Conduct Towards the Pastor and Others of the Clergy

Catholics should look upon their Pastor as their common father. As children are bound to love, obey and respect their parents, so must Catholics behave towards him whom God has placed over them to watch, to care for and to guide their souls. As much as the immortal soul is above the perishable body, so much greater must be the reverence of Catholics for their spiritual father.

When meeting him they must always recognize him. Only in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament must they omit their usual recognition of him. In the vestry, in the porch of the church, about p. 90its premises, in the school, they must greet him, rise at his approach, if they are sitting, and generally discontinue their occupation until he has passed them or bidden them to resume their former position or employment.

Men and boys meeting him on the street, or in public places, should always raise their hats or bow their heads to him. When passing very close to him, they should also bid him the time of the day.

Women meeting him on the street or in public places, especially when close to him, should always recognize him by a slight bow of the head and by a salutation in a low tone of voice.

Men should always offer their seat to the Priest in the cars, especially when they are close to him.

Catholics should not be offended if the Priest does not always return their greeting. In some places where Catholics invariably greet the Priest, he becomes so accustomed to it, that he does not always notice it. Sometimes the number of persons that salute him, is so great that it becomes impossible for him to notice each individual. At other times he is engaged in prayer, especially when going to the sick or when carrying the Blessed Sacrament. In the latter case he purposely abstains from returning their salutations, receiving their respect not to himself, but to the Blessed Sacrament, which he carries on his breast.

When you know that the Priest is carrying the Holy Eucharist to the sick, show the greatest reverence, but do not bid him the time of the day or speak to him.

If you meet him in or about the church or house on that sacred errand, fall on your knees at once and remain kneeling until he has passed; if on the street, step aside and bow with great reverence.

When the Priest comes to your house, do not try to avoid him, but let all who p. 91are in a condition for it, strive to meet him and at least exchange a few words with him. If he visits the family at large, let all endeavor to honor him by their presence.

Many Catholics have the devout practice of asking the Priest’s blessing before he leaves the house, in which case all present kneel for it.

In calling upon the Priest, be sure that you call at a suitable time. Try to know the Priest’s hours for receiving callers and for transacting parochial business.

Do not molest the Priest with unnecessary calls. Remember his time is usually more taken up with a multiplicity of occupations than that of any other professional man. His time is seldom his own. The average Priest has scarcely time to attend to all the onerous duties of his sacred calling, as well as answer all the calls made upon him. Between his Mass and breviary, other prayers and spiritual exercises, his confessions, sick calls and spiritual ministrations, his care of the church and its appurtenances, his business affairs, his superintendence of the school, his visits to the poor and needy of his parish, his study, reading and preparation of sermons, his activity in general church-affairs and neighboring institutions, his meals, rest and necessary relaxation, his attention to business-men, agents and professional callers, his courtesy to his parishioners, friends and benefactors, and a hundred other occupations; the Priest would almost need a day doubly as long as the present one of twenty-four hours.

Do not interrupt the Priest at his devotions, especially at his thanksgiving after Mass. Never speak to him immediately after Mass unless it is positively unavoidable and then only after a proper excuse. The Priest must then, above all times, attend to prayer after the most sacred function of his priesthood.

It is greatly to be regretted that this is the only time some people can find to confer with the priest. In most cases they could, at least, wait a little while or come at some more suitable time.

Persons desiring Holy Communion, however, after Mass or some blessing either for themselves or for some article of devotion, should approach the Priest before he removes the sacred vestments, that he may not be compelled to vest himself again or to put off the applicants to some other time.

Do not trouble the Priest with business-schemes. Do not think that because you are a member of his congregation and contribute to his support and to the support of religion, that, therefore, he and the Church must patronize your business. This is making a business out of religion. The Pastor and the Church exist for the sole purpose of religion. Business with them is entirely accidental and must not, therefore, interfere with p. 92religion or the obligation to support it.

Do not endeavor to borrow money from the Priest. This always puts him into a very embarrassing position. The Priest, it is true, must be all charity towards his people; but to take advantage of this his position as a kind father, is bad policy. It is frequently the cause of dissatisfaction, abuse and even of scandal. Experience teaches that few who borrow money from the clergy, ever return it. Remember the money that a priest loans is his own money. He dare not lend money that belongs to the church.

Catholics should remember that most Priests have nothing, because they are always giving and lending money. It is a shame to take the little cash they may have on hand. Some few of them have a little money because they have prudently saved it. It is not right to deprive them of it.

Never come to the Priest to complain about your neighbor, merely for the sake of getting satisfaction, when some unpleasantness has occurred and nothing can be done about it. Only in the case of an abuse going on, which it is the Pastor’s business to remove, or to know of, let it be your duty to report it to him.

Be not quick to report the conduct of others to the Priest, unless you know he desires the information.

Do not expect the priest to do your own unpleasant work of reprimanding the members of your family, when you have not the courage to do it yourself. When engaging the services of a Priest to correct anyone, do not take him or the guilty parties by surprise by underhand action in the matter. Do not exasperate parties by calling the Priest suddenly to them to reprimand them. Prepare them for it by repeated threats to that effect. Do not expect the Priest not to let on whence he has the knowledge of their conduct, when the source of that knowledge is evident.

Always be grateful to the Priest and thank him by word or deed, for every act of kindness he does you, and for the attention he gives you in your calls upon him.

Remember the spiritual favors he does you, cannot be compared to temporal favors. His ministrations are above earthly compensation. Do not begrudge him his meagre allowance for his services. Bear in mind that men of similar ability in other professions exact large fees for every single exercise of their profession. The Priest might have chosen a career like theirs and have acquired their usual wealth and comfort.

Do not be content with repaying his services with money only; but whenever convenient, offer also your services to him, and share with him those goods with which God may have blessed you.

Recognize in your Pastor the representative of God. Overlook his possible faults and remember that he too is a man. p. 93Do not speak of his faults, but conceal them as much as you can. Unless we learn to bear one another’s burdens, as one of the crosses of this life, we shall never be true Christians.

Always pray for your Pastor, particularly at Holy Mass, and when he is dead, insert his name in your daily prayers and have a Mass said for him occasionally.

If great reverence is due to Priests, still greater reverence must be shown to Bishops.

It is customary to kneel and receive his blessing when meeting a Bishop, kissing his ring at the same time, unless it be on the street or in some public place.

When the faithful receive Holy Communion from the Bishop, they kiss his ring as soon as he approaches them.

The following are the ordinary titles and the manner of addressing the Clergy:

For a Priest: Your Reverence; Rev. N. N., Rev. dear sir, or Rev. dear Father.

For a Bishop: Your Lordship; Right Rev. N. N., D. D. (Doctor of Divinity); Right Rev. dear sir, or Right Rev. dear Bishop.

For an Archbishop: Your Grace; Most Rev. N. N., D. D., Most Rev. dear sir, or Most Rev. dear Archbishop.

For a Cardinal: Your Eminence; Most Rev. N. N., D. D., Most Rev. dear sir, or Most Rev. dear Cardinal; Most Eminent dear sir, or Most Eminent dear Cardinal.