Directa Decretal: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Latest revision as of 19:27, 4 September 2023

Pope Siricius, author of the *Directa* decretal

The Directa decretal was written by Pope Siricius in February AD 385. It took the form of a long letter to Spanish bishop Himerius of Tarragona replying to the bishop’s requests for directa on various subjects sent several months earlier to Pope Damasus I.^[1] It became the first of a series of documents published by the Magisterium that claimed apostolic origin for clerical celibacy and reminded ministers of the altar of the perpetual continence required of them.

Background

It is known that the First Ecumenical Council which took place at Nicaea included in its legislation a discipline of the priesthood known as clerical 'continence' or celibacy.^[2] This was the requirement of all priests and bishops to refrain from sexual contact with their wives or with any other woman. Thus, for a married man to become a priest, his wife had to agree to abstain from all sexual relations. This discipline added to the legislation of various councils, particularly the Council of Elvira, the date of which cannot be determined with precision, but believed to have been in the first quarter of the fourth century, in Spain.^[3]^[4]

While priests of the East and West were required to refrain from all sexual contact by virtue of their presiding at sacrifices, this was an exceedingly difficult discipline to maintain. Just as the Levite priests of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem had been required to abstain from sexual contact (in order to achieve ritual purity) merely for a lengthy period prior to the periodic performance of the sacrifices of the temple, so the priests of the Early Church were required by ecclesiastical law to abstain from sexual contact.^[5] However, Christian priests presided at the sacrifice of the Eucharist every Sunday as well as the annual feasts of the various martyrs. Thus, the Christian calendar did not afford Christian priests periods in which they could be sexually active with their wives.

The Directa Decretal

In the Directa, the Pope dealt with the fact that clerics (deacons, priests, and bishops) were still living with their wives and having children, thus contravening the Council of Elvira and the First Ecumenical Council. Priests were justifying this by referring to the traditions of the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. Siricius was emphatic that clerical continence belonged to immemorial, even apostolic, tradition.^[6] He declared that priests had been under a duty to observe temporary continence when serving in the Temple, but that the coming of Christ had brought the old priesthood to completion, and by this fact the duty of temporary continence had become an obligation to perpetual continence.^[7] Fifteen points are studied in the decretal,^[8] but the key passage is:

The Lord Jesus formally stipulated in the Gospel that he had not come to abolish the law, but to bring it to perfection; this is also why he wanted the beauty of the Church whose Bridegroom he is to shine with the splendor of chastity so that when he returns, on the Day of Judgment, he will find her without stain or wrinkle, as his Apostle taught. It is through the indissoluble law of these decisions that all of us, priests and deacons, are bound together from the day of our ordination, and [held to] put our hearts and our bodies to the service of sobriety and purity; may we be pleasing to our God in all things, in the sacrifice we offer daily.^[9]

Continence was required of all Christian priests by ecclesiastical law until the great schism, and is still required of Catholic priests today;^[10] many Eastern Catholic Churches do not require celibacy of their priests.

References

^ Christian Cochini, S.J., The Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy.
^ "Ivan Gobry, "The Controversy over celibacy for deacons", from The Angelus, August 1998". Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Council of Elvira" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company..
^ "Rev. Ray Ryland, "The Gift: A Married Priest Looks at Celibacy"". Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
^ Fr. Anthony Zimmerman, STD, "Celibacy dates back to the Apostles" Archived October 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^ Roman Cholij, "Priestly celibacy in patristics and in the history of the Church" Archived February 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Chapter One: Celibacy - A Historical Perspective (Part 1)". www.christendom-awake.org. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
^ "Current Sales Email Promotions - Christianbook.com". www.christianbook.com. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
^ Christian Cochini, S.J., "Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy", (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1990)
^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Celibacy of the Clergy" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

External links

The Catholic Encyclopedia, s.v. "Papal Decretals"

[1] Christian Cochini, S.J., The Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy.

[2] "Ivan Gobry, "The Controversy over celibacy for deacons", from The Angelus, August 1998". Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2008-01-11.

[3] Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Council of Elvira" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company..

[4] "Rev. Ray Ryland, "The Gift: A Married Priest Looks at Celibacy"". Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2008-01-11.

[5] Fr. Anthony Zimmerman, STD, "Celibacy dates back to the Apostles" Archived October 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

[6] Roman Cholij, "Priestly celibacy in patristics and in the history of the Church" Archived February 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

[7] "Chapter One: Celibacy - A Historical Perspective (Part 1)". www.christendom-awake.org. Retrieved 2019-02-08.

[8] "Current Sales Email Promotions - Christianbook.com". www.christianbook.com. Retrieved 2019-02-08.

[9] Christian Cochini, S.J., "Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy", (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1990)

[10] Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Celibacy of the Clergy" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Decretal by Pope Siricius}}
+{{redirect|Directa|the Catalan biweekly magazine|La Directa}}
 [[File:Siricius.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Pope Siricius]], author of the ''Directa'' decretal]]The '''''Directa''  [[decretal]]''' was written by [[Pope Siricius]] in February AD 385. It took the form of a long letter to Spanish bishop [[Himerius of Tarragona]] replying to the bishop’s requests for ''directa'' on various subjects sent several months earlier to [[Pope Damasus I]].<ref>[http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=223465&event=6450SBF%7C221593%7C6450  Christian Cochini, S.J., ''The Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy''].
-</ref> It became the first of a series of documents published by the [[Magisterium]] that claimed [[Apostolic Succession|apostolic origin]] for [[clerical celibacy]] and reminded ministers of the altar of the perpetual [[Sexual continence|continence]] required of them.
+</ref> It became the first of a series of documents published by the [[Magisterium]] that claimed [[apostolic succession|apostolic origin]] for [[clerical celibacy]] and reminded ministers of the altar of the perpetual [[Sexual continence|continence]] required of them.
 ==Background==
-It is known that the [[First Ecumenical Council]] which took place at [[Nicaea (city)|Nicaea]] included in its legislation a discipline of the priesthood known as clerical [[Sexual continence|'continence']] or celibacy.<ref>[http://www.sspx.org/miscellaneous/celibacy_for_deacons.htm Ivan Gobry, "The Controversy over celibacy for deacons", from ''The Angelus'',  August 1998.]</ref> This was the requirement of all priests and bishops to refrain from [[Human sexual activity|sexual contact]] with their wives or with any other woman. Thus, for a married man to become a priest, his wife had to agree to abstain from all sexual relations. This discipline added to the legislation of various councils, particularly the [[Council of Elvira]], the date of which cannot be determined with precision, but believed to have been in the first quarter of the fourth century, in [[Spain]].<ref>{{ws|"[[s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Council of Elvira|Council of Elvira]]" in the 1913 ''Catholic Encyclopedia''}}.</ref><ref> [http://www.crisismagazine.com/october2006/ryland.htm Rev. Ray Ryland, "The Gift: A Married Priest Looks at Celibacy"]</ref>
+It is known that the [[First Ecumenical Council]] which took place at [[Nicaea]] included in its legislation a discipline of the priesthood known as clerical [[Sexual continence|'continence']] or celibacy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sspx.org/miscellaneous/celibacy_for_deacons.htm |title=Ivan Gobry, "The Controversy over celibacy for deacons", from ''The Angelus'', August 1998. |access-date=2008-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117124126/http://www.sspx.org/miscellaneous/celibacy_for_deacons.htm |archive-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This was the requirement of all priests and bishops to refrain from [[Human sexual activity|sexual contact]] with their wives or with any other woman. Thus, for a married man to become a priest, his wife had to agree to abstain from all sexual relations. This discipline added to the legislation of various councils, particularly the [[Council of Elvira]], the date of which cannot be determined with precision, but believed to have been in the first quarter of the fourth century, in [[Spain]].<ref>{{Cite CE1913|wstitle=Council of Elvira}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.crisismagazine.com/october2006/ryland.htm |title=Rev. Ray Ryland, "The Gift: A Married Priest Looks at Celibacy" |access-date=2008-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013112245/http://crisismagazine.com/october2006/ryland.htm |archive-date=2007-10-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
-While priests of the East and West were required to refrain from all sexual contact by virtue of their presiding at sacrifices, it is obvious that this was an exceedingly difficult discipline to maintain. Just as the [[Levite|Levite priests]] of the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Jewish Temple in Jerusalem]] had been required to abstain from sexual contact (in order to achieve ritual purity) merely ''for a lengthy period prior to'' the periodic performance of the sacrifices of the temple, so the priests of the Early Church were required by ecclesiastical law to abstain from sexual contact.<ref>[http://zimmerman.catholic.ac/p-celibacy.htm Fr. Anthony Zimmerman, STD, "Celibacy dates back to the Apostles"]</ref> However, Christian priests presided at the sacrifice of the [[Eucharist]] every Sunday as well as the annual feasts of the various martyrs. Thus, Christian priests were not afforded by the Christian calendar periods in which they could be sexually active with their wives.
+While priests of the East and West were required to refrain from all sexual contact by virtue of their presiding at sacrifices, this was an exceedingly difficult discipline to maintain. Just as the [[Levite|Levite priests]] of the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Jewish Temple in Jerusalem]] had been required to abstain from sexual contact (in order to achieve ritual purity) merely ''for a lengthy period prior to'' the periodic performance of the sacrifices of the temple, so the priests of the Early Church were required by ecclesiastical law to abstain from sexual contact.<ref>[http://zimmerman.catholic.ac/p-celibacy.htm Fr. Anthony Zimmerman, STD, "Celibacy dates back to the Apostles"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022044253/http://zimmerman.catholic.ac/p-celibacy.htm |date=October 22, 2007 }}</ref> However, Christian priests presided at the sacrifice of the [[Eucharist]] every Sunday as well as the annual feasts of the various martyrs. Thus, the Christian calendar did not afford Christian priests periods in which they could be sexually active with their wives.
 ==The ''Directa'' Decretal==
-In the ''Directa'', the Pope dealt with the fact that clerics (deacons, priests, and bishops) were still living with their wives and having children, thus contravening the [[Council of Elvira]] and the [[First Ecumenical Council]]. Priests were justifying this by referring to the traditions of the [[Levite|Levitical priesthood]] of the [[Old Testament]]. Siricius was emphatic that clerical continence belonged to immemorial, even apostolic, tradition.<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_cclergy_doc_01011993_chisto_en.html Roman Cholij, "Priestly celibacy in patristics and in the history of the Church"]</ref> He declared that priests had been under a duty to observe ''temporary'' continence when serving in [[Temple in Jerusalem|the Temple]], but that the [[Nativity of Jesus|coming of Christ]] had brought the old priesthood to completion, and by this fact the duty of temporary continence had become an obligation to ''perpetual'' continence.<ref>[http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/mcgovern/celhist1.html Father Thomas McGovern, ""Celibacy: a historical perspective"]</ref> Fifteen points are studied in the decretal,<ref>[http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=223465&event=6450SBF%7C221593%7C6450 Cochini, ''op. cit''.]</ref> but the key passage is that
+In the ''Directa'', the Pope dealt with the fact that clerics (deacons, priests, and bishops) were still living with their wives and having children, thus contravening the [[Council of Elvira]] and the [[First Ecumenical Council]]. Priests were justifying this by referring to the traditions of the [[Levite|Levitical priesthood]] of the [[Old Testament]]. Siricius was emphatic that clerical continence belonged to immemorial, even apostolic, tradition.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_cclergy_doc_01011993_chisto_en.html Roman Cholij, "Priestly celibacy in patristics and in the history of the Church"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219140232/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_cclergy_doc_01011993_chisto_en.html |date=February 19, 2008 }}</ref> He declared that priests had been under a duty to observe ''temporary'' continence when serving in [[Temple in Jerusalem|the Temple]], but that the [[Nativity of Jesus|coming of Christ]] had brought the old priesthood to completion, and by this fact the duty of temporary continence had become an obligation to ''perpetual'' continence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/mcgovern/celhist1.html|title=Chapter One: Celibacy - A Historical Perspective (Part 1)|website=www.christendom-awake.org|access-date=2019-02-08}}</ref> Fifteen points are studied in the decretal,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.christianbook.com/page/promotion/current-promotions?event=6450SBF%7C221593%7C6450|title=Current Sales Email Promotions - Christianbook.com|website=www.christianbook.com|access-date=2019-02-08}}</ref> but the key passage is:
 {{cquote|The Lord Jesus formally stipulated in the Gospel that he had not come to abolish the law, but to bring it to perfection; this is also why he wanted the beauty of the Church whose Bridegroom he is to shine with the splendor of chastity so that when he returns, on the Day of Judgment, he will find her without stain or wrinkle, as his Apostle taught. It is through the indissoluble law of these decisions that all of us, priests and deacons, are bound together from the day of our ordination, and [held to] put our hearts and our bodies to the service of sobriety and purity; may we be pleasing to our God in all things, in the sacrifice we offer daily.<ref>[http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/celibacy.html#The%20Early%20Church%20and%20Celibacy Christian Cochini, S.J., "Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy", (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1990)]</ref>}}
-[[Sexual continence|Continence]] was required of all Christian priests by [[ecclesiastical law]] until the [[East-West Schism|great schism]], and is still required of [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|Catholic priests]] today;<ref>{{ws|"[[s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Celibacy of the Clergy|Celibacy of the Clergy]]" in the 1913 ''Catholic Encyclopedia''}}</ref> many [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] do not require celibacy of their priests.
+[[Sexual continence|Continence]] was required of all Christian priests by [[ecclesiastical law]] until the [[East-West Schism|great schism]], and is still required of [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|Catholic priests]] today;<ref>{{Cite CE1913|wstitle=Celibacy of the Clergy}}</ref> many [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] do not require celibacy of their priests.
+==See also==
+* [[Clerical celibacy (Catholic Church)]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 19: / Line 24: @@
 ==External links==
+* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130120155851/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04670b.htm ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', ''s.v.'' "Papal Decretals"]
-* [http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=223465&event=6450SBF%7C221593%7C6450 Excerpt from Christian Cochini, S.J., "Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy"]
-* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04670b.htm ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', ''s.v.'' "Papal Decretals"]
-==See also==
+[[Category:Canon law history]]
-* [[Clerical celibacy (Catholic Church)]]
-[[Category:Canon law (Catholic Church)]]
 [[Category:Documents of Pope Siricius]]
-[[Category:Catholic priesthood]]
+[[Category:Major orders in the Catholic Church]]
-[[sv:Directa ad decessorem]]