Do You Appreciate Your Priest? (with a touch of humor)

Zenit.org ^ | September 18, 2009 | Bishop José Ignacio Munilla

[Salvation]

Do You Appreciate Your Priest?

Spanish Bishop Composes Test

PALENCIA, Spain, SEPT. 18, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Year for Priests isn't just an internal celebration among the clergy, but rather an opportunity for all the faithful to assess their appreciation for the priesthood, says Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Palencia.

"Do we appreciate the priesthood and love our priests?" the bishop asked in a posting on the Web site of his dioceses.
 
To answer this question, the bishop composed -- "with a bit of humor" -- the following test titled "Priestly Appreciation." The test is complete with instructions to evaluate your answers and your level of appreciation for the priesthood.
 
* * *
 
1. Have you prayed recently for your parish priest, your bishop or the Pope?
 
a. I don't even know their names.
 
b. At Mass there is usually prayer for them, and I add myself in that petition.
 
c. I do so every day in my personal prayer.
 

2. Have you disclosed your conscience to a priest, trusting that he can help you in your problems?
 
a. Each one has to solve his problems.
 
b. "Four eyes see more than two." It is always good to listen to and accept the advice of someone who can help us.
 
c. The greatest help I have received from a priest has been when his advice was joined to God's forgiveness in the sacrament of confession.
 

3. When I hear among my friends comments criticizing priests ...
 
a. I followed their lead, so as not to stand out.
 
b. I tuned out, and pretended to think of something else.
 
c. I said what I thought, giving witness to my faith.
 

4. I see in a priest ...
 
a. A "relic" of the past.
 
b. A "professional" of religion.
 
c. A minister of God; "another Christ" among us.
 

5. How many times have you invited the parish priest to your home?
 
a. The priest is only called when someone has died.
 
b. When grandmother is with us, he usually brings Communion.
 
c. Several times. I was delighted when he told us the story of his vocation at the dinner table.
 

6. When you hear a priest give a homily ...
 
a. I listen, if he has good oratorical skills.
 
b. I listen, I am interested in the topic he is addressing.
 
c. I see him as an instrument through which God is speaking to me.
 

7. When a collection is taken up for seminaries ...
 
a. I think, "Priests" are always begging.
 
b. I say to myself, there are collections for so many things! One more!
 
c. I collaborate gladly, because I believe no vocation should be frustrated because of lack of financial means.
 

8. When I see an elderly priest in the Church or on the street ...
 
a. I think the Church is on the decline.
 
b. I hope he says the Mass quickly.
 
c. I thank God for his fidelity and for all the good he might have done.
 

9. When I see a young priest at the altar ...
 
a. I mistrust his lack of experience. What is he going to say to me?
 
b. I observe what he does and "classify" him.
 
c. I thank God for his vocation and pray intensely for him.
 

10. How would you react if your son said he wants to be a priest?
 
a. I would ask him if he's gone mad, and I would remind him that we must take into consideration what others might think.
 
b. I would ask him to give it considerable thought and to have a university degree first.
 
c. It would give me one of the greatest joys of my life, and I would support him fully.
 

11. Have you asked a child, adolescent or young man about the possibility of being a priest some day?
 
a. I don't get into jams. Let everyone live his life.
 
b. I am of the opinion that all vocations must be appreciated, even if they are different from our own.
 
c. Yes, I have thought of someone specifically, and I pray for him ... One of these days, "I will let him know."
 

12. What do you think of the expression of the Saintly Curé d'Ars: "The priest is the love of Jesus' heart"?
 
a. I think it is a disembodied spiritualism.
 
b. I think that can only be said of a saintly priest.
 
c. I believe it is exactly so, though "they have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
 
* * *

Guide to evaluating the results:
 
If the letter "a" appears in the majority of your answers, I am surprised that this test reached your hands. But, I thank God that this happened so that I can tell you as the priest that I am, that God loves you the point of folly and that he expects from you an answer of love.
 
If you have responded to the majority of questions with the letter "b," I would like to tell you that you are not enjoying the treasures that God is offering you through the priesthood.
 
But if the letter "c" is yours, then I ask you not to cease to pray to God for the sanctification of priests and for the increase of priestly vocations, because I am very sure that God is going to listen to you.

[Salvation]

How do your answers line up -- see the last paragraph>

[Salvation]

Do you appreciate your priest?

[melsec]

If every Parishoner took this year seriously and did something nice and supportive for their Priest it would be a year for the Priests to remember and a strength to go forward with knowing that they are not alone in the fight!

Blessings

Mel

[Salvation]

Amen!

[wombtotomb]

I can honestly and without hesitation say all C’s for me. Most of you on these threads already know my middle son is entering seminary next fall to become a priest. It has been what I consider, the greatest gift I have ever received to give him to Christ. Be a C!

[ken5050]

BTTT

[Salvation]

Being widowed, I could not answer the one about having a priest for dinner. I just don’t put myself or my priest in that situation.

When I was a child, however, we always had the priest and/or the nuns for dinner.

In fact, as a child, I declared to the priest that I couldn’t attend my parents’ wedding because I had to stay in the car. LOL!

[tiki]

This would be a good place to ask for prayers for my priest, he is undergoing radiation for some cancer that they couldn’t get all of in surgery. He has it on Tuesdays and I think he must be getting a major dose. On Wednesdays he can barely put one foot in front of the other.

Last Thursday he came out of daily mass and he was very upset and as he walked by me he said he’d like to talk to me. By the time I got into his office he was in tears! He was worried about every little thing in the world and I told him that if ever there was a time to “Let go and let God”, now was the time.

He had 2 surgeries in less than a month, he has to drive 2 hours to get to the hospital and 2 hours back and it is “kicking his ass” (yep, I really said that! to him!) He won’t let anyone drive him and I have personally offered but I’m thinking soon he will.

But anyway, he could sure use some extra prayers.

[Salvation]

Maybe if two of you offer to drive him to his appointment he will accept.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2343976/posts?page=8#8

Prayer Ping for a priest, everyone!

[Infidel Heather]

Hah!

I’m taking mine out for a hamburger this Friday (if he doesn’t have a funeral Mass to say)

[netmilsmom]

Prayers up!

[Infidel Heather]

I mean this has a GOOD thing, I adore my pastor.

I just thought this post was very coincidental with my taking him out to lunch once his schedule and mine permits.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

bump

[Straight Vermonter]

Being widowed, I could not answer the one about having a priest for dinner. I just don’t put myself or my priest in that situation.

Invite the priest over when you are having a dinner party. We invite our pastor over when we have birthday parties for the kids etc.

[Straight Vermonter]

Hamburger on Friday?

[Infidel Heather]

HE suggested it, not me, LOL! :)

[Infidel Heather]

I invited my husband but he said that if I wanted to talk *personal things* with my priest, he wanted to respect my privacy. How many times will a husband say that? :)

My priest is old enough to be my dad...he reminds me of my dad who lives out of town so Fr gets to be the substitute. :)

[ArrogantBustard]

In some cases, I can only answer “d: None of the Above”.

[Salvation]

That’s sad. Is your priest close to retiring?

[ArrogantBustard]

Perhaps I should explain. This test is a bit of a set-up. The "right" answer, or textbook answer, is in all cases "c". Any well catechized Catholic knows this. Reality is somewhat more complex. For example:

4) I see my priest as ...
Yes, technically they're all alter Chrisus ... but some of them are also hazards to be avoided at all cost. (No, I'm not making a cheap shot.) Any Catholic in America who hasn't heard blatant heresy preached from the pulpit over the past forty years is either singularly fortunate or hasn't been paying attention.

6) When I hear a priest give a homily ...
I've learned to listen carefully, and weigh what is being preached against what I know the Church to teach. Sometimes it's incredibly inspired. Sometimes, it's a mess ... and while God can turn all things to good, sometimes He does so by pointing out a bad example.

7) When a collection is taken up for seminaries ...
I make darn sure it's a good seminary, before I give them a penny. I don't support "Pink Palaces", and neither should anyone else.

8) When I see an elderly priest ...

I have to wonder ... forty years ago, was he a young radical architect of chaos? If he was ... perhaps we should be praying for his repentance.

9) When I see a young priest ...

Sorry, even answer "c" is inadequate. I've been praying for good priests for the better part of forty years. Much of the current crop of kids coming out of the seminaries are literally an answer to prayers.

To answer your question: my (gepgraphical) pastor is middle-aged, as is our "late vocation" associate. The priests at the various parishes I attend for daily Mass or consequent to business travel range from mid twenties to late sixties.