De Ministris Sacris seu de Clericis - Ghirlanda (Prepared: Hastings)

Question 1

C. 241.1: What admits to a seminary?

Answer 1

A diocesan bishop

Question 2

C. 241.1: Who is admitted to a seminary?

Answer 2

§1. A diocesan bishop is to admit to a major seminary only those who are judged qualified to dedicate themselves permanently to the sacred ministries; he is to consider their human, moral, spiritual, and intellectual qualities, their physical and psychic health, and their correct intention.

Question 3

c. 241.1: Why is the ratio legis so strong for this?

Answer 3

It is so strong because priests exert wide influence. So, an unfit man for orders can cause all kinds of problems. (Chaucer, Prologue, ll. 500-506, Note that the breviary translation is somewhat softened:

“That, if gold rust, what shall poor iron do?
For if the priest be foul, in whom we trust,
What wonder if a layman yield to lust?
And shame it is, if priest take thought for keep,
A shitty shepherd, shepherding clean sheep.
Well ought a priest example good to give,
By his own cleanness, how his flock should live. “

Question 4

C. 241.1: What are the judged qualities necessary of the man admitted to the seminary?

Answer 4

He must be judged qualified to dedicate himself permanently.

Question 5

C. 241.1: What are the four main qualities a man must possess to enter the seminary?

Answer 5

Human, moral, intellectual, spiritual. Human would be that absent a serious pathology, a person’s psycho-sexual maturity is commensurate with their age.

Question 6

C. 241.1: Is the limit of this canon simply that a man not have problems?

Answer 6

No.

Question 7

C. 241.1: For example, if a man is in need of therapy, ought he do that during the seminary or before/

Answer 7

Before.

Question 8

C. 241.1: What does the PPF say to shed light on this canon? What is its principle?

Answer 8

Gradualism. I.e., certain thresholds are met at each stage of formation. So, a first-year seminarian and a third-year seminarian have different levels of preparedness. This is obvious, but there may be a tendency to deny a man entrance because he is not ready to be a priest. The salient question is whether or not he can be made ready in time. Whether or not he has the basic capacity to be a priest is a different question than his preparedness.

Question 9

C. 241.1: How do Ghirlanda and PPF disagree on the level of discernment for the man entering major seminary?

Answer 9

Ghirlanda: He should have intention of being a priest
PPF: This is not required

Question 10

C. 241.2: What determines these docs more specifically?: “§2. Before they are accepted, they must submit documents of the reception of baptism and confirmation and any other things required by the prescripts of the program of priestly formation.”

Answer 10

Each episcopal conference’s requirements. In the USA, that’s the PPF.

Also, the universal Ratio Fundamentalis

Question 11

C. 241.2: What kind of documents are “any other things”?

Answer 11

Criminal background check, annulment acta, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, etc.

Question 12

C. 241.3: What is the PPF requirement for time between dismissal and re-entrance of a seminary?

Answer 12

Two years

Question 13

C. 241.3: Who must be contacted before a dismissed man may re-enter a seminary?

Answer 13

§3. If it concerns admitting those who were dismissed from another seminary or religious institute, testimony of the respective superior is also required, especially concerning the cause for their dismissal or departure.

Question 14

Obedience: What are the four foundations from Lumen gentium 29?

Answer 14

Sacramental/Ecclesiological: The very hierarchical structure of Holy Orders

Theological: Seeking the will of God

Christological: Kenotic, like Our Lord

Pastoral: The work of service in charity

Question 15

Obedience: What are its four fonts? I.e, why obey?

Answer 15

Primary:
Communion via Church structure (Objective)
Secondary:
The Law itself (objective)
Personal Call to Holiness and embrace of ev. counsel (Subjective)
The promise made

Question 16

Obedience: Whom do I obey?

Answer 16

Priests: Ordinary and Pope by law and structure of Orders
Deacons: Orinary and Pope by law

Question 17

Obedience: Levels

Answer 17

External Submission w/out internal assent (not true obedience, just submission or coercion)
External Submission w/ assent of will: What priests are obliged to
External Submission w/ assent of will and intellect: What religious are obliged to

Question 18

Obedience: Limits

Answer 18

1. Immoral or Unjust Commands
2. Illegal or Extrajurisdictional (i.e., no legal effect)
3. Commands that forbid recourse
   For priests: Obedience extends to things connected to ministry

Question 19

Obedience: Why do religious priests take two vows?

Answer 19

One is as a religious and the other is as a priest. In case the priest leaves the religious life and serves as a secular priest, his priestly obedience still binds

Question 20

C. 274.2: When are clerics bound to undertake an office?

Answer 20

Always, “unless a legitimate impediment excuses them…”

Question 21

C. 274.2: Give more details about being “legitimately impeded”.

Answer 21

This is a grave inconvenience. It must be proportionate, in a specific case, and with objective standards. There must be proportionate grace damage extrinsic to the command (or danger thereof).

The bishop makes the judgment of being impeded. Priest makes recourse.

Question 22

C. 274.2: Does this cover transfers?

Answer 22

No. The law says “undertake”, not “give up”.

Question 23

C. 239.2: What does this canon say about the obligation of having a seminary spiritual director?

Answer 23

§2. Every seminary is to have at least one spiritual director, though the students remain free to approach other priests who have been designated for this function by the bishop.

Question 24

C. 240.1: What does this canon say about regular confessors at the seminary and about student freedom?

Answer 24

§1. In addition to ordinary confessors, other confessors are to come regularly to the seminary. Without prejudice to the discipline of the seminary, students are always free to approach any confessor, whether in the seminary or outside it.

Question 25

C. 239.2: What is a moderator?

Answer 25

§3. The statutes of a seminary are to provide ways through which the other moderators, the teachers, and even the students themselves participate in the responsibility of the rector, especially in maintaining discipline.

Question 26

Spiritual Direction in Seminaries: So, what are the three personnel levels?

Answer 26

1. Spiritual Director: (house SD) For entire institution. May gave individual SD. Coordinates spiritual life in seminary.
2. Moderator: Other priests approved by bishop to give SD
3. Priests non on bishop’s list: Ghirlanda: student freely chooses, house SD approves. PPF: Students choose from list.

Question 27

Interaction of Rights: Rector and Seminarians: What is the rector’s right re: SD?

Answer 27

He has an obligation to form students and judge their suitability. Thus, he gets to know if men are going and to whom they are going.

Question 28

Interaction of Rights: Rector and Seminarians: What can the rector do re: the seminarian’s choice of SD (moderator)?

Answer 28

The rector can veto a priest not on the list. The rector can also ask you to choose a different regular confessor than you have, though he can’t forbid a confessor. Ghirlanda: Rector can ask you what your SD’s (moderator) opinion on your suitability for orders (thumbs up/down) without asking details of SD.

Question 29

Loss of Clerical State: What are the three ways:

Answer 29

1° sententia iudicali aut decreto administrativo, quo invaliditas sacrae ordinationis declaratur;

2° poena dimissionis legitime irrogata;

3° rescripto Apostolicae Sedis; quod vero rescriptum diaconis ob graves tantum causas, presbyteris ob gravissimas causas ac Apostolica Sede conceditur.

Question 30

Loss of Clerical State: Grounds:

Answer 30

Invalid matter, improper form, lack of objective or subjective qualities in the minister or recipient (lack of baptism/lack of intention)

Question 31

Loss of Clerical State: Can this be threatened by local law or precept?

Answer 31

No

Question 32

Loss of Clerical State: Who alone is competent to dismiss administratively?

Answer 32

CDF

Question 33

Loss of Clerical State: Is dismissal the same as dispensation from celibacy?

Answer 33

No

Question 34

Loss of Clerical State: Who can ask for a rescript?

Answer 34

The person, or in the case of actual incapacity (mental illness), someone on his behalf

Question 35

291: Dispensation from Celibacy: When can deacons be dispensed?

Answer 35

1. When there are children who need care.
2. When there are parents who need care.
3. When they have proven, exceptional utility to the diocese

Any of these suffices, in practice

Question 36

291: Dispensation from Celibacy: When can priests be dispensed?

Answer 36

1. Over 40 and not coming back.
2. Something irreversible: never coming back, kids, attempted civil marriage
3. When the seminary failed–“knew it and blew it”
4. Psychological condition
5. Issues with the 6th commandment, i.e., just can’t remain chaste
6. Danger of Death: When a marriage can be regularized. If the marriage cannot be regularized, the dispensation will not be granted.