Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests

20 | GUIDE TO ONGOING FORMATION FOR PRIESTS

51. Finally, many priests unfortunately face these struggles apart from any awareness of the supernatural. The Lord permits us to encounter setbacks, weaknesses, even persecution, but he never asks us to shoulder more than he gives us the grace to bear. Seeing things, including struggles, from a supernatural point of view offers a perspective that brings confi dence, peace, and even joy in the midst of difficulties. When a priest is overwhelmed by obstacles in his life and ministry, it may be that he has forgotten in whom his strength rests. 39 “If the priest does not count on the primacy of grace,” the 2013 DMLP observes, “he will not be able to respond to the challenges of his times, and any pastoral program is destined to failure, no matter how elaborate it may be.” 40 Recovering an abiding sense of supernatural joy and trust, then, will be among our first priorities in confronting the challenges we face. Other difficulties confronting the priest emerge from the situation of the Church in many parts of the United States today. In many parts of the country, for instance, an understandable sense of demoralization has been caused by certain trends in the Church. These include a steep decline in Mass attendance, the widespread closing of parishes and schools, and a general sense of decline. Priests are not alone in lamenting these trends, of course, but we are often affected in a deeper and more personal way. At the same time, the Church is growing in other areas of the country. The priests in those areas can be challenged to meet the needs of the increasing population with fewer priests than required, and with staff and volunteers who are making heroic efforts to help and lead in the Church but who are also limited by their family and work responsibilities. In addition, some priests and people are frustrated and demor alized by the impact of the sexual abuse scandals that seem never to go away. Many priests feel that they are laboring under a perpetual shadow of suspicion, cast not only by wider society but by their own people, who are affected by the relentless media stories on clergy malfeasance. Many priests, too, worry that their diocesan bishops will not support them in the event of an accusation. Also, priests sometimes fear that, if accused, they will not WITHIN THE CHURCH 52. 53.

39 “The LORD is my shepherd; / there is nothing I lack” (Ps 23:1). “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me” (Phil 4:13). 40 DMLP, introduction to chap. 2.