Discussion questions for Habits of a Priestly Heart by Fr. Eugene Hemrick (World Library Publications)
1. How do we "keep our purpose updated" in our job/family life? How do we envision our life's mission now in comparison to the way we conceived of it in the past? Have we given any thought to what it might be in the future?
2. How do resentment and careerism affect the lives of the laity? What are some of the most common resentments we have experienced? Careerism can be a force for both good and bad. When is it bad? What are some of the main causes for this? What does good careerism look like?
3. Did we ever have a contemplative moment in which we were "all there/totally focused/completely composed"? How did it come about? Where did it happen? What were the circumstances? How did this affect us?
4. Aside from what is required for our job, is ongoing study an integral part of our life? How do we keep our education up-to-date? What books/lectures/TV documentaries/cultural events, etc. do we consciously seek out to increase our learning and wisdom? If this is not happening, do we ever feel an urge to be more studious?
5. Modern culture has us obsessed with health and wellness. What habits have we developed to keep ourselves healthy? How much are exercise, diet, and other medicinal practices aimed at increasing our health practices? When practiced, how do they affect our energy level, spirit, and relationships with others? If not practiced well, or at all, do we feel an immediacy to rectify this? What would be the first step we would take to accomplish this?
6. In Habits of a Priestly Heart, increasing our interest level in one another is paramount for priests, both American born and foreign born, religious brothers and sisters, deacons and the laity working together in unison. What forms might interest take, e.g. listening more attentively/studying the cultures of people who come from cultures other than ours/traveling to their countries/making an effort to encourage or promote others? What is the biggest culprit in disinterestedness?
