Priests religious?

[Lane]

Are most priests religious like most of us are ?
Like, do they enjoy going to/celebrating mass, going to/leading Adoration, reading about/studying the faith as a hobby like I do, but then I go to my job and I have time away from that, but they wouldn’t it would be their job. So would they actually enjoy these things. I know they love their vocation but it’s their whole life. I know they have hobbies and families and lives outside of the church, but most of their time is spent doing something religious. Mass, Adoration, Office hours, Sick Calls, Studying-if they go to school like my priest does, Weddings, Funerals, I just think they would get tired of it, almost like burnt out with all the constant religious associated things going on in their lives. I know it’s their calling, it’s the life they are called to, but they’re human. Too much of anything isn’t good for people.
I guess what I’m getting at is I see some of them as “above” their congregation. I know they obviously are. Lol. But sometimes it seems like they are too good for us, they say mass for us, hear our confessions, marry our families, bury our relatives. It’s their job.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Priests do get burnout. They work long hours, often overwork, with little compensation and sometimes little appreciation.
Some of them need to be sent away for a rest.
Some of them develop stress-related illnesses or habits, which need to be treated.
Some of them end up leaving the priesthood or having their priestly duties limited in some way.

I do meet quite a few joyful and holy priests who seem to be able to handle everything being thrown at them. I am very grateful to God for such priests.

We should always pray for our priests.

 

[Lane]

Yeah, but do they actually “believe” like we do or do they look at it as their job, like they have to do these things. Sometimes it seems that way…

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Some believe, and some lose faith or struggle a lot with other challenges like depression.

Priests can indeed fall into seeing their role as just doing a job, maybe even a job they don’t like.

 

[Titivillus]

It is surprising to some people (it was to me when I learned it, though it makes so much sense): Every priest I have ever known has had a weekly scheduled day off, just like most people do from their jobs. (Pastors usually have the privilege of Monday)

I don’t mean they would refuse to provide the sacraments if needed, but they will likely be difficult to reach, and the parish staff knows better than to try unless there is a true necessity.