Y
- Status
P
Philotheatoo
Guest
I hope they serve up the fatted calf and are grateful he gives his life so many times to Christ.
T
Trishie
Guest
I didn’t know that was possible!
Thanks be to God!
May we hope for more laicized priests to return to ministry of their priesthood?
Thanks be to God!
May we hope for more laicized priests to return to ministry of their priesthood?
F
FightingFat
Guest
Lots to be grateful for in that news story, thanks for posting it!
Y
Yellow_Belle
Guest
I didn’t know either until I saw the item on the Irish TV news last night. According to the news report, this is a first in Ireland but there are more than 11,000 ‘readmitted’ priests world-wide
M
m134e5
Guest
This is nice to know. I would like to know more about his story- what made him want to become a priest in the first place, what made him leave, and what made him decide to come back.
H
Holly3278
Guest
Well, praise God! That is wonderful! :extrahappy:
F
Fitz
Guest
I was attending a parish where a deacon, whose wife died, then went on to become a priest. His children were at his ordination. I think that it is a good thing that the church is open to priests coming back.
H
Holly3278
Guest
That is nice that the deacon chose to become a priest after his wife died.
I would become a nun if I could but my mental disorders prevent me from doing so.
J
JReducation
Guest
A priest is a priest forever. When a man is dispensed or leaves on his own, he remains a priest. His authority and freedom to exercise ministry validly are stripped away, but his power cannot be stripped away, even if he’s excommunicated. The Sacrament of Holy Orders cannot be undone any more than the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation or Marriage. They are permanent.
It is really up to the Holy See to allow priests who have left the priesthood to return to active ministry. If the priest was a religioius, he must first return to his religious community, if the Major Religious Superior approves. Then he must ask permission of the Major Religious Superior to petition the Holy See for his faculties.
For example, a priest who has left the priesthood legally or not, can validly consecrate, but it is illicit. He cannot validly absolve, because you need faculties from either a bishop or a religious superior. Nor can he witness a marriage, because you need the authority of the State. The State does not give this authority to the priest, but to the diocese. The diocese then authorizes the priest of deacon to celebrate a wedding. The Church requires that a priest have civil authority to celebrate marriage, if it is required by civil law.
However, in a case of life and death, a priest who has left, legally or not, may grant absolution and administer the Sacrament of the Sick without faculties. The Church provides in these cases.
These priests who are returning to ministry have been granted faculties by the Holy See. The process is very complex.
If you are a secular priest you must find a bishop who will accept you into his diocese and who will sponsor your request to the Holy See.
If you are a religious, you must be reunited with your relgious community and have the permission of your superior to request faculties.
Some religious superiors will accept a man back into the community, but will deny the permission to seek faculties. The religious cannot perform sacramental duties nor can he appeal over the head of the Major Superior.
It’s not as easy as this article makes it sound. It may take several years to get back in.
Regarding Permanent Deacons who become priests after they are widowed, these are extraordinary cases. The decree on the Permanent Diaconate was very specific that the Order of Deacon was not to be used as a stepping stone to the Order of Presbyter. The request must be approved by the local bishop and the Holy See. It is usually denied, because the tradition in the Church is that a Deacon is such for life. In the Latin Rite we drifted away from the permanent diaconate, but the Eastern Rites preserved it. What we have done is recover an ancient tradition. The Church is not eager to lose it again.
Fraternally,
JR
It is really up to the Holy See to allow priests who have left the priesthood to return to active ministry. If the priest was a religioius, he must first return to his religious community, if the Major Religious Superior approves. Then he must ask permission of the Major Religious Superior to petition the Holy See for his faculties.
For example, a priest who has left the priesthood legally or not, can validly consecrate, but it is illicit. He cannot validly absolve, because you need faculties from either a bishop or a religious superior. Nor can he witness a marriage, because you need the authority of the State. The State does not give this authority to the priest, but to the diocese. The diocese then authorizes the priest of deacon to celebrate a wedding. The Church requires that a priest have civil authority to celebrate marriage, if it is required by civil law.
However, in a case of life and death, a priest who has left, legally or not, may grant absolution and administer the Sacrament of the Sick without faculties. The Church provides in these cases.
These priests who are returning to ministry have been granted faculties by the Holy See. The process is very complex.
If you are a secular priest you must find a bishop who will accept you into his diocese and who will sponsor your request to the Holy See.
If you are a religious, you must be reunited with your relgious community and have the permission of your superior to request faculties.
Some religious superiors will accept a man back into the community, but will deny the permission to seek faculties. The religious cannot perform sacramental duties nor can he appeal over the head of the Major Superior.
It’s not as easy as this article makes it sound. It may take several years to get back in.
Regarding Permanent Deacons who become priests after they are widowed, these are extraordinary cases. The decree on the Permanent Diaconate was very specific that the Order of Deacon was not to be used as a stepping stone to the Order of Presbyter. The request must be approved by the local bishop and the Holy See. It is usually denied, because the tradition in the Church is that a Deacon is such for life. In the Latin Rite we drifted away from the permanent diaconate, but the Eastern Rites preserved it. What we have done is recover an ancient tradition. The Church is not eager to lose it again.
Fraternally,
JR
- Status