Do you think it is appropriate for a priest to go on "vacation"? I'm not talking about a priest going to visit his parents, but rather a priest going to the beach, or a hunting cabin, or a fishing trip, or a theme park, something like that.
1. He doesn't get a vacation from his spiritual duties, ever. (Neither do we, but that's another story). Daily meditation, Rosary, scripture/spiritual reading, BREVIARY must be done wherever he goes. If that "2 day trip to Disneyland" doesn't allow for such breaks, or that trip to X doesn't make it practical to get to a quiet place easily for such spiritual duties, it's a good sign he should pass on that selection.
2. He must be a priest first and foremost wherever he goes. That means a cassock. He can't dress immodestly in order to "catch some rays". That is worldly and in general ANY worldly amusement is off-limits for a priest. (Really, they should be off-limits for us as well, but it's more scandalous for a priest to be at a public beach or casino). If a priest would be embarrassed to go to a given place X in his cassock -- there's probably a good reason for that! Don't go. It MIGHT be acceptable to dress in a clerical suit -- but he must advertise to the world that he's a priest. No fair letting the ladies give him any attention they wouldn't if they knew he was a priest. It would be dangerous for him, but moreover it would also be unfair for the ladies. Spiritual writers say that the Cassock is a protection for the priest, and a witness to the world.
3. That having been said, priests do need a certain amount of recreation just as any human being. But a priest should prudently choose his method of recreation so that A) it actually is relaxing and rejuvenating, rather than "something to cross off my bucket list", and B) something appropriate for a Catholic and a Catholic priest at that.
4. It is a worldly idea to have a "bucket list" or a list of things you want to do (or things you want to see in person) before you kick the bucket. For a Catholic or a priest, there is only one item on a bucket list: stay in the State of Grace at all times. Everything else is a bonus. We Catholics believe in life after death. We don't think this life is everything. We're willing to THROW AWAY our earthly life in exchange for happiness in the next. That is Catholic.
5. The laws of prudence must also be maintained. He shouldn't be too secluded, especially with one or two companions. He should never be alone with any women, and never alone with any child. That's to protect HIS reputation, so he always has witnesses. Again, prudence.
6. On the other hand, it is not required for a priest's yearly break to be an Ignatian retreat. For those who have never been on one, I'm here to tell you: they are not a vacation. You are making several meditations a day and that takes some real effort. Mental effort can wear you out as easily as physical effort (as a computer programmer, I would know!) Recreation needs to be rejuvenating. There are plenty of decent pastimes a priest could engage in which wouldn't be scandalous in the least.
Topic: Priests on Vacation (Read 1054 times)