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Preparation For Priesthood More Than Academics
The other week I was once again surprised (and flattered actually) when a former student,
now a much beloved pastor, quoted back to me my favorite definition of a good priest, namely,
"a good and decent person who knows something and who believes that what he knows can make a
difference in this world and the next." It was close to thirty years ago when I first began
talking to priesthood candidates in those words. They seem more true today than ever!
Becoming (and it is a life-long process, believe me) a good and decent person suggests someone
who works at being joyful, honest, generous, compassionate, just, curious, responsible and all
the other basic human qualities which converge in the kind of human being we instinctively find
attractive. They are the basic qualities of a good friend, a respected leader, a kind teacher,
a helpful neighbor, a good teammate. Such qualities are found in the kind of person with whom
you would choose to share a vacation, a game of Scrabble or an evening out. Unless a person is
a combination of such qualities, he'll never be a trusted confidant, effective spiritual counselor,
thoughtful preacher or parish leader.
A candidate for priesthood certainly needs to know something - about God, the ways of the human
heart, the history and profile of our society, the Gospel and the Church that gathers in response
to Good News. That's the academic part of it - absolutely essential, but in and of itself, still
not enough.
Beyond the factors of mature personality and knowledge (i.e., academics), one also needs to be
a person of faith. We all live with a bit of doubt in our hearts. That's because we also live
with the realization that God works so deeply at the source and center of human experience as to
be virtually invisible most of the time. Faith is a free choice to shape one's entire life by
the existence of God, and to find profound meaning and happiness in that type of world. We have
to believe that what we know about such a world is truly a treasure worth sharing.
All three elements are essential to a healthy vocation to priestly ministry.
+ Richard J. Sklba
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