Post by Tim Killmeyer on Jun 4, 2013 9:16:45 GMT -5
This is from a letter someone sent me by Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy describing his 58 years as a priest, but it could also describe the life and ministry of many deacons I know as well. Certainly some lessons for all of us, IMHO.
Comments?
Tim
_____________________________________________
58 PRIESTLY YEARS: JUNE 4, 1955 - 2013
When you get to be my age in the Priesthood, you are full of stories and are tempted sometimes to be full of advice. You can match almost every story you hear with a similar one of your own making. The stories can tend to become a little embellished as the years go by. We may be tempted to take our doctored-up recollections as Gospel-truth and believe them ourselves.
Exaggeration, it is thought, makes the story more interesting. But I will spare you my stories here; for fear of untruth, but I would like to share some advice, learned from real experience. It is like this: here is how I would do it the second time around if given the chance.
They say: there is no substitute for experience except being an 18-year old senior in high school. Maybe we can learn from the mistakes of others and our own as well lest we repeat them in the future. That is what our education and formation should have been all about. The Church ever holds the priestly ideals in front of us. If only we would take notice and learn from history, from holy, wise, and balanced people.
In the realm of nature, there is no substitute for a good night’s rest. Where that is lacking, you may feel you have to compensate with a little nap during the day. Hence the working principle locally: “In case of doubt, take a nap.” There is just no substitute for sleep and rest.
Without proper sleep and rest we can feel nasty and irritable. In a bad mood, we are ready to fight anybody and anything. Seventy-five percent of all arguments and bitterness generally start with the indisposition associated with sleep-deprivation. Besides, you can never enjoy anything when you are exhausted.
You can take a lot more stress and aggravation, too, when your nerves are soothed by the proper relaxation. Even I am pretty easy to get along with when I am well-rested. Ninety-percent of my crankiness and irritability comes from the need for more sleep. One friar told us he has only two moods: tired and rested.
“Breathes there a priest with luncheon fed who never to himself has said: “I think I’ll take a little nap.” Good advice! Sometimes people accuse the friars of getting up twice a day: 5:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. But that is not true! I have met a few older clerics, however, who when they’re tempted to get some exercise, go and take a little nap instead!
When we do not have our needs reasonably met, we may be tempted to look for certain compensations. If I do not get the proper sleep, the urge may overcome me to reward myself with food and drink or other harmful pleasantries because I have been “suffering” so much. This is the rationalization and self-pity that can easily lead to excess.
Good eating habits, reasonable exercise, refreshing entertainment and relaxation are all part of a balanced personality. When these demands are not realized, we will eventually pay the price. Sharing with trusted friends is part of priestly well-being, too. Peer support is encouraging, affirming, and energizing.
Every priest should have his own Confessor and/or Spiritual Director. That is as important as your day-off each week. Daily spiritual reading, fidelity to the Rosary and to the praying of the Divine Office and offering Holy Mass, and the Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament each day guarantee God’s blessing to every priest.
Even if a priest put in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, there would still be plenty of work for him to do. Burning the candle at both ends only results in burn-out, frustration and anger because the worst kind of work from every point of view is over-work, especially when the level of cooperation from the Faithful whom you are serving does not meet your expectations.
“Come apart and rest awhile!” is Jesus’ advice. Follow Jesus’ example in the boat when He fell asleep even amidst a fearful storm! Consider Shakespeare’s: “Sleep, sleep innocent sleep! Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care! Nature’s resting place.”
Father Angelus M. Shaughnessy, ,O.F.M. Capuchin
Comments?
Tim
_____________________________________________
58 PRIESTLY YEARS: JUNE 4, 1955 - 2013
When you get to be my age in the Priesthood, you are full of stories and are tempted sometimes to be full of advice. You can match almost every story you hear with a similar one of your own making. The stories can tend to become a little embellished as the years go by. We may be tempted to take our doctored-up recollections as Gospel-truth and believe them ourselves.
Exaggeration, it is thought, makes the story more interesting. But I will spare you my stories here; for fear of untruth, but I would like to share some advice, learned from real experience. It is like this: here is how I would do it the second time around if given the chance.
They say: there is no substitute for experience except being an 18-year old senior in high school. Maybe we can learn from the mistakes of others and our own as well lest we repeat them in the future. That is what our education and formation should have been all about. The Church ever holds the priestly ideals in front of us. If only we would take notice and learn from history, from holy, wise, and balanced people.
In the realm of nature, there is no substitute for a good night’s rest. Where that is lacking, you may feel you have to compensate with a little nap during the day. Hence the working principle locally: “In case of doubt, take a nap.” There is just no substitute for sleep and rest.
Without proper sleep and rest we can feel nasty and irritable. In a bad mood, we are ready to fight anybody and anything. Seventy-five percent of all arguments and bitterness generally start with the indisposition associated with sleep-deprivation. Besides, you can never enjoy anything when you are exhausted.
You can take a lot more stress and aggravation, too, when your nerves are soothed by the proper relaxation. Even I am pretty easy to get along with when I am well-rested. Ninety-percent of my crankiness and irritability comes from the need for more sleep. One friar told us he has only two moods: tired and rested.
“Breathes there a priest with luncheon fed who never to himself has said: “I think I’ll take a little nap.” Good advice! Sometimes people accuse the friars of getting up twice a day: 5:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. But that is not true! I have met a few older clerics, however, who when they’re tempted to get some exercise, go and take a little nap instead!
When we do not have our needs reasonably met, we may be tempted to look for certain compensations. If I do not get the proper sleep, the urge may overcome me to reward myself with food and drink or other harmful pleasantries because I have been “suffering” so much. This is the rationalization and self-pity that can easily lead to excess.
Good eating habits, reasonable exercise, refreshing entertainment and relaxation are all part of a balanced personality. When these demands are not realized, we will eventually pay the price. Sharing with trusted friends is part of priestly well-being, too. Peer support is encouraging, affirming, and energizing.
Every priest should have his own Confessor and/or Spiritual Director. That is as important as your day-off each week. Daily spiritual reading, fidelity to the Rosary and to the praying of the Divine Office and offering Holy Mass, and the Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament each day guarantee God’s blessing to every priest.
Even if a priest put in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, there would still be plenty of work for him to do. Burning the candle at both ends only results in burn-out, frustration and anger because the worst kind of work from every point of view is over-work, especially when the level of cooperation from the Faithful whom you are serving does not meet your expectations.
“Come apart and rest awhile!” is Jesus’ advice. Follow Jesus’ example in the boat when He fell asleep even amidst a fearful storm! Consider Shakespeare’s: “Sleep, sleep innocent sleep! Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care! Nature’s resting place.”
Father Angelus M. Shaughnessy, ,O.F.M. Capuchin
