to be a ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST
is one of the four most difficult "professions" in the world.
This is because a Catholic priest must be several things at the same time:
• Priest • Confessor • Example • Counselor • Planner • Pastor • Visionary • Director • Mentor • Friend • Babysitter • Diplomat • Reconciler • Marriage Counselor • Youth Counselor • Leader & Trainer • Bible Teacher • Psychologist, etc, etc.
In addition, he is also:
• church doorman • business manager • engineer • mason • event promoter • a mediator between two parties in a conflict. • a mediator between God and man. • the one who arrives first and leaves last...
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The Catholic priest is usually the loneliest person in the community: it is clear that a Catholic priest is always surrounded by people, but rarely by people who are interested in their problems, their needs or their lives, let alone be aware of ​the demands that the communities themselves place on them.
Above all, a Catholic priest is a Father
But above all, the Catholic priest is a father. The Netherlands is about the only country in the world where the priest is not addressed as 'father', but often by his first name (also by the children). In all other countries, priests are addressed as 'Father', and that is also how they address each other, because ultimately his most important task is to be a father to his family. for they personally watch over your souls, as they will be responsible for this (Heb 13,17).
If you are friends with one or more Catholic priests, take care of them, protect them, pray for them, understand their vision, support them, but most of all love them and don't forget the promise of Jesus Himself. Oh yes...invite them over for dinner sometime.
And I will give you shepherds after my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and intelligence (Jeremiah 3,15).
With our prayers, let us honor the lives of all those men of God who have sacrificed so many things, including their own needs and those of their families, to fulfill God's call. Value the time you get from a Catholic priest.
The Catholic priesthood is a calling, not a profession.
God bless you abundantly as you pray for them.
We are all familiar with the worldwide criticism of Catholic priests. Unfortunately, and often enough, this criticism is all too true. But this does not mean that you can tar all Catholic priests with the same brush. All over the world there are priests who work from a deep calling, who spend their lives in the service of God, the Church and the parishioners, who do great work and who know what it means to be humble. And yet all Catholic priests face constant criticism, such as:
• the mass is unsatisfying and does not fill me • the sermon is too long • you only think about money • you engage in endless fundraising • you're way too authoritarian • you don't have time for me • and much more ...