{"id":1557,"date":"2007-07-09T13:55:00","date_gmt":"2007-07-09T13:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2007\/07\/a-little-advice-for-priests-and-deacons.html"},"modified":"2007-07-09T13:55:00","modified_gmt":"2007-07-09T13:55:00","slug":"a-little-advice-for-priests-and-deacons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2007\/07\/a-little-advice-for-priests-and-deacons.html","title":{"rendered":"A little advice for priests and deacons"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>I stumbled across this little list<\/a>, and I have to say, it offers nuggets of wisdom not only for priests, but deacons, too: <\/p>\n

Maxims for the Priesthood – Good for Most of the Time<\/u><\/p>\n

Avoid handling money <\/p>\n

Wear black socks, shine your shoes, be well-groomed <\/p>\n

Speak and write English simply and well <\/p>\n

There may be no difference between a mood and a passion <\/p>\n

Avoid anger <\/p>\n

The most dangerous part of a speech is the joke <\/p>\n

Grow a simple routine, savor productive boredom <\/p>\n

Only a fool would legislate ascesis and arcane rubrics before he first lived them himself <\/p>\n

Parochial gossip isn’t always bad, but it is frequently toxic … if you don’t want the toxin, don’t be a gossip yourself <\/p>\n

Carry yourself with dignity <\/p>\n

Do not complain about how busy you are … or about how poor you are … or about how sick you are … if you do, you will gain the pity of old women, and lose the respect of young women and old men, and you will join the party of ne’er-do-well middle-aged male malcontents, who will be happy to welcome you as their chaplain <\/p>\n

Avoid aristocratic detachment, but avoid familiarity … do not drink with the boys <\/p>\n

Write little notes of encouragement <\/p>\n

In counseling, or in visitation, or in sermons, beware of talking about yourself <\/p>\n

Turn off the TV and read Scripture, read the Fathers (certainly the Fathers before the Elders), read good literature … avoid mainline protestant theology and most modern novels (both are at war with the English language) <\/p>\n

Force yourself to understand old poetry <\/p>\n

Do not be opinionated … opinions take little to no intelligence <\/p>\n

Do not make excuses … say simply, “I was wrong,” or “Forgive me, I sinned against you” <\/p>\n

Be well-known for your forgiveness … never get famous for your tantrums <\/p>\n

Do not demand attention, and never count on appreciation — these things will never come when you think you most deserve them <\/p>\n

If you think you are popular in your parish … or, on the other hand, if you think your stock is low … just wait for the weather to change — the opinions of the crowd are as fickle as the wind <\/p>\n

Go on many walks: the Good Shepherd of the green pastures will take care of you <\/p>\n

Always remember that anger makes us energetic, but stupid … I cannot think of one good thing I ever did or said in anger: but I can think of many regrets <\/p>\n

Beware of thinking that you simply must get an advanced degree — theological degrees are rarely worth the money, and nothing is stopping you from getting the education you really need, right now<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/i>I can think of a few priests (and deacons) who might benefit from that little list. I’m sure you can, too. Pass it on. <\/p>\n

Image: St. John Vianney, patron of parish priests<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I stumbled across this little list, and I have to say, it offers nuggets of wisdom not only for priests, but deacons, too: Maxims for the Priesthood – Good for Most of the Time Avoid handling money Wear black socks, shine your shoes, be well-groomed Speak and write English simply and well There may be…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":365,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nA little advice for priests and deacons - The Deacon's Bench<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2007\/07\/a-little-advice-for-priests-and-deacons.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A little advice for priests and deacons - 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