User talk:Peteric1992

Priesthood

Those in this vocation were called, they didn’t just choose, and this state of life is only for men. There are 3 levels: Episcopal Ordination of Bishops, Ordination of Priests (Diocesan or Religious Clergy), and Ordination of Deacons. Anyone who is going to become either one of those has to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. They are Ministers of Grace because they administer the Sacraments.

Types of Bishops: Bishops are the heads of Diocese, and only a Bishops is able to administer all Seven Sacraments. All of the Cardinals are bishops, and so is the Pope (the Bishop of Rome).

Types of Priests: Diocesan priests serve the people of the diocese. They take vows of celibacy and obedience, and they are the most common of ordained priests. Religious Clergy includes all of the priests that are Jesuits, Dominicans, etc. They take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and they can also be in the Religious Life as monks. Priests can administer every sacrament except Holy Orders and Confirmation (unless delegated by a Bishop)

Types of Deacons: Permanent deacons are deacons that can also be married. Transitional deacons are deacons that are on their way to becoming priests, and they can’t be married. Deacons can only administer the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick.

Single Life

Also known as laity, everyone shares a universal call to holiness, which means to follow the Commandments, the Precepts, living the virtues, etc. We are all called to be witnesses of Christ by our work and our example. We are also called to serve God in various ways, starting within our parish community. A deep spiritual life must be developed through prayer, charity, and frequent reception of the Sacraments. This state of life is chosen by some to serve other more fully than if they had a family, but it is not a state of life by default. They are called to share in Christ’s Triple Office ad Priest (sanctification of work and leisure), Prophet (witness of Christian justice and charity), and King (service of Church and world by bringing others to Christ).

“The Secular world is more spiritual than it thinks.” –Lionel Blue

Religious Life

This is the highest calling of all the vocations. It’s a call to total self-sacrifice for Christ and His Church. This calls to give up everything humans most prize, possessions, marriage, and power, through the Three Evangelical Councils (Councils of Perfection), poverty, chastity, and obedience. These include religious orders that can be Contemplative or Active, and individuals such as monks, brothers, or sisters.

A monk can be either a brother or a priest of the Religious Clergy. A brother is a man dedicated to teaching, hospital work, or contemplation. He is not a priest, and doesn’t receive Holy Orders. A sister is a woman dedicated to teaching, hospital work, social work, or contemplation.

Contemplative Orders are orders that live their lives dedicated to prayer and penance, and they keep to themselves. An Example is the Carmelite Nuns. Active Orders (also known as Apostolic Orders) dedicate themselves to active works of God, such as teaching, missionary work, preaching, or caring for the sick/poor/neglected. Examples include the Salesians and the Missionaries of Charity.

Marriage

This is known as the union of a man and a woman as a family. In order for a marriage to be sacramental, both the man and the woman need to freely consent to the marriage, they need to express their consent in front of a priest or deacon and two witnesses. This consent includes unity (the intention of faithful love), indissolubility (permanence), and openness to love (openness to children). It also requires consummation, or conjugal love, which is the total self-giving expressed in bodily union in the vocation of marriage. Marriage is for the entire life. It was established and blessed by God at creation, and meant to be kept sacred. Divorce should never have to happen, seeing as marriage is supposed to be forever and forgiving. However, divorce may be necessary if someone is abused by his/her spouse. Also, sex is a pleasure that should only be in marriage. Sex outside of marriage is a mortal sin, and it should be reserved for the future spouse. Even if someone’s not going to be married, they should maintain celibacy. And marriage should also last for several good reasons. Love is inherent in marriage, and as Paul adequately put in 1 Corinthians: 4-7:

“Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.”