Priests across the diocese received a letter from Bishop Thomas J. Tobin last weekend with an important caution: Beware of "priestly fatigue syndrome," and an antidote to the condition. Following the exuberant celebrations in June when five men were ordained to the priesthood, Bishop Tobin writes that he was struck by how easily the enthusiasm of those new to the vocation, and those who have been priests for decades, could be lost in the daily grind of managing a parish, celebrating Mass, visiting the sick and the many other duties that a priest must perform.
"I guess it's an inescapable reality of human life, regardless of our vocation or profession, that the initial joy of our first commitment often wanes as we get caught up in the burdens and cynicism of the world. It might be inevitable, but it's profoundly sad when it happens," he writes.
When days off rise to a higher priority than days spent ministering to a parish, when time spent in prayer and personal reflection is replaced by the time-consuming drudgeries of paperwork and personnel issues, when homilies become rote, he writes, a priest may be experiencing "priestly fatigue syndrome."
And bishops are not exempt from feeling vocation-weary. "Too often I get caught up in a labyrinth of daily administrative and pastoral activities to the point that prayer becomes an appendage of my day," he writes.
There is no magical drug or cure-all to beat the symptoms of "PFS," but Bishop Tobin does offer the priests a variety of tools to combat the condition.
"Perhaps we should try to return to our Ordination Day and recapture the excitement and fervor of that time in our life. Maybe it would be helpful to recall the commitments we made and the reason for those commitments," he encourages his brother priests.
Like a long-married couple renewing their wedding vows, priests can benefit from revisiting the vows taken in front of a bishop when they were ordained. "Do you resolve, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail, the office of priesthood... Do you resolve to to exercise the ministry of the word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith. ... Do you resolve to celebrate faithfully and reverently, in accord with the Church's tradition, the mysteries of Christ. ... Do you resolve to implore with us God's mercy upon the people entrusted to your care. ... Do you resolve to be united more closely every day to Christ the High Priest?"
For the priest who answers "no," "sometimes," or "when I can fit it in," to any of the above questions, there is still hope. Follow Bishop Tobin's advice and soon the "joy and fervor" will be recaptured.
"Brothers, it's critical that we evaluate our commitment to the ministry of the Word. Do we devote sufficient time to the preparation of our Sunday homily? Do we immerse ourselves in the Word, spending time in prayer and reflection, taking it unto ourselves before we preach it to others? Are our homilies faithful, effective, challenging and joyful proclamations of the saving message of Jesus Christ?"
On the topic of celebrating the mysteries of Christ, Bishop Tobin encourages his brother priests to consider two of the most sacred sacraments – Eucharist and Reconciliation.
"Our daily personal attention to the Eucharist – faithfully celebrated, gratefully received, and humbly adored, is certainly one of the keys to maintaining the joy and enthusiasm of our priestly ministry," he writes.
Following his recent feast day, St. John Vianney's faithfulness to the duty of hearing confessions was Bishop Tobin's inspiration to encourage his brother priests to carefully analyze how they promote confession in their parish and how faithfully it is carried out. Are confessions limited to a few minutes prior to Saturday's 5 p.m. Mass or are they more readily available? "Even recent experience has shown that when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is explained and promoted, and when the priest is truly available, people will in fact frequent the sacrament. The message of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace is certainly something our Church and society need to hear," he writes.
Another ordination vow – to implore God's mercy on the people in your care – is promoted by Bishop Tobin as a means to reconnecting with the vocation. "The question reminds us that praying with and for our people is one of the primary responsibilities of the priest," he writes. Even St. John Vianney, a major source of inspiration for the letter, struggled to make prayer a regular, and indispensable, part of his daily life, Bishop Tobin points out. "We know that prayer is essential to our spiritual survival and ministerial effectiveness. Prayer is to priesthood what oxygen is to life," he writes.
Finally Bishop Tobin addresses the priestly call to be united with Christ: "Our desire to be ever more closely united to Christ, our desire to grow in holiness is indeed the work of a lifetime but a goal for which we can never stop striving."
Bishop Tobin ended his letter on an encouraging note: "Nothing is more effective, even in our jaded culture today, than the compelling example of a holy priest, in love with the Lord, enthusiastic about his work and completely dedicated to the people he is sent to serve. Your work is important, dear brothers, you do make a difference. Your people are watching, waiting, hoping and praying for your leadership and example."
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