Preliminary communication
“You are anxious and troubled about many things, yet one thing is needful” The Spirituality of a Priest in the Spirit of the Words of Jesus
Milan Špehar
; Theology of Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
Today every employee has to have a description of his job, except for the priest. His duty is to preach, to catechize, give preparation for the sacraments, celebrate the Eucharist, and lead different communities and groups in his parish. From the dioceses he often receives directions, encouragements, and demands for different organizations and meetings. He is in charge for building and repairing of ecclesial buildings, he cooks for himself, washes and does all the domestic activities. Summing all this, the working hours of a priest are 24h per day. But the question is: is this situation sustainable? Can he devote himself to what is needful with such a wide description of the job? What about his rest? Does he have a right to a daily break without disturbance?
He will be able to devote himself to what is needful, if he manages to plan and divide the activities. The dioceses, having all the pertaining structures should be of help. We tend to call “pastoral ministry” many innumerable things, so that we can not differentiate what it is and what is not pastoral ministry. If we do not make a differentiation, we are not able to devote ourselves to what is needful. Since the Second Vatican council, discussions about the priestly spirituality (one more among his duties!) are centered in the word and the context of “caritas pastoralis”. I. e. the priest in the pastoral ministry can not be the subject of a “monk or convent” type of spirituality.
Nevertheless the experience shows that so much is considered under “caritas pastoralis”, that a priest could come to a conclusion that nothing else is needed for the personal spirituality, beside a careful accomplishment of pastoral duties.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
74832
URI
Publication date:
24.8.2009.
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