I heard something interesting lately. It was about priestly resilience, not self-help talk. Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB, Bishop of Aberdeen and former Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey, spoke on Priestly Resilience during the Summer Gathering of Priests on July 5 at the Holy Apostle Church, Pimlico, London. I joined the priests of the Westminster Diocese and Ethnics Chaplaincies to listen to Bishop Hugh Gilbert, the president of the Bishop’s Conference of Scotland.
Resilience is a Biblical Thing
“Resilience is a very human thing – a biblical thing,” said Bishop Hugh. “It is a story of the human being to fall and rise again.” Even though rising is disruptive, it is a return to normalcy. Bishop Hugh said Easter has that deep element of resilience for us as Christians – from death to life. Resilience is intrinsically offered to Christians through baptism.
1. Prayer of Priestly Ordination
Bishop Hugh pointed out that the Prayer of Ordination is the primary source of priestly resilience. The lengthy prayer speaks about David, not the triumphant one but David as a sinner. The prayer shows David with a contrite heart. The broken-hearted David is where we are, seeking a buoyancy through a humble prayer – a pure heart create for me, O Lord. The prayer is asking to renew a spirit of holiness with a commitment to teach transgressors God’s ways. The Psalm of David is regeneration – a resurrection. Bishop Hugh affirms that the risen priest raises the church. In a way, the prelate suggests a daily invocation of the Holy Spirit to inspire everyday innovation.
2. My Brother is my Salvation
“My Brother is my salvation” is attributed to St Anthony the Great, who lived in the desert like a monk in the early centuries. It is an acknowledgement that “Life and death are my neighbours.” Bishop Hugh stressed that “you cannot get rid of a brother.” Remember, Bishop Hugh lived like a monk in a monastery where the experience of the other is very real.
Priests are empty without people. As Henry Newman says, “The church will look silly without the laity.” Bishop Hugh acknowledged that safeguarding rules demoralize but affirmed to the priests that “the people who we serve, they mean more to us than we to them.” A lady told a bishop, “Remember that when you are alone in that big house, it is for us.” In concluding remarks, Bishop Vincent Nicholas, the archbishop of Westminster, summed it up: Priest separated from people is like martyrdom.
Humans are emotional and affective animals. Life can go adrift with emotional stressors. What keeps a priest awake at night is the people entrusted to his care. It’s personal, like Jesus asking Peter, “Do you love me?” three times. It is anchoring in God – feed my sheep.
Why Not Self-Help stuff on resilience?
Bishop Hugh said he could mention many self-help suggestions on resilience—things like avoiding negative thoughts, going for spiritual direction or how important priests care for themselves. Rather the scholarly bishop invited the priests to take refuge in the words of the Psalmist – Be Still and Know that I am your God – to step out of the darkest night and talk about the triumph of grace.
Priests are sometimes “over-stimulated, over-occupied, always in charge, always engaged in projects.” It is a season for priests “to be happy to be fallow, from time to time, to wait in the wilderness,” springing forth life in the face of death through Word and Bread (Sacraments). #PriestlyResilience #FaithStrength
About the Author
Feroz Fernandes, a Catholic Missionary, identifies himself as an Uncommon Priest. Father Feroz loves adventure in the apostolate. Check out his debut book The Uncommon Priest: Incredible Stories You Never Read on Amazon. And also, the YouTube Channel: Feroz Fernandes promotes a better understanding of scripture.
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