What makes a really great priest?

As a special feature of the Year for Priests, The New Vision is asking readers to share their views and answer this question: “What makes a really great priest?” Send us your own opinion. Write to The New Vision, P.O. Box 31, Tucson, AZ 85702, or email to bernz@diocesetucson.org.

In answer to the question “what makes a good priest,” it is in my opinion a question of courage. In these times, not unlike times of old, where lust for sex, money, power, greed, self indulgence and gratification take precedence over the true Christian walk we are called to by Christ, it takes courage to stand up for the principles of loving faith laid out by Christ the Church. When so many attend church to be entertained by fancy talks rather than sound teaching, arousing music rather than holy, contemplative song, it must be very difficult for our beautiful priests to compete with our worldly expectations.
Our Catholic priests are vetted and called by Christ himself. Who are we to place unrealistic expectations on them to be perfect in all aspects? They have been called to provide us with spiritual food, to call down the Holy Spirit in order that the Flesh of Christ can heal us and make a way for us to live with Him forever. Isn’t that enough? Instead of appreciating the awesome gift that our priests are to us, we sometimes concern ourselves with trivial matters that have little or nothing to do with the ultimate gift we are receiving through the Priest’s hands. What courage they must muster day after day to be patient when criticisms seem to plague their every move.
Our Bishops and priests are our awesome channels to heaven. We can make even the most gifted priests better by supporting them and truly loving them in all aspects of their calling and supporting their decisions regardless of our personal agendas. And priests who may not possess those exceptional gifts of oration or dramatic presence still provide us with all we need to walk with Christ in his love.
By accepting and loving our priests for who they are, we become a more humble, holy people and they remain our good shepherds as we all pray and hope that we will be acceptable for the Kingdom to come.

The sacrifice of the Mass makes all priests really great. They prepare the Holy Eucharist for us and give us our Lord. Priests have a lofty mission -- the mission of Jesus. It is a divine mission which overwhelms the mind when we think deeply on the love which inspires it. Only in heaven we will understand the full greatness of the gift from heaven they bring to us each day at Mass. If we could truly appreciate this great gift by our priests on earth we would die, not of fright, but of love. After God, the priest is everything.

For me, there are several attributes that make a really great priest. First and foremost, he is a priest who is so "into" the Mass celebration that I become totally immersed in it myself to the exclusion of all else. Certainly, he is a priest who never looks at his watch during Mass. He is a priest who really listens to what a parishioner is trying to tell him or is asking him, and he replies meaningfully. He is a priest who always knows when a new parishioner(s) has registered in his parish, and ensures that he personally greets and welcomes her/him/them. He treats all his parishioners in such a way that he does not seem to show favoritism to any particular group of them, such as who gives the most money to the parish, etc. He is a priest who smiles easily and often, and readily mingles with all his parishioners. He is a priest who is not overly worldly, and by his example encourages his parishioners to be more Godly in their own lives. And he is a priest who practices what he preaches.