On August 21, 2024, my fellow candidates for Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate and I, along with our wives, participated in the Ceremony of
Sacred Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity "in the presence of the local ordinary, or his delegate," at the Bethany Chapel for the Pastoral Center in Braintree. This ceremony is the final step before we receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders on Sep. 21 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross ... and it is required by Canon Law (
Can. 833) for all men approaching Holy Orders "at the beginning of their function," including "
those to be promoted to the order of the diaconate".
Reverend Paul Soper, the Secretary for Ministerial Personnel and Director of Clergy Personnel, presided over the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity at Evening Prayer, assisted by Deacon Christopher Connelly, Director of Permanent Diaconate Formation. Near the end of each of the ceremonies, which was essentially a recitation of the creed and an oath to live up to the teachings and authority of the Catholic Church, each candidate placed his hand on the book of the Gospels and invoked God’s help to uphold these promises (and signed the appropriate papers acknowledging the same which was then witnessed and affixed with the Archbishop's seal by the presider). This was followed by a community dinner to congratulate everyone for this new step in our path toward ordination. While at dinner, Dcn Chris handed out our parish assignments and the Call to Holy Orders (a letter from Cardinal Sean).
Not knowing what to expect, I had previously done a quick search to find the formula promulgated by
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) for each (see below). In the
first paragraph of the Profession of Faith, the Nicene Creed is introduced with a sentence that simply mentions matters to be believed "with firm faith," such as, matters taught "as divinely revealed and calling for faith." No surprises here ... we usually profess the Creed every week at Mass as an article of faith.
The
second paragraph requires the firm acceptance and holding of Church teachings that are "definitively proposed" with regards to faith and morals ... The wording here is derived from the teaching of Vatican I, and it roughly corresponds to the norm of
Can. 750 §1 and is, more or less, binding on all catholics, although the text does have some flexibility with regard to the distinction between truths of Christian faith infallibly defined and other teachings as well as the possibility of future development or changes in such "definitive" teaching (so once again, nothing new here).
Finally, the
third paragraph goes beyond matters of "divine and catholic faith" to assert to the nondefinitive, noninfallible, nonirrevocable teaching of the pope and the other bishops as characterized by
Can. 752, "when they exercise the authentic magisterium even if they do not intend to proclaim it with a definitive act." For this, the canon properly requires "not the assent of faith [like the creed and other revealed truths identified in the prior paragraphs] but a religious obsequium of intellect and will." ... In other words, don't undermine your boss and be a good exemplar of the faith ... the former comes with any hierarchical organization (such as the military) ... the later may require a bit more effort (we are all a work in progress).
While the
Professio fidei is about what we must believe and/or assent to, it doesn't go much beyond what is expected from all catholics. On the other hand, the
Iurisiurandi fidelitatis is all about what we should (or should not) do ... so it stands to reason that persons assuming any ecclesiastical office (to be exercised in the name of the Church) would be canonically bound to take it, as it constitutes a broad promise in
paragraph one "to preserve ecclesial communion as well as to maintain Church doctrine and discipline." This is partially based on
Can. 209, §1, and binds all the Christian faithful; although the context here calls for this obligation be sworn to and seems to imply that officeholders have a greater obligation of communion than the rest of the faithful. In fact, the oath adds the invocation of the name of God and obliges the oath-taker by reason of the virtue of religion.
This connection to officeholders within the Church also appears to be emphasized in paragraph two, where we see language that incorporates aspects of an oath of office with promises to carry out carefully and faithfully "the duties incumbent on me toward the universal Church and the particular church in which… I have been called to exercise my service."
This is further reenforced in paragraph three, which begins with, "In fulfilling the charge entrusted to me in the name of the Church," a phrase that explicitly confirms the interpretation that the positions in question are true ecclesiastical offices to which appointments are made by Church authority, which acts officially "in the name of the Church." More over, the mention of handing on the faith appears to apply to those officials who exercise the ministry of the word through preaching, catechetical formation, and other means. Equally important, it is the deposit of faith in the strict sense (as referred to in the profession of faith, both the credal text and the first added paragraph) that is at issue.
Paragraph four amounts to what any military veteran would recognize as a promise to maintain "good order and disciple" by the "observance of all ecclesiastical laws, especially those contained in the Code of Canon Law" (as opposed to the UCMJ). Once again, the oath to observe all ecclesiastical laws makes the failure to observe canon law a graver transgression by the virtue of religion.
Finally,
paragraph five amounts to a promise to be united with the Bishops in how we preach, teach and otherwise pass on the faith by virtue of assisting in his "apostolic activity" in communion with the whole Church. In other words, do what the bossman tells you to do (with respect to doctrine and discipline) and make him look good while doing it.
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PROFESSION OF FAITH
I, Kris Larson, with firm faith believe and profess each and everything that is contained in the Symbol of faith, namely:
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
With firm faith, I also believe everything contained in the word of God, whether written or handed down in Tradition, which the Church, either by a solemn judgment or [through] the ordinary and universal Magisterium, as divinely revealed [and calling for faith]. I also firmly accept and hold each and everything definitively proposed by the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals.
Moreover, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman Pontiff or the College of Bishops enunciate when they exercise their authentic Magisterium, even if they proclaim these teachings by an act that is not definitive.
OATH OF FIDELITY
ON ASSUMING AN OFFICE
TO BE EXERCISED IN THE NAME OF THE CHURCH
(Formula to be used by members of the Christian faithful mentioned in canon 833, nn. 5-8)
I, Kris Larson, in assuming the office of Deacon, promise that both in my words and in my conduct I shall always preserve communion with the Catholic Church.
I shall care out with the greatest case and fidelity the duties incumbent on me toward both the universal Church and the particular Church in which, according to the provisions of the law, I have been called to exercise my service.
In fulfilling the charge entrusted to me in the name of the Church, I shall hold fast to the deposit of faith in its entirety; I shall faithfully hand it on and explain it, and I shall avoid any teachings opposed to that faith.
I shall follow and foster the common discipline of the whole Church and I shall observe all ecclesiastical laws, especially those which are contained in the Code of Canon Law.
With Christian obedience I shall follow what the Bishops, as authentic doctors and teachers of the faith, declare, or what they, as those who govern the Church, establish. I shall also faithfully assist the diocesan Bishops, so that the apostolic activity, exercised in the name and by mandate of the Church, may be carried out in communion with the Church.
So help me God, and God’s Holy Gospels on which I place my hand.
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