My dear Parishioners,
Peace! While the “Year for Priests” has ended it is still timely to go over the various In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding Holy Orders. We will then resume with Article Two (2) of the Creed. There are eleven (11) of these passages which will help us to appreciate this sign of grace entrusted to the Church by Christ Himself, the Great High Priest. The following is a reflection on article 1599.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is for the entire Church, not just the Latin Rite. At Holy Ghost the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered with three distinct rituals: the ordinary form and the extraordinary form of Roman Rite and the Byzantine Ruthenian Rite. When treating the celibacy of Priests the Catechism focuses on the Latin West. The practice in the Catholic East allows for both Deacons and Priests to be married, but these marry before ordination.
While clerical celibacy is observed for Priests, is likewise true for Bishops who are taken from the ranks of the Priests. Even in the East where some of the junior clergy (Priests and Deacons) may be married, the Bishops, who have the fullness of Holy Orders, are only taken from among the celibate.
Clerical celibacy is the “normal” practice of the Latin Church. Which is to acknowledge that there are other practices which are not the norm in the Latin West. Under what is called the “pastoral provision” there have been some who have ministered among other Christians before becoming Catholic who have likewise been married. These exceptions do not abolish the norm of clerical celibacy. Pope Paul VI published an encyclical on priestly celibacy in 1967 Sacerdotalis Caelibatus in which he said “Priestly celibacy” is a “brilliant jewel and retains its value undiminished.”
No one has a ‘right’ to be ordained. Likewise, no man is to be forced to be ordained (even as no one should be forced to marry). Similarly, the promise or vow made before ordination is a freely made. Priests who belong to religious congregations, like the Benedictines or Dominicans or Jesuits publicly and freely make a vow of Chastity before they might be ordained. Secular Priests freely make a promise of celibacy before their ordination. Vows and promises both engage the 8th Commandment: How we are all to tell the truth and love the truth (another name for Jesus!).
Two (2) motives are given for the promise (or vow) of celibacy (or chastity): Love of the Kingdom of God (where we are neither given nor taken in Marriage (Luke 20:34)); availability for service of others. The Catechism does not highlight here that Christ is the exemplar for the Priest and His bride is Mother Church. The technical term associated with the ‘love for the Kingdom’ above is “eschatological” because it has to do with life in Heaven which is anticipated in the here and now.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr