Priest's Daily Life

[dchernik]

Hi, I’m interested in priesthood but have some concerns.

1. Are priests allowed to have any pleasures? Like going out to a restaurant to eat, or physical exercise, or have a hobby?
2. More generally, can priests have any ends or goals or desires of their own? Or are they bound to mindlessly obey the “Church” or their superiors? Does a priest essentially live in a communist society where he “serves” and “sacrifices” for the sake of the collective and does nothing else?
3. Can priests think for themselves or have opinions on various subjects? Or will I turn into a robotic drone that can only repeat the Christian articles of faith?

In other words, after performing a sacrament (itself seemingly a pretty dull job), is a priest permitted to do anything other than retire into his room and stare at the wall?

 

[ajg]

The vocation to priesthood may not be for you if you view the sacraments as “a pretty dull job”

 

[Fauken]

I know a priest who enjoyed brewing beer as a hobby. Another posed with a lightsaber on May 4th, since he’s a huge Star Wars fan. Another enjoyed wood-working and made his own crozier upon being named a bishop. Of course you can have a life, hobbies, and eat at restaurants!

 

[guanophore]

Are priests allowed to have any pleasures? Like going out to a restaurant to eat, or physical exercise, or have a hobby?

Yes of course! This is more true for diocesan priests. Those who are part of a religious order will have more spiritual disciplines/expectations associated with their community.

More generally, can priests have any ends or goals or desires of their own?

The priesthood is a calling to serve the Body of Christ, and those who are ordained will have this as their goal and desire.

Or are they bound to mindlessly obey the “Church” or their superiors?

This seems like a strange question. NOBODY is “bound to mindlessly obey”. Obedience to that which Christ has called us is entirely freeing.

Does a priest essentially live in a communist society where he “serves” and “sacrifices” for the sake of the collective and does nothing else?

Communial relationships within orders are not “communist”. Those who are called to religious orders serve and sacrifice toward God and others because this is what their calling is, and they are filled with joy in answering the call.

The priesthood and religious life is not a “career” where one does their work during the day and indulges other interests at other times. This is not to say that those who are called do not have opportunities to pursue their interests (cooking or gardening for example) but their first love is to the community or the parish they serve.

Can priests think for themselves or have opinions on various subjects?

This is another odd question. Do you believe that Catholics in general cannot do these things? If you think they can, then why would they lose this privilege when they accepted holy orders?

Perhaps you have not known any priests or religious persons. If you meet some, you will come to find that they are quite opinionated on a variety of subjects!

Or will I turn into a robotic drone that can only repeat the Christian articles of faith?

Honestly, where are you getting these ideas? I suggest you get to know a priest, and find out what their lives are like.

Jesus calls priests to “follow me”. That means to become fully human, and fully alive. What you are proposing is the opposite of what God calls human beings to do.

In other words, after performing a sacrament (itself seemingly a pretty dull job),

If this is what you think, then you are manifestly unsuited to a vocation to the priesthood.

is a priest permitted to do anything other than retire into his room and stare at the wall?

Yes, but I suggest that maybe this might be a good place for you to start. If you did this for an extended period of time, you might come to yourself, and realize what an inane set of questions you have posted here.

You know neither the Scriptures, or the power of God.

 

[dchernik]

It’s true, I’m not sure about performing the exact same rituals, however meaningful, day in and day out. It seems exceedingly boring.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

What exactly do you mean in the third point? As a Catholic one is bound to believe in the official teachings of the Church.

 

[edward_george1]

Today was my day off, which every priest tends to get once a week. Today, I watched soccer with an old college friend at his house; met up with other college friends for lunch, namely my roommate and his wife and their two little girls, one of whom is my goddaughter; then I walked around my old college campus and talked to a couple of other friends there; then I went to a coffee shop in another town to kill time and chat with a friend who works there; I closed the day by meeting up with another friend, who is a youth leader at another parish nearby, and I got to spend time with some of the youth there too. I also watch movies, read, go to sporting events, have drinks with friends, both priests and non, play sports, vacation, and take long drives just for the fun of it. I know priests who hunt, fish, golf, and do any number of other perfectly normal activities. The Church does not micromanage our lives. I’m even working on another advanced degree at my leisure, totally independently.

I’m not sure where you got those ideas about the priesthood, but it’s not at all like that, not by a long shot. I’m a normal guy who has a supernatural charism. Speaking of which, I’m going to go say Mass and go to bed. I’ve got work in the morning!

-Fr ACEGC

 

[edward_george1]

And saying Mass isn’t boring, and neither is praying the office. If you think of them as boring rituals, you have a long way to go if you feel like you’re being called to the Priesthood. You really should talk to a priest about your perceptions of these things.

 

[Fauken]

Speaking of which, I’m going to go say Mass and go to bed.

Incredible that you can do that!

 

[edward_george1]

Go to bed? Yeah it’s nice when I get to do that, every once in a while

 

[guanophore]

It’s true, I’m not sure about performing the exact same rituals, however meaningful, day in and day out. It seems exceedingly boring.

If that is how it seems to you, why would you say you are “interested in the priesthood”? It seems clear that you have no idea what it means to be a priest. Perhaps you are just curious, which is fine.

You have a great many warped ideas about what it is.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

What exactly attracts you to the priesthood?

 

[CTBcin]

I was going to post a response of my own, but you already hit the nail on the head.

 

[edward_george1]

I’m not sure where you’re getting your information about how the Church functions, much less how she treats her priests. If you really feel inclined toward the priesthood, you need to learn a little bit more about that and not let your unfounded fears guide you. I myself came into seminary with an undergrad degree in Theology and Philosophy, and then my first two years in seminary were spent earning another degree in Philosophy.

I’m a little concerned that you accuse the Pope of being an “ideological socialist,” when he has a history of speaking out against socialism. And also the paranoia about how the Church is supposedly infiltrated by socialists/communists.

In short, you should talk to priests, learn what the Church really does, and stop being afraid that the Church is somehow “Communist” or is out to get you.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[TheLittleLady]

First step, ask your parish priest to go for lunch.

You seem to have some pretty strange ideas about priests and the priesthood.

It’s true, I’m not sure about performing the exact same rituals, however meaningful, day in and day out. It seems exceedingly boring

Have you ever loved another person? Even your mom, does giving her a hug and saying “I love you” become exceedingly boring?

Also, regarding, say, political philosophy and economics, the Church is infested with ideological socialists, starting with the Pope. If I disagree with them publicly, won’t they make my life a living hell?

Seems you need to maybe step away from some of what you are reading/listening to.

There is a lot of distortion here.

 

[guanophore]

Basically, I’m a philosopher.

what does that have to do with being interested in the priesthood? I am at a loss as to why you say you are interested in the priesthood.

I’d like to be a priest

I cannot fathom why. You seem to be bored and disinterested in the major activities of the priesthood. What makes you think you would like it?

Do you imagine that someone else would pay your room and board so you could sit around all day and study philosophy?

I’d like to be a priest but am afraid the Church authorities will forbid me to read, think, and write and even excommunicate and persecute me if I continue my studies.

I don’t think you need to be concerned about it. You have such a warped perspective of the Church, Catholicism in general, and the priesthood you would not be admitted.

Perhaps they’ll say that my responsibility of caring for souls requires me to forsake my reason and rationality,

Such a statement proves that you know so little about the Catholic faith that the idea of pursuing a vocation is laughable.

because philosophical mistakes can be costly.

I am not sure what this means, but I am sure the Church is not interested in supporting you as a priest in order to entertain your pursuit of philosophy.

Priests are required to take extensive graduate training in philosophy, but it is to learn how to think and solve problems so better to help people. It is the foundation of the theological studies that follow.

Also, regarding, say, political philosophy and economics, the Church is infested with ideological socialists, starting with the Pope. If I disagree with them publicly, won’t they make my life a living hell?

I suppose it is possible, but even if you don’t, public disagreement with politics and economics also is does not fall into the primary duties of a priest.

I want to join the Catholic Church

It seems you should start with RCIA, and in the meantime, read the Catechism.

and not Comintern.

The Catholic Church condemns this, which you would know if you took any effort to study what the Church believes and teaches.

Are you just interested in wearing a beautiful chasuble and standing in front of people?

Nothing you have said is part of a call to the priesthood.

 

[dchernik]

Thank you all for your replies, especially the strongly worded ones. I’ll use what I’ve learned here to work on my discernment.

For example, I’ve considered the mass to be mostly a reminder to the people busy with their lives and problems of God and His nature, the meaning of life, and the big picture.

(Though the sign is real, it still points beyond itself.)

But if it’s a “hug” or act of love, I’m now seeing the performance of the sacraments in a new light.

 

[Fauken]

For example, I’ve considered the mass to be mostly a reminder to the people busy with their lives and problems of God and His nature, the meaning of life, and the big picture.

The Mass is first and foremost a sacrifice. It is the representation of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary. Nothing could supersede that meaning. There are other ways to look at the big picture of things, such as reading the Bible or the writings of the Saints.