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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Simplex priest	Lawson	Sunday, July 15, 2007
Question: What exactly is a a simplex priest and do they still use them? I ask because in The Lives of the Saints (an older version from the 40s my grand dad has) one of the saints cant recall which, said he was a simplex priest. Thanks
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Lawson: I believe a Simplex Priest is usually a man who does not have theological training but is ordained as a priest anyway under restricted faculties. The Simplex Priest can say Mass, but cannot hear confessions or preach dogmatic sermons. The most famous Simplex Priest is probably Venerable Solanus Casey. Father Casey was a simple Capuchin friar who had problems studying for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1904 as a Simplex Priest. Father Solanus Casey died in Detroit, Michigan, July 31, 1957, at the age of 87. There are no canonical provisions for Simplex Priests today. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Simplex priest

Lawson

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Question:

What exactly is a a simplex priest and do they still use them? I ask because in The Lives of the Saints (an older version from the 40s my grand dad has) one of the saints cant recall which, said he was a simplex priest.

Thanks

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Lawson:

I believe a Simplex Priest is usually a man who does not have theological training but is ordained as a priest anyway under restricted faculties. The Simplex Priest can say Mass, but cannot hear confessions or preach dogmatic sermons.

The most famous Simplex Priest is probably Venerable Solanus Casey. Father Casey was a simple Capuchin friar who had problems studying for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1904 as a Simplex Priest. Father Solanus Casey died in Detroit, Michigan, July 31, 1957, at the age of 87.

There are no canonical provisions for Simplex Priests today.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum