Priests Battling Loneliness?

Many prayers for our priests battling their demons. They are really up their necks in spiritual warfare that I acknowledge none of us could even attempt to understand.

But I must confess that I am always surprised when the monkey of loneliness gets on their backs.

Is it really loneliness?

Most are quite busy, dividing their gifts to families in more than one parish. Much like Christ who felt the power leave Him when the woman touched his cloak to draw His healing and Grace, they are...drained. Some so drained, they are empty. There is no structure around helping them feed and replace that power. It is hard to believe it, but there no programs in place to direct them to the company of Christ, the angels and saints - where loneliness can never be experienced.

From what I can gather from priests over the years, one of the major contributors to their loneliness is, the collegiality among fellow priests is in the dumps. There is no glue.

As you can imagine, those who are Sacramental, prayerful, interested in doing the breviary, visiting hospitals, teaching, running a parish that is geared towards bringing people to their salvation -- they don't want to be with fellow priests who are programming the demoralization of the people in their pews. It's oil and water.

Their bishop is an absentee father without the interest to keep their priests from the slow fade into darkness.

Does anyone actually have idea what the six or seven auxiliary bishops in Boston actually do? It is a serious question. What is their role and how do they spend their days from 9 to 5? I've asked countless priests and Catholics and nobody seems to know.

As a single parent, I speak and know many single people (including priests) who also have to find ways to connect their intimacy.

Isn't that what we are really talking about?

Our animus can't operate without the exchange of intimacy of the soul.

Intimacy is different than companionship, duty, service to God and the people around us.

Intimacy is where we plug in on a deep level. It is a mutual exchange beyond the rules and limits of rightly-placed personal boundaries.

Single people have to have the right balance of family members and friends to provide and give in healthy ways, but if they don't find that deep exchange with Christ, they will experience feeling alone.

Life is filled with work, play, exercise, nature, chores, family, friends, chores that I really look forward to time alone to plug into Christ, my Beloved. Generally, I've found a particular saint's readings -- depending upon what I am looking to draw from Christ in that particular phase of my life.

Fulton Sheen is a magnificent source for those who are looking for overall intimacy - especially if you are a beginner on that practice of intimately connecting with Christ. That man really had it going on. There are many books that focus on several points of entry to Christ's intimacy to find what to draw to satisfy your particular thirst of your spirit.

With the practice, you will find you can't get enough time alone to connect intimately with Christ, to rest, to fuel up.

Loneliness is impossible to experience after intimately drawing and refueling with Christ.

I was thinking about this time in history and I keep coming back to the same solutions.

Watch out what you fill yourself with because it will consume you. Make good choices.

The lyrics of Casting Crowns "It's a slow fade" comes to my mind. Lyrics below, video follows.


Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see