Late last Sunday afternoon at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist's 5:30 p.m. Mass there was a special ceremony that took place within the Mass. The name of that ceremony is RITE OF ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY FOR HOLY ORDERS.
Following the end of the Second Vatican Council in December 1965 a couple of things happened regarding the process of a man receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders, that is becoming a deacon and a priest in the Catholic Church.
First, the Holy Father and the Bishops reinstituted the Diaconate for men who wished to serve God and His people as a deacon. In the early Church there were deacons; however, over time the reality of the Diaconate was reduced to the last step before a man was ordained a priest. By reinstituting the Diaconate men who were married, even with children, could apply to be a deacon and ultimately serve in various works of the Church. Also, men who were not married could apply as a single person to be ordained to what then was called the Permanent Diaconate, now more appropriately called the Diaconate.
Secondly, the Church revisited the various steps that a man would receive on his way through the formation and preparation for Ordination. The steps were called Tonsure, Porter, Exorcist, Lector, Acolyte, Sub-deacon and Priest. Because of various changes and additions one of the changes was replacing Tonsure with RITE OF ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY FOR HOLY ORDERS.
One of the major reasons for this change was because some of those to be ordained would be deacons, either married or single. It was decided that the replacement step would better speak to both groups moving to Ordination than Tonsure.
This change took place on December 3, 1972.. Since that time men aspiring to become Priests or Deacons after an initial period of formation and preparation would receive this formal designation of being a candidate for Holy Orders. To say the least, it is a significant step both on the part of the candidate and of the Church.
The reason for this seriousness is because it has been established that those aspiring to Holy Orders is based on their having the qualifications and has shown the level of maturity that is needed to serve God and His people. And because of the seriousness involved this event is supposed to be done in a public way so that the people of God are involved and are aware of what is happening.
Thus, the celebration is held at the Cathedral Church with parishioners present, family members and friends of the candidates present, deacons and their wives and priests present as the Bishop of the Diocese recognizes the good signs in the lives of these men which holds promise for the future in service to God.
As things would have it, the second reading for last Sunday?s Mass was from the Letter to the Hebrews which spoke about Abraham who in the first Eucharistic Prayer is called ?Abraham our Father in Faith.? In the reading it is recalled that Abraham was called and trusting in God he responded affirmatively ?not knowing where he was to go.? Hebrews 11.8
The reading highlights that Abraham was a man of faith. He had faith in God, and thus he was obedient to the Lord. As the candidates presented themselves for Admission, they did so responding in faith to ongoing discernment and formation to a call from God.
It was a beautiful reading not only for these men but for all of us, as it challenges us in this Year of Faith to ?living our relationship with Jesus Christ? in obedience to His call ?Come, follow me.?
Let us pray for these men, and their families, as they continue to discern their vocation to the Diaconate. And let us pray for one another and for ourselves that in obedience of faith we may all embrace God?s call wholeheartedly.
(The above column by the Most Reverend Richard Lennon, Bishop of Cleveland originally appeared in the Friday, August 16, 2013 issue of the Catholic Universe Bulletin, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Cleveland.)