Material Possessions in the Priesthood

[Gizmo]

I am in need of your opinion. I am a Transitional Deacon who will, God willing, be ordained to the priesthood this May and I have begun lately meditating on the ownership of material possessions in my life. I know that it was one of those things that I would not have naturally thought about on my own. At the beginning of 2008 I made my canonical retreat (this is a retreat for all who will be ordained to orders have to make before hand). As they all are (I think), the retreat was about 6 and days of silence. The passage I first turned to for meditation was in the Gospel of John, Chapter 15:13, where Christ says, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The beginning of my meditation on this verse contained two parts; am I really laying down my entire life for my friends effectively and if I am not, does this mean that I am not expressing this greater love that Christ is talking of.

Through this semester I began to pray to know what things have been keeping me from laying down my life completely. Lately, I think I have been getting answers to that prayer. The answer that keeps pushing on my conscience is that I am spending too much time enjoying entertainment and not nearly enough time in my prayer and studies. I know that there are days when I spend way too much time watching DVD’s or playing video games or reading comic books and it has all really began to eat at my conscience in relation to the laying down of my life that I am called to as a priest. This has left me questioning whether I own too much stuff since it feels like I have let my possessions take a real ownership over me and my time.

One of the things that really eats up a lot of my time some days is the PS3 (a newer video game system). My main question, in multiple parts, is this: Should a future priest or an existing priest own something like this? Is it even an acceptable form of leisure for a priest to play video games or read comic books, even if it is in moderation? And finally, if you were in my shoes and you felt that the Lord was moving you to get rid of these distractions in your life, would you sell them?

I really would appreciate your honest opinion on this.

Thank You.

 

[Joannm]

While I am not a priest, I do know many of them quite well and work in a parish…once you are ordained and in a parish you will be so busy you will be wishing you had time to play video games and do those other things. But you are right…don’t neglect the prayer.

 

[randomguy0187]

the way I see it, video games might even be a way to develop relationships with adolescents/teens and help minister to them, especially if you have games that are less competitive, and more collaborative (like Rockband).

 

[bpbasilphx]

These sound like serious questions to discuss with your spiritual director.

 

[thomasf]

I have often thought that if my wife were to die, I would go off and become a priest. But to do so, I’d have to go into a monestary where I had no contact with the outside world. I am too distracted by worldly things to make a serious go of it unless all of those things were removed. But that would be a good thing, I would think, because then my life would be completely devoted to God.

I can’t tell you what to do. But it seems like you have the answer already.

 

[Gizmo]

These sound like serious questions to discuss with your spiritual director.

Thank you for mentioning that. I have spoken to my spiritual director about this and he has given me some very good advice. While he told me that he is not going to tell me what I should do in regards to selling anything, he did say that what I am experiencing is like what St. Paul says, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” from 1 Cr 13:11. So, yes, I will admit, I am inclined to get rid of the PS3, however, it is a tough choice to make when it comes down to actually doing it. This is why I have made this thread, to ask all of you if you think this is sounds like the right thing to do in my case.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Video games worry me. I have a nephew (who is also my godson) and in the past, he has expressed an interest in the priesthood. He will be 24 this year.

But he has now become so mired, and absorbed in the playing of video games… that he rarely mentions an interest in the priesthood anymore. He is going to junior college (but not taking a full schedule of courses) and he works in a Video Game Store. They have recently promoted him to Assistant Manager at this store. And I worry, that the “Gaming” will start to take over his life.

He is still living with his mother, and doesn’t seem to be saving any of his wages. He has admitted to me, that he spends in the hundreds of dollars on new games and systems.

I guess there are some wholesome games on the market. But there are also a lot of games that have evil overtures to them. And it both worries, and frightens me.

My feeling on your interest in video games… especially if you’re on the road to being ordained a priest is… please be careful. I feel that you should be devoting MUCH time to prayer. My honest opinion. I will keep you in my prayers. God bless.

 

[zagjames]

I would say, keep it in moderation. As a young priest you could use video games to work with teens. i.e. Holding a Halo, Guitar Hero, etc. tournament with the youth group.

As far has playing it by yourself, for hours on end its probably not so good. I would say you should set a limit of time you can play a week. If you can stay within those limits with little problem, and everything else still gets done then there is no harm. You should allow yourself some time to relax, as long as it is a form of relaxation, and not an occupation of sorts I’d say go for it.

Question here though - Your seminary allows you to have a tv in your room? That seems surprising to me. The seminary associated with my college doesn’t allow for tv’s in individuals rooms.

 

[m134e5]

Those video game systems consume hours and hours of time. They often take several long nights to play them, and what do you really get out of them? These days, I don’t imagine good priests have time to sit around and play video games.

 

[Johndigger]

Listen to your spiritual director. If he is solidly orthodox, whatever he seems to be getting at - do it.

If you’re not quite sure what he’s getting at - ask him.

The Lord will guide you through him, particularly as you are pursuing a vocation to the Holy Priesthood.

In Christ,

JD

 

[puzzleannie]

offhand, if anyone asked this question, not just a seminarian, I would say if the possession in question is something you “just can’t live without” whether it is electronics, a book, a food, a garment, a leisure activity, that is the time to look closely at that thing to see if there is a problem. Have to eat or drink this everyday, have to have this brand of shirt or shoes. Have to play this video game or visit this website everyday. Hafta watch this program every week and schedule my day around it. Hafta get the new book by my favorite author when it comes out. Those are the attachments that can become problematic.

 

[vince2paul]

I think you must have priorities. You can play if you have the time (Though I’ll doubt it, when you were ordained) and not neglecting your duty as a priest.

When I was about 18 y.o, I used to play Final Fantasy, and usually I play during holiday because I can play for 100+ hours in 2 weeks. It’s taking a lot of time and addictive. So you really need to think about it, because it may be a distraction. My suggestion is to talk with your Spiritual Direction.

 

[Gizmo]

I want to thank everyone for their opinions thus far. I am seriously thinking of selling off the PS3. I keep getting this feeling that I just know this is the right thing for me to do. It is not going to be an easy thing for me to do - cause I really do like owning it. So please pray for me that I am able to the right thing in this matter.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

As St. Augustine said, anything that is done often enough will become habitual, and once it becomes habitual, it then becomes necessity.

Jim

 

[baltobetsy]

offhand, if anyone asked this question, not just a seminarian, I would say if the possession in question is something you “just can’t live without” whether it is electronics, a book, a food, a garment, a leisure activity, that is the time to look closely at that thing to see if there is a problem. Have to eat or drink this everyday, have to have this brand of shirt or shoes. **Have to **… visit this website everyday. Hafta watch this program every week and schedule my day around it. Hafta get the new book by my favorite author when it comes out. Those are the attachments that can become problematic.

Uh-oh.

 

[Gizmo]

Uh-oh.

Thanks for insinuating that the poster could have meant an impure website. But then again it would be wrong if I visited something like that every day or just once a month - so I doubt that was the person’s intention.

The question here is more of what type of material possessions are alright to have (especially as a priest) and whether there can exist an appropriate use of them without having them become a part of your daily life. I went into more detail about specifics in the first post.

But thanks for your … advice?

Peace

 

[water]

Thanks for insinuating that the poster could have meant an impure website. But then again it would be wrong if I visited something like that every day or just once a month - so I doubt that was the person’s intention.

The question here is more of what type of material possessions are alright to have (especially as a priest) and whether there can exist an appropriate use of them without having them become a part of your daily life. I went into more detail about specifics in the first post.

But thanks for your … advice?

Peace

From what I understood, puzzleannie meant “this website - the CAF” itself. For me, there are times I need not to visit this website for the sake of me – not that there is anything wrong with this website, but because I am not doing what I suppose to do - eg: washing dishes, praying, …etc …

For a priest, it is alright to have quite many things as a lay person has. But in my opinion, the less earthly things a priest gets attached to or even possesses, the better for him – to be exact — for all of us.

 

[Gizmo]

From what I understood, puzzleannie meant “this website - the CAF” itself. For me, there are times I need not to visit this website for the sake of me – not that there is anything wrong with this website, but because I am not doing what I suppose to do - eg: washing dishes, praying, …etc …

Oh o.k. - I see Sorry for blowing that out of proportion then.

See I am certainly not addicted or close to it in regards to this site - it just happens to be my spring break so I have time to check some things out. I didn’t think about that.

For a priest, it is alright to have quite many things as a lay person has. But in my opinion, the less earthly things a priest gets attached to or even possesses, the better for him – to be exact — for all of us.

See this is my biggest concern. Is it alright for a priest to have all that stuff. I have been looking into this as a matter of justice. The priest is a busy person, especially today where many parishes are just run by one priest. So the priest does not have much free time in a day. As a member of the laity how would you feel about your priest if you knew that in his free time he watched movies or played video games rather than spending an adequate amount of time in prayer and in further studies or spiritual reading. My dilemma of conscience is this: if allow myself to have those type of leisurely activities as a priest will I honestly be able to say that I am able to offer the people of God my best. Because if the priest is not able to give his best because he spends most of his free time being entertained by either playing a game or watching a movie - he is being (in my opinion) unjust towards God’s people, because he is not able to give them what is due to them - a holy priest. I mean how can a priest give people his best counsel when he spends time playing video games or watching TV rather than in prayer or reading? Now granted the priest should have some hobby or pastime to go to - I guess I am just stuck on what type of hobby a priest should allow himself to have.

 

[Joannm]

Of all the priests I know well, and I know quite a few, all have many possessions and many of them use their possesssions in their free time. Many have computers and do spend a lot of time on them, surfing the net, talking on forums and playing games. It is how they relax. I know priests who have expensive hobbies like model trains (I am talking about whole rooms in the rectory), photography (and not your little cannon sure shot), spending lots of time at the gym, music (one has a great collection on classis rock), two like boating and spend much of their free time in the summer on their boats. Free time is just that…free time. If a priest does not allow himself free time to unwind and have fun he will burn out. Yes prayer is an important part of his life, but not every free moment. The most balanced priests I know have hobbies or interests that keep them occupied during their free time…better a good hobby, even if it involves posessions, than a bored lonley priest who might take to drink…and that happens a lot.

 

[water]

I mean how can a priest give people his best counsel when he spends time playing video games or watching TV rather than in prayer or reading? Now granted the priest should have some hobby or pastime to go to - I guess I am just stuck on what type of hobby a priest should allow himself to have.

The Pope went on vacation and advised us all to do the same. We all need rest so that we can re-charge. Resting does not mean that we take God out of our live. And resting does not need to be the same kind of activity for every priest.

As a lay person, I wouldn’t worry or be concerned much about what the priest does during his free time as long as he does not commit grave sins in his activities.

If you are worried too much, when you become a priest, give or sell what you think might be not good for you and let God help you know what you need for your spare time in the future. Do you think you might trust God and do this, or you can’t stand the fact that you would not have anything to play with for awhile.