Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

74 | PROGRAM OF PRIESTLY FORMATION

174. Seminarians must have exercised the ministries of lector and acolyte (Latin Church) or lower orders (Eastern Catholic Churches) for a suitable period of time before ordination to the diaconate (CIC, c. 1035 §1; CCEO, c. 758 §1, 5°). There is to be an interval of at least six months between the conferral of the ministry of acolyte (Latin Church) and ordi nation to the diaconate (CIC, c. 1035 §2). Prior to ordination to the diaconate, the candidate is to make a canonical retreat (CIC, c. 1039; CCEO, c. 772), take the Oath of Fidelity, 220 and make the Profession of Faith (CIC, c. 833, 6°). The candidate is to be at least twenty-three years of age (CIC, c. 1031 §1; CCEO, c. 759). He is to have completed at least five years of philosophy and theology (CIC, c. 1032 §1; CCEO, c. 760); is to have received candidacy, except for vowed members of clerical insti tutes (CIC, c. 1034); is to be able to articulate the theology and expecta tions of the diaconate (CIC, c. 1028); and in writing is to petition his dioc esan bishop or major superior to be ordained, expressing his free intention and permanent commitment (CIC, cc. 1034 §1, 1036; CCEO, c. 761). The seminary is to certify to the diocesan bishop or major superior that all these requirements have been met (CIC, c. 1050, 1°; CCEO, c. 769, §1 1°). The rector verifies that the candidate for the diaconate accepts the teachings of the Church, prays the complete Liturgy of the Hours (or the Divine Praises, for the Eastern Catholic Churches), attends daily Mass, receives the Sacrament of Penance regularly, and is committed to a life of celibacy. A judgment concerning the suitability of a candidate to receive the diaconate as a transitional step to priesthood includes a judgment concerning his suitability for priestly ministry. It is not possible to admit a candidate to the diaconate in the face of doubts concerning his suit ability for the priesthood. For this reason the judgment reached by the scrutiny undertaken with a view to ordination to the diaconate is deci sive. If this judgment is positive, it should be changed only in the light of new and grave information in the course of the next scrutiny prior to priestly ordination. 221 Deacons must exercise the diaconal order for a suitable period of time before being ordained to the priesthood (CIC, c. 1032 §2). This vocational synthesis stage “has a twofold purpose: on the one hand it is 175. 176.

220 See Acta Apostolicae Sedis (AAS) 81 (1989): 104-106. 221 See Scrutinies , no. 11.