Priests with Doctorates

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

BayCityRickL:

Good for you to pursue the priesthood and a degree in archeology. I see nothing incompatible,quite the contrary. I think they would compliment each other, as the disciplines intersect in sacred scripture.

I agree with what Rick is saying here but I have had another thought on this matter.

If you checked out the link in my signature you will see that I have recently been accepted into formation for the religious life with the hope that at the end of the formation, God willing, I will be a priest.

There is the possibility that these two things, the priesthood and doctoral eductation, might be two separate paths. It could end up being one or the other, not both. It could be that you truely do have a calling to the priesthood and this other thing is part of the opposite. Something that could draw you away.

Also, if you look to monastic life you must realize that ordination to the priesthood is not always possible. Not every benedictine monk is a priest. So you must also feel called to the religious life.

As in all cases of vocational interest I must strongly suggest that you get a good spiritual director.

As you say you are already discerning a monastic vocation I am sure you have tought of all this but I just thought I would bring it up.

It took me a couple of years to work through my discernment.

 

[mcliffor]

Any ideas on how to find a good vocational director?
I need a director who isn’t intimidated by my preference for the latin mass but who won’t funnel me in the FSSP at the same time. That’s why I’ve been hesitant to contact the diocese director.

I would prefer to be in an orthodox community where I could pray this mass all the time, but I want to make it clear that this really isn’t the most important thing in my vocation.

 

[SnorterLuster]

mcliffor:

Any ideas on how to find a good vocational director?
I need a director who isn’t intimidated by my preference for the latin mass but who won’t funnel me in the FSSP at the same time. That’s why I’ve been hesitant to contact the diocese director.

I would prefer to be in an orthodox community where I could pray this mass all the time, but I want to make it clear that this really isn’t the most important thing in my vocation.

Clear Creek is probably not what you are looking for. You might contact them though and they could steer you to a Benedictine community that fits your needs.

clearcreekmonks.org/about.html

 

[Deacon_Ed]

AltarMan:

Fr. John Trigilo Jr. PhD, ThD said there is no such thing as a “bi-ritual” deacon. That any deacon could serve within any Catholic church/rite with the permission of the cognizant bishops. This would be different than a truly b-ritual priest or bishop.

So why you may serve the Church as a deacon in more than one Church/rite, I think it’s quite confusing to suggest that you are “bi-ritual” when compared to a priest or bishop.

You’re more a Latin Rite deacon with permission to serve in one of the Eastern Catholic churches…

I’m sorry, but I have to disagree with Fr. John. While it is absolutely true that a deacon can serve in the East or the West, to vest as an Eastern deacon requires faculties from the East. Now, it is also true that for a deacon to become bi-ritual is much easer than for a priest. In a deacon’s case it simply requires the permission of the two bishops involved.

I serve the Melkite Church with the permission of my Latin Rite bishop and the permission of the Eparch of Newton (permission was originally granted by Bishop John Elya, and was continued by Archbishop Cyrile Selim Bustros, the current Eparch).

What Fr. John is referring to, I believe, is that fact that I did not need to go to Rome to get permission to serve as a bi-ritual deacon.

According to canon law, however, if I had not done that such service could not be on a regular basis, and I must always wear the vestments of my “home” Church.

I have an official assignment to Holy Cross Melkite Church as the “Pastoral Assistant” and that requires bi-ritual faculties.

Deacon Ed

 

[mcliffor]

SnorterLuster:

Clear Creek is probably not what you are looking for.

Thanks for the site. I have actually been looking at Fontgombault ever since I heard about the conference Cardinal Ratzinger attended there a few years ago. Just out of curiosity, why did you think Clear Creek wasn’t what I was looking for?

 

[SnorterLuster]

mcliffor:

Thanks for the site. I have actually been looking at Fontgombault ever since I heard about the conference Cardinal Ratzinger attended there a few years ago. Just out of curiosity, why did you think Clear Creek wasn’t what I was looking for?

My impression of Clear Creek is that the monks are dedicated to physical labor in order to keep their mind clear for prayer. I may be wrong (and often am), but I get the impression that intellectual pursuits are not encouraged. Since you are interested in pursuing your education to higher level, I figured that a monastery attached to a university would suit your desire for research in the future.