A Crazy Thought: Married Priests, Indelible Marks, and One Flesh

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Randy_Carson

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Okay, I know going in this is crazy. I’m posting just to see if someone has an answer. I don’t.

Like Baptism, ordination makes an indelible mark on the character of the man who is ordained. As such, it cannot be removed or reversed.

Now, when a man marries, he becomes one flesh with his wife.

drum roll…

How is it then that her character is not also marked indelibly by that ordination since her flesh is one with his?

And before anyone answers too quickly, remember that Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 7:14
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

Somehow, the unbelieving spouse appears to be saved by being one with the believer.

Why is this not true of ordination? 🤷
 
Ok, this is going to sound irreverent, but…
because the Bishop didn’t “lay hands” on the spouse.

:eek:

Sorry, Couldn’t resist. 😃
 
Are you leaving something out-- when/where is this married man an ordained priest? Or where/how is this priest getting married? I read it a bunch of times and I’m plainly missing something.
 
Sandraaustin said:
Are you leaving something out-- when/where is this married man an ordained priest? Or where/how is this priest getting married? I read it a bunch of times and I’m plainly missing something.
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Or are you referring to deacons?
 
Sandraaustin said:
Are you leaving something out-- when/where is this married man an ordained priest? Or where/how is this priest getting married? I read it a bunch of times and I’m plainly missing something.
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Whoa…this is hypothetical.

There are rites within the Catholic Church that allow married men to become priests, but I don’t think someone who is a priest first can get married later.

And we also ordain the occasional Anglican priest who is also married. Fr. Longenecker of Internet blog fame is one of those.
 
Randy_Carson said:
Like Baptism, ordination makes an indelible mark on the character of the man who is ordained. As such, it cannot be removed or reversed.

Now, when a man marries, he becomes one flesh with his wife.

drum roll…

How is it then that her character is not also marked indelibly by that ordination since her flesh is one with his?
Click to expand...
I believe you are mistaken, or at least using language too loosely.

Ordination does not make an indelible mark on the character of the man, rather it confers an indelible spiritual character (and leading to your more specific question, keep in mind the key word, spiritual.
1582 As in the case of Baptism and Confirmation this share in Christ’s office is granted once for all. the sacrament of Holy Orders, like the other two, confers an indelible spiritual character and cannot be repeated or conferred temporarily.
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and just to confirm how this sacrament is “like” the other two, the catechism previously states:
1272 Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.
Click to expand...
1304 Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the “character,” which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.
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Finally, why is this mark or character not transmitted to a man’s spouse by virtue of their becoming one flesh? Because it is a spiritual mark, not a fleshly one.

tee
 
Randy_Carson said:
And you think we have a problem now with pedophile priests…

😉
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Well, since in the disciplines where priests can marry, they must be married FIRST, before ordination…🤷
Just as priests can’t make us able to confect Eucharist by simply being close to us, or related to us, they shouldn’t be able to impart their ordination to others. The indelible mark is on their souls, no? None of us shares a soul…:hmmm: Not even twins who share DNA…
 
tee_eff_em said:
I believe you are mistaken, or at least using language too loosely.

Ordination does not make an indelible mark on the character of the man, rather it confers an indelible spiritual character (and leading to your more specific question, keep in mind the key word, spiritual.

and just to confirm how this sacrament is “like” the other two, the catechism previously states:

Finally, why is this mark or character not transmitted to a man’s spouse by virtue of their becoming one flesh? Because it is a spiritual mark, not a fleshly one.

tee
Click to expand...
1272 Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.

1304 Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the “character,” which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.

1582 As in the case of Baptism and Confirmation this share in Christ’s office is granted once for all. The sacrament of Holy Orders, like the other two, confers an indelible spiritual character and cannot be repeated or conferred temporarily.

I think we have a winner. :clapping:

Gee, this thread could have gone on for days. 😦

Kidding. Thanks for a great answer.
 
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