Incorrupt Bodies and Canonizing Saints

Posted on June 15, 2023 by Cathy Caridi

Q:  I know you wrote a book about canonizing saints … [and so] it would be helpful if you’d please weigh in on the issue of sainthood and incorrupt bodies.

I assume you’ve heard about the discovery of the incorrupt body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster in Missouri (USA).  A bunch of women from our parish jumped on a bus and ran to see her body.  Now they are pontificating on her sainthood and already preparing verbal attacks on the Vatican and the Pope himself, if they don’t declare her a saint based on this miracle.

What’s the connection between somebody’s body being found to be incorrupt, and their canonization as a saint?  …[W]e have lots of saints whose bodies are not incorrupt, otherwise we wouldn’t have so many bone-relics of saints out there… –Craig Continue reading →

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Preventing Desecration of the Eucharist

Posted on June 1, 2023 by Cathy Caridi

Q:  My diocese has seen a spate of attempted thefts of the Eucharist.  Usually this happens when someone receives the Host and tries to put It into his/her pocket.  Once, though, someone approached a deacon with money and tried to buy a Host!

We are all keeping a close eye out for strange behavior by people receiving Holy Communion, especially if they are not familiar to us.  Some of us are wondering if there is also some way to make restrictions in order to protect the Eucharist, without violating canonical rights.  For example, under these circumstances could a pastor refuse Communion to someone he doesn’t know?  Could a parish require everyone attending Mass to show identification when entering the church, and keep a list?  Most of our parishes already have security cameras, but they can’t catch everything, and anyway a camera can’t prevent a thief from leaving the church before anybody notices what s/he has done…. –Bella Continue reading →

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Can I Become a Priest, If I Have an Illegitimate Child?

Posted on May 4, 2023 by Cathy Caridi

Q1: I have been discerning a call to the priesthood … [and] I have met with the vocations director and the bishop of this diocese.  The bishop said I cannot be ordained a priest because I have a child out of wedlock, from a relationship which ended years ago.  I changed my life after that time, and live fully in accord with God’s laws … can I really be barred from the priesthood because I have a child? –Raoul

Q2: I was once engaged, never married, … the engagement ended for mutual reasons. I’ve always been drawn to the priesthood, I feel like this is my calling.  Am I still eligible for the priesthood if I was engaged but never married? –Jim Continue reading →

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Can a Laicized Priest Return to the Priesthood?

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Cathy Caridi

Q:  I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of X, and then left the priesthood to get married.  Here I am sixteen years later, the marriage ended, no children.  I have been reassessing my life … [and concluding that] it was a bad decision overall…..  I really want to return to active ministry if it is at all possible.

Does canon law permit this?  And if so, does it ever happen in practice?  If it can be done, I assume I will have to schedule a meeting with the current diocesan bishop, but I don’t want to ask for an appointment if there is no point in it.  Any information you could provide would be appreciated …. –James Continue reading →

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Is Confession Still an Easter Duty? (Repost)

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Cathy Caridi

(Lately, given the season, there have been quite a lot of web-searches for “Easter duty” leading readers to this site–so it seems feasible to repost this piece again for everyone.  A blessed Easter to all!)

Q: When I was a kid, everyone was required during Lent to make his “Easter Duty.” Every parishioner received a card from the parish. When we went to confession before Easter, we handed the card to the priest. By Easter he had a huge stack of cards, showing which parishioners had made their Easter Duty and who hadn’t. But nowadays, people hardly ever go to confession like they used to, and nobody ever talks about Easter Duty. Has this requirement been abolished like so many other things? –Janet Continue reading →

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