an offense against God, but against His body (i.e. the Church). So the priest, being the representative of both God and His Church is able to repair the damage made by sin.
Finally, if we don’t confess our sins to the priest and receive absolution, we often continue bearing the guilt from the sins, which could possibly lead us to despair. When we do something really wrong we must confess to a priest because we humans need to hear the words of absolution after seriously damaging our relationship with God. There something very comforting and reassuring about hearing God say, through the priest: I absolve from all of your sins. This is because these words guarantee God’s forgiveness, in spite of the imperfection of our sorrow. God knows our needs and so He has given us this sacrament out of love and recognition of our emotional and psychological well-being.
How important is prayer in the life of a priest?
Prayer is the most central aspect in the life of the priest. Jesus showed us that He Himself often needed to go off to a deserted place just to be with His Father. It is only through a relationship with God, cultivated in the context of prayer, that a priest or religious can receive the supernatural grace to live out his calling.
How much time-off does a priest get?
Most priests get a day off each week, and usually up to a month of vacation annually. In addition, priests are required to take a 5-day retreat annually, either alone or with brother priests.
How much do priests get paid?
-Priests receive a modest salary from the parish or other institution they serve. Usually, priests receive room and board, professional expense reimbursement, and health care insurance. Their salary, therefore, goes towards their personal expenses (cars and auto insurance, vacation expenses, taxes, charitable contributions, etc.)
What is the difference between a brother and a priest?
A brother is a man who serves the Church and the broader community as a member of a religious community and takes the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. His services are considered general ministry – serving the homeless, catechizing the faithful, maintaining a church or religious site etc. Priests, on the other hand, in addition to serving the general needs of the community, are called to a sacramental ministry. That is, by the grace received through the sacrament of ordination, they are able to celebrate Mass, hear confessions, and anoint the sick and aged and prepare them for death.
What is a typical day for a diocesan priest?
The type of work done each day will vary depending on the type of priest a man is. For a diocesan priest, the most important duty of each day would be to celebrate Holy Mass. Priests are also expected to spend time praying the Divine Office – a collection of Psalms and readings that are to be read at specific times during the day/evening. Aside from praying and making Jesus present at Mass, a priest is called to make Jesus present to the community through his other duties – attending meetings, visiting hospitals, teaching, preaching, giving spiritual advice, and just being the presence of God to others.
