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What's The Lowest Age, That Someone Can Be...


Paladin D

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Theologian in Training

Well, before you can be ordained a priest you have to have a Masters of Divinity, which is a graduate degree. Therefore, it is requisite that you have a Bachelor's of some kind. Also, I think according to canon law, don't quote me, but you need at least two years of formation in the place from which you will be ordained. Given all of that, there is four years for an undergraduate degree and four more years for a graduate degree, since those degrees are usually obtained from someone in their early to late 20's, THE EARLIEST. I would guess then that the person would have to be 20 something in order for them to be ordained a priest.

The earliest, probably mid-20's.

Hope that helps.

God Bless

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They were in an accelerated program, plus, they had the Best of Teachers. :)

(plus, they didn't have to learn the Bible, cuz it hadn't been written yet! And all the history following.....! :P )

Edited by Anna
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The Code of Canon Law says you have to be 25 . . . of course a dispensation can be granted . . . wow, if I had been in the seminary all this time I could be ordained next month! Just so you know, in this country the youngest age is typically 26.

Can. 1031 §1 The priesthood may be conferred only upon those who have completed their twenty-fifth year of age, and possess a sufficient maturity; moreover, an interval of at least six months between the diaconate and the priesthood must have been observed. Those who are destined for the priesthood are to be admitted to the order of diaconate only when they have completed their twenty-third year.

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Here is St. Thomas Aquinas answer. He basically says that a child can recieve minor orders but out of respect to the sacrament this is not done. In regards to the higher Orders you have to be older than the age of reason. He says at the end though that some believe that the age of reason is necessary for the validity of all the Orders.

Whether boys and those who lack the use of reason can receive Orders?

I answer that, Boyhood and other defects which remove the use of reason occasion an impediment to act. Wherefore the like are unfit to receive all those sacraments which require an act on the part of the recipient of the sacrament, such as Penance, Matrimony, and so forth. But since infused powers like natural powers precede acts--although acquired powers follow acts--and the removal of that which comes after does not entail the removal of what comes first, it follows that children and those who lack the use of reason can receive all the sacraments in which an act on the part of the recipient is not required for the validity of the sacrament, but some spiritual power is conferred from above; with this difference, however, that in the minor orders the age of discretion is required out of respect for the dignity of the sacrament, but not for its lawfulness, nor for its validity. Hence some can without sin be raised to the minor orders before the years of discretion, if there be an urgent reason for it and hope of their proficiency. and they are validly ordained; for although at the time they are not qualified for the offices entrusted to them, they will become qualified by being habituated thereto. For the higher Orders, however, the use of reason is required both out of respect for, and for the lawfulness of the sacrament, not only on account of the vow of continency annexed thereto, but also because the handling of the sacraments is entrusted to them [see Acts of the Council of Trent: De Reform., Sess. xxii, cap. 4,11,12. But for the episcopate whereby a man receives power also over the mystical body, the act of accepting the pastoral care of souls is required; wherefore the use of reason is necessary for the validity of episcopal consecration. Some, however, maintain that the use of reason is necessary for the validity of the sacrament in all the Orders. but this statement is not confirmed either by authority or by reason.

http://www.newadvent.org/summa/503902.htm

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Interesting.

My older brother met someone on the web, who is 21, who claims to be a Priest "just ordained". I thought that was rather young, so I told my brother to becareful.

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UPDATE: The 21 year old male "priest", said that he was ordained earlier than most, since the Bishop of the local diocease (typo) had a vision of him being a priest.

So in a sense, this was one of those "rare" cases.

I'll find out what diocease it was, and what bishop.

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UPDATE: The 21 year old male "priest", said that he was ordained earlier than most, since the Bishop of the local diocease (typo) had a vision of him being a priest.

So in a sense, this was one of those "rare" cases. 

I'll find out what diocease it was, and what bishop.

tell your brother to stay away from this guy. My guess is that he is nuts. The bishop could only ordain him if he had Rome's permission according to cannon law a bishop must have Rome's permission to ordain anyone younger than 24. And I can just see teh bishop saying to the Congregation for the Clergy "I had a vision of him as a priest, so I just gotta ordain him." Rome would say, "Umm, nope."

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tell your brother to stay away from this guy. My guess is that he is nuts. The bishop could only ordain him if he had Rome's permission according to cannon law a bishop must have Rome's permission to ordain anyone younger than 24. And I can just see teh bishop saying to the Congregation for the Clergy "I had a vision of him as a priest, so I just gotta ordain him." Rome would say, "Umm, nope."

Thanks, I'll let my brother know.

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Theologian in Training

Actually, according to Canon Law you must have spent two years of formation in the diocese from which you are to be ordained. I actually have seen it happen that a few who were in Nigeria and had all the proper education, and one who actually has a Masters of Divinity, could not be ordained until he had two years formation. It it an interesting rule, to say the least.

God Bless

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Hmm....that's really interesting. I mean if you had to have a bachelor's degree to be a priest, then wouldn't that exclude all those who were too poor to get a college education, as well as those who seriously DID have a vocation but scholarly work just wasn't their thing? Surely that can't be a mandatory requirement for being a priest...

**Free hopes not**

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