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I have a few questions.
1) What are the Catholics beliefs regarding the Higharchy of Angels?
2)If a Catholic marrys a non baptised person in a licit Catholic ceromony is it a sacremental marriage?
3)Is a sub deacon part of the Major or minor orders?
Hi, Jerome:
Thanks for the questions.
1) The Angels are the spirit hosts of Heaven created by God in the beginning when He declared: "Let there be light." They are each a species unto themselves, of a purely spiritual substance; and they are not the souls of human beings.
There are said by tradition to be nine basic choirs of these beings: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Principalities, Powers, Archangels, and Angels. Within eac rank there are billions and billions of beings.
They are divided into the groupings of those who have remained faithful to God Who created them: Angels... and those who followed Satan into rebellion against God: Demons.
2) No. It is a lawful marriage, but not sacramental since it takes two baptized persons, human beings, one male and one female to make a marital consortio that is a Sacrament.
3) Subdeacon has tradtionally been counted among the Major Orders, as the lowest of the Major Orders - though it is said not to confer a sacramental character. While it is a very ancient order, there has been some debate about it over the centuries. In 1972, the Motu Proprio "Ministeria Quaedam" abolished the Subdiaconate in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church; but this abolition seems not to have been complete or perpetual, as with the usus antiquior (Extraordinary Form or "Tridentine") Mass and Sacraments it still exists in its conferral and in its functions. In my personal opionion and speculation, I believe that the order will probably be legally and officially "restored" into regular usage throughout the latin Rite (western)Catholic Church, with it being counted as the highest of the "minor orders." I suppose that only time will tell...
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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