June 16th
Post date: Jun 16, 2019 9:22:39 PM
June 16, 2019 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray
Two weeks ago, I recommended you read the ‘Dear Padre’ article in
our bulletin, titled “Why is celibacy mandatory for Catholic Priests?
“I want to give you a little more background:
Mandatory celibacy for priests is a discipline, Not a doctrine of the Latin
Rite of the Catholic Church. (The Eastern Rites of the Church
have always permitted ordaining married men to the priesthood).
Since the year 325, Bishops could not be married men, so they are usually chosen from monasteries where all men are celibate and live in community.
In the Latin Rite, mandatory celibacy before being ordained was not
universally in practice throughout Europe until the 11th century. From then
on, Latin or Western Rite Bishops were told Not to ordain married men.
Since the Catholic Church’s reform at the Council of Trent in the 1500s,
seminary training was strictly required which included
intellectual and spiritual preparation for priesthood for living a chaste and celibate priestly life.
Seminarians who could not live this way were required to leave seminary.
Priests can also request dispensation from their vow of celibacy.
Many of these laicized priests are active Catholics in good standing.
Since the 2nd Vatican Council, married men have been invited to be trained
and ordained as permanent deacons. In the first 500 years of the Church
there were more ordained deacons than priests. There are about 20,000
ordained deacons. (Unfortunately, 19,000 were ordained for the U.S.;
while third world countries need them the most.)
St. Stephen, (the first martyr), St. Philip and St. Lawrence were permanent deacons. St. Francis of Assisi was a celibate deacon. Most of you know the late Deacon John Stenbeck (a married deacon).
In the last 50 years, many Protestant ministers have become Catholics.
About 200 of them in the U.S. and Europe have asked and been ordained
Catholic priests. Most are married.
The author of the Dear Padre article said, “Jesus himself, unmarried, is the basis for priestly celibacy.”
Does that mean married people are not imitating Jesus fully?
I do not think that is true!!
Rather, celibacy is a way a man (or woman) can be a sign of dedicating
one’s life to God and serving the people of God. It is also a sign
for everyone’s future life in heaven where there is no marriage.
It can be a help to serve the Church’s ministry free of other responsibilities.
St. Paul suggested but did not require that people in Christian ministry
or missionary work not marry so they would not have
the responsibility of caring for a wife and children.
Priesthood is not to be bachelorhood (Pope Francis). It is to be Spiritual Fatherhood.
Thank you all for inspiring me to be a Spiritual Father to you. As St.
Augustine said: ‘I am a Catholic Christian with you; and a Priest for you.’
Up until the 1900’s every parish especially in Europe had farmland.
That land provided revenue to support the parish and the priest.
Collections were minimal. The Church did not want that farmland to be
divided up and given to the widow and children of a deceased priest.
That makes sense doesn’t it?!
But since the 1900’s collections have become the normal way in America
to support the parish, school and priest. The priest is now paid a decent salary and he has no right to the parish’s land. The same is true of Protestant pastors.
VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND Consecrated Religious life of
sisters and monks come from devout Catholic families and parishioners
who encourage them. Unfortunately, many Catholics think
the life of a priest or Religious Sister is lonely or sad and boring.
At times everyone’s life has touches of that.
But surveys show that priests and Sisters are very happy! I know I am.
So, pray and encourage people to ask God what He wants for them.
It’s up to each of us if we want good and holy priests and Sisters. Amen!