The Diary of a Country Priest

Ever wonder about what a priest does outside of his visible duties of celebrating Mass and administering the Sacraments? Ever thought about the challenges he faces spiritually and even physically in dealing with the behind-the-scenes challenges of parish life?

The summer novel selection for our One Book, One Diocese program is Georges Bernanos’ The Diary of a Country Priest, a fictional, but rather realistic, story of a zealous young priest in his first parish assignment as a rural pastor. He attempts to overcome a serious health issue, which proves to be not only a formidable cross to carry while trying to perform his parish duties, but also one that ultimately abbreviates his days of priestly service to God and His Church.

The even more significant challenge presented in this novel is the burden of trying to be at once a holy spiritual father, a faithful shepherd, a compassionate counselor, a passionate preacher, an effective teacher, a conscientious administrator and a confident leader—all of which were expectations of the parish priest in France a century ago (the setting for the story) and are also today in our own place and time. This make-believe diary provides insight into how difficult it is for priests to be, as St. Paul wrote, “all things to all people.”

As the Year for Priests has come officially to its end, it behooves all of us to continue to provide spiritual support for the clergy who bear a much heavier burden than most parishioners realize—a theme that is accentuated in The Diary of a Country Priest. Fortunately, our parishes typically are endowed with those who offer many additional forms of support for their parish priests, preserving for them the time, energy and other resources needed to perform their many priestly tasks effectively, and with significantly less stress.

The main character of this novel may not resemble our own parish priests, nor perhaps any whom we actually know. But he struggles through some of the same trials that many parish priests face, albeit in his own way and with the particular graces granted to him by the Lord. While never portrayed as a saint, this parish priest is presented as zealous, dutiful, selfless and Christ-like—qualities we wish to see in every priest.

Whereas biographies on saints, including those who were priests, are quite plentiful, this novel offers a different sort of look at priestly life. Keeping in mind that it is fictional and, as such, is meant to be a literary piece of entertainment, we can derive from it a renewed appreciation for the fact that each priest is called to serve God perhaps more in light of than in spite of his own particular weaknesses, personality quirks and personal failures. As Scripture reminds us, “With God, all things are possible.” And, as the final words in the life of the main character confirmed—for himself as well as for others—“Grace is everywhere…”

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