Byline: Father Reginald Martin

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Religious Life

Vocations for Divorced?

Father Reginald Martin

April 8, 2019 10:47 am April 8, 2019

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Is it possible to be ordained a priest, or profess vows as a brother or sister if divorced? The decision to enter a religious community, like the decision to marry,…

Is it possible to be ordained a priest, or profess vows as a brother or sister if divorced?

The decision to enter a religious community, like the decision to marry, must be freely chosen. This means the individual who hopes to become a sister or brother must not be under any force to enter the community, must be old enough to make the decision and must have no obligations that would prevent her or him from taking vows as a religious.

One such obligation is marriage vows, and the Church’s Code of Canon Law states, “One is invalidly admitted to the novitiate … who is a spouse, during a marriage” (Canon 643). A comment on the text observes a marriage is presumed to be valid until the death of a spouse or until a Church court dissolves it. This means a divorced person must obtain a Church annulment before seeking admission to a religious community.

In the United States, at least, an individual cannot pursue an annulment without first securing a civil divorce. The terms of the divorce should specify provisions for distribution of property and financial care for children. Thus the divorce ought to resolve these potential limits on a person’s freedom and render the individual free to enter any community willing to accept those previously married.

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Sacraments

Communal Celebration of Anointing

Father Reginald Martin

April 1, 2019 11:04 am April 1, 2019

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Catholics growing up before the Second Vatican Council knew the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick as “Extreme Unction,” a blessing reserved for those at the point of death….

Catholics growing up before the Second Vatican Council knew the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick as “Extreme Unction,” a blessing reserved for those at the point of death. As these individuals were usually in hospitals, the sacrament was, necessarily, administered privately.

The council fathers determined the sacrament is “not for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time … to receive this sacrament has certainly arrived” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, No. 73). Because we are baptized into communion with one another, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, like all the sacraments, has a social dimension. Therefore, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church observes, “The Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration” (No. 1517). To anoint those who are ill or elderly in a parish (or other common) liturgical gathering visibly manifests the invisible bonds that unite us.

The same text from the Catechism also reminds us that although, at one time, we might have referred to the anointing of the sick as “Last Rites,” this misidentifies the sacrament. The Eucharist “should always be the last sacrament of the earthly journey … for ‘passing over’ to eternal life.”

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Liturgy

Charged For A Mass?

Father Reginald Martin

March 26, 2019 8:32 am March 26, 2019

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In 1971, when the world’s bishops gathered for a universal meeting, they hoped they might separate priests’ sacramental ministry from any concern for clergy financial support. This proved a noble — but elusive — goal, for in many areas priests depend on freewill offerings as a major source of funds to supply their needs. To guarantee adequate care of priests the Church’s Code of Canon Law states that the bishops of an area will meet to “determine the offerings on … administration of the sacraments” (Canon 1264.2).

At the same time, the Church recognizes its obligation to the poor and wishes to avoid any hint that sacraments must be paid for. Thus its law also states, “The minister is to seek nothing for the administration of the sacraments beyond the offerings defined by the competent authority, always taking care that the needy are not deprived of the assistance of the sacraments because of poverty” (Canon 848).

This is stated explicitly with regard to funerals. Precautions are to be taken in funeral rites so that the poor are not deprived of the funeral rites which are their due” (see Canon 1181). Any Catholic has the right to request a Mass; ability to make an offering is inconsequential.

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The Church

What Is an Apostolic Nuncio?

Father Reginald Martin

March 22, 2019 1:18 pm March 22, 2019

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Bureaucracy is a notion currently held in little esteem. In the first quarter of the last century, however, Max Weber, a critic of economic and social organization, published a thesis…

Bureaucracy is a notion currently held in little esteem. In the first quarter of the last century, however, Max Weber, a critic of economic and social organization, published a thesis in which he argued that bureaucracy — if managed efficiently — provides the ideal model for a business or other organization. Over history, he argued, one such “ideal bureaucracy” has been the Roman Church.

A nuncio is often referred to as an “ambassador,” representing the interests of the Church in a foreign country’s highest assembly — for example, the United Nations. A nuncio enjoying voting rights is titled “delegate,” otherwise he is an “observer.” The nuncio’s chief task is to strengthen bonds between the Holy See and any local church (see Code of Canon Law 364).

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Eternal Life

What Happens In Purgatory?

Father Reginald Martin

March 21, 2019 9:14 am March 21, 2019

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St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that the souls in purgatory can expect a twofold pain: the pain of loss, which is the delay of the Beatific Vision, and the pain of…

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that the souls in purgatory can expect a twofold pain: the pain of loss, which is the delay of the Beatific Vision, and the pain of sense, which is the fire of purgatory. Aquinas observed in his Summa Theologica: “With regard to both the least pain of Purgatory surpasses the greatest pain of this life. For the more a thing is desired, the more painful is its absence” (Appendix 1, 2). St. Thomas also taught that the fire of purgatory is the same as the fire of hell. This is, unquestionably, quite frightening, but at least St. Thomas assured us the souls in purgatory will not be tormented by demons, as that punishment is reserved for the damned. Those in purgatory have resisted demonic temptation, so do not deserve to be plagued after death by forces over which they have triumphed in life.

Saints who have written on purgatory are nearly countless. They include John Chrysostom, Augustine, Nicholas of Tolentino (the patron of souls in purgatory) and, in more present times, St. Faustina. Those wishing to consider concise reflections on purgatory from these and other holy souls may be interested in a book by Father F.X. Schouppe, S.J., titled “Purgatory Explained.”

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Church Seasons and Feasts

Celebrating The Apostles Separately

Father Reginald Martin

March 19, 2019 1:55 pm March 19, 2019

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We might consider two reasons for our liturgical year’s providing separate feasts for the apostles rather than a single feast to celebrate their memory. First, many of the apostles are…

We might consider two reasons for our liturgical year’s providing separate feasts for the apostles rather than a single feast to celebrate their memory. First, many of the apostles are associated with a ministry to a particular place — for example, James (the Greater) to Spain, Thomas to India, Jude to Syria and Persia. At some point the Church embraced the local traditions and invited all Catholics to participate in celebrations to honor the individual apostles.

Second, the Church tends to expand, rather than diminish, opportunities for liturgical celebration. Thus, we acknowledge groups, such as the North American Martyrs (Oct. 19), who worked and died together, and Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29), who share an undeniable link in building up the early Church. However, allowing us to celebrate feasts dedicated to the individual apostles enables us to reflect on their distinctive, personal merits, and to discern ways in which we might incorporate an apostle’s strengths (or build on his weaknesses) as we strive to live out our own apostolic witness.

Because the first Eucharistic prayer names each of the apostles, we have an opportunity to celebrate a feast in their collective honor whenever the celebrant uses that prayer at Mass.

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