Ordained Life Vocations – Lap 5 – Day 1

Biblical History OT  priests would offer sacrifices in the Temple and lead prayer Atonement: reparation for wrongdoing or sin, often accomplished by sacrifice NT Crucifixion: Jesus offers himself as atonement for sins of humanity (both the priest and the sacrificial lamb) 12 apostles – handpicked and commissioned to continue Jesus’ saving mission Apostolic Succession: uninterrupted passing of apostolic preaching and authority from Apostles to the bishops today

Roles & Three Degrees Threefold ministry of the Apostles: To teach To govern To sanctify (“make holy”) Three Degrees of Ordained Life: Bishops Priests Deacons Transitional – candidates for priesthood (at least 6 months) Permanent – single or married before ordination

Although both men and women followed Christ as his disciples when he walked the earth, Christ called only men to become his Apostles. Following the example of Jesus, the Church calls only baptized men to ordained life. When Christ gave his Apostles authority to continue his mission and ministry, he gave them the power to act as he did. And so, because Christ never called a woman to serve him as an Apostle, the Apostles and all of their successors have the power to ordain only men to the priesthood, episcopate, or diaconate. Simply stated, the Church does not have the authority to ordain women because Christ never gave the Church the power to do so. This practice is not a question of women's ability to carry out the functions of the ministry; rather, it is a matter of what Christ has established and the sacramental reality of the priestly office.

Why didn’t Jesus Ordain Women? Some say that he was bound by the cultural norms of his era to suppress the roles of women, but no one has been able to prove that this was his motive. Furthermore, this accuses Jesus of sexism and it paints an inaccurate portrait of Christ, who had no qualms about shattering the cultural norms regarding interaction with women (Matt. 9:20; Luke 7:37; John 4:27). The idea of priestesses was not unknown to him, since it was a common practice in religions of his time and culture, though not Judaism. (If Jesus had wanted women as priestesses, he would have had the ideal candidate in Mary. Here was a woman who could have spoken the words of consecration literally: "This is my body. This is my blood.") There were other roles that Christ had in mind for women. For example, they played a key role in the spread of the Gospel, being the first to spread the news of the risen Christ. They were also allowed to pray and prophecy in church (1 Cor. 11:1-16), but they were not to assume the function of teaching in the Christian assembly (1Cor. 14:34-38; 1 Tim. 2:1-14), which was restricted to the clergy.

The question of female priests The Church does not have the authority to ordain women because Christ never gave the Church the power to do so Jesus broke cultural norms with his treatment of women, yet he did not choose any to be apostles

Pope Francis & Women’s Ordination Created special commission to study women deacons in Catholic Church Criticized “clericalism” – emphasis on the power and privilege of priesthood Often speaks out against the arrogant more concerned with power than service “Women in the Church must be valued, not clericalized” Wants to highlight/promote lay and women leadership in Church Acknowledges that there are differences between men & women Criticism: real decision-making done by bishops & cardinals (all male)

Formation Formation – process of coming to a richer, deeper understanding and living out of one’s faith For the priesthood, formation includes 6-8 years in the seminary: theological study, pastoral training, & spiritual guidance

Ordination Lying prostrate Why unmarried? “This dramatic gesture shows their total surrender to God, their humility before his awesome power and might, and their willingness to imitate Christ by ‘laying down their lives’ for God’s people” Why unmarried? Commit fully to serving the Church Single-minded devotion to God & others