A Decalogue for Priests

Klaus Hemmerle and Wilhelm Breuning

It is more important how I live as a priest than what I do as a priest.

It is more important what I allow Christ to do through me than what I do.

It is more important that I live the unity of the priesthood than plunge myself headlong and alone into ministry.

It is more important to «serve» prayer and the Word than to «serve table».

It is more important to nurture the spiritual welfare of those who build up the parish community than to undertake alone as many activities as possible.

It is more important to be present in a few but key points radiating life than to be half–present everywhere and in a hurry.

It is more important to work in unity with others than alone, no matter how capable I may feel. In other words, communion is more important than action.

It is more important to value the cross which yields true life, than to value the apparent success of human talents and efforts.

It is more important to have an open soul—open to the community, the diocese, the universal Church—than a soul fixed on particular interests no matter how important they may seem.

It is more important to witness to your faith than to be caught up in every demand that is made upon you.