Vastly inadequate access to the Mass and the sacraments is not at all limited to “far, far off places”. It is experienced here in the US as thousands of parishes and missions are closed because of the shortage of priests. Were it not for the importing of so many international priests, the situation would be far worse. In this context it is important to note that “vir probati” does not refer to young men in seminary. It refers to older individuals whose marriages have met the test of time and who may discern a call to serve the church as priests so as to celebrate the sacraments which form and nourish the faith of the community. Movement in that direction would not require parishes to have to come up with potentially unavailable compensation. But let no one be misled by those who suggest that problem. Most parishes in urban and suburban areas as well as larger parishes in rural areas would have no difficulty raising whatever funds would be required. Are Catholics not as well off as our Protestant brethren? But initially the “vir probati” would be men like so many of our married deacons who have the time and energy to serve the church without overtaxing the resources of fellow parishioners. Why don’t the bishops, including the Holy Father, ask the people to weigh in on this possibility? I can tell you that most older priests would welcome such a step.
