“We Believe”
Sacraments of Vocation
Wednesday, Nov. 8
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
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Today’s handout…Thanks!
Sacraments of Vocation
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Vocation
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A calling, ‘vocare’
True vocations come from God
and find their fulfillment in living
God’s will in a stable, habitual
permanent way.
 Initial Discernment
 Preparation
 Celebration
 Vocations are first about
‘being’, secondly about
‘doing’
Sacraments of Vocation
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Sacraments of Vocation
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Marriage
Holy Orders (bishops, priests, deacons)
Other formal ways of living a Vocation
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Religious Profession (brothers, sisters, nuns)
Consecrated Virginity
Sacraments of Vocation -- Marriage
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Marriage
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Unlike any of the other sacraments, marriage was established
by God in his creation of man and woman.
In the bond of Marriage, husbands and wives give themselves
totally and selflessly to one another for life: they are to love
one another as Christ loves the Church.
The sacrament of Marriage signifies and makes present the
union of Christ and the Church.
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Three Properties of Christian Marriage
– Faithful
– Fruitful
– Final
Marriage
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Rite of Marriage
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Final
Faithful
Fruitful
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The couple administer the sacrament to each other
Takes place in Church before pastor (or delegate).
Examination
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N. and N., have you come here freely and without reservation to give
yourselves to each other in marriage?
Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your
lives?
Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according
to the law of Christ and his Church?
Vows (solemn promises witnessed by God… 2nd Commandment)

“I N., take you N., to be my (husband/wife). I promise to be true to you in
good times and in bad, in sickness and in health: I will love you and honor
you all the days of my life.”
Marriage -- Divorce

Divorce: Civil decree of the dissolution of
marriage. No ecclesial (Church) effects.
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Divorce is much higher in couples who:
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Cohabitate before marriage
Do not practice their faith
Use contraception
Come from homes which have suffered a divorce
Who have been divorced before (second marriages)
Marriage – Declarations of Nullity
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“Declaration of Nullity”
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Ecclesiastical decree of defect in marriage.
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defect in matter (fraud, mistake of person or character)
defect in intention (lack intention of Catholic marriage)
defect in form (lacking ‘canonical form’ of marriage in
Church law)
A declaration of nullity declares an attempt at
marriage void; parties free to marry in the Church
Marriages are presumed ‘valid’ unless contrary
evidence proves otherwise. (Tribunal)
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Exceptional cases
Modern Issues in Marriage
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“Theology of the Body”
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(Pope John Paul II)
Divorce
Contraception
Homosexual Unions
Cohabitation before Marriage
Sacraments of Vocation
Priesthood, Holy Orders
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Three munera (gifts) of the Church: priesthood, prophecy, kingship
All of the baptized share in the priesthood of Christ. Based on this
common priesthood and ordered to its service, there exists
another participation in the mission of Christ: the ministry
conferred in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, where the task is to
serve in the name and in the person of Christ the Head in the
midst of the community.
Holy Orders – One Sacrament with 3 Orders
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Bishop
Priest
Deacon
Lived in communion with the Church (in diocese or religious order)
Holy Orders
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Holy Orders are reserved to men
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Constant tradition of the Church, including scripture
Nuptial imagery
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Christ as Bridegroom, Church as bride… priest as alter Christus
(see also Ephesians 5)
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“If a man cannot see himself as a good husband or not suffer pain
in losing that relationship, he would make a lousy priest.”
-- Francis Cardinal George (Archbishop of Chicago)
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Celibacy as norm in Roman Church for priests & bishops.
Preferred, but not required in East for priests (required of bishops)
While not diminishing role of women, acknowledges an
essential difference.
Holy Orders
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Rite of Ordination
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Promises (made for the good of the Church, 8th commandment)
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As a minister of charity, looking out for the poor.
As a sacred minister of the mysteries of faith.
As one who prays for the Church.
As one who gives his life in witness to the kingdom (celibacy).
As one who is obedient to his bishop.
As one who preaches, teaches.
Laying on of Hands, Prayer of Ordination
Holy Orders
“Fishers
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of Men”
by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
What are the most important characteristics the
USCCB is trying to highlight in a candidate for the
priesthood?
“There are probably guys who are being called and
not hearing it.” Is this true? Why?
What gifts do you see in priests you know?
What part of the film do you think is the most
inspiring for young men considering the call?
Next Week
Prayer
and
Morality
Chapter # 8