The chaplain is primarily a clergyman, that is, a person vested with the dignity. And if he feels the calling "in the world", then the priest has the opportunity to combine these paths.
Who are the chaplains?
Legend has it that Saint Martin of Tours, in severe frosts, suffering from the cold himself, gave half of his vestments to begging alms so that he would not freeze, and thereby save his life. At night, the bishop had a vision that with his clothes he warmed Jesus Christ in the guise of a beggar. Since then, part of his vestments has become one of the Christian shrines, especially revered by the kings of France. They took her on campaigns, erecting a special camp church (lat. Capella) for worship on the road. The priest, who was at the chapel, over time began to be called chaplain.
What did the chaplain do in the Roman Catholic church?
In past centuries, the duties of a clergyman of this rank were quite extensive. Initially, the chaplain is a priest accompanying the army of the French king on a campaign. Over time, this term began to be used much more widely. So began to call all the people of the dignity who did not live in the monastery, but were engaged in some kind of secular activity. As a rule, it was associated with the teaching and duties of personal secretaries of noble and wealthy citizens. In medieval Europe, one of the functions of the Roman Catholic Church was control over the dissemination and preservation of knowledge. All sciences, exact and humanitarian, developed only in monasteries, and people received education at several universities, in which lectures were given by monks. Gradually, the concept of “chaplain” in the Roman Catholic Church united all the clergy at the house chapels of the aristocracy, since they, in addition to worship, taught children to read and write, and often also treated patients on the estate.
Army chaplains
Currently, close attention is drawn to the position of chaplain in the army. Initially, the chaplain of the army was called a chaplain. Then the concept became wider, but it was there that chaplains were always in demand. The soldiers are people with weapons in their hands, and they need a spiritual shepherd who will resolve doubts in difficult times. A priest in the army never takes up arms, does not participate in battles. Also, he in no way gives blessings to war. The chaplain is a shepherd and his mission is to prevent a person from forgetting compassion, morality and conscience in a difficult situation. He helps believing the wounded to reconcile with God, and also performs services for dead soldiers.
Other ways of serving chaplains
Not all priests with worldly duties serve in the army. The chaplain is a priest at the hospital, a teacher at the parish school, and a Christian psychologist at the university. In any field of activity related to helping people, their work is in demand. Nowadays, religion in most countries is separated from the state, citizens have freedom of religion, including a ban on atheism. This means that the state does not contain official posts of clergy. But a person can feel the need for God at any time in his life. And the chaplain is an opportunity to approach it for those who cannot visit the temple for various reasons. For example, in prisons, prisoners do not have a parish, but in many prisons there are chapels where you can come to confession. Chaplains also support various volunteer movements in various forms. This can be a seminar or lectures for its participants, escorting them to the dangerous service associated with the risk to life. Typically, a chaplain is the official representative of the Christian church, and his presence also expresses support for any undertaking. This raises the authority of the organization, attracts the attention of believers to its problems. Often they take the burden of talking between opponents in local conflicts.
The chaplain is a priest who understands the worldly needs of man. His goal in any situation is to single out the main thing - the moral aspect of the problem that a person who is not always close to religion is trying to solve. And regardless of religion, never refuse to help. For example, an army chaplain - an Orthodox priest - will always listen and help a Muslim and an atheist to understand the problem that arises if he seeks advice and support.