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1
Preface
This pamphlet is made available primarily for seminarians and young priests. TheCatholic Church is the Church of the Eucharist. There can be no Eucharist without thepriesthood. Therefore, vocations to the priesthood and the need for happy priests are of concernto every dedicated Catholic. It is suggested that after reading this pamphlet you share it withsome seminarian and/or young priest.
HOW TO BE A HAPPY PRIEST
I have been an ordained Roman Catholic priest for more than 50 years. I can tell you, andmany who know me will tell you, that I am a happy priest. The reason I am happy is because Ifeel fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Although now in the practice of Christ’s holy priesthood for over 50years, I still look for more opportunities each day to reach out to others for the good of their soulsand for the glory of God.Recently, I talked to a priest who was ordained less than a year. When I asked him, “Areyou happy as a priest?” he faltered for words. He was not ready to give an unqualified answer. Hesaid, “There is so much tension and disobedience out there, and it is so difficult to be a priesttoday.” This young priest later spent considerable time with me. It was obvious that he wantedalways to be a good priest. Still, he feared, with the stories he heard of failures among somepriests, that he might be tempted and fail to live his vows.I reminded this young priest that we are promised by God’s Word that we will never betempted beyond our strength. The extraordinary graces of the Sacraments are there and they arethere for each of us daily. I told him to phone me if ever temptations against his commitment forlife in Christ’s holy priesthood assails him in the future. A priest is a priest forever.Recently I found in my notes, yellowed with age, written down either as a seminarian oras a young priest the following thought: “Celibacy in the priesthood while at times may find onefeeling lonely, that loneliness is designed to cause a vacuum which for the priest can only befilled with love for Jesus Christ and the people of His holy Church.”I can honestly say that in my years as a priest I have never been lonely for very long. Yes,there have been lonely moments. And those lonely moments were times to renew mycommitment and vows.Rather than loneliness, there have been more times when I longed to be alone for a while.I wanted to be alone so as to be alone with God so that my life might be centered on God alone. Iwanted to be alone at times so as to be more fruitful in preparing articles, books, sermons,classes, and lectures. I can say I’ve never been seriously tempted to break any priestly vows. I’vebeen too occupied with the practice of the priesthood, reaching out to others, than to give time totemptation against what is my greatest joy: preaching the Word of God, offering the divineLiturgy, administering the Sacraments, teaching youth the Way, the Truth, the Life.
A Priest is not a Priest for himself 
I realize that a priest’s life centered on God must still involve God’s people, for the very
 
 
2nature of priestly powers and duties is to act in the person of Christ, the head of the MysticalBody. The Catholic priest not only represents Christ but acts
in persona Christi
in offering theHoly Sacrifice
 
of the Mass and administering the Sacraments. Jesus Christ also acts through thepriest when he reads the Scriptures in church and teaches the Word of God as pointed out by theSecond Vatican Council. Jesus Christ is Truth. He is
 the
 
Way, the Truth, and the
 
 Life
. Thepriest commissioned to teach the Word of God must always preach and teach the Truth. Nevershould he compromise the Truth of faith and morals. If he attempts to do so, he is compromisingJesus Christ. The priest should preach the Truth in season and out of season. He should preachthe full Gospel, the fullness of truth; whether at a particular time and place it is popular orunpopular to do so. If in preaching the truth a priest becomes controversial, he should be gratefulfor Jesus Christ was a man of contradiction to the world, to the world’s way of thinking andacting. Preaching is not to entertain, but to give knowledge of Jesus Christ so souls can beformed in Christ’s love. Don’t try to compete with the world in entertaining. It is contrary to thepriest’s vocation and you will always lose.
A Priest should be a sign of contradiction
When the Christ Child was presented in the temple, Simeon inspired by the Holy Spirit,took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said to Mary His mother, “Behold this Child isset... for a sign that is spoken against, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also.” (Luke2:25-36). Interestingly that whereas Luke tells us that His father and His mother marveled atwhat was said about Him, the above quoted words were directed not to both St. Joseph and theBlessed Virgin Mother but only “to Mary His mother.”Those called to the priesthood of Jesus Christ are called not only to be good, but to beholy, to be a sign of contradiction to the world. If you carry out your mission as not simply agood man but as a true priest, you will be spoken against, you will be contradicted, evenpersecuted. If you seek to be a popular priest, one who entertains, one who speaks what people ingeneral want to hear, you will not be a holy priest. You will not be fulfilling the mission forwhich you were ordained.“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdomof heaven” (Mt. 5:10). Yes, Jesus promised a hundredfold to those who leave all things, evenfamily members, and follow and serve Him in His holy Church, but don’t miss the fullness of allHe promised: “and persecution besides.” “If any man would come after Me, let him denyhimself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; andwhoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it” (Mark 8:34). If such words of Jesus Christ apply to all, how much more to the priest who has the indelible character of Christthe High Priest forever sealed on his soul.Seminarians and young priests should get ready for this. Not only will you be criticized,even persecuted by laity who do not want to hear the truth, but you will receive such treatmenteven from some priests and fellow religious. If you give your whole heart to Jesus in work andconcern for souls full time, you will be a threat to many who should be working with you. Youwill then be a special priest-son of Mary and your heart will be pierced at times, as was ourMother Mary. But She will protect you.
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