Are Priests happy?

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Are Priests happy?

The overwhelming majority of priests are extremely happy in their vocations! Why? Because they are doing what the Lord intended for their lives…for their vocation.  Most priests will cite administering the Sacraments, preaching the Word, and helping people and their families as great sources of satisfaction.*  Ultimately, the source of happiness for any child of God is his or her relationship with Jesus Christ and the priest is given the privilege of acting in the person of Christ at key moments in the life of the Church.

 

You might ask….do you have any facts to back this up?  In an upcoming study to be published in October 2011 by Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, “Why Priests Are Happy: A Study of the Psychological and Spiritual Health of Priests”, reports that 92% of priests say they are happy in the ministry. More information can be found about this study below.**
The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, also had this to say to a group of young people on a pilgrimage regarding how to find true happiness….something that priests will say they have found:
A "yes" to God opens the font of happiness, says Benedict XVI.

 

Benedict XVI called on young people to imitate Mary's response when she was "invited to follow an amazing yet disconcerting journey. Her readiness led her to experience a joy of which all previous generations had sung."

 

"Our 'yes' to God makes the font of true happiness gush forth," the Pope affirmed. "It frees the 'I' from everything that closes it in on itself. It brings the poverty of our lives into the richness and power of God's plan, without restricting our freedom and our responsibility. [...] It conforms our lives to Christ's own life."

 

The Holy Father encouraged the young "to celebrate with enthusiasm the joy of loving Christ and of believing and hoping in him, and to follow with trust the path of initiation you have before you."

 

"I particularly invite you to take up the witness of your ancestors in the faith, and to learn to welcome the word of God -- in silence and meditation -- so that it can mould your hearts and produce generous fruits in you," he added.

 

This pilgrimage, the Pontiff concluded, "is also a good time to allow yourselves to be asked by Christ: 'What do you want to do with your lives?' May those among you who feel the call to follow him in the priesthood or in consecrated life -- as have so many young participants in these pilgrimages -- reply to the Lord's call and put yourselves totally at the service of the Church, with a life completely dedicated to the Kingdom of heaven. You will never be disappointed."

 

* Study conducted in 2003 by Dr. Dean Hoge, and Jacqueline Wenger entitled: Evolving Visions of the Priesthood: Changes from Vatican II to the Turn of the Century,that concluded: Would you indicate how important each of the following is as a source of satisfaction to you? Percent saying: This is of great importance
- 90% Joy in administering the sacraments and presiding over the liturgy.
- 80% Satisfaction in preaching the Word of God.
- 67% Opportunity to work with many people and be part of their lives.
- 62% Being a part of community of Christians who are working together to share the good news of the gospel.

 
**Coming Soon:
Ave Maria Press is pleased to announce the acquisition of Why Priests Are Happy: A Study of the Psychological and Spiritual Health of Priests by renowned psychologist Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti. Now slated to release in October of 2011, this groundbreaking, peer-reviewed study undermines popular notions that Catholic priests are depressed and unhappy in their vocations.

 

Rossetti examines many issues, comparing priests to the general male population with respect to human intimacy, sexual difficulties, burnout, psychological problems, physical health and self-care. He identifies the factors that contribute to happiness among priests as well as those that lead a priest to consider leaving the priesthood. He also looks closely at the contribution of spirituality to psychological health, examining thirteen elements of priestly spirituality. What surfaces is a very human portrait of some very human men who are imbued with a spirituality that has a direct and profound effect on their lives. Priests are clearly, and really not surprisingly, normal men. And contrary to the image portrayed in the media, 92% say they are happy in the ministry.