DECREE on the MINISTRY and
LIFE of PRIESTS
PRESBYTERORUM ORDINIS
PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS, POPE PAUL VI on DECEMBER 7, 1965

PAULUS EPISCOPUS
SERVUS SERVORUM DEI
UNA CUM SACROSANCTI CONCILII PATRIBUS
AD PERPETUAM REI MEMORIAM
DECRETUM DE PRESBYTERORUM MINISTERIO ET VITA
PRESBYTERORUM ORDINIS

a sign and

a stimulus for pastoral charity and

a special source of spiritual fruitfulness in the world. 34

signum simul et

stimulus caritatis pastoralis atque

 peculiaris fons spiritualis foecunditatis in mundo.

Indeed, it is not demanded by the very nature of the priesthood, as is apparent from the practice of the early Church 35 and from the traditions of the Eastern Churches. where, besides those who with all the bishops, by a gift of grace, choose to observe celibacy, there are also married priests of highest merit. This holy synod, while it commends ecclesiastical celibacy, in no way intends to alter that different discipline which legitimately flourishes in the Eastern Churches. It permanently exhorts all those who have received the priesthood and marriage to persevere in their holy vocation so that they may fully and generously continue to expend themselves for the sake of the flock commended to them. 36

  Non exigitur quidem a sacerdotio suapte natura, uti apparet ex praxi Ecclesiae primaevae et ex traditione Ecclesiarum Orientalium, ubi praeter illos qui cum omnibus Episcopis ex dono gratiae coelibatum eligunt servandum, sunt etiam optime meriti Presbyteri coniugati: dum vero ecclesiasticum coelibatum commendat, Sacrosancta haec Synodus nullo modo absimilem illam disciplinam immutare intendit, quae in Orientalibus Ecclesiis legitime viget, omnesque illos peramanter hortatur, qui in matrimonio presbyteratum receperunt, ut, in sancta vocatione perseverantes, plene et generose vitam suam gregi sibi commisso impendere pergant.

They adhere to him more easily with an undivided heart,38  

Ei facilius indiviso corde adhaerent,

they dedicate themselves more freely in him and through him to the service of God and men,

 liberius in Ipso et per Ipsum servitio Dei et hominum sese dedicant,

and they more expeditiously minister to his Kingdom and the work of heavenly regeneration,

Eius Regno ac operi regenerationis supernae expeditius ministrant,

and thus they are apt to accept, in a broad sense, fatherhood in Christ.

et sic aptiores fiunt qui paternitatem in Christo latius accipiant.

to evoke the mysterious marriage established by Christ, and fully to be manifested in the future, in which the Church has Christ as her only Spouse. 40

They give, moreover, a living sign of the world to come, by a faith and charity already made present, in which the children of the resurrection neither marry nor take wives. 41

For these reasons, based on the mystery of Christ and his mission, celibacy, which first was recommended to priests, later in the Latin Church was imposed upon all who were to be promoted to sacred orders. This legislation, pertaining to those who are destined for the priesthood, this holy synod again approves and confirms, fully trusting this gift of the Spirit so fitting for the priesthood of the New Testament, freely given by the Father, provided that those who participate in the priesthood of Christ through the sacrament of Orders-and also the whole Church-humbly and fervently pray for it. This sacred synod also exhorts all priests who, in following the example of Christ, freely receive sacred celibacy as a grace of God, that they magnanimously and wholeheartedly adhere to it, and that persevering faithfully in it, they may acknowledge this outstanding gift of the Father which is so openly praised and extolled by the Lord. 42 Let them keep before their eyes the great mysteries signified by it and fulfilled in it. Insofar as perfect continence is thought by many men to be impossible in our times, to that extent priests should all the more humbly and steadfastly pray with the Church for that grace of fidelity, which is never denied those who seek it, and use all the supernatural and natural aids available. They should especially seek, lest they omit them, the ascetical norms which have been proved by the experience of the Church and which are scarcely less necessary in the contemporary world. This holy synod asks not only priests but all the faithful that they might receive this precious gift of priestly celibacy in their hearts and ask of God that he will always bestow this gift upon his Church.

 His rationibus in mysterio Christi Eiusque missione fundatis, coelibatus, qui prius sacerdotibus commendabatur, postea in Ecclesia Latina omnibus ad Ordinem sacrum promovendis lege impositus est. Quam legislationem, ad eos qui ad Presbyteratum destinantur quod attinet, Sacrosancta haec Synodus iterum comprobat et confirmat, confidens in Spiritu donum coelibatus, sacerdotio Novi Testamenti tam congruum, liberaliter a Patre dari, dummodo qui sacerdotium Christi per Sacramentum Ordinis participant, immo et universa Ecclesia, humiliter et enixe illud expetant. Exhortatur etiam haec Sacra Synodus omnes Presbyteros, qui sacrum coelibatum gratia Dei confisi libera voluntate secundum exemplum Christi acceperunt ut, illi magno animo et toto corde inhaerentes, atque in hoc statu fideliter perseverantes, agnoscant praeclarum illud donum, quod a Patre sibi datum est quodque a Domino tam aperte extollitur, necnon prae oculis habeant magna mysteria, quae in eo significantur atque adimplentur. Quo magis autem perfecta continentia in mundo huius temporis a non paucis hominibus impossibilis reputatur, eo humilius et perseverantius Presbyteri gratiam fidelitatis, numquam petentibus denegatam, una cum Ecclesia expostulabunt, cuncta subsidia supernaturalia et naturalia insimul adhibentes, quae omnibus praesto sunt. Normas praesertim asceticas quae ab experientia Ecclesiae probantur et quae in mundo hodierno haud minus necessariae sunt, sequi ne omittant. Rogat itaque haec Sacrosancta Synodus non solum sacerdotes, sed et omnes fideles, ut eis hoc pretiosum donum coelibatus sacerdotalis cordi sit, petantque omnes a Deo, ut Ipse illud donum Ecclesiae suae semper abundanter largiatur.