Priest Vacations

[Mary1973]

It seems to me that back in the 50’s, priests and nuns went to special places for vacations. That is, they did not mix with the general population at, say, a beach resort.

I often think about this when a priest will say he is going to Hawaii for vacation. I asked a priest once who is quite good looking how he handled sitting on the beach in Hawaii and looking at all the half-naked women. He gave me a flip answer in reply.

Am I nuts? Does anyone else remember these special houses for priests and nuns? Do you think that priests are asking for trouble if they are sitting among a bunch of thong-bikini women? Of course, in this day and age, we might be glad they are looking at women but I digress.

 

[Maggie]

I don’t think a priest who takes his vocation seriously is in any more danger on a beach than in a house full of priests and nuns. And if he doesn’t take his vocation seriously then he is in equal danger both places. They are human and have a right to rest and relaxation in relative anonymity. In the day and age of computers, geographically isolating priests and nuns is no more going to keep them from sin than garlic was in the middle ages. And the good looking priests are not the ones you need to worry about being tempted anyway… they are used to female attention and accustomed to deflecting it… if you find out the hook nosed stoop shouldered warty monsignor is going to a questionable beach in France you might want to pull out your rosary…

 

[hwinston]

You may be right, but it still seems weird to me. A friend of mine befriended his former pastor. That pastor came into town to visit last week, celbrated daily mass while he was here - concelebrated once then took over for our local pastor for two masses. That was all great, but when he put on street clothes and went out, it just plain seemed weird.

 

[asquared]

A priest (or married man, or single man) who has not developed some spiritual defenses against scantily clad women will be in just as much danger in Church as on the beach, given the way some women dress for Mass and everything else these days.

 

[hermit]

When students used to confess that they had impure thoughts about women, the Jesuits used to tell them to go the beach and get a dose of reality. That usually cured impure thoughts.

 

[JDK]

Interesting question!

Forgive my ignorance, but aren’t priests supposed to live under a vow of poverty? Who pays for a vacation to Hawaii? Priests actually take vacations like this? Wow. I learn something new every day.

What are the rules for when a priest can wear “street clothes”? I am just ignorant enough that I thought they always had to wear their priestly garb when out in public.

 

[Servulus]

…aren’t priests supposed to live under a vow of poverty?

Priests who belong to religious communities or “orders” take a vow of poverty. Those who are ordained for a particular diocese typically do not.

Who pays for a vacation to Hawaii?

There are several legitimate ways this happens. One example is in our parish, people contributed to pay for a trip to Ireland for the pastor on the occasion of his twenty-fifth anniversary of ordination.

Priests actually take vacations like this?

Some do. Most don’t.

What are the rules for when a priest can wear “street clothes”?

Frequent and fervid discussions have been held on this subject. There do not seem to be any hard and fast “rules” for this, which is probably a good thing. That said, however, one wonders why a priest (lay brother, nun) would want to go out in public in “civilian clothes”. Their calling is not part-time or situational. If a religious would be uncomfortable appearing someplace in religious garb, perhaps that individual should be somewhere else.

 

[JDK]

Frequent and fervid discussions have been held on this subject. There do not seem to be any hard and fast “rules” for this, which is probably a good thing. That said, however, one wonders why a priest (lay brother, nun) would want to go out in public in “civilian clothes”. Their calling is not part-time or situational. If a religious would be uncomfortable appearing someplace in religious garb, perhaps that individual should be somewhere else.

Thanks for the quick response! I agree with you about the calling not being part-time. Seems to me it would be one of the perks of the job, not ever having to wonder what you will wear that day.

 

[Norseman82]

That said, however, one wonders why a priest (lay brother, nun) would want to go out in public in “civilian clothes”. Their calling is not part-time or situational. If a religious would be uncomfortable appearing someplace in religious garb, perhaps that individual should be somewhere else.

In Mexico, as late as the 1970s, it was illegal for a priest to wear his collar in public, from what my history teacher said regarding when he was in Mexico.

 

[Servulus]

… Seems to me it would be one of the perks of the job, not ever having to wonder what you will wear that day.

Many a priest has said exactly that, usually in a lighter and informal moment.

 

[Servulus]

In Mexico, as late as the 1970s, it was illegal for a priest to wear his collar in public, from what my history teacher said regarding when he was in Mexico.

Quite true and, in circumstances of persecution such as that, completely understandable. (In fact, that’s how Blessed Miguel Pro was able to continue an effective ministry.) However, American priests in 2007 are not in that situation.

 

[Patrick_Eastin]

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