Theologian in Training Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 (edited) So, it was the first time I was asked this question. A guy, maybe a little younger than myself came to the rectory looking for the pastor...apparently his mother died and he wanted to go to the funeral in Virginia and needed money to get there. Anyway, given the fact that I have been playing pastor, I decided to take a little bit of a rest, changed out of my clerics, and just hang out. I happened to be wearing a red t-shirt with an Ace of Spades on it under my clerics and I changed into jeans. So, when I greeted him, and after he told me his story, he asked me if I was a priest. Then he said I thought you guys had to wear that black outfit. I explained to him that I changed and was taking it easy today. Then he was shocked at how young I was...I explained to him that I was one of the youngest priests in the diocese. Sometimes it is very interesting to see what people expect a priest to be. I remember how strange it was to see our bishop in jeans a t-shirt and wearing a hat at the priest's barbeque. I guess it was the same with this guy. Anyway, thought I would share... Just realized this may make it into the Lame Board...ah well... Edited January 1, 2007 by Theologian in Training Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckinamo Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 (edited) haha aww! how'd it make you feel, that being your first time being asked that? a priest heard my confession this summer who had only been ordained for 7 weeks. he didn't look much older than like 12. (okay, i'm exaggerating a bit. probably closer to 18 or 20 for the age he looked.) he was very energetic though! great advice!! except.. he used the word "carp" during the confession. is that allowed!? young priests rock! and so do the old ones! sometimes it's hard to remember that priests are humans too, who need to relax and wear "regular" clothes for a bit!! we're so used to seeing you guys, through the grace of God, save the world, ya know!? hey, question: why DO priests always wear black? and are you really from Scotland!? ps: thanks for saying "yes" to God. Edited January 1, 2007 by stuckinamo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChild Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 When I was with the Sister of Life, as a postulant, we had a BBQ in the private yard of St Patrick's Cathedral, as it was the residence of the cardinal, their founder. The cardinal's asst was wearing an 'Italian Chef' apron, and the cardinal was relaxed, not in clerics, although he was still in black. It cracked me up how casual we all were (although the sisters were still in habit LOL). Lay people often forget that religious and priests are people too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theologian in Training Posted January 1, 2007 Author Share Posted January 1, 2007 [quote name='stuckinamo' post='1153972' date='Jan 1 2007, 07:24 PM'] haha aww! how'd it make you feel, that being your first time being asked that? a priest heard my confession this summer who had only been ordained for 7 weeks. he didn't look much older than like 12. (okay, i'm exaggerating a bit.) sometimes it's hard to remember that priests are humans too, who need to relax and wear "regular" clothes for a bit!! we're so used to seeing you guys, through the grace of God, save the world, ya know!? hey, question: why DO priests always wear black? and are you really from Scotland!? thanks for saying "yes" to God. [/quote] I don't know the real reason we wear black but when anyone asks I tell them because when we were ordained we laid down in front of the altar, a sign that we lay down our lives for the service of God and His people. What is known as "dying to the world." Yet, that white little tab is a sign that there is hope and that though we have died to the world we are also signs of the life we will live in our glorified state, the reason the entirety of our lives should reflect this. I say it a lot more eloquently but my brain is a bit cloudly from sleeping a while today Oh, and your second question...no I am not from Scotland, that is the name of the parish, it is actually located in NJ. God Bless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catholicinsd Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 How come he was asking you for money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theologian in Training Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 [quote name='catholicinsd' post='1153978' date='Jan 1 2007, 07:31 PM'] How come he was asking you for money? [/quote] Supposedly, his mother died and he wanted to go to the funeral in Virginia. He needed $40 for bus fare. He showed me his ID and everything. I trusted him and gave him the benefit of the doubt. I would not want to deprive him of going to his mother's funeral if he was telling the truth. God Bless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 You should have told him you have dinosaur pjs and fuzzy bunny slippers... Not lame, btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theologian in Training Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 [quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1154033' date='Jan 1 2007, 08:35 PM'] You should have told him you have dinosaur pjs and fuzzy bunny slippers... Not lame, btw [/quote] That prolly would have sent him over the edge And, ok good, since you never know what can be considered lame Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 One time when we had our associate pastor over for dinner, my son asked him, "So, why do you always wear [i]BLACK?[/i]" And he explained to him that it symbolized dying to self (which my seven year old didn't understand at all). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djc08 Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 When my family and I lived in the rectory of the Catholic Church in town that no longer has weekend Masses while our house was being fixed a man and his like 5 yr. old son came to the door and I answered wearing shorts and a old t-shirt and the guy said "Father, the water company turned off our water because we can't pay and my family and I haven't been able to bath or use water in the house for a week." And so I told him "I'm not a priest I'm just living in the rectory while my house is being prepared," and then I told him how to get to the Methodist Church in town to get money from the Ministral Alliance in town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Here's the story of my first conversation with a priest ever.... I was a senior in college and my roommate and I were driving from Eau Claire, WI to Mason City, Iowa.... and of course rather than drive straight west on I94 and south on I35, we cut across southeastern Minnesota... driving along various and sundry county roads... It was winter (and dark) and we were getting royally lost-- there's a state hiway and a county hiway that have the same number-- or something. I can't remember anymore. Anyway, we were driving down a road to who knows where and we realized we needed to get turned around. There was NOTHING along that road.... no gas stations, nothing... not even a town! Finally, we came to a cemetery... and then a church... with a rectory... with the light on. (it must have only been about 8 or 9). So, we go up to the door and knock. A priest about 60 or so came to the door and before we could say anything, he said: "I know where you came from and I know where you're going!" Needless to say he kinda freaked out two young Baptist girls! He guessed wrong, though. He thought we were nursing students from UWEC (close-- we were education students from UWEC) going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (well, no... I was going to visit my fiance in Mason City) Anyway, he quickly got us back on the right road... he must have had a lot of lost nursing students drop by.... I have no idea what this has to do with this thread... other than I can't remember if he was wearing clerics or not. He might have had them on with a sweatshirt on over it or something... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theologian in Training Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 There was a story in the paper a few months ago about a couple going around to Churches and scamming them with a sob story. I think they were saying that they needed rent money. They were thorough, had some kind of references that they would give. Be careful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socrates Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 [quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1154039' date='Jan 1 2007, 08:43 PM'] One time when we had our associate pastor over for dinner, my son asked him, "So, why do you always wear [i]BLACK?[/i]" And he explained to him that it symbolized dying to self (which my seven year old didn't understand at all). [/quote] "You wonder why I always dress in black Why you'll never see bright colors on my back And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone Well there's a reason for the things that I have on . . ." ~ Johnny Cash, "Man in Black" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theologian in Training Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 [quote name='Era Might' post='1154074' date='Jan 1 2007, 09:59 PM'] There was a story in the paper a few months ago about a couple going around to Churches and scamming them with a sob story. I think they were saying that they needed rent money. They were thorough, had some kind of references that they would give. Be careful. [/quote] It is my own money that I gave, so if I lost $40 I lost $40. As a priest I get a lot more money than I thought imaginable, especially from generous parishoners for Christmas. Besides, he kept referring to a parishoner he knows from the Spanish Mass. Either way, I would like to believe that he is going to his mother's funeral and, if he isn't, well I gave him the benefit of the doubt, at least once. God Bless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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