The Weight of Priesthood

Sed ex consideratione hujus ordinis mentem meam, fateor, transverberat vis doloris. Grave namque est pondus sacerdotii; prius quippe est sacerdoti necesse, ut caeteris ad exemplum vivat, ac deinde servandum et mentem per ostensa exempla non elevet. De praedicationis semper ministerio cogitet, intentissimo timore considerans quod recessurus ad percipiendum regnum Dominus, et talenta servis tribuens dicat: Negotiamini dum venio. Quod profecto negotium tunc vere nos agimus, si vivendo et loquendo proximorum animas lucramur, si infirmos quosque, coelestis regni gaudia praedicando, in superno amore roboramus, si protervos ac tumidos, gehennae supplica terribiliter insonando, flectimus, si nulla contra veritatem parcimus, si supernis amicitiis dediti, humanas inimicitias non timemus. Quod nimirum exhibens, quasi quoddam se sacrificium obtulisse Deo Psalmista noverat, cum dicebat: Nonne qui oderant te, Deus, oderam illas, et superinimicos tuos tabescebam? Perfecto odio oderam illos, et inimici facti sunt mihi. Sed ad hoc ego pondus meae infirmitatis expavesco, et quod, accepto regno, paterfamilias redeat rationem nobiscum positurus, aspicio. Sed quacum mente sustinueo, cui de suscepto negotio animarum lucrum aut nullum, aut pene nullum reperto? Tua ergo me oratione, frate charissime, adjuva, et quae de me formidare me conspicis, in temetipso quotidie timore providae sollicitudinis pensa. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, Registrum Epistolarum, Lib II, Ep XLVII, Ad Dominicum Episcopum

But by the consideration of our order my mind, I confess, is stuck by the force of sorrow. For heavy is the weight of priesthood; since it is necessary for a priest to live as an example to others, and then to guard his soul that by his example it not be puffed up. He should always be thinking on the ministry of preaching, considering with intense fear how the Lord, when about to leave to receive a kingdom, and giving talents to His servants, says, 'Do business until I come.'1 Which business we truly perform if by living and speaking we profit the souls of our neighbours, if in preaching the joys of the heavenly kingdom we strengthen those weak in divine love, if in terrible declamations of the punishments of hell we prevail upon the insolent and the proud; if we spare no one against truth; if, given to heavenly friendships, we do not fear human hostility. Indeed it was in showing himself so that the Psalmist knew that he had offered a kind of sacrifice to God, when he said, 'Those who hated you, O God, did I not hate, and was I not appalled by your enemies? With a perfect hated I hated them and they became enemies to me.'2 But because of this burden I tremble for my infirmity, and with looking toward the return of the Master who, having received his kingdom, comes to take account of us. But with what mind shall I bear His coming, if from the business I have taken up I yield Him no profit of souls, or almost none? Therefore, dearest brother, help me with prayer; and what you see me to fear for myself, for yourself ponder daily with provident anxiety. Saint Gregory the Great, Registry of Letters, Book II, Letter 47, To the Bishop Dominicus 1 Lk 19.13  2 Ps 138. 21-22