A Parson and His “Tale” (1)
One of the last pilgrims Chaucer described is the country priest, or a Parson. The word “parson” derives from the same root as “person”. Chaucer seems to have preferred this title to “priest” since, in that day, many priests were less than admirable both in their example and their work. Chaucer’s Parson is a real person, a sensitive and diligent human being carrying out a clear calling from the Lord. It is clear that Chaucer greatly admires him, both by the sketch he provides of his character and ministry and by the fact that he left the final “tale” for him.
The Parson is most to be admired for his faithful teaching and diligent care for his flock. Though but a country priest, he was a learned and a devout teacher:
But riche he was of holy thoght and werk.
He was also a lerned man, a clerk [scholar],
That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche;
His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.
The Word of God seems to have been the focal point of his life and his ministry.
Being a country priest could be challenging, especially when, like this Parson, one’s parish is large and scattered far and wide. Adversities of weather, weariness, and work might provide excuses for some to be less than diligent in shepherding such a far-flung flock. But adversity did not hinder this Parson; he showed patience in the face of it. Generous to a fault, the Parson made sure that the offerings of his flock went to the needy in his parish first and to himself last. Though his people lived far from one another, he was faithful in visiting them, especially when any were sick, walking to each home with nothing but a staff in his hand.
In his visits as in his church, the parson taught the Word of God. He was careful to make sure that he first learned the Scripture before he taught his flock:
This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf
That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte.
It was a first principle with him that:
Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive
By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde live.
A shepherd has three tools to use in ministry: prayer, Scripture, and personal example. This Parson seemed to understand this well, for he made sure that the people he served saw in his life the truth of whatever he taught them from God’s Word.
And he was an example of humility, ready teaching, and witness for Christ, both by his words and his life. He loved his flock and defended them against “the wolf”—whatever false teachings may have sought to invade his parish. He took on sinful men without rancor but with firmness and truth, “To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse” and good example. He sought nothing for himself but to shepherd faithfully the flock appointed to his care. Chaucer observed:
He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarye…
Chaucer admired this Parson, for he was unlike many other priests he had known, who were pompous and self-centered, or who hired out their office to others, or lived scandalous lives. He concludes:
A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon is.
He waited after no pompe and reverence,
Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
But Cristes loore, and his apostles twelve,
He taughte, but first he folwed it himselve.
The parson’s tale departs from the pattern of all the previous tales, in that he used his turn to set forth an exposition on the seven deadly sins. We’ll take a closer look in Part 2 of this overview of “A Parson and His ‘Tale.’”
