Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 80 No. 3, 2010.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
Responsability and Care of Priests of their own Mental Health
Ivan Štengl
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
This article stresses the severity of life circumstances and the priest’s activities which can significantly influence their mental and physical health so it is worthwhile keeping in mind to responsibly deal with them without unnecessarily dramatising the situation. It is worth considering economic and social changes over the past few decades, events within the Church itself and their mutual effects: these can define the self perception of the Church, its position in society, the figure of the priest and thinking about ecclesiastic activities which then set a framework for the priest’s work, lighter and heavier circumstances and finally risk factors. The second part of the article focuses on factors of sensitivity, inter-physical ad intra-psychic conditioning of personalities themselves which can contribute to affecting a priest’s health, seeing that they compromise of the good image they have of themselves which contributes to setting and unfunctional way of confronting life circumstances and tasks resulting in an absence of satisfaction and fulfilment to the point of accumulated mental disturbance. The third part of the article points out the inadequate forms of confronting stressful situations which are presented here in two basic models with opposing features: manic and depressive. Seeing that health is a dynamic process of interactivity of the previously mentioned factors, the fourth part of the article suggests preventative directions to preserve health: working on raising the level of tolerance to frustration and acceptance as such as part of life; investigating forms of spirituality appropriate to the individual; changing the way the community is led; amending one’s understanding of their missions in the economy of salvation – from taking the role of the preacher to being a mediator of the mysteries; from being a saviour of souls to being a liberator and healer.
Ključne riječi
priest; health; celibacy; dependence; mental disturbance
Hrčak ID:
59699
URI
Datum izdavanja:
19.10.2010.
Posjeta: 1.969 *