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 TOPIC 22.2
WHY ONLY MEN FOR HOLY ORDERS? AND WHY CELIBACY?

Reference: Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1577-1580

 HOLY ORDERS:
ITS NATURE AND EFFECTS

Christ wanted only men How to rightly understand

for Holy Orders this teaching

Why did Christ want only men as Conditions to receive Commitment to embrace
priests? Holy Orders worthily a celibate life

Celibacy, a divine gift Discipline

given to some for Eastern Churches
 Christ wanted
only men
for Holy Orders
Jesus chose men to form
the college of the twelve apostles
CCC 1577

◦ The apostles did the same

when they chose collaborators to succeed them

◦ “The college of bishops, with whom the priests

are united in the priesthood, makes the college
of the twelve an ever-present reality until Christ’s return

◦ “The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by

the Lord Himself. For this reason, the ordination of women is not
possible.”

Definitive, unchangeable Church teaching

St. John Paul II (1994)
 How to rightly understand
this teaching
Men and women possess equal dignity
as persons (both made unto God’s image)
and as baptized (same dignity as God’s children)

◦ But God created them different and complementary

in their bodily, sexual modification so that
they may mutually enrich and serve each other and all men
in their own specific capacity as male and female
cf. Gen 1:27-28

◦ Our Creator and Redeemer thus destined some roles for men
(e.g., husbands, fathers), others for women (e.g., wives, mothers)
◦ The reward and honor God will give each one depends on
how much love of God and of neighbor one puts into his vocation.
◦ Mother Mary –the holiest of saints and mediatrix of all graces
Why did Christ
want only men
as priests?
Some reasons
can be advanced
as opinions
since Christ Himself
gave no specific reason

◦ e.g., a priest is called to act not

only in the name but also in the
very person of Christ, especially
at the celebration
of Mass (“This is My Body…”)

◦ But only one definitive reason is

given by Divine Tradition
and Church Magisterium: Christ
did not give
the Church the power
to ordain women
as priests.
Conditions to receive Holy Orders worthily
Conditions:
 Divine Vocation
 the Right Intention
 the State of Grace with Integrity of Life

Firstly, a divine vocation is needed: God Himself must call the person.

“No man takes the honor (of the priesthood) to himself; he takes it who is called by God.”
Heb 5:4

“No one has a right to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Anyone who thinks he recognizes the signs of God’s call must
…humbly submit his desire to the authority of the Church
(T)his sacrament can be received only as an unmerited gift.”
CCC 1578
Some signs:
 physical, emotional, psychological, moral fitness to carry out the Priestly Ministry
 an inclination to serve God and souls as a Priest
 an upright Intention
 Commitment
to embrace
a celibate life
Secondly, commitment to celibacy

◦ “In the Latin Church, the sacrament of Holy Orders

for the presbyterate is normally conferred only on candidates
who are ready to embrace celibacy freely and… of staying celibate
for the love of God’s kingdom and the service of men.”
CCC 1599

◦ Celibacy is a sign of the call to build the Body of Christ

exclusively through a spiritual paternity
in the name of Christ Head of the Church.

◦ Christ’s mission:
◦ to usher man to a new kind of birth, not of the flesh, but of the Spirit
cf Jn 1:12-13; 3:5-6
◦ Accomplished by His Passion and Death
cf. Jn 7:39; 16:7
◦ Christ gave His Body to the Church His Bride to sanctify Her
cf Eph 5:25-27

“Accepted with a joyous heart,

celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God.”
CCC 1579
 Celibacy,
a divine gift
given to some
“The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man
with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.” 
But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this precept,
but only those to whom it is given. 
For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs
who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have
made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He
who is able to receive this, let him receive it.”
Mt 19 10:12

“For the Kingdom’s sake…”: out of a total, exclusive love

for Christ and the Church; for God’s glory and the salvation
of all souls; to dedicate one’s entire life to bearing fruit
in a spiritual paternity after the pattern of Christ’s life.

they are not “better” than others, but simply called to this vocation.
 Discipline
for Eastern Churches
CCC 1580

◦ Bishops are chosen solely from among celibates, while married men
can be ordained as deacons and priests
(a centuries old practice).

◦ Priestly celibacy is held in great honor

in the Eastern Churches and many priests have chosen it
for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Cf CCC 1580

◦ In the East (Eastern rite) as in the West (Latin rite),

a man who has already received Holy Orders
can no longer marry.
◦ married permanent deacons can no longer marry
should they be widowed
The priesthood, a gift of Christ
to His Church

Need to pray for priestly vocations

and the holiness of priests

“The harvest is great, but the laborers

are few. Pray, therefore, the Lord
of the harvest to send forth laborers
into his harvest.”
Mt 9:38
 TOPIC 22.2
WHY ONLY MEN FOR HOLY ORDERS? AND WHY CELIBACY?

Reference: Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1577-1580