|
The Long Road to Priesthood, Part 2
2008-05-17 05:50:00 Soon after Francis of Assisi received his command to rebuild the Church, he decided to take a pilgrimage to Rome. He walked the 120+ miles from Assisi to Rome in modest clothing. He took no luxuries, he did not ride a steed. He walked the entire way, secure in the knowledge that his pilgrimage was not extravagant.When he finally arrived at Rome, he did not do the usual sight-seeing as any other tourist. He didn't stay in a hotel, he didn't enjoy a nice meal at a quaint restaurant. He joined the other beggars in Rome as if they were his brothers, and lived amongst the poor his entire time. He had learned to find Christ in the poorest of poor and the most decrepit of lepers; he would not find Christ among the upper class visitors or the rich clergy.He begged for his meals, sometimes eating the leftovers of some family's dinner. All the alms that he was given he gave to the church; it wasn't that the church needed his small coins from his change purse, but he no longer had a desire...
The Long Road to Priesthood, Part 1
2008-05-15 03:33:00 Once there was a young boy who dreamed of being a knight.His father was a clothing merchant, and he was not of aristocratic blood, so he had very little chance of ever becoming a knight. Yet he saw the men in the shiny armor, he saw how proud they sat on their horses, with their shields held close and their swords hanging from their belt. He saw how people respected these men, how these knights had power, status, and money. He knew that he wanted to be a knight more than anything in the world. If could only do that, he'd make his family proud.After many years, his father acquired the money to send his son to help reclaim the Holy Land. He spared no expense: his armor was custom built, the breastplate was inlaid with jewels, and his cloak was woven with strings of gold. Dressed in this glorious suit, the man who had once been a boy had achieved his dream, and he basked in the status and the glory he received, knowing one day he would be a prince.But soon after he set out to join hi...
Ministerial Mojo
2008-04-09 21:35:00 One of the reasons I left my beloved old church was a disagreement (one of many) that I had over denominational doctrine. The first time this particular doctrine was revealed to me was at a youth event during which communion was celebrated. I was surprised that my pastor at the time, who I greatly ...
By: Sharp Iron
The Pope?s solution to Priesthood child sexual abuse: Pray the pedophilic g
2008-01-07 16:45:00 So apparently Pope Benedict’s brilliant solution to the problem of pedophilia in the Priesthood is to pray for things to get better.
Defending Priestly Celibacy: Part 7
2007-11-16 18:50:00 Hhere is Part 7 in my debate on priestly celibacy. Unless "Devin" responds back again, this will be the last installment in the debate. Thanks everyone for hangin in there with me. Also see Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (or just peep the original thread for yourself).Pax Christi,phatcatholic- - - - - - - - - -doesnt your Church have a requirement that all their priests MUST be Celibant?Well, the Latin (or "Roman") Rite of the Church has that requirement, normatively speaking. The pope has made a concession for married Anglican pastors who convert to Catholicism and become priests. They aren't required to forsake their families. In the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church, a man who is already married may become a priest, but if he is single when he becomes a priest, he can't marry someone afterwards. Bishops however cannot be married either before or after becoming bishop. I think it is noteworthy that, even in the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church, where it is technically allowed...
Defending Priestly Celibacy: Part 6
2007-11-16 18:43:00 Here is Part 6 in my debate on priestly celibacy. I realize that this debate probably has too many parts too it, but if I make my posts too long then nobody reads them. I hope that this has been easy to follow so far and that it has been helpful. With Part 6 we pick back up with "Devin" again. Also see Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (or just peep the original thread for yourself).Pax Christi,phatcatholic - - - - - - - - - -how can you judge rather or not someone is best suited for the role?Ask Paul that. He did the same thing in 1 Cor 7. Have you read that chapter yet?theres no scriptural mandate saying that the man MUST be celibate.I never said that men must be celibate, at least not how I think you understand it. You need to read my words carefully here b/c my position is nuanced.The Church isn't forcing anyone to do anything. You make it sound like the Jesuits are kidnapping people who are called to be married and forcing them to refrain from sex for the rest of their lives. That's no...
Defending Priestly Celibacy: Part 5
2007-11-14 21:03:00 Here is Part 5 in my debate on priestly celibacy. After I made my last response to "Devin," someone else by the name of "fromdeathtolife" chimed in. So, this post is my response to him. Part 6 is another response to Devin, who was reacting to what I had written to "fromdeathtolife." I hope that makes sense. Also see Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 (or just peep the original thread for yourself).Pax Christi,phatcatholic- - - - - - - - - -I'm not sure why the Catholic church only chooses celibate men for the priesthood.Read 1 Cor 7.Phatcatholic, I appreciate your dialog on this issue very much. I think the Catholic church should reconsider this extreme requirement for the priesthood. With the gift of singleness not being very common among believers I think it is unwise to have such a strict requirement for the priesthood.While it is true that marriage is the common vocation, men are being called to the priesthood every day. We shoudn't simply do away with celibacy simply b/c it is not as commo...
Defending Priestly Celibacy: Part 4
2007-11-14 03:19:00 Hhere is Part 4 in my debate with "Devin" on priestly celibacy. Mad props to anyone who has been keeping up with this debate so far. I hope it is helpful. Also see Parts 1, 2, and 3.Pax Christi,phatcatholic- - - - - - - - - -does the Catholic church have the Biblical right to only choose Celebate men for their priesthood?I would say so. After all, the Church is simply following the advice of St. Paul, who clearly says in 1 Cor 7 that it is more preferrable for pastors to be single, as Paul himself is. Of course, if he is single then he is consequently celibate, since sex outside of marriage is a sin (as I'm sure we all agree on).and what if a priest decides to get married? would he be asked to resign from his position? is that biblical?He would be laicized, which means that he would no longer be able to function as a priest. This is biblical for two reasons: one, b/c Jesus and Paul say that we must faithfully live out the vocation we have been given (cf. Mt 19:11-12; 1 Cor 7:17,20,...
A Royal Priesthood
2007-11-10 18:41:00 Today is the feast day of Pope Leo the Great, bishop of Rome from 440 to 461 AD, whose writings played a significant role in clarifying the doctrine of the Incarnation. James Kiefer at The Daily Office shares this encouraging passage from one of his sermons: Although the universal Church of God is constituted of distinct orders of members, still, in spite of the many parts of its holy body, the Church subsists as an integral whole, just as the Apostle says: we are all one in Christ. . .For all, regenerated in Christ, are made kings by the sign of the cross; they are consecrated priests by the oil of the Holy Spirit, so that beyond the special service of our ministry as priests, all spiritual and mature Christians know that they are a royal race and are sharers in the office of the priesthood. For what is more king-like that to find yourself ruler over your body after having surrendered your soul to God? And what is more priestly than to promise the Lord a pure conscience and to...
By: Reiter's Block
Defending Priestly Celibacy: Part 3
2007-11-09 02:48:00 When asked why we couldn't use Paul as an example, Devin simply reiterated his position. Here is my response to that reiteration. Also see Parts 1 and 2.Pax Christi,phatcatholic- - - - - - - - - -because Paul wasnt a bishop or deacon.he did not serve in that office. that is why we cant use him as an example.On the contrary, all of the apostles (including Paul) were also bishops. James was the bishop of Jerusalem, yet he is an apostle. The position of Judas, another apostle, is described as "the bishoprick" in Acts 1:20 (KJV).What's interesting is that the word for shepherd in the NT, poimen, is translated as "pastor" in Eph 4:11, and the KJV Greek Lexicon says that the word can be applied to "the overseers of the Christian assemblies." Our English word "pastor" comes from the Latin pastorem, which means "shepherd." This shows that the bishops were shepherds and pastors.The role of the bishop, or "overseer," is compared to that of a shepherd in Acts 20:28, and Jesus gave Peter the ...
Defending Priestly Celibacy: Part 2
2007-11-09 02:32:00 Here is Part 2 in my debate in the HCR forum on priestly celibacy, this time in response to "Devin". Also see Part 1.Pax Christi,phatcatholic - - - - - - - - - -Paul was a apostle not a pastor. so we have to keep that in mind because we cant use him as an example.I've never heard that argument before. How do you define "pastor"?1st timothy 3[. . .]that scripture speaks about the deacons and bishops being married. i do believe it is a requirement of pastorship.No it doesn't. Read the passage closely. If a pastor has to have a wife, then by the same logic, he also has to have children. What then shall we make of a pastor who is married, but doesn't have any children yet (perhaps b/c they are not financially secure enough to raise a child, or b/c his wife is having trouble getting pregnant)? Or a pastor who has deceased children? Should we ban them from being pastors? I don't think you realize the implications of what you are saying. Of course, this would also mean that Paul is con...
Defending Priestly Celibacy: Part 1
2007-11-09 02:15:00 The following debate began with a question by "fromdeathtolife" in the HCR forum. So, Part 1 will be my answer to his question. The remaining parts will constitute my response to "Devin," who also chimed in on this.Pax Christi,phatcatholic - - - - - - - - - -Phatcatholic:What scripture suggests priests be celebate?There are many passages that point to celibacy as the preferred state of a pastor:Mt 19:11-12 But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."This passage shows that celibacy is a gift from God. It's important to note that the Church does not force men to be celibate, as if She were restraining men who were actually called to some other way of life. Instead, She is choosing...
Is Priesthood Always Public - Part I
2007-10-24 12:37:00 The other day when we were discussing the symbolism of ?the collar? John asked: ?Is priesthood always a public office? I'll give you that historically that has been the case most of the time..... but what about monastic priests (e.g. Carthusians) with no public ministry? Or hermit priests in the desert or on Mt Athos??At the time I answered quickly ?yes the priesthood is absolutely a public office? and promised to explain myself more fully later. I?ve been playing with this now for a few days it will take a few postings but I?m going to begin an attempt at an explanation. This is not a systematic approach and is in no particular order ? this by way of asking for your patience whilst I hap-hazardly cobble my thoughts together.John?s example of monks is interesting. Asceticism is first and foremost an individual spiritual discipline. The ascetic withdraws from ?the World? to persue a life dedicated to transcendence. This is a private, personalised discipline that was quickly drawn in...
By: Bozhe!
Cartoon to tempt teenagers into priesthood
2007-04-30 01:04:00 Japanese manga cartoons have become a multi-billion pound global market, commonly associated with martial arts warriors rather than with nuns and monks. But the Catholic Church in England and Wales is launching its own comic strip this … ……
By: Fine Art Prints
|
|
 |
|
 |
