I have no intention of ever actually becoming one (I’m an atheist after all). I’m just curious.
From the Catholic viewpoint, a man who feels that he has a vocation to the priesthood will usually discuss the idea with another priest (possibly his PP, or any other priest whom he knows). Most dioceses have vocations offices and vocations directors who can give prospective candidates guidance.
If the man is interested in becoming a priest of his local diocese, then he usually applies to the local seminary. Smaller dioceses may not have their own seminaries and may send their students to a larger seminary in another diocese. The application process usually involves interviews, psychological profiling and possibly a period of “on the job work experience”. If accepted as a candidate for the priesthood, he will then spend about 6-7 years studying theology, philosophy, biblical studies, liturgy etc. Pastoral placements are normally also included in the seminary course. Towards the end of his studies he will be ordained to the diaconate, and then to the priesthood on completion. He will then be a priest for the diocese that sponsored him, and will be subject to the bishop of that diocese.
Alternatively, the man may be interested in becoming a religious priest (i.e. a member of one of the priestly religious orders such as the Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, Marists, Jesuits etc). Each of those orders has its own training systems.
If a priest is eventually raised to the episcopate (i.e. made a bishop), then he could possibly become a cardinal. The Pope alone makes the decisions about who will be appointed cardinals, based on any number of factors e.g. perceived theological stance, geographical representation, seniority of a specific diocese (the “senior” diocese in Australia, that of the Archdiocese of Sydney, normally carries a cardinal’s red hat).
Anglican procedure is markedly similar to what Cunctator outlined for Catholicism. The exceptions would be: (1) There is a “discernment process” in which the prospective priest, the local church (clergy and vestry), a diocesan committee, and the bishop together evaluate the call to the priesthood which the prospective priest feels. Their recommendations that he begin and that he continue the process, on an ongoing basis, are the grounds for entry into and continuation in studying for the priesthood. (2) Seminary is essentially a 3-year graduate school, after a normal bachelor’s degree which may be in place before the process begins or may be taken as part of the process, as appropriate. (3) There are few “religious” priests (belonging to a celibate order) in the Anglican Church, and they go through the same training process as do other candidates. (4) Top rank is archbishop, and some national churches have as head an administrative bishop without archbishop privileges. No cardinals, no pope. (5) Bishops are elected (England being odd in how they do this) rather than named by a pope, as in Catholicism. (In both churches formal consecration to the episcopate follows on the choice being made, by election or by papal appointment.)
Thank you Cunctator and Polycarp.
It slipped my mind that different sects would do it differently.
If any protestant groups do it radically differently than as described above, please tell!
From what I can tell, only the Catholic Church has Cardinals.
The Catholicism, Orthodoxy believes in a three-fold division of the priesthood (called Holy Orders by both): deacon, priest, bishop. The entry into the clergy is based on one’s calling, meaning that the person believes/feels that God is calling the person to serve in His priesthood. technically, this is the reason why a person joins the priesthood; not choosing which vocation one likes or prefers but rather to which vocation he (neither Catholics or Orthodox ordain women) has been called by God.
According to the old Catholic Encyclopedia, a cardinal is: “A dignitary of the Roman Church and counsellor of the pope.” It also seems that cardinals in the Catholic Church are not all bishops. There are cardinal-deacons, cardinal-priests, and cardinal-bishops. I do not know if these are a deacon titled as a cardinal, a priest titled as a cardinal, and a bishop titled as a cardinal respectively, or if a bishop is made a cardinal-deacon, cardinal-priest, or cardinal-bishop based on where and in what capacity he will serve the Holy Father.
It has been because of tradition, from what I recall, and not law, that the College of Cardinals elects one of their own to become the Supreme Pontiff. This has been restricted: only cardinals under a certain age are eligible to be selected as Supreme Pontiff. From what I recall, any person may, technically, be made Pope.
One cannot aspire to become a cardinal as a person may aspire to rise through the ranks of a corporate entity. Being made a cardinal is an honor and is based on many factors, among which are: mindset (liberal, conservative, traditionalist, etc.), faithfulness to the Holy See, perhaps popularity amongst clergy, ability to serve, and perhaps affiliation with some religious group (Jesuits, Opus Dei, etc.). It’s in the discretion solely of the Pope.
In a similar vein, a member in authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are called by authorities above him. Whereas in Catholicism and Orthodoxy the person must respond to the internal call of God, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the calls comes to those in a position to appoint authorities: God sends His calling through His authorities instead of the person being called. As such, it is virtually impossible to ascend the ranks of the priesthood.
Just as Catholicism and Orthodoxy believes in three levels of the priesthood, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in two levels of the priesthood, each with its own priesthood: the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood. The ranks in the Aaronic Priesthood are: deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop. The ranks in the Melchizedek Priesthood are: elder, high priest, Apostle, Prophet. A High Priest is chosen to lead a ward (roughly, a parish) with the title of bishop. A High Priest is also chosen to lead a stake (roughly, a diocese) with the title of Stake President. The Bishop holds the keys, as it were, of the Aaronic Priesthood in the ward; the Stake President holds the keys, as it were, of the Melchizedek Priesthood in the stake. The Bishop is a ward’s leading Aaronic Priesthood member, the Stake President is a ward’s and stake’s leading Melchizedek Priesthood member. Yet, because the Bishop is also called as the High Priest to preside over the ward, he holds authority over members of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
As the Catholic Church is divided mainly into parishes and dioceses, the world is divided into ward, stakes, and areas in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Area Authorities are members of the Quorums of the Seventy. Above them all are the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency. The First Presidency comprises of three Apostles: so there are, in fact, fifteen Apostles at any given time. The senior-most Apostle is the President of the Church, who holds all the keys of authority in the Church. When the President dies, the senior-most Apostle - after him, of course - is usually sustained as the next President.
Quite different from most other Christian denominations, every male ascends the ranks of the Aaronic Priesthood (except for Bishop) and becomes an elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. (Older men are ordained as High Priests as some point.) So, being a member of the Priesthood is less a special thing and more a part of being a male member of the Church. Meing a member of the Priesthood in authority is something special.
WRS - Hope I have confused you enough!
It may also be interesting to note that simply being ordained a priest or minister doesn’t guarantee a job.
In hierarchical groups, like the Roman Catholics, a newly ordained priest will be assigned by his superior, while in congregational denominations (like Baptists or Methodists) seminary graduates apply for positions and go through an interview and hiring process.
However rarely, some candidates may go through the entire process and find that no one wants them.
Does this mean that if a person joins the priesthood in the Catholic Church he can find employment somewhere? Who pays members of the Catholic priesthood?
WRS
Catholic priests don’t get paid. They take vows of poverty, which means they can’t actually own anything major. They are housed, clothed, fed and transported by means of the parish and diocese. They may receive a stipend for personal items, such as grooming products and personal religious items, but I’m not sure about that one.
It probably depends on the diocese (and reportedly German dioceses are among the richest in world due to the church tax,) but our priests definitely get paid. Their salaries are tied to certain ranks in public administration, those that are common for people with four our more years of university education. Counting all benefits like cheap housing they do relatively well, certainly above average.
Not true. Priests in religious orders may well take vows of poverty, depending on their particular order’s rules. Diocesan priests certainly receive a salary - admittedly not a princely salary, but a salary.
My wife and I have just been through the selection process for the Church of England - or rather she, being the candidate, has been through the process, and I, as the husband, have sat on the sidelines shouting encouragement and am now allowed to pick up the pieces after their decision not to recommend her for training. But anyway…
I must begin by saying that each Diocese in the C of E have their own process, so I am really only talking about our own process here. I believe that most are similar, and I know that the final steps are the same for all. The process usually begins with the candidate talking/praying with their local vicar about their sense of vocation/calling and if there is agreement, the vicar will write to the Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) who has been appointed by the Bishop to manage prospective “trainees” during the process of selection. The DDO insists on all candidates attending a “careers day” type meeting where the various “flavours” of ordination are discussed and explained, as many may be able/gifted/called to serve in a role other than ordained stipendary priest. The DDO then meets with the candidate over a period of several months (6/7 in our case) and sets them various assignments during this time - essays, books to read, etc. The candidate will also meet with at least one other person (“Examining Chaplin”) during this time. On the basis of the interviews and other work, the DDO will make a decision whether or not to send the candidate on a “selection conference”, which are nationally organised, and may be some time away. This is a three day gathering which involves more interviews (by three different selectors), written exercises, aptitude tests (for lack of a better word) and group work exercises. At the end of all this, a report is written and sent back to the local bishop. Ultimately, the decison as to whether or not to recommend the candidate is in the hands of the bishop, but my understanding is that our bishop rarely strays from the advice of the selectors.
It is a long and gruelling process…
Grim
Religious priests (e.g. Dominicans, Franciscans) take the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Secular diocesan priests are generally only required to take the vows of chastity and obedience. They may own property like anyone else, although they are supposed to commit to a “simple” lifestyle.
You know, you learn something new every day. I was a Catholic for 18 years and I never knew there was such a thing as a diocesan priest! My birth parish was ministered by Franciscans, so that’s been my whole priest experience, which explains my error, I think.
I thought all priests belonged to an order…
I had the same misunderstanding until the Augustinians were taken from my parish and replaced by diocesans. It made quite a lot of noise in the parish.
Weirdly enough, I believed the contrary for a long time. I thought that only diocesian priests could be in charge of a parish and that priests belonging to an order would only be found in monasteries or acting as missionnaries or teachers.
I believed the contrary for a long time : that priests belonging to an order couldn’t be in charge of a parish, and that they would only be found in monasteries, or acting as missionaires or teachers.