The Inner Life of Priests - by Gerard J McGlone & Len Sperry (Paperback)

About the Book

The Inner Life of Priests is a landmark exploration of how the categories and practices of psychology are contributing to a new health and vitality in the priesthood. Authors McGlone and Sperry (both nationally-recognized experts on the integration of psychology and spirituality in priestly life), investigate issues and answer questions that concern those invested in the healthy ministry of priests everyone from the people in the pews to those in Church leadership. They include: How has psychology helped us understand both mental and spiritual health of those applying to Catholic seminaries and then serving in priestly ministry? How has it shaped understanding of key issues like affective maturity, cultural competency and even the discipline of celibacy? How has it helped Church leaders better understanding and positively influence clerical culture in seminaries, dioceses, and religious orders? Catholic laity, priests, seminarians, vocation directors, those considering religious and priestly vocations everyone interested in how men serving in this critical ministerial role are identified, formed and supported will welcome this authoritative and positive book.

Book Synopsis

The Inner Life of Priests is a landmark exploration of how the categories and practices of psychology are contributing to a new health and vitality in the priesthood. Authors McGlone and Sperry (both nationally-recognized experts on the integration of psychology and spirituality in priestly life), investigate issues and answer questions that concern those invested in the healthy ministry of priests everyone from the people in the pews to those in Church leadership. They include: How has psychology helped us understand both mental and spiritual health of those applying to Catholic seminaries and then serving in priestly ministry? How has it shaped understanding of key issues like affective maturity, cultural competency and even the discipline of celibacy? How has it helped Church leaders better understanding and positively influence clerical culture in seminaries, dioceses, and religious orders?

Catholic laity, priests, seminarians, vocation directors, those considering religious and priestly vocations everyone interested in how men serving in this critical ministerial role are identified, formed and supported will welcome this authoritative and positive book.

Review Quotes

This book is the necessary conversation by psychologists and those in seminary formation. It will be a great resource for seminary admission committees, vocation directors, and bishops as it provides a contemporary portrait of priestly life from the perspective of psychological and sociological research that is grounded in the theological anthropology of the Roman Catholic tradition.Rev. Mark A. Latcovich, PhD, vice-rector and academic dean, Saint Mary Seminary & Graduate School of Theology

Few times have I read a book that both impressed and encouraged me. This book by Fr McGlone and Dr. Sperry was impressive in its use of research and hopeful in providing us with solutions to our problems. The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, DD, JCL, bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania

McGlone and Sperry are both clinical professionals with many years of experience in priestly formation. Their book explores the ways that good clinical practice and good formation work together to produce and support happy, healthy, holy priests. Every formation director, seminary rector, vocation director, and vicar for clergy should have The Inner Life of Priests on his reference shelf.Mary L. Gautier, PhD, senior research associate, Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), Georgetown University

This study on the inner life of priests marries richly researched knowledge with encouraging yet hard-won insights about how priesthood in the Roman Catholic communion of faith might be lived healthfully and integrally in the increasingly multicultural reality of North American life. The text contributes immensely to essential information for all those seeking to foster and develop vocations to the priesthood in wholesome ways.Rev. John Pavlik, OFM Cap, executive director, Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM)

With honesty, insight and respect, this book offers a long, loving look at the priesthood of Jesus Christ. This is a must read for those engaged in formation and anyone engaged in work within the life of the Catholic Church.Rev. Thomas M. Dragga, DMin, president-rector, Borromeo, Seminary, Cleveland

This volume brings theological, multicultural, psychological and psychospiritual insights to bear on the multifaceted and intriguing question, What does it take to become and remain a happy, healthy, and holy priest? Probing the inner life of the priest in search of those dimensions of 'affective maturity '--the sine qua non of priestly ministry today--McGlone and Sperry offer no facile, one size-fits-all, cookie-cutter answers. I encourage seminarians, priests, and all who are entrusted with seminary formation and the ongoing formation of priests to take to heart the wisdom found in these pages.The Most Reverend Gerald R. Barnes, bishop of San Bernardino, California

Father McGlone, SJ, Len Sperry, and others address the inner life of the priest in a very insightful and helpful way. They use spirituality and psychology in a way that enables the priest to come to a deeper understanding of himself and his vocation.The Most Reverend Gregory Aymond, archbishop of New Orleans