Jump to content
An Old School Catholic Message Board

Age Limits for Ordination


Gabriela

Recommended Posts

In Book 4 of the Sentences, Peter of Lombard states that deacons must be 25 to be ordained, and priests 30. If I'm not mistaken, deacons in the US must now be 35 to be ordained, and on priests there is not lower limit, though the long educational requirement places the average age around 28. Why did the age limit go up for deacons, and down (at least practically speaking) for priests?

Please cite Church sources, rather than guess at an answer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

truthfinder

Hi Gabriela, 

please see canons 1031-1032. Priests must be 25, although a bishop can make an exception an ordain up to a year sooner.  Anything more than a year must go through the Holy See.  Men to be ordained as permanent deacons may also be twenty-five if they are unmarried (and thus will not marry after their ordination). 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think you're confusing transitional deacons and permanent ones. Married men seeking permanent deacon ordination need to be 35, and have their wife's permission. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...