The Parish Priest (Excerpt from The Canterbury Tales)

By Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 - 1400)

As demonstrated in his best known work, “The Canterbury Tales,” Chaucer had no issue mocking clergymen. He is one of history’s great satirists, exaggerating both the faults and merits of a group of people to paint as vivid a picture as possible. But this poem is not that. An excerpt from the prologue of “The Canterbury Tales” this is a simple poem meant to praise a simple man.

A good man was there of religion,
He was a poor COUNTRY PARSON,
But rich he was in holy thought and work.
He was a learned man also, a clerk,
Who Christ's own gospel truly sought to preach;
Devoutly his parishioners would he teach.
Gracious he was and wondrously diligent,
Patient in adversity and well content,
Many times thus proven had he
He excommunicated not to force a fee,
But rather would he give, there is no doubt,
Unto his poor parishioners about,
Some of his income, even of his property.
He could in little find sufficiency.
Wide was his parish, houses far asunder,
But never did he fail, for rain or thunder,
In sickness, or in sin, or any state,
To visit the farthest, regardless their financial state,
Going by foot, and in his hand, a stave.
This fine example to his flock he gave,
That first he wrought and afterwards he taught;
Out of the gospel then that text he caught,
And this metaphor he added thereunto -
That, if gold would rust, what shall iron do?
For if the priest be foul, in whom we trust,
No wonder that a layman thinks of lust?
And shame it is, if priest take thought for keep,
A shitty shepherd, looking after clean sheep.
A trully good example a priest should give,
Is his own chastity, how his flock should live.
He never let his benefice for hire,
And leave his sheep encumbered in the mire,
And ran to London, up to old Saint Paul's
To get himself a chantry there for souls,
Nor in some fraternity did he withhold;
But dwelt at home and kept so well the fold
That never wolf could make his plans miscarry;
He was a shepherd and not mercenary.
And holy though he was, and virtuous,
To sinners he was not impiteous,
Nor haughty in his speech, nor too divine,
But in all teaching courteous and benign.
To lead folk into Heaven by means of gentleness
By good example was his business.
But if some sinful one proved obstinate,
Whoever, of high or low financial state,
He put to sharp rebuke, to say the least.
I think there never was a better priest.
He had no thirst for pomp or ceremony,
Nor spiced his conscience and morality,
But Christ's own law, and His apostles' twelve
He taught, but first he followed it himselve.

It’s a long poem, so I will be brief. I am driving to Texas this weekend for the ordination of a dear friend, and so I wanted to highlight this poem. It’s literal, there isn’t an abundance of metaphor, rather it tells you exactly what a good priest ought to be. Clean. Kind. Hardworking. With his flock. Poor. Learned. Humble. Leading by example.

All I have to say is that my dear friend, I have faith that you will be all these things and more. Congratulations, I am so happy for you.