Rite of Ordination to the Diaconate: Promise #4

The latter three of the six promises focus specifically on how the deacon is to live as an ordained clergyman of the Catholic Church. The fourth promise made by the ordinand is the foundation for the fifth and six promises and is the most counter-cultural of all six promises. I am, of course, speaking of the promise of celibacy. The bishops asks the ordinand:

Promise #4: Do you resolve to keep for ever this commitment to remain celibate as a sign of your dedication to Christ the Lord for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, in service to God and man?

This promise is so rich in both its call of the ordinand in living his ordained life and by its elegance in which celibacy is embraced for the good of the Church.

This promise begins by asking for a commitment. Now, it's no surprise that men don't like this word. Just ask any woman who has been dating a man for awhile! Yet, commitment is absolutely vital to any life-long mission. A commitment can only be made willingly and by one who is consciously aware of that to which they are commiting. It is the person's promise to undertake whatever role with total dedication and an open, loving heart. A promise of commitment is not limited to the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Couples, at their wedding, commit themselves to the other openly and with total dedication. Godparents commit themselves to the assistance of bringing up the child in the Caholic faith. Commitment is very important in the life of the Church.

The word 'celibate' is probably feared, misunderstood and dismissed by the majority of the people in the world today. Many, including Catholics, wonder how the Church can impose this adherence to celibacy on the clergy. That statement is the focal point in which every thought following it regarding celibacy is misconstrued. If the ordinand or even a seminarian views celibacy as something forced on them by the Church or as a 'hoop' they have to jump through in order to become a priest, that person needs to seriously consider whether he is being called to be a priest. God doesn't force anything on anyone and only calls those who can freely accept celibacy to be His priests. Celibacy MUST be embraced willingly, lovingly and without hesitation or doubt if the ordinand wishes to faithfully and fully serve the People of God. This has been the practice of the Western Church for the past 1800 years and is not going to change. Acceptance of celibacy means a life-long commitment and not 'jumping through a hoop' hoping celibacy will be abolished in the near future.

Some might ask, "why promise celibacy? The Eastern Church does not require celibacy." That statement is only partially true. The Eastern Church does not require celibacy of its priests, but it is required of its bishops. A married priest in the Eastern Church can NEVER become a bishop. This discipline compliments the Western Church's understanding of celibacy as being necessary to fully give the gift of self to God in order to humbly, faithfuly and unreservedly shepherd His people. Beyond this, the rite itself expresses the beautiful symbol of celibacy as a complete dedication to the serivce of the Church. We ARE the bridegroom to our bride, the Church. When we are ordained to the diaconate, we promise celibacy in order to be completely faithful to our bride.

We also promise celibacy as a sign of the Kingdom of Heaven to come and the ordained are examples of the world to come. This does not mean, in any way, that marriage on earth is a bad thing. On the contracy, it is God's plan for the continuation of His people through the conjugal act within marriage. Yet, Christ tells us that in the Kindom to come, we neither marry or are given in marriage (Lk. 20:35). Heaven will be bliss far beyond any human understanding. Sexual intimacy will be replaced with spiritual intimacy and communion with one another and with God. Celibates are witnesses to this here on earth.

Lastly, we promise celibacy in order to completely dedicate ourselves to service of God and man. Christ tells us that one cannot serve two masters. Jesus says, "he will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other" (Lk. 16:13). As ministers for God of His people, we MUST choose our master. Is our master God or is our master earthly pleasures, such as sexual intimacy? Couples make the same choice on their wedding day in vowing to be a total gift of self to their spouse for the whole of their lives. They offer themself to the other totally, body and spirit, for the love of the other and for God. I like to say that marriage is a threesome - you, your spouse and God. This holds true to the ordained as well. We are a threesome in our marriage to the Church - us, our bride the Church and God. Our celibacy allows us to totally give ourselves to the service of God and His people rather than holding back a part of ourselves that is dedicated to another or to my own earthly desires.

Hopefully, I have helped you, my readers, to better understand the reason, dignity and need of celibacy in the lives of the ordained. While this promise is not absolute (permanent deacons and converted Protestant ministers who seek Catholic priesthood can be married), it is the norm for well over 90% of the ordained clergy of the Catholic Church. A Catholic priest friend of mine, who is a convert from the Lutheran church and married, says that while he loves his wife and children dearly, he would be ten times a better priest if he was celibate and completely married to God. His sentiment is that of the vast majority of married priests in the Western Church. They see, the most clearly, that celibacy allows one to completely give oneself to God and to serve his people. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 20:49 | link | comments (1) |
rite of deacon

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