I love the priesthood

When I first became Catholic, though I love my pastor, I was annoyed that he seemed so dictatorial. Anything that was suggested was always met with "Run it by Fr.x." And when Fr.x was not around, it was as if the world stopped.

So I asked myself, "What is a priest, anyway?" I surfed the web and came across this document which I found to be very helpful. I don't know how it happened, because I surfed recently and couldn't find it. But by fluke of luck, I had a copy stored on my computer, from which I then knew specificly what to surf for.

Vatican Instruction: "The Priest, Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community"

Burned in by brain is the following mini blurb (the part I bolded):

His basic identity has to be sought in the character which has been conferred on him by the Sacrament of Holy Orders and from which pastoral grace derives. The priest, therefore, must always know what he has to do, precisely as a priest.

Sounds like a tall order. Lots of good stuff in the document.

Anyhow, I love the priesthood. I thank God everyday for all his consecrated (all religious and clergy). We the community and we the Church fail most miserably when we fail our priests--in training, in guidance, in support, in correction, in encouragement, in expectations, and in forgiveness. Yes, I love priests. Jesus loves his priests. Please, no more suicides by anyone, especially not priests.