Reimagining the Spirituality of the Ministerial Priesthood

Abstract

Spirituality of the ministerial priesthood is intertwined with the ministry and apostolate of the ministerial priest in the Church. And a ministerial priest is a presbyter (ἐπισκοποι – presbyteroi), who must understand that he is an elder and overseer entrusted with pastoral leadership, service in the Church and spiritual welfare of the flock. However, the spirituality of the ministerial priesthood which guides the priest in discharging these services to the members of the Church, is at a low ebb. Therefore, this paper argues that every ministerial priest needs to recover this spirituality if he must be a true “witness to the sufferings of Christ [and] tend the flock of God entrusted into [his] care not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit, but eagerly… not lording it over them, but be exemplary to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:1-4). Since he shares in the ministry of Christ, he must take Christ as his model in pastoral leadership, care, service and spiritual welfare in the Church. Thus, every ministerial priest must develop and internalize this spirituality as it empowers him to lead and offer the flock, the spiritual and pastoral care devoid of any desire for financial reward and worldly superior status. The paper concludes that there is need to revive the spirituality of the ministerial priesthood for effective ministry in the Church.