What to read after Pastoral Theology?

“Wealth without work

Pleasure without conscience

Science without humanity

Knowledge without character

Politics without principle

Commerce without morality

Worship without sacrifice.

https://vidjambov.blogspot.com/2023/01/book-inventory-vladimir-djambov-talmach.html

Pastoral theology has no special content that would not be included in other subjects that make up the program of theological education. The subject of his attention is the shepherd . Two main questions arise as far as preparation for the pastoral office is concerned. First, what should a shepherd be like? Second, this is what he should knowto worthily bear his dignity? Of course, it is impossible to strictly separate these two topics, but they quite clearly define the twofold approach of the teacher of pastoral theology to the whole variety of material to be used by him. On the one hand, everything useful is selected that can serve the task of forming an “ideal shepherd”. On the other hand, everything that the shepherd needs to know for his practical activity is extracted. So naturally the course is divided into two parts. We have been given two years to complete it. So we will dedicate the first to getting a clear idea of ​​what a shepherd should be, leaving for the second year a more detailed explanation of everything that he needs to know so that, responding to his high appointment, worthily fulfill all his diverse duties.

Turning to the subject that will occupy us during the first year, let us beware of straying into abstract doctrinairism, which easily turns into reasoning. Let us seek the most unpretentious simplicity. The devout simplicity of churchly sustained thought of God is the true attitude of a true pastor. It is perfectly conveyed by the words of the priestly prayer before reading the Gospel at the liturgy: “ Let us correct all carnal lusts, let us go through spiritual life, all to pleasing and wise and active.”The shepherd should be afraid of being carried away by impressions, experiences, “emotions”, by which they determine his pastoral appearance. So he can turn into a "dilettante" of his business. Even worse, if he himself tries, on the shaky basis of such experiences, to create a "school" for himself, turning from an amateur into an "artist" of his business. This is the "broad way" that can bring human glory, but not merit before God. The true shepherd, on the contrary, subjects the spiritual atmosphere surrounding him to vigilant sober control, all the sources of its nourishment, all its manifestations, in this very plan creating a “school” for himself and very cautiously, cautiously treating every manifestation in his holy work. "improvisation".

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The Apostle Paul teaches in the Epistle to Timothy: “It is worthy that elders who lead should be given double honor…” (1 Tim. 5:17). Blessings are taken from bishops and priests. Priests have the right to bless deacons and laity, while bishops have the right to bless priests. Priests are called "fathers" because they show God's Fatherhood to the world, they are conductors of love for the world of the Heavenly Father, Who sent His Son and the Holy Spirit to earth to save people. Respecting the priests “... people respect first of all the grace of God and - themselves, resorting to this source of grace. The unforgivable mistake of a shepherd is to attribute this respect of people to himself and nourish his self-esteem with this respect. Just as the Lord performs the Sacraments through a priest, so He also receives through Him the honor bestowed upon the holy dignity. The task of the priest is to pass it on to the Lord, and not to appropriate it for himself and thereby not bring condemnation upon himself. Any disrespect must be attributed to oneself as a reminder of one's unworthiness, and any respect to the Lord, as a reminder that He also acts through unworthy priests.