![]() ![]() In addition, they had to remain ceremonially clean to perform their duties before a holy God. The priests would be males from the tribe of Levi and must meet certain physical and age qualifications in order to serve. When the Jews received the Law of Moses at Sinai, the Lord gave commands regarding a formal priesthood for Israel. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, was the priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1 18:1). Pagan nations also had priests for their religious activities. Melchizedek was also said to be “a priest forever” (Psalm 110:4 cf. Melchizedek was the king of the town of Salem, which later became Jerusalem. For example, we first see the role of a priest in Genesis 14:18 during Abraham’s time, long before Levi was born. Priests existed prior to the Levites in a general sense. All priests were to be Levites, according to the Law, but not all Levites were priests. The priests of Israel were a group of qualified men from within the tribe of the Levites who had responsibility over aspects of tabernacle or temple worship. And yes, I would agree with you that our primary fundraising efforts should be on behalf of the truly poor, who may not have enough to live anywhere at all.The Levites were the tribe of Israelites descended from Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. These figures would tend to show that most retired diocesan priests, while not living in poverty, don’t live in luxury either. From this income, a retired priest is responsible for his expenses - rent, food, transportation, extraordinary health costs, etc. Retirees, if their health is good, might also help with Masses at a parish, for which they would receive a stipend (perhaps $25 for a weekday Mass, $75 on a weekend). If a priest has contributed to Social Security over the years (some opted not to), he is eligible for a second monthly check - but since his lifetime earnings were minimal, that check is generally not substantial. ![]() The monthly retirement stipend from our diocese (for those retiring at 75) is $1,900. (Retired priests generally decline to remain in the rectory where they served as pastor even if it’s offered they do not want to compromise the work of a new pastor by dividing the loyalties of parishioners.) Most retirees wind up renting an apartment. Some priests may have inherited a family home, but that is by far the exception. In fact, most dioceses do not have retirement homes for their priests, and following retirement (in our diocese, it has been optional at 70, mandatory at 75) a priest is on his own financially. As a diocesan priest for 49 years who will soon face retirement, I took a particular interest in your question - and I almost wish that things were as you describe them. After all these collections and all the beautiful retirement homes for priests that now exist, shouldn’t we be doing more instead for the poor? The very ones who have contributed to build these homes cannot afford the comfort and the luxury that priests now enjoy.Ī. Many, many devout Catholics have contributed over the years to special collections for the benefit of retired priests. ![]() With all due respect to my Catholic faith, there is one thing that I question. So, the great figures of the Old Testament, though never formally canonized by the Latin-rite Church, are worthy of our devotion and our imitation. 61: “The patriarchs, prophets and certain other Old Testament figures have been and always will be honored as saints in all the Church’s liturgical traditions.” ![]() The Catechism of the Catholic Church also has this to say in No. The “Roman Martyrology,” a compilation of those honored as saints, includes such notable Old Testament figures as Isaiah, Abraham and King David. Surely, Moses and Elijah are safely there, since they appeared with Jesus on Mount Tabor at the Transfiguration.Ĭatholic churches of the Eastern rite (Greek or Byzantine, for example) do, in fact, celebrate specific feast days for Old Testament figures: Joshua and Moses, Daniel, the seven Maccabee brothers, etc. The word “saint” is commonly taken to mean someone who followed the will of God and is now in heaven. Since then, sainthood has generally been ascribed to people who provided outstanding examples of lives modeled after the teachings of Jesus, which would exclude those who lived before Christ.ĭoes that mean that we cannot pray to Old Testament figures or seek their intercession? By no means. Martin of Tours, who died in 397, was probably the first non-martyr assigned a feast day. In the earliest centuries of the Church, only those who had been martyred for their faith were commemorated liturgically on their anniversaries. It is true that, in the Catholic Church, Old Testament figures have not been formally canonized and given the title of “saint.” I suspect that this has to do with the historical process by which that title came to be assigned. Figures from the Old Testament are never referred to as saints. ![]()
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