Why must men be older now than they were in the past to be ordained priests?

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lak611

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I have noticed that nowadays the youngest age for a new priest is 25. However, Pope Pius XI was 22 when he was ordained; and Pope Pius XII was 23 when he was ordained. Why are there no men younger than 25 ordained to the priesthood any more? When was the age for ordination increased to 25?
 
I’m guessing it’s to do with the fact that the legal age for leaving school (hence entering seminary) is now a couple of years older than it would’ve been in the days of these Holy Fathers.

Add to that the fact that most high schools, even Catholic schools, don’t routinely give kids the sort of headstart in Latin and Greek, philosophy and theology, or even the level of basic religious ed that they did in the time of the Piuses, and you have your explanation.
 
LilyM said:
I’m guessing it’s to do with the fact that the legal age for leaving school (hence entering seminary) is now a couple of years older than it would’ve been in the days of these Holy Fathers.

Add to that the fact that most high schools, even Catholic schools, don’t routinely give kids the sort of headstart in Latin and Greek, philosophy and theology, or even the level of basic religious ed that they did in the time of the Piuses, and you have your explanation.
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Perhaps the age requirement is different in Europe than in the US. I checked a little more online and found that John Paul I was 23 when he was ordained to the priesthood, and Benedict XVI was 24. I know that you are from Australia. How old must a man be in order to be ordained a priest in Australia?
 
lak611 said:
Perhaps the age requirement is different in Europe than in the US. I checked a little more online and found that John Paul I was 23 when he was ordained to the priesthood, and Benedict XVI was 24. I know that you are from Australia. How old must a man be in order to be ordained a priest in Australia?
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Not sure - but again, JP2 was ordained during WWII and B16 in 1951 - so formal schooling again would have ended a few years earlier than it does today.
 
LilyM said:
Not sure - but again, JP2 was ordained during WWII and B16 in 1951 - so formal schooling again would have ended a few years earlier than it does today.
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John Paul II was 26 when he was ordained, but he had to go to an underground seminary due to WW2. John Paul I was 23 when he was ordained.

At what age is formal schooling completed in Australia nowadays? If I am not mistaken, many countries still end formal schooling at a younger age than the USA does. Here in the USA, schooling is compulsory until 18, unless one completes the 12th grade at a younger age.
 
lak611 said:
Perhaps the age requirement is different in Europe than in the US. I checked a little more online and found that John Paul I was 23 when he was ordained to the priesthood, and Benedict XVI was 24. I know that you are from Australia. How old must a man be in order to be ordained a priest in Australia?
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Cardinal Bernardin, I believe, was ordained at 23. I suspect that the “later” age probably is mostly related to seminaries following more of a system which relates the U.S. university degree route.
 
In the USA we have the Program for Priestly Formation, 5th Edition, which lays out the guidelines for all that are to be educated and ordained to the priesthood in the States.

The requirements are that the man to be ordained have a Masters of Divinity. This is a four year professional Masters degree.

So for a man to be ordained he must have a Bachelors degree, which is 4 years after High School, and then the MDiv, another 4 years. So that would make the man 26.
 
ByzCath said:
In the USA we have the Program for Priestly Formation, 5th Edition, which lays out the guidelines for all that are to be educated and ordained to the priesthood in the States.

The requirements are that the man to be ordained have a Masters of Divinity. This is a four year professional Masters degree.

So for a man to be ordained he must have a Bachelors degree, which is 4 years after High School, and then the MDiv, another 4 years. So that would make the man 26.
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What are the ages for graduation from secondary school in Europe, Australia and Canada? AFAIK, some countries have graduation at age 16. I used to work with a woman from Jamaica. She said that A levels were completed at 16, not 18.
 
Ditto to the answers. Plus, the existence of minor seminaries, which have since mostly dissapeared.
 
Also, it should be noted: the age of ordination for Levitical priests was 30. If I understand correctly, this is earlest age in the ancient canons of the Church when a man can be ordained to the priesthood.
 
lak611 said:
What are minor seminaries?
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(Why am I always the one to answer this sort of question? Oh, yeah, that’s right - because I attended one. lol.)

A “minor seminary” is distinct from the “major seminary” where one engages in more advanced philosophical and, particularly, theological studies. Typically, they are considered “preparatory” seminaries which enable a young man or boy to engage in personal and spiritual formation appropriate to his age and experience that will prepare him for eventual enrollment into the major seminary program.

A “minor seminary” can take a few forms.

In Chicago, for instance, we have ethnic houses of formation for Spanish speaking and Polish speaking men (as well as a couple of other groups) where they can better inculturate and learn English well enough to succeed in future studies, while going through human/spiritual formation. These preparatory institutions which are part of the seminary system are essentially “minor” seminaries.

Sometimes today college level seminaries are even considered minor seminaries, though actually they are typically institutions more akin to the philosophical study that often used to take place (and still does in some institutions) at the major seminary.

More typically (and historically), however, “minor seminary” refers to a high school level instituion which educates and forms boys in preparation towards the priesthood and what will be required of them at the more advanced levels of seminary schooling.

Quigley Preparatory Seminary (“Le Petit Seminaire” as it was lovingly known), in Chicago, was one example of such an institution - which lasted over 100 years; until just a month ago. As the carving in stone above the entrance arch still reads: “Built for the Glory of God and for the education of youths for the priesthood.”

Nowadays, however, such minor seminaries are, sadly, few and far between - despite the Church’s encourangement and endorsement of their importance and necessity. Today, what was the nation’s largest and most notable no longer even exists.

quigley.org

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop_Quigley_Preparatory_Seminary
 
It appears that “nowadays” people mature more slowly than in earlier times. Men who enter the seminary at younger ages nowadays apparently have a much higher drop out rate than men who are a little older.
 
Al_Masetti said:
It appears that “nowadays” people mature more slowly than in earlier times. Men who enter the seminary at younger ages nowadays apparently have a much higher drop out rate than men who are a little older.
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That is debateable. Part of the matter, of course, is what would be considered “dropping out”. Seminary discernment is a process and there is an expected attrition, at any age and level.

Also, as one young seminarian notably expressed, a recent entrant to major seminary may have only begun his journey of discernment and formation, whereas someone who has been at it from a younger age is actually in some ways more mature in his vocation, having had several years to work out such struggles - despite the fact the he is, technically, “behind” the former candidate in academic level of seminary studies.

Further, it is notable, that the rates of attrition are in many ways not very different than in previous eras. It is more the case that there just aren’t as many candidates entering, overall, which therefore expresses itself in a smaller number of eventual ordination statistics.

In short, while there is certainly some real truth to what you note about men maturing later and only then beginning to explore a vocation, I would also caution you not to believe the spin which has been put out there to detract from fostering vocations in youth, where they historically have seen seeds positively planted. Never forget that the apostle “Who Jesus loved” was the youngest man!
 
chicago said:
(Why am I always the one to answer this sort of question? Oh, yeah, that’s right - because I attended one. lol.)

A “minor seminary” is distinct from the “major seminary” where one engages in more advanced philosophical and, particularly, theological studies. Typically, they are considered “preparatory” seminaries which enable a young man or boy to engage in personal and spiritual formation appropriate to his age and experience that will prepare him for eventual enrollment into the major seminary program.

A “minor seminary” can take a few forms.

In Chicago, for instance, we have ethnic houses of formation for Spanish speaking and Polish speaking men (as well as a couple of other groups) where they can better inculturate and learn English well enough to succeed in future studies, while going through human/spiritual formation. These preparatory institutions which are part of the seminary system are essentially “minor” seminaries.

Sometimes today college level seminaries are even considered minor seminaries, though actually they are typically institutions more akin to the philosophical study that often used to take place (and still does in some institutions) at the major seminary.

More typically (and historically), however, “minor seminary” refers to a high school level instituion which educates and forms boys in preparation towards the priesthood and what will be required of them at the more advanced levels of seminary schooling.

Quigley Preparatory Seminary (“Le Petit Seminaire” as it was lovingly known), in Chicago, was one example of such an institution - which lasted over 100 years; until just a month ago. As the carving in stone above the entrance arch still reads: “Built for the Glory of God and for the education of youths for the priesthood.”

Nowadays, however, such minor seminaries are, sadly, few and far between - despite the Church’s encourangement and endorsement of their importance and necessity. Today, what was the nation’s largest and most notable no longer even exists.

quigley.org

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop_Quigley_Preparatory_Seminary
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Thanks! 🙂 I never heard the term “minor seminary,” but I have heard of high school seminaries. I am sorry to read that yours has closed. I hope you were able to graduate before the closure. If you are still in high school, I hope that you will find another school that will help you in preparation for whatever vocation to which God is calling you, whether priesthood, diaconate, marriage, religious life, or single. :blessyou:
 
The canonical minimum age for ordination is 25 and has always been so, I believe (or at least for a long time).

The local ordinary may dispense with that law and allow a person aged 24 to be ordained.

For someone younger than 24, the Holy See reserves to itself that dispensation.

Ergo, presumably, the Holy Fathers received such a dispensation.
 
Titus said:
The canonical minimum age for ordination is 25 and has always been so, I believe (or at least for a long time).

The local ordinary may dispense with that law and allow a person aged 24 to be ordained.

For someone younger than 24, the Holy See reserves to itself that dispensation.

Ergo, presumably, the Holy Fathers received such a dispensation.
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Is there any Church document that states this?
 
lak611 said:
Is there any Church document that states this?
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Yea, the Code of Canon Law:
Can. 1031 §1. The presbyterate is not to be conferred except on those who have completed the twenty-fifth year of age and possess sufficient maturity; an interval of at least six months is to be observed between the diaconate and the presbyterate. Those destined to the presbyterate are to be admitted to the order of deacon only after completing the twenty-third year of age.
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