1/2/2007

by Louise Haggett

Brunswick, ME, Dec. 12. Christmas is coming. So is Midnight Mass for Catholics and some parishes have no priest due to a shortage of priests. So what can one do? Use rentapriest.com, a free referral service of married Roman Catholic priests.

Here's how:

There are 21 canon laws that validate the sacramental ministry of married priests, some of which are designed specifically for the people who sit in the pew. For instance,

Canon 290 about married priests- "once validly received, sacred ordination Never becomes invalid."

Canon 843 for the people- "sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who opportunely ask for them" (the people must do the asking)

Canon 1752 for everyone- "the salvation of souls is always the supreme law of the Church."

If one wants to look even more deeply in The Code of Canon Law (Paulist Press), they will see church laws that impose upon the diocesan bishop the obligation of providing for all those within his diocese, including the unchurched and the unbaptized (Canon 383.1, 2, 3).

Putting the married priest plan into action:

If no one is celebrating Midnight Mass in your parish, ask the congregation if there is a married priest in attendance. You can then use Canon 843 above to summon him to the altar to celebrate the Eucharist. Right then and there! You can also ask him to celebrate on Christmas Day and any other day you wish. Just do it. If you get flack from the chancery, tell them about Canons 290, 383, 843 and 1752.

It's that simple! Just like the use of altar girls in the 1980s. Parishes used them without permission from anyone, and according to Canon 27, "practice becomes custom, custom becomes law in the church."

Merry Christmas from CITI Ministries, Inc. (Celibacy Is the Issue). Visit our website www.rentapriest.com or call 1-800-PRIEST 9 for married priest listings in your local community. Check also the "faith communities" listings for a Home Mass. Married priests are also available to hospitals and funeral parlors to anoint the sick or do funerals. They also marry and remarry people and baptize their babies. As "priests without borders," they serve anyone with a spiritual need, like Jesus did.