What makes a good priest

What are the primary characteristics the church looks for in men who may be considering priesthood? Here are some of them in no particular order:

•Charity Toward Others: This is a person who possesses a basic optimism about people and the world and has empathy towards others. He’s sensitive, feels compassion for them, he assists the lowly, and shows respect and sensitivity to the cultural, ethnic and racial diversity of the church.

•Service and the Desire to do Good: Men drawn to priesthood are often those who are searching for fulfillment in life. They have a great desire to be of service to their brothers and sisters and live out the church’s ministry and mission in helping others.

•Prayer and Spiritual Depth: For a man who is called to be a leader in word and sacrament, it’s imperative that he possess and exhibit a spiritual depth that is rooted in the church. He should also have the capacity and desire to invite others to share in such spiritual richness.

•Leadership: A man who’s comfortable being in charge, and can lead by example and persuasion, rather than force and position. He’s a man who can arrange projects to occur and include others to be a part of the decision-making process. He should be willing to learn from all kinds of people, realizing that he is not an authority on all aspects of church ministry.

•Commitment: He’s a man who understands what it is to commit himself for life, and takes the responsibility of living this commitment even in the most difficult times.

•Social Maturity: The ability to interact well and appropriately with others. His interaction is one that people appreciate and he’s viewed by others as a person who’s approachable.

•Self Discipline: A man who’s a self-starter, understanding celibacy, obedience, and simplicity of life as the way in which he’ll be able to live out priesthood in its fullest.

•Psycho-sexual Maturity: A man who has a healthy development of psychological and sexual well-being in order to live a chaste celibate life. To have the capacity to recognize his vocation as a gift, which he in turn gives in service to the people of God and the church.

•The Ability to Reflect Christ: A man called to priesthood must exhibit the ability to reflect Christ if he is called to be a priest who’ll one day shepherd the people of God.

For more information, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Internet Website at www.usccb.org.

This story was provided by the North American Precis Syndicate.