tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post399862431723141115..comments2023-12-16T16:17:43.886+00:00Comments on Fr Ray Blake's Blog: Pope Praises his BrotherFr Ray Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584140126211527252noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-11231809837873791522008-08-23T17:10:00.000+01:002008-08-23T17:10:00.000+01:00Paul..you can be lonely in a household with 10 kid...Paul..you can be lonely in a household with 10 kids & a loving husband! Loneliness is part of the human condition & can only be satisfied by God.<BR/><BR/>The Priests I know have very balanced lives with priestly & lay friends. They belong to several families & are always welcome..I can't really see where the lonely bit comes..after all if God bestows the vocation he gives the necessary grace.<BR/><BR/>'A consequence of celibacy is lack of companionship@..I don't quite get that..say if i've been celibate for over 7 years now due to a life-threatening illness does that mean I lacked companionship? Can't see it really!<BR/><BR/>I've recently been reading The Four Loves by CS Lewis & meditating on the 'friendship' chapter. I think it might be true to say we have lost the art of companionship/friendship in some cases but I don't see that apparent in our priests.Jackie Parkes MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07986690514568554656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-72602781923223829712008-08-22T23:48:00.000+01:002008-08-22T23:48:00.000+01:00Papa's love for his brother just makes me love him...Papa's love for his brother just makes me love him more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-21011739553687367772008-08-22T21:18:00.000+01:002008-08-22T21:18:00.000+01:00"Priesthood can't exactly be construed as a "lonel..."Priesthood can't exactly be construed as a "lonely life".The few I know don't seem to get a minute to themselves."<BR/><BR/>Yes because they are forever sorting out everyone elses problems.<BR/><BR/>But who is there to listen to *their* problems and worries<BR/><BR/>You can be both very busy and lonely at the same timeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-51207959753970081782008-08-22T21:01:00.000+01:002008-08-22T21:01:00.000+01:00It must be a Godsend to have a brother who is a fe...It must be a Godsend to have a brother who is a fellow priest.<BR/><BR/>Priesthood can't exactly be construed as a "lonely life".The few I know don't seem to get a minute to themselves.<BR/><BR/>Celibacy will be the least of their problems.<BR/><BR/>We really should show our appreciation more.nickbrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09803733028691380861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-61847432244684996422008-08-22T19:58:00.000+01:002008-08-22T19:58:00.000+01:00Paul of South Midlands hits the nail on the head !...Paul of South Midlands hits the nail on the head ! <BR/><BR/>A consequence of celibacy is lack of companionship. <BR/>The priestly life is, I imagine, a lonely one without companions, and the only real fellowship they can enjoy is the companionship of (like minded) fellow priests.<BR/>And the companionship of the TV and the bottle is no substitute.<BR/> <BR/>I don't mind living alone, with no family, but most men probably do.<BR/>That is why I am delighted to hear of priests visiting each other, when they can. <BR/><BR/>Let us pray for our priests.PeterHWrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08734936083886678494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-60127506548792961372008-08-22T17:49:00.000+01:002008-08-22T17:49:00.000+01:00Something I have wondered recently is whether the ...Something I have wondered recently is whether the decrase in large families and rise of one or two child families as the norm has contributed to the lack of priests we now have. <BR/><BR/>One priest I knew said celibacy hit you between the eyes as you lock the church up on your own after Midnight Mass on Christmas morning. Everyone is now obsessed with sex but it is the companionship and support during the other 23.75 hours a day that is really hard to give up. <BR/><BR/>As a priest you give up all rights to form your own family, which is very hard, as time progresses and your own family unit passes away. For people with large numbers of siblings this must be a little easier for obvious reasons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-70836409921418308742008-08-22T17:29:00.000+01:002008-08-22T17:29:00.000+01:00Wonderful! I hope my 2 sons are as close..Wonderful! I hope my 2 sons are as close..Jackie Parkes MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07986690514568554656noreply@blogger.com