Etiquette around a Priest

[katolik]

One should give priests the Traditional Polish religious greeting: Niech bedzie pochwalony Jezus CHrystusna wieki wiekow
May Jesus Christ[and Mary,most holy] be praised forever and ever

 

[Edwin1961]

Veronica Anne:

Who sits first or who stands first is of no importance whatsoever.

Priests, unfortunately, are often WAY too busy to just stand and chat. As much as they really would like to.

If you have something (like a bible or a medal or a rosary) with you that you want him to bless, go ahead and ask him. He’ll stop and bless it.

I wouldn’t regale him with the smarmiest dirty joke you’ve ever heard, either. Give the poor guy a break!

Remember… priests are people like you and me. They just have a different call for their lifetime vocation than you or I have.

And please, if you’re having lunch or dinner with him, don’t let him pay for it. Remember, he’s got that vow for poverty as well as celibacy and obedience. He does NOT personally own that car… or anything at all.

Unless it’s a personal gift that you’ve given to him.

And always, ALWAYS tell him that you’re praying for him! And do so, too!

Priests are ALWAYS thankful for knowing that someone is praying for THEM, personally.

Like us, they need prayers.

I do not know what type of priest you are refering to, but my brother is a priest and there is a fine line here.
He leases his car.
He pays for lunch or dinner whenever we go out (I am on a fixed income).
As a diocesian priest he told me that he DOES NOT have the vow of poverty. Even my priest at my church owns personal things. My brother’s pastor owns a condo to get away for holidays.

However we must pray for ALL priests regardless their religious order.

go with God!
Edwin

 

[Brain]

i try to treat them with the same respect that their title implies. Treat them like you would your own father. lots of respect.

 

[Exporter]

A bit of humor here.

I am past 70 and the Monsenior is about 70. After a meeting with him in his office about a year ago I felt gratitude. When I stood up to leave, for some strange reason I gave him a bow - as the Japanese do. That never happened before. I saw the look on the Monsenior’s face ; he looked so surprised. I felt stupid and left.:tiphat:

 

[Linda_H]

Exporter, I’m sure your priest was just surprised at having someone show him that much honor and respect. Sadly, it has most likely been many years since anyone else has.

Linda H.

 

[seeker63]

Should I kiss my Bishop’s ring at my Confirmation?

 

[mercygate]

seeker63:

Should I kiss my Bishop’s ring at my Confirmation?

Ah, yes. The Bishop. When you say, “How do you do, Your Excellency,” genuflect (on your LEFT knee, mind you), take his right hand as if to shake it, then turn your hand palm down, he will leave his right hand resting on yours so you can kiss the ring . . .



Not likely. He will not have the remotest idea what you are doing. He’ll tell you to stand up and stop acting like an idiot.

Disappointing, isn’t it?

Chances are you won’t get within 20 yards of him after the ceremony unless he stands up against a wall someplace to have each of you come forward for a photograph. But good luck.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

mercygate:

My experience with most priests is that they have been schooled neither at their mother’s knee nor in seminary in anything that could pass for social competence in what used to be called polite society. (When was the last time you received a thank-you note from a priest?) I wouldn’t worry about the more arcane delicacies of etiquette.

This made me laugh out loud. I actually got a thank you note from a priest friend thanking me for “not serving tripe or any other bizarre organ meats” when he comes for dinner. I treasure it!

 

[e-catholic]

Detroit Sue:

This made me laugh out loud. I actually got a thank you note from a priest friend thanking me for “not serving tripe or any other bizarre organ meats” when he comes for dinner. I treasure it!

Are you known for serving bizarre meats? What is manudo? I have never heard of it.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

Are you known for serving bizarre meats? What is manudo? I have never heard of it.
[/quote]

Menudo is Mexican tripe soup. It’s awesome! If I hadn’t told him what it was, he would have loved it!

Of all the images on the net, this pic looks closest to mine:
http://www.shopfoodex.com/catalog/images/tayabas_1722_6827135.gif

It has beef soup bones, tripe, garlic spices & chiles cooked together for about 10 hours, then you add hominy (corn) & cook another hour. We have it with lemons, onions, corn tortillas & extra salsa on the side. It’s wunnerful!

 

[Dan_Blake]

KCT:

I would add that women should dress modestly around [priests]. They’re men and frequently tempted, I’m sure.

—KCT

While KCT is quite right, there is an implied indiscretion. Women (and men for that matter) should always dress modestly, whether a priest is present or not.

 

[otm]

seeker63:

Should I kiss my Bishop’s ring at my Confirmation?

No. We are in the 21st century, not the 19th. One can be respectful without having to rely on a custom or etiquette that is 50 or 100 or more years removed from today.

Once upon a time, men wore fedoras. Now they wear baseball caps (and have no idea how silly a 40 year old guy looks with the bill in back…).

Clericalism is dead! Long live clericalism!

Good manners are still good manners; however, the physical means of expressing them does change with time, and that does not mean that the newer physical expression is less respectful.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

You were asked if one should kiss the ring of a bishop. You replied:

No. We are in the 21st century, not the 19th. One can be respectful without having to rely on a custom or etiquette that is 50 or 100 or more years removed from today.

I reply(respectfully): I kiss the hand of my soul friend (a Carmelite priest) when he blesses me and I have on occasion kissed the hand of my confessor. I think if all Catholics everywhere treated their priests with reverence, respect, and even love, they would BECOME what they actually ALREADY ARE: WORTHY of that reverence, love, and respect (even the ones who insist,“No, please, call me Steve!”). They possess within themselves the indelible mark of Christ’s Own Priesthood and they are iconic pictures of Him. I am awed by even the ones I don’t like (sorry, mere human here, with human reactions). http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon10.gif

 

[brabble]

Where etiquette around a Priest is concerned, as far as I know anyway there aren’t any set rules. I think one treats a Priest with the normal respect one would give a person of some importance in our community - let common sense dictate, courtesy and plain good manners.

If one is having a Priest at a meal, it is usual as far as I know to ask Father to say Grace Before Meals - other than that he is a human being and I am sure would like to be treated as a friend. It is probably hard enough for our Priests without making them feel awkward and uncomfortable - I would strive to make him as comfortable as possible - again! . . . good ol’ common sense.

 

[chicago]

Really, how one would best appropriately act probably depends upon the priest’s own personal sensibilities, your cultural background and scenario, and the nature of your relationship with him.

Some priest might prefer more formal and high end respectable interactions. Others might be a lot more casual in their approach and level of what makes them comfortable. A preist is in a tough spot seeing as how he does stand, in his character as priest, distinct, but really he is just another human being like you or me… “one of the guys”. As such, a certain balance needs to be struck whereby his nature and office needs to be properly respected, but we also need to realize that he isn’t some kind of strange superman. Generally, I’d just approach them as one approaches a good friend.