What positive experiences have you had with members of the clergy?

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The two priests in my parish give very inspiring homilies at Mass.

Holy Mass is said with great reverence and it spreads to the congregation. In confession the priest listens, gives some words of advice perhaps, and then we hear him give the absolution in Persona Christi.

That means the priest is using his voice to speak the words of our Lord Jesus Christ to us.
It is more profound than saying we are sorry to the Lord without hearing those words.

The sacraments that come through the priest when received with prayerful reverence is a great source of the grace of God which enables us to grow in love of Him and our neighbor.
 
I live in a small town and go to mass across different parishes. So I’ve got access to several amazing priests. One of them have been attending each court case with an asylum seeker. One of them sat with me and talked through my mother passing away even though it meant mass was ten minutes late.
 
The question “seems” to assume that the clergy is a negative; somehow controversial, or that a majority of them are abusive. Please correct if wrong - but nothing could be further from the truth. Each and every experience I have had with the clergy has been positive - even if I initially disagreed.

A suggestion: Disconnect from the media. If you want to learn about the Church which Christ founded, you must turn off those who hate that Church.

Listen to Catholic radio. Watch EWTN. Decide for yourself - do not allow your thoughts to be directed or programmed by the media - and that is precisely what is happening in our media-driven culture.
 
LivesForever said:
I would hate to paint all priests as abusers. I just don’t have much experience with them at all, and having never been Catholic, don’t know what your experiences have been like.
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The reality is that priests who have been accused of sexual abuse are a small percentage of the total number of priests over the time frame surveyed, probably 10 percent or less.

Of the remaining 90 percent of priests, there is likely an additional percentage who had problems unrelated to sexual abuse, such as addictions, mental illnesses, sexual/romantic relationships with consenting adults in violation of the priest’s vows, or simply not wanting to be a priest anymore for whatever reason. And a further percentage whose personality or priorities clashed with his parishioners. However, once you subtract out these percentages, I’m pretty sure you’re left with well over half of priests being holy, spiritual and good at their jobs. You never hear much about them in the media though.
 
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Peace to you! I’m very active in our parish and there are a lot of positive experiences i can share to you regarding these priests whom I really considered as a father, a brother and most especially a friend. They are human like us (they are not perfect)-- wanted to belong (especially when they are newly assigned in a parish), to be uplifted, to be cared, to be comforted, to be shared with joy, to be accompanied and to be prayed.
When I’m struggling with my spiritual life and even in my own struggles of life (name it), he has been there ready to hear and give some enlightenment and assurance, and it really helps. Especially from the time when I felt harassed by a person in my work (it was so depressing), he helped me overcome it and here I am, I already forgave that person and positively moved forward. I am very much thankful to that priest.
Hearing him say “You’ve been absolved from your sins, in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.” was really the most wonderful one.
You’ll learn a lot when you eat or with them. You’ll learn a lot of serious and mostly funny things, which you will not expect from them.
Most of them (priests I’ve known) are witty, frank and their jokes are not so funny that makes it funny.
You will somehow see the childlike attitude in them, and they don’t want to be seen sad in public, that’s why they also need people to talk with, to laugh with, to be cared with but with good intentions and proper attitude.
They tell you what you don’t yet know and gives the best advice.
He sacrifices to celebrate mass even though sometimes he is not well.
I love these priest and I’m praying for the increase number of faithful ones to answer the call of God in this wonderful apostolate for priesthood. 🙂
 
I really appreciate you all sharing these experiences. I do feel like you are helping me get a more complete picture of the good that these men are doing in your lives.
Also, thanks for telling me about your absolution experiences. That sounds very powerful.
 
I will tell you something funny that happened with a priest that I know. He was a rector of a cathedral at the time . He decided that monday thru friday that the cathedral would be open until 9:00 pm. But he did stay with them until it closed. Well one evening I needed a mass card so i went down to the cathedral and the secratery who I will call mabel was sitting there and we got to talking and I said what was he thinking. We may have to look for a brain that he has misplaced. I went on to say that if I could that I would slap him up one side and down the other. Well mabel could not see him from where she was sitting. When i turned around there he was with his arms folded under his chest he then proceeded to ask me. Would you like to continue your rant sheepishly I said no Father I think that I have ranted more than enough. I told Mabel keep that mass card I need to go up to the confessional thinking that I would get the other priest well there sat the rector of the cathedral. He says I gave Father xyz a break. I said your just so thoughtful arent you Father. He says yes and I am not going to give you absolution when I started to tear up he said honey you did not do or say anything wrong you had every right to voice your opinion and you were voicing support for a friend its not going to change anything but I will always support my parishioners right to say what is on their minds that is what a good father does. A few days later I was in the area on a holy day of obligation. He sees me coming into the cathedral and says come here gave me a hug and asks me Do you still want to slap me upside the head. Sheepishly I said no Father not today maybe some other day.
 
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Let’s see:

I’ve been baptized by a priest

I’ve been absolved by a priest in confession many times

I’ve recieved the Eucharist from the hands of a priest countless times

I’ve recieved the Sacrament of Confirmation via a priest

Lots of positive experiences.
 
Whenever I have a good day, it’s a positive experience with a member of the clergy, since I am a member of the clergy.

-Fr ACEGC
 
When I was 7 and lived in a broken home (Parents divorced and My given Father left for Vegas never to be seen again a priest came to visit my sister, and I and my mother. He gave her 50 dollars to help with groceries which was probably from his own pocket.

One day he said to me, as he was very perceptive "This doesn’t look like a good place to be right now does it?) We were on the "wrong side of the tracks with a pedophile drug addict etc on the same block of apartment) but I want you to look up at the stars. So I did.

He said your earthly Father may not be here now but you have a heavenly Father that loves and cares for you and has a plan for your life. I want you to know that. (I was like mesmerized)

He also said you might have noticed that they call me Father. LOL I nodded yes. He said I am a Father to my congregation and I pray for you , your sister your mom and everyone else in my congregation nightly.

If you ever need to talk to someone you can always talk to a priest.

Eternal Rest Grant unto him, Father Ganon; rest in peace
 
omg priests have been deeply invested in our lives. We have had them to our homes for dinner multiple times. They have blessed us before our marriage and when we were expecting and love seeing me, my wife, and my son.

We have good priests in our parish and I have good friends in seminary. There are good clergy. Though I make a fuss over modern parishes and liturgy in our diocese, we are blessed with Our clergy. Our bishop is a good man too. At least as far as I know.
 
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My priests have touched my heart deeply in the confessional. They seem to knowledge humility and help me to grow in humility of spirit and in Joy. I have many things in my life that I can allow to rob me of joy if I give them power to. But my priests in confession remind me of the holiness of having a joyful heart.

Aside from mass, Confession is my favorite. My wedding was also very holy and beautiful because of Our Priests presence there. We had two at our wedding. One drove an hour away to surprise us by being there to help officiate.
 
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