A Priest's Self-Revelation

In Georges Bernanos' novel, Diary of a Country Priest, I learned a lot about humility and self-knowledge. The author tells of a newly ordained priest (who is nameless) who decides to keep a diary for a year. He is a pastor of a poor parish in northern France in the early 20th century. He has high ambitions to serve his parishioners, and plans to visit each family once every three months. His big drawback is that he is sickly and can only digest bread dipped in wine.

On one occasion the priest visits a woman who has been grieving the death of her baby son for 11 years and is unable to love her daughter. He is concerned about the teenage daughter who hates her mother. In his quiet, simple manner, the priest is able to bring the mother to repent and be at peace. He has other encounters with people and shows great understanding of their human weaknesses.

However, he is looked upon as an alcoholic by some and incompetent by others. The priest himself lacks self-confidence and feels he "prays badly."He tries to do his ministry as best he can but eventually finds out he has stomach cancer.

Since he writes all his experiences and feelings in his diary, we see his faithfulness as well as his sense of inadequacy. He does not realize his own holiness and goodness. I agree with the priest's friend who says if  he has a priest when he dies, he hopes it will be this one. There is nothing pretentious about him; he is the way I would picture Christ.

Pope Francis also exemplifies humility and self-knowledge. He too is misunderstood by many people in his world-wide parish. But he continues to lift up the poor and bring down the mighty.