Lesson 12- Priesthood, & The Gift of Time

c. Episcopate

(Bishop) i. Pope= a Bishop (of Rome)

b. Presbyterate

(Priest)

i. For ordination of a Bishop:

3 Bishops are needed to ordain 1 bishop (to absolutely ensure the Apostolic Line of Succession is transferred and the ordination is valid for that bishop and all future generations of priests & bishops that he ordains)

c. Minister:

A bishop

Dogma

A central truth of Revelation that Catholics are obliged to believe - does not change

b. Priesthood:

A sacrament of service to an Ordained Priesthood i. Involves a divine call (from God), and the responsibilities of Teaching, Offering the Sacraments, & Governing the Church

a. priesthood:

All Baptized are part of the common priesthood

a. Matter:

Baptized Male & Sacred Chrism Oil i. Must believe God has called him to this vocation of service (& the Church must agree) ii. He must have adequate education & mental health iii. Must be able to make a life-long commitment & live a life of sacrifice & celibacy

c. Can a person claim a right to becoming a priest?

No- it is a divine call given by God alone. He desired to institute it with only males (although Mary would have been the best choice as a woman), and it is not a "job" but a mission/calling.

d. Is becoming a Nun a Sacrament like priesthood?

No- it's a continuation of living out the Sac. Of Baptism.

b. Form:

The Sacrament of Ordination= the mass in which a bishop anoints him, and transfers the powers of the priesthood

ii. Ordination-

a ritual through which a baptized man becomes a deacon, priest, or Bishop

5. Differences with Priests in the East vs. West:

a. Eastern Catholics (and even local Catholics of EASTERN RITES): i. married men can be ordained to the priesthood (So this means there are some MARRIED CATHOLIC PRIESTS)

3. Apostolic Succession:

a. Every Catholic priest has the powers of the priesthood only because they were ordained by a Bishop who was ordained by a Bishop who was ordained by another Bishop in an unbroken chain all the way back to a Bishop who was ordained by an Apostle (one of the 12), who was ordained by Christ at the Last supper. i. Without this succession, we do not have actual priesthood.

1. Easter Rite Bishops

are chosen from among their unmarried priest so ALL Catholic Bishops will be non-married 2. Once ordained, men cannot get married

Episcopal Married Priests

can convert to the Catholic faith and be ordained Catholic Priests while remaining married (and continuing to have normal spousal communion)- Example of Fr. Joshua Whitfield at St. Rita's: (2 min video)

a. Can a priest stop being a priest/leave the priesthood?

i. Once a priest, always a priest. However, he can receive permission (from the Pope) to no longer practice as a priest and therefore be able to get married. However, in an emergency, because he is ALWAYS a priest once ordained, he can still administer the sacraments of Confession/Anointing.

a. Diaconate (Deacon)

i. Traditional: 1st step towards ordination to priesthood ii. Permanent: (May be married before their ordination, and will never become priests) 1. Their role includes assisting the priest in the sacraments (although a deacon can never say mass or hear confession, he can administer baptisms, read the Gospel in Mass & preach the Homily, & lead funerals)

ii. Marriage in Priesthood

is a DISCIPLINE (different than DOCTRINE/DOGMA dealing with TRUTHS of the faith)- meaning the way we practice this "how" can change as long as the matter, form, and minister remain the same as instituted by Christ.

1. Old Testament we see

the Tribe of Levi was set apart for sacrifice & priestly duties (Not anyone could be priests)

The sacrament of holy orders in the Catholic Church includes

three orders: bishop, priest, and deacon.

ii. Easter Orthodox priests, Armenian priests, and some Episcopalian priests also have

valid (Catholic recognized) Apostolic Succession (& therefore also have the same Eucharistic as Catholics- although we must fully acknowledge the faith in which we receive the Eucharist to be able to partake in Communion unless in the case of emergency in some circumstances.)