Krzysztof Patejuk, a Polish priest in love with Spain

Poland is a country that stands as a beacon for Catholicism, but at the same time faces important challenges that make the Church has, if possible, an even more transcendental role. The most obvious is the war between Russia and Ukraine that is being waged along their border and the threat of
a possible invasion of its territory. In the meantime, and in the midst of an escalating rearmament, the Catholic Church in Poland has two major fronts, of which Krzysztof Patejuk, a priest, speaks to the CARF Foundation..

The role of the priest The role of the priest is fundamental in these times of crisis. On the one hand, he highlights the welcome they have been able to give to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees. "The challenge for the Church is the pastoral and social care of these people, and so far the ecclesial institutions have been up to the task," he says. And on the other hand, he highlights the challenge of a traditionally Catholic country that is currently experiencing a fairly rapid process of secularization, especially among young people."

Krysztof Patejuk, sacerdote polaco con una estola morada estrechando la mano de un hombre vestido de civil, mientras otros dos hombres vestidos con sotanas blancas observan. Uno de ellos sostiene un micrófono. La escena tiene lugar dentro de una iglesia.
Welcome from don Krzysztof and a parishioner during a church celebration.

How to transmit the faith to young people in Poland

Precisely, he himself represents this youth who have grown up in a Catholic environmentPatejuk is well aware of the spiritual needs of his generation. In this sense, Father Patejuk confesses that the transmission of the faith took place in his home in a very natural way.

"Since I was a child I attended Sunday Eucharist with my parents and my brother, we prayed together at home and participated in liturgical celebrations proper to each time. My parents always supported me in my service as an altar boy and on summer retreats. But, above all, they created an environment of love, support and freedom that allowed me to find my own path of faith," he says. priest from Poland.

Since he was a child he always wanted to be a journalist, because he was passionate about literature and the media. He even began a career in journalism, but God had other plans for him and, after a year at the university and a profound process of discernment, he realized that his true path was in the seminary.

Cuatro niños y un sacerodte polaco vestidos con túnicas litúrgicas blancas y doradas dentro de una iglesia. Los niños llevan cruces al cuello y el sacerdote lleva una estola. Al fondo se ven arcos de ladrillo y un altar con un crucifijo.
A group of young altar boys and Krzysztof Patejuk in his parish.

A wonderful intellectual experience

Don Krzysztof describes his call to become a priest with words that reveal with great clarity the deep inner struggle he experienced: "God spoke to me in a very strong way. After passing the summer exams at the university, I felt in my heart, like a burning fire, a burning fire.a call to enter the seminary and become a priest.

I resisted for a long time, because I was fulfilling my dreams and I had a girlfriend. But finally God spoke to me through a passage from the prophet Jeremiah, which perfectly described my inner struggle during that summer: "You seduced me, Lord, and I let myself be seduced; you forced me and defeated me..." there was in my heart like a burning fire, locked in my bones; I struggled to contain it, and I could not. I surrendered to his will and entered the seminary, a decision I do not regret.

Krzysztof Patejuk to study Canon Law at the University of Navarra, in Pamplona, a period from which he confesses that he has a "wonderful intellectual experience".

In Pamplona he says that not only was he taught law, but his professors made him love it, which today is an immense help in his work as a judge in the ecclesiastical court of the Polish archdiocese of Warmia.

"It was a time of great spiritual and pastoral richness, because of my contact with colleagues from all over the world and my service in the parish of St. Michael the Archangel. That time allowed me to deepen my faith and love for the Church," he adds with conviction.

Today the formation received is fundamental for his diocese of origin. And he emphasizes not only the academic dimension but also the human dimension. In this way, Father Patejuk explains that "The love for the law that my professors transmitted to me makes it easier for me to deal with difficult marriage annulment cases with humanity and justice. I also learned that this task is not merely administrative, but profoundly pastoral".

Krisztof Patejuk, con gafas, vestido con una sotana negra y cuello romano, de pie frente a una pared blanca con un logotipo azul de una paloma y el texto "SOLI DEO OMNIA".
Polish priest Krzysztof Patejuk in the parish office.

In love with Pamplona and Spain

Don Krzysztof emphasizes that the Spanish language learning he studied at Pamplona now allows him to accompany international students in his work as a university chaplain. His love for Spanish culture, he adds enthusiastically, "drives me to come back every year to discover new places in this beautiful country".

It has been ten years since the ordination of this priest from Poland, and from his own experience
The most important thing for facing the challenges of the priesthood is faithfulness to the celebration of the Eucharistpersonal prayer and living close to the people, accompanying them on their journey".
Moreover, he adds humbly, it helps him a lot to remember that "I am not above people, but I am, like them, a disciple of the Lord, their brother, and I too can count on them in my own journey of faith".

Thanks to the CARF Foundation for the formation of priests

Finally, the priest from Poland, Krzysztof Patejuk, has a special remembrance and words of deep gratitude for the benefactors of the CARF Foundation: "I would like to thank the benefactors of the CARF Foundation for their support.Thanks to your support, I was able to spend an unforgettable time studying in Pamplona.The mission is a time of encounter with the Church and of spiritual growth, especially through the formation offered by the Opus Dei. I know that this experience has been key to my priesthood, and without you, I would not be the same priest I am today".

"God continues to call and does not forget Venezuela".

Leonardo was born in El Tigre (Venezuela), but grew up in Pariaguán, "a town to which God has given beautiful sunsets that can be appreciated on the great flat horizon when the sun goes down," says Leo.

In that town he keeps his best memories with his family and friends, a village to which he always returned for vacations during his time in the seminary in Venezuela to be with his family and help in the parish.

He spent his childhood there, accompanied by his mother and grandmother, the two women who sowed in him the seed of faith. "My family is a gift from God for me," he confesses tenderly. He is the youngest of four siblings, and although his father was absent, the warmth of his home, Sunday catechesis and the example of his elders gave him a deep sense of community.

Now, her nieces and nephews are the joy of them all. "For me, the family is an essential part of my life in all aspects. Leo is saddened to recall that some of his family members have had no choice but to leave Venezuela due to the political situation.

Saying yes to the Lord and receiving a good education

It was in his adolescence, while helping as an altar boy, singing at Mass or participating in the Legion of Mary, that he began to wonder about his future. At the age of 17, he decided to say yes to the Lord, encouraged by the close witness of his parish priest. "The Lord called me in the most ordinary of times: as a young man who wanted to do something with his life."he says. And so, Leonardo decided to take this beautiful adventure that captivates him more and more every day.

It now resides in the Bidasoa international seminarHe is a student of the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra. He was sent by his bishop, Mons. José Manuel Romero Barrios, to serve the young diocese of El Tigre, which has just turned seven years old.

"As my bishop says, we are sowing what others will reap. There is a great need for priests and it is fundamental that we are well trained, not for us, but for the people, who have the right to good pastors."

Leonardo posa subido a una motocicleta en su pueblo nata, en Venezuela, mientra piensa en Dios.

Venezuela, an opportunity to evangelize

In Venezuela, where shortages and social tensions have marked generations, Leonardo does not see discouragement, but mission. "It is a great opportunity to console a humble people who suffer. To evangelize today is to be close, to listen, to present to God the wounds of all. And to trust.".

Leonardo recalls that difficulties have always been present in the life of the Church, both in Venezuela and in other countries.. "It is in these difficulties that we can find opportunities to bring the Lord Jesus to all those people who are suffering and thirsting for Him," he says.

This requires a lot of dialogue, respect and, above all, the ability to listen to and accompany people who live in anguish, with difficulties, but also with joy and longing for God. "This is the way to bring about a change in my country, sustaining the faith of all these people and trusting in God's mercy," he says hopefully.

The priest of the 21st century

Well-trained priests are needed to promote this change. When we asked Leonardo what a priest should be like in the 21st centuryHe does not hesitate: "He must be someone who listens, who consoles, who does not judge. An instrument of God for forgiveness. A man of prayer, able to see the person face to face, not only from a screen or through social networks. A poor, free, humble witness who trusts in God's plans".

This young seminarian has it clear and this is his commitment: to form himself as a priest who is attentive, respectful, informed of world events, but also capable of deepening his knowledge of the particular context in which he finds himself.

Un grupo de jóvenes durante una peregrinación mariana posan felizes en la cima de una montaña.

"Let the people who see a priest see someone they can trust and find support in. A priest of our time must be obedient and willing to suffer any calamity to proclaim the Word of God, to bring Jesus to all.", remarks.

Secularization in young people

In an increasingly secularized world, he does not lose hope and optimism, mainly because he sees every day that many young people feel the call of God.

"To attract young people to the faith requires understanding and closeness, but above all prayer.Because all evangelization strategies would be sterile if we do not trust and place ourselves in God's hands. Christ continues to captivate, but we must know how to present him in a way that speaks to them."he says enthusiastically.

The young Leonardo understands today's youth perfectly, because he himself is part of the so-called Zeta generation. For this reason, he recalls that in order to evangelize young people it is necessary to understand how they think today.

"That is a very complex reality. However, a priest can approach and listen to the concerns of young people, make them see that there are much deeper things and that in God is our happiness."

Humberto Salas, sacerdote de Venezuela junto a algunos monaguillos de su parroquia.

Ties between Spain and Venezuela

Leonardo also tells us about the ties between Spain and Venezuela and leaves us a message for reflection: "Europe brought the faith to America, but Europe is losing the faith and America is preserving and sustaining it".

For him, Venezuela and Spain can complement each other in every way: "Spain has welcomed us and we can only offer them the best of ourselves. The human and Christian values of Venezuelans are a glass of fresh water for all of Spain and Europe.The history and tradition of Europe helps to broaden the horizons of all those who come here.

For this reason, he is very happy to be in Spain and to reside in the Bidasoa International Seminary where he has found a home: "It is impressive to see seminarians from so many countries with the same yearning. Here I have made friends, I have prayed, I have studied. It is an environment conducive to growth. You can feel the universal Church.

Leonardo knows that his path is demanding, but he does not hesitate. Because there is a certainty that sustains him: God never stops calling. And he, with serenity and joy, has already answered.

Marta Santín, journalist specializing in religion.

Jesus Christ, High and Eternal Priest: self-giving love

Each year, the Thursday after Pentecostthe Church celebrates a singular liturgical feast: the feast of Jesus Christ, High and Eternal Priest. It is not just another liturgical remembrance, but a profound invitation to contemplate the very heart of the Christian mystery: Christ who offers himself to the Father for the salvation of the worldand which associates the priests of the Church with this sacrifice.

What is celebrated on this holiday?

This feast is centered on Christ in his priestly dimensioni.e., as mediator between God and mankind (cf. 1 Tim 2:5). He does not celebrate a particular moment of his life (such as Christmas or Easter), but rather his eternal priestly beingaccording to the order of Melchizedek (cf. Heb 5:6).

Jesus was not a priest like those of the Jewish temple. He is the perfect priest because it offered not animal sacrifices, but their own body and blood in obedience and love to the Father. As the Letter to the Hebrews says: "Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come... not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered once for all into the sanctuary and obtained eternal redemption" (Heb 9:11-12).

This feast was established in the liturgical calendar by some bishops -especially in Spain and Latin America- in the 20th century, and was approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship in 1987. Since then, it has been adopted by many dioceses around the world.

Escena de la película "La Pasión de Cristo" mostrando a Jesús en la Última Cena, sosteniendo el pan mientras instituye la Eucaristía, con sus discípulos observando en silencio.

The only sacrifice and the only priest

The Church teaches that Christ is at the same time priest, victim and altar. He is not only the one who offers, but also the one who the one who deliversChrist, the eternal priest, by the oblation of his body, accomplished once for all, brought to completion the work of human redemption" (Preface proper to the Mass of this feast).

At the Last Supper, he sacramentally anticipated the sacrifice he would consummate on the cross. Since then, each Mass is a real and sacramental actualization of this unique sacrifice.. It is not repeated, but is made present, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, when priests celebrate the Eucharist, act "in persona Christi Capitis". (in the person of Christ the Head), not as mere delegates or representatives. It is Christ himself who acts through them.

Feast of Christ and his priests

This festival is also a privileged occasion to praying for priests. They have been configured with Christ the Priest to continue his mission. In the words of St. John Paul II: "The ministerial priesthood shares in the unique priesthood of Christ and has the task of making present in every age the sacrifice of redemption" (Letter to Priests, Holy Thursday 1986).

Today more than ever, priests need our closeness, our affection and our prayers. Their mission is beautiful, but also demanding. They are instruments of Christ's love, but they are not exempt from difficulties, fatigue and temptations.

This festival, therefore, is also a call to renew our love and support for our pastors. It is also a day for calling for new priestly vocations. The Church needs men who, in love with Christ, are ready to spend their lives in the service of the Gospel.

Contemplating Christ the Priest in order to follow him closely

To contemplate Christ as High and Eternal Priest is to contemplate his Heart, his surrender, his obedience to the Father and his compassion for mankind. He became a priest in order to intercede for us without ceasingAs Hebrews says: "He is able to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them" (Heb 7:25).

In a world marked by self-sufficiency, haste, and superficiality, looking to Christ the Priest is a call to live a spirituality of dedication, intercession and silent service. Christ does not impose himself: he offers himself. He does not demand: he gives himself. He does not exhibit Himself: He gives Himself to the extreme.

For the lay faithful, this feast is also a reminder that all the baptized share in Christ's priesthood. St. Peter says it clearly: "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession" (1 Pet 2:9).

This common priesthood of the faithful is lived in daily offering, in prayer, in charity, in the witness of life. Every Christian is called to offer his life as a spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God (cf. Rom 12:1).

Pintura renacentista de Cristo sosteniendo una gran hostia consagrada en su mano izquierda y un cáliz dorado en su mano derecha, con fondo dorado y halo radiante, representando su papel como Sumo y Eterno Sacerdote.

A party to look at the altar... and at the sky

The Feast of Jesus Christ, High and Eternal Priest, invites us to look at the altar with renewed faithand to recognize that Christ himself is at work there. It reminds us that salvation does not come from our works, but from Christ's sacrifice.. And that this sacrifice is eternal, always living, always effective.

It is a profoundly Eucharistic, profoundly priestly and profoundly ecclesial feast. It is an opportunity to thank Christ for his self-giving, to pray for those who have been called to represent him sacramentally, and to offer ourselves with him to the Father for the good of the world.

Saint Josemaría's words about priests

1. What is the identity of the priest? That of Christ. All Christians can and should be not only priests, but also priests. alter Christus but ipse Christus, other Christs, Christ himself! But in the priest this is given immediately, in a sacramental way. (Loving the Church, 38).

2. We priests are asked to have the humility to learn to be unfashionable, to be truly servants of the servants of God (...), so that ordinary Christians, the laity, may make Christ present in all areas of society. (Conversations, 59).

A priest who lives the Holy Mass in this way - adoring, atoning, impetrating, giving thanks, identifying himself with Christ - and who teaches others to make the Sacrifice of the Altar the center and root of the Christian's life, will truly demonstrate the incomparable greatness of his vocation, that character with which he is sealed, which he will not lose for all eternity (Loving the Church, 49). (Loving the Church, 49).

4. I have always conceived my work as a priest and pastor of souls as a task aimed at placing each one before the full demands of his life, helping him to discover what God, in concrete terms, is asking of him, without placing any limitation on that holy independence and that blessed individual responsibility which are characteristic of a Christian conscience. (It is Christ that passes, 99).

5. The value of piety in the Holy Liturgy!

I was not at all surprised by what someone told me a few days ago about an exemplary priest who died recently: what a saint he was!

-Did you treat him a lot," I asked.

-No," he replied, "but I saw him celebrate Mass once. (Forge, 645).

6. I do not want -as I am aware- to fail to remind you again that the Priest is "another Christ". -And that the Holy Spirit has said: "nolite tangere Christos meos". -do not want to touch "my Christs". (Road, 67).

7. The professional work, so to speak, of priests is a divine and public ministry, which demands the whole activity to such an extent that, in general, if a priest has time left over for other work that is not properly priestly, he can be sure that he is not fulfilling the duties of his ministry. (Friends of God, 265).

8. Christ, who ascended the Cross with his arms wide open, with the gesture of an Eternal Priest, wants to count on us, who are nothing, to bring to "all" men the fruits of his Redemption. (Forge, 4).

9. Neither to the right nor to the left, nor to the center. I, as a priest, try to be with Christ, who on the Cross opened both arms and not only one of them: I freely take from each group that which convinces me and makes me have a welcoming heart and arms for all humanity. (Conversations, 44).

10. That priest friend worked thinking of God, holding on to his paternal hand, and helping others to assimilate these mother ideas. That is why he used to say to himself: when you die, everything will be all right, because He will continue to take care of everything.(Furrow, 884).

11. That priest friend of ours convinced me. He spoke to me about his apostolic work, and assured me that there are no unimportant occupations. Beneath this field of roses," he said, "is hidden the silent effort of so many souls who, with their work and prayer, with their prayer and work, have obtained from Heaven a torrent of rains of grace that makes everything fruitful. (Furrow, 530).

12. Live the Holy Mass!

-It will help you to consider the thought of a priest in love: "Is it possible, my God, to participate in Holy Mass and not be a saint?

-And he continued: "I will stay every day, fulfilling an ancient purpose, in the Sore of my Lord's Side!

-Cheer up! (Forge, 934).

To be a Christian - and in a particular way to be a priest, remembering also that all the baptized participate in the royal priesthood - is to be continually at the Cross (Forge, 882). (Forge, 882).

14. Let us not become accustomed to the miracles that take place before us: to this marvelous wonder that the Lord descends every day into the hands of the priest. Jesus wants us to be awake, so that we may be convinced of the greatness of his power, and so that we may hear his promise anew: venite post me, et faciam vos fieri piscatores hominumIf you follow me, I will make you fishers of men; you will be effective, and you will draw souls to God. We must trust, therefore, in these words of the Lord: get into the boat, take up the oars, hoist the sails, and launch out into the sea of the world that Christ gives us as our inheritance. (It is Christ who passes by, 159).

If it is true that we drag personal miseries, it is also true that the Lord counts on our mistakes. It does not escape his merciful gaze that we men are creatures with limitations, with weaknesses, with imperfections, inclined to sin. But he commands us to struggle, to recognize our defects; not to be cowed, but to repent and to foster the desire to be better. (It is Christ who passes by, 159).

15. Priest, my brother, always speak of God, for if you are his, there will be no monotony in your conversations. (Forge, 965).

16. The guardianship of the heart. -Thus prayed that priest: "Jesus, may my poor heart be a sealed garden; may my poor heart be a paradise, where You live; may the Angel of my Guardian guard it, with a sword of fire, with which He purifies all the affections before they enter me; Jesus, with the divine seal of your Cross, seal my poor heart". (Forge, 412).

17. When he gave Holy Communion, that priest felt like shouting: "Here I give you Happiness! (Forge, 267)

18. In order not to scandalize, in order not to produce even the shadow of suspicion that the children of God are lazy or useless, in order not to be a cause of disedification..., you must strive to offer with your conduct the just measure, the good disposition of a responsible man.... (Friends of God, 70).

Sources:

Priestly celibacy: history, meaning and challenges

Priestly celibacy has been, since the first centuries of Christianity, a reality deeply linked to the ordained ministry in the Latin Catholic Church. Although it is not a dogma of faith, celibacy has been assumed as a gift that strongly expresses the spiritual meaning of priesthood. But where does this practice come from, why is it maintained today, what challenges does it face?

A little history: biblical roots and ecclesial tradition

The practice of celibacy did not begin with the Church, but was assumed by her from very early on. Jesus himself lived celibate, and in his teaching appears the option for celibacy "for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven" (cf. Mt 19:12). St. Paul also refers to this ideal in his first letter to the Corinthians: "He who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord" (1 Cor 7:32).

In the first centuries of Christianity, both married and celibate clerics lived together in ecclesial life. However, as early as the fourth century, the Councils of Elvira (c. 305) and Carthage (390) recommended perpetual continence for married clerics, that is, living as brothers once they had received holy orders. Over time, the discipline of obligatory celibacy was consolidated in the West, especially since the Second Lateran Council (1139), which established that only celibate men could be ordained.

In the Eastern Catholic Church, on the other hand, the possibility of ordaining married men has been maintained, although bishops are elected exclusively from among celibates.

The spiritual meaning of priestly celibacy

Celibacy is not simply a renunciation, but a positive choice for a greater love. As he wrote St. John Paul IICelibacy for the sake of the Kingdom is not an escape from marriage, but a particular form of participation in the mystery of Christ and of his spousal love for the Church" (John Paul II, Pastores dabo vobis, n. 29).

The priest, configured to Christ, Head and Spouse of the Church, is called to love with an undivided heart, giving himself totally to God and to the service of the people. Celibacy permits this radical self-giving, free from family ties, to be available to all.

Moreover, celibacy is an eschatological sign: it anticipates the future state of the redeemed in the Kingdom of heaven, where "they neither marry nor are given in marriage" (cf. Mt 22:30).

Jóvenes seminaristas y sacerdotes católicos asisten a clase en un aula universitaria, vestidos con la sotana negra o camisa clerical con alzacuellos. Están atentos, tomando notas o usando portátiles, como parte de su formación intelectual y espiritual para vivir plenamente su vocación y el compromiso del celibato sacerdotal.

Current challenges

In the contemporary world, celibacy is often misunderstood. In a hyper-sexualized culture focused on self-fulfillment, celibacy can seem like a burden or an unwarranted deprivation. In addition, the lack of positive testimonies and the scandals of some members of the clergy have caused some people to question its viability and desirability.

Even within the Church there are voices that propose its revision, especially in contexts where vocations are scarce. However, recent Popes have strongly reaffirmed its value. Benedict XVI affirmed: "Priestly celibacy, lived with maturity, joy and dedication, is a blessing for the Church and for society itself" (Light of the world, 2010).

And Pope Francis, although he opened a dialogue about the viri probati (married men of proven faith in remote areas), stressed that celibacy is "a gift" that should not be suppressed.

Un sacerdote sostiene unas hojas mientras parece explicar un asunto en un aula.

A call to love and freedom

Beyond the debate, priestly celibacy remains a prophetic sign, a witness that it is possible to live a full life, totally dedicated to God and to others. It is not an imposition, but a free choice that responds to a concrete vocation, accompanied by grace, formation and community.

In the CARF Foundation, we support seminarians and diocesan priests in their vocational journey, aware that celibacy is not lived in solitude, but with the help of God, of other brother priests and lay people, and of the whole Church that accompanies them. We pray for them and support them so that they may be faithful witnesses of Christ's love.

Sources and references

CARF Foundation.

Deacon: how is he different from a priest?

What is a deacon, what functions does he perform and how does he differ from a priest. We are going to explain it to you, and also answer some frequently asked questions: can they marry, do they celebrate Mass, are there different types? Read on to find out.

What is a deacon?

The word deacon comes from Greek diakonoswhich means "served" or "minister". In the Catholic Church, the diaconate is the first degree of the sacrament of Holy Orders, followed by the presbyterate (priests) and the episcopate (bishops). It is therefore an ordained minister, called to serve the people of God in the proclamation of the Word, the celebration of certain sacraments and charity.

The diaconate is not a modern invention. Already in the New Testament, specifically in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6:1-6), it is narrated how the Apostles chose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, to be in charge of assisting widows and other tasks of service. Among them was St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Church.

Sacerdote junto a un diácono y seminaristas de Bidasoa celebrando la Exposición al Santísimo

What functions does it perform?

Deacons are called primarily to service. Their threefold mission can be summarized in three areas: Word, Liturgy and Charity.

Service of the Word
They may proclaim the Gospel at Mass, preach the homily (if authorized by the presiding priest) and teach Christian doctrine. Many collaborate in catechetical formation, evangelization and accompaniment of Christian communities.

Service of the Liturgy
Although a deacon cannot consecrate the Eucharist, he can:

Charity Service
They are especially responsible for animating charity in their communities. They visit the sick, help the poor, accompany the marginalized, promote social works and collaborate with Caritas or other institutions. This charitable dimension is deeply linked to their apostolic roots.

Diacono vestido con el alba blanca con las manos en posición de rezar

What is the difference between the two?

Although both the deacon and the priest have received the sacrament of Holy Orders, their functions, liturgical capacities and place in the ecclesial hierarchy are different.

AppearanceDeaconPriest
Degree of orderFirst degree of the sacred orderSecond degree of the sacred order
Celebration of the MassMay not consecrate or preside at the Eucharist.Can celebrate Mass and consecrate the Eucharist
Confession and AnointingCannot administer these sacramentsCan administer Confession and Anointing of the Sick
PreachingCan proclaim the Gospel and preach Can preach on a regular basis
Life statusMay be married, if permanent; celibate, if transitoryAlways celibate in the Latin rite
Subsequent ordinationCan be ordered if transientHe has already received the priesthood, no higher ordination except episcopate.

Can they get married?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions. The answer depends on the type:

Permanent deacon: is one who has been ordained with the intention of remaining in that ministry, without aspiring to the priesthood. In this case:

Transitory Deacon: is a seminarian who has received the diaconate as a preliminary step to the priesthood. In this case:

In summary: a married deacon cannot be a priest (at least in the Latin rite), and a celibate seminarian cannot marry after being ordained deacon.

Sacerdote celebrando la Eucaristía
Celebrating Holy Mass in Tanzania.

Can they celebrate Holy Mass?

No. Although they participate in the Mass and have a visible liturgical role-for example, they proclaim the Gospel, elevate the chalice, give peace and communion, are unable to celebrate the Eucharist on their ownsince do not have the power to consecrate bread and wine. That power is reserved to priests and bishops.

Therefore, does not "celebrate Mass". in the strict sense. He can preside at liturgical celebrations without Eucharist, such as liturgies of the Word, funeral services, baptisms and marriages.

Why are they important in the Church?

They remind the entire Christian community that the fundamental vocation of the Church is service. They embody the example of Christ who "came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mt 20:28).

Especially in contexts where there is a shortage of priests, the presence of well-formed deacons is a great pastoral support. Moreover, their closeness to the concrete realities of the people - family, work, society - allows them to be effective bridges between the Church and the world.

Dos seminaristas vestidos con el alba de diácono preparados para asisitir en una celebración litúrgica

Your training and the role of the CARF Foundation

Both permanent and transitory need solid training in theology, spirituality and pastoral care. In the case of future priests, the transitional diaconate is a key stage that marks the end of their seminary preparation.

The CARF Foundation collaborates with their training at centers such as the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarre in Pamplona, among other institutions. Thanks to the benefactors, many seminarians from all over the world are able to prepare themselves adequately to exercise their ministry with fidelity, joy and dedication.

The diaconate is a precious ministry that enriches the life of the Church. They are not "half-priests," but ordained ministers with their own identity and mission: to serve the Word, the Liturgy and Charity. Some are on the way to the priesthood; others, like the permanent priests, are a living sign of Christ's service in the midst of the world.

From the CARF Foundation, we thank everyone for their generous dedication and encourage our benefactors to continue supporting the formation of vocations at all levels. Because a Church with well-formed servants is a Church that is more alive, holier and closer.

Bibliography

St. Joseph: a father's heart in Provence

Mount Bessillon belongs to the municipality of Cotignac, in Provence. This is where the June 7, 1660 the only apparition of St. Joseph that is recognized by the Church. It does not resemble other apparitions in which detailed messages are transmitted to a visionary. In fact, there is no message to convey.

The apparition of St. Joseph

The patriarch, alone has come to the aid of a thirsty young shepherd boyon a day very close to summer.

St. Joseph appears as a man of considerable stature who points out a huge rock to the shepherd and says: "I am Joseph, lift it up and you will drink". Gaspard gives him a look of disbelief, as he finds himself unable to lift it. But St. Joseph reiterates his order and the shepherd lifts it without too much effort.

He discovers a spring of fresh water below and drinks greedily, but when he looks up, he realizes he is alone. San JoseJesus' father, has barely broken the silence attributed to him in the Gospels.. Gaspard is the one who does not keep quiet and spreads the news around, so that sick people from all over come to the spring to be cured and relieved. Soon a provisional oratory was built on the site, and in 1663 the present chapel was inaugurated.

Current sanctuary of St. Joseph

El actual Santuario de san José fue consagrado en 1663. En la fiesta de san José, desde 1661 en adelante acudían verdaderas muchedumbres al santuario del santo.

The present shrine of St. Joseph was consecrated in 1663. On the feast of St. Joseph, from 1661 onwards, large crowds flocked to the saint's shrine.

Since then, the chapel has withstood all the ravages of time, including those of the French Revolution, even if it had to be abandoned for some years. The chapel was somewhat forgotten during the 19th century and a large part of the 20th century, even if it was abandoned for a few years. every March 19, a pilgrimage would gather the people of the surrounding area to.

Finally, in 1975, the Benedictines of the Medea monastery in Algeria settled there, and the architect Fernand Pouillon built a new monastery next to the remains of the 17th century buildings. The work harmonizes the ancient and the modern.

The influence of Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

Around the same time that this singular apparition of St. Joseph took place, France was consecrated to the holy patriarch by Louis XIV, at the request of his mother, Anne of Austria. Those were the times when the French Court stopped to listen to the sacred oratory of Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, one of the most influential personalities of the Church at that time.

We have sometimes been given a view of Bossuet more akin to that of a treatise writer constructing a political theory of the French monarchy, and his deep spirituality and his great knowledge of Sacred Scripture and the Church Fathers have been forgotten..

Bossuet's word, like that of other palace preachers, was a seed thrown to interlocutors who seemed to have their hearts too much turned towards the demands of power and external prestige. But it is not up to the preacher to reap the fruits; it is God who gathers the harvest in his own time.

san jose corazón de padre
Prominent French clergyman, preacher and intellectual. Jacques-Bénigne Lignel Bossuet (Dijon, September 27, 1627 - Paris, April 12, 1704).

Bossuet made to Anne of Austria two panegyrics on St. Joseph, both on March 19, 1659 and 1661. In the first, St. Joseph is presented as the custodian of Mary and Jesus, and at the same time the fact that he knew how to keep all his life the secret that God had entrusted to him is highlighted. In the second, Bossuet starts from the biblical quotation that the Lord has sought a man after his own heart. (1 Sam 13:13). He refers to David, Joseph's ancestor, and the preacher praises the simplicity, detachment and humility of the patriarch. He affirms that his faith surpasses that of Abraham, model of perfect faith, because he had to guard a God who was born and grew in weakness. José resembles the moldable clay to which the potter gives the definitive contours. 

The paternity of St. Joseph

When these words were pronounced, Joseph was present in a village in Provence. He did not appear with power and majesty, he did not want to express that he had been too forgotten in 17 centuries of Church history.

On the contrary, St. Joseph's event was marked by discretion and service. He has cared for a young shepherd, as he cared for years for Jesus and Mary.. He has been a father once again. He reminds us that the paternity is always linked to service. This is the fatherhood that instills confidence, that which bases authority on guardianship and service, and not that of the father "lord of lives and property" of the past, which has contributed so much to the current discrediting of the father figure.

However, when the father is questioned or denied, fraternity becomes impossible. This is what happens in today's society, where the seed of individualism has grown. St. Joseph reminds us that the world needs fathers so that we all become brothers.

Antonio R. Rubio Plo, Degree in History and Law. Writer and international analyst @blogculturayfe / @arubioplo