I have a character in my novel who's a seminarian during the 18th century. Towards the middle of the novel (which I haven't written yet- curse you real life!) I want him to finish up his studies and become a priest, since his faith is the chief motivating factor in his life and he does need a jod. *g*
Does anyone know anything about the process of Catholic ordination, or how someone might be feeling leading up to it? Even though being a priest was kind of just a job back around the 1780s, my MC's very spiritual, soit's a calling more than anything else. I'm guessing that since he sees it as a commitment to God, my character would probably feel nervous and withdawn and aprehensive, but I imagine it's probably a deeply moving time, spiritually speaking, i.e. lots of praying, meditating, discussion with his priest/bishop/professors, etc.
Thanks!
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9,250 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 20 16
First of all, it's not a job and really has never been seen as a job historically. It's a vocation. He'll have entered a seminary, studied philosophy, theology, church history, probably Latin and Greek-- I don't know what else. He would have probably then joined an order, like the Dominicans, Jesuits, Franciscans back then. He probably would have entered at a young age then, for whatever reason, he probably would have felt a very strong calling or desire to be a priest. He probably would have been raised in a very devout family.
Let's see, depending on what order he would have joined he would have spent time as a novice (I'm reading a memoir of a Jesuit, so that's fresh in my mind), studied and then taken his vows of obedience, chastity and poverty. Historically, he'd go through several steps to get to ordination. He'd be ordained a Deacon before his final ordination as a priest. He'd be ordained through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Which is a beautiful sacrament to watch.
I can't guess what he'd be feeling before Ordination as I don't know your character, but my character: he was scared, nervous, excited, humbled, overwhelmed, and peaceful. I'm sure that all men who go through Holy Orders feel a combination of all of those feelings and more.
I can really tell you more about modern times. If you want more details PM and I'll dig up the information I have. One thing you can do is Google search on various orders and you might find some helpful info. I think the catholic encyclopedia has a good article about the priesthood. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12409a.htm
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Maria
http://cosmicink.livejournal.com/
A Promise Unfulfilled '06
"…therein is in writing the constant joy of sudden discovery, of happy accident." H.L. Mencken
52,273 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 23 33
>>He would have probably then joined an order, like the Dominicans, Jesuits, Franciscans back then<<
Oh not so fast. Diocesan priests were many in the 1700s, and coming fresh on the Council of Trent (mid1500s) with its mandate for seminaries, your character could easily have become a diocesan (local vs religious order) priest. Seminary training would have included Latin and theology--and rigorous training in the catechism of the day. There was a strong divide between the secular and the religious, with the religiously inclined expressing great fear about the godlessness of the day that was expressed in science and the Enlightenment.
And he wouldn't have "gone to seminary and then joined an order." Altogether backwards.
Shannon
51,807 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 11 39
While we are talking about orders, it's worth mentioning the Benedictines, the first historically and the largest in number when you count all the variations.
The Benedictine rule which orders every aspect of monastery life is shorter than most and not that difficult to read. It can be found here: http://www.kansasmonks.org/RuleOfStBenedict.html As it has been the same since AD 685 or so, it could give you some ideas examples for how your MC practices his faith.
A parish priest may or may not be a part of an order. Some join an order later in life after retiring from a parish. It's my impression that the parish church, not the priest, will be affiliated with a religious order and therefore be staffed by priests from that order.
I'm not that aware of the differences between now and in the 1800s. At one time in the 20th century, education for parish priests - seminary - started in High school. Andrew Greeley talks about it in one of his novels, a high school for future seminarians.
I didn't find much information on the 1700s but here's some from the 1800s:
Jumping around on the internet, these sites popped up:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/6461/1856.html important historical events for Catholics in the 1800s.
http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=10683 history of seminary training in the Catholic church
John Henry Newman was a famous convert to Catholicism in 1845 or so whose life and experiences could provide some background.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Cardinal_Newman
St. Meinrad Archabbey is both a seminary and a Benedictine monastery in southern Indiana that was founded in 1854. www.sainmeinrad.edu
Good luck on your novel.
Dave Z
----------9,250 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 16 23
Oh not so fast. Diocesan priests were many in the 1700s, and coming fresh on the Council of Trent (mid1500s) with its mandate for seminaries, your character could easily have become a diocesan (local vs religious order) priest. Seminary training would have included Latin and theology--and rigorous training in the catechism of the day. There was a strong divide between the secular and the religious, with the religiously inclined expressing great fear about the godlessness of the day that was expressed in science and the Enlightenment.
And he wouldn't have "gone to seminary and then joined an order." Altogether backwards.
Shannon
You're right. I've been doing a lot of reading about the Jesuits right now and my brain is stuck on "orders" but yes, there surely would have been many diocesan priests as well. Like today their lives would have probably have been very different from "religious" priests as well.
Even so, they would have to go through the minor orders, study long and hard before ordination.
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Maria
http://cosmicink.livejournal.com/
A Promise Unfulfilled '06
"…therein is in writing the constant joy of sudden discovery, of happy accident." H.L. Mencken
----------*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maria
http://cosmicink.livejournal.com/
A Promise Unfulfilled '06
"…therein is in writing the constant joy of sudden discovery, of happy accident." H.L. Mencken