Along with being unmarried, you must take a lifelong vow of celibacy. As long as the other qualifications are there, you can be a widower and still become a member of the clergy. You will still need to take a vow of celibacy for the future, however. You cannot be divorced if you want to become a member of the clergy, but you might be eligible if you obtain an annulment.
As part of your discernment process, ask for guidance from your priest. [1] X Research source Your parish priest and other leaders in your Catholic community can provide you with additional information, as well as guidance. These people can also pray for and with you, helping you in your personal discernment.
Your grades upon graduation do not need to be top-of-the-class, but you should be an average or above average student.
Note that you might be able to satisfy the requirements in part or in full during your undergraduate education if you take courses from a Catholic university that match the courses required in a Pre-Theology Program.
In order to get into a seminary school, you might need letters of recommendation from current leaders within the church. Academically, a seminary will prepare you by offering courses in Biblical studies, Catholic philosophy and theology, liturgy, pastoral studies, church history, and preaching. Additionally, a seminary should help you discern once and for all if you are called to a religious vocation. This means preparing you academically as well as spiritually. Entering into seminary is not a permanent decision. You are not committed to the life and work of a priest until you take your final vows.
In essence, the time you spend as a deacon is like a trial period for priesthood. You will be assigned many duties by the priest of your assigned parish, and these duties often include many that you will have to take care of as a priest when the time comes. The priest of your assigned parish can voice his opinion on whether or not he believes you to be fit for the priesthood.
Once the bishop of your diocese approves you, there will be an official Ordination Ceremony during which you will take your vows and officially become a priest. After taking Holy Orders, the bishop of your diocese will assign you a position. Usually, you will be appointed as a priest or assistant priest to a parish within the diocese, but sometimes, you might be appointed as a chaplain to a Catholic hospital or another similar post. You might be able to make requests, but your requests may or may not influence your final position.
To improve your odds even further, go through the program at a Catholic university, since a Catholic school will teach you theology from the perspective of the Catholic church.
During this time, it also helps if you gain a bit of a name for yourself. The more active and dedicated you are as a priest, the more likely your efforts will be noticed by the right people.
Retirement is mandatory for bishops at the age of 75.
Local bishops select priests from the area and form a list of potential candidates who they believe to be capable of performing the duties of a bishop. These candidates are put on an undisclosed list and sent to the Apostalic Nuncio. The Apostolic Nuncio is the ambassador to Rome for your country. He reviews the names on the list sent by the bishops, and after performing a series of interviews and research, chooses three candidates from that list. He then passes the three names to the Congress of Bishops in Rome. The Congress of Bishops in Rome will look at the three candidates and determine who, if any, should be selected as the new bishop. If they do not like anyone, the Apostalic Nuncio will need to select another three candidates. If they do like someone, the name is passed to the Pope. The Pope looks at the final candidate. If he approves, that candidate becomes the new bishop. If he vetoes it, the Apostalic Nuncio needs to pick out new candidates.
Note that, according to Church law, new cardinals should be ordained bishops before being considered for appointment as cardinals. In some rare instances, however, elderly priests who have gained great esteem and have performed admirably for the Church can be appointed as cardinals without first being appointed as bishops. [3] X Research source
Cardinal bishops are bishops within Rome who are involved in full-time service to the central administration of Church affairs within the Roman Curia, or governing body of the Church. Cardinal priests are bishops with dioceses outside of Rome. Cardinal deacons are bishops in title whose primary duties involve full-time service to the Roman Curia.
Once you reach this stage of preparation, take a look at the bishops who have been made cardinals over the past few decades to determine where your best odds lie. Traditionally, within the United States, Baltimore and Boston are the two dioceses most commonly headed by a cardinal. [4] X Research source Note that an archbishop is a bishop who governs over his own diocese while also leading the bishops of other smaller dioceses within a wider, metropolitan district.
In addition to the suggestions already mentioned, it helps to be a notably pious bishop. Regardless of the diocese you serve, as a bishop, you must demonstrate your dedication to God’s will and desire to lead the Catholic faithful of the flock you’ve been given charge of in order to be noticed and considered.
During the ceremony, you will receive a scarlet zucchetto (skullcap) and scarlet biretta (four-cornered silk hat), as well as a ring signifying your new title. One rough translation of the Cardinals’ Oath is as follows: “I [name and surname], Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, promise and swear to be faithful henceforth and forever, while I live, to Christ and his Gospel, being constantly obedient to the Holy Roman Apostolic Church, to Blessed Peter in the person of the Supreme Pontiff Francis, and of his canonically elected Successors; to maintain communion with the Catholic Church always, in word and deed; not to reveal to any one what is confided to me in secret, nor to divulge what may bring harm or dishonor to Holy Church; to carry out with great diligence and faithfulness those tasks to which I am called by my service to the Church, in accord with the norms of the law. So help me Almighty God. "
