Why Farther

[rozerz]

Hi there
I was wondering why Catholics address their ministers as Farther. would any one be able to shine some light on this? thanks

 

[Foundthelight]

From Catholic Answers. It is a good read.

Call No Man "Father"?

 

[Foundthelight]

You will receive a great many good answers to this question. Just remember that you are not allowed to debate those answers.

Intelligent questions. Yes.

Debate. No.

 

[JoabAnias]

Orders

• Priests as "Father"

Roman Catholic Christians have a long custom--tradition--to address their priests as "father." Many Christians feel that this practice is in disagreement with the word of God.

Mt 23:8-10 As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah.

If this passage was meant to be taken literally, then we all offend the Scripture. We all have used "father" to designate our birth father; and "teacher," our instructors at school. On the other hand, the meaning of the scripture is that no person should be given the respect and honor due ultimately to God the Father.

Catholic Christians call the priests "father" with the sense understood by Paul.

1 Cor 4:14-16 I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you, be imitators of me.

1 Thess 2:11-12 As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

 

[ebia]

Anyone know how old the tradition is?

 

[Basil the Great]

That is an interesting question and I do not know the answer, but I am curious at to whether the Anglicans call their priests "Father".

 

[ebia]

That is an interesting question and I do not know the answer, but I am curious at to whether the Anglicans call their priests "Father".

High church Anglicans do, evangelical Anglicans tend not to. Our Rector prefers to be called simply by his Christian name.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

Its Father

 

[AMDG]

Anyone know how old the tradition is?

Well, the Apostle Paul called himself our spiritual father.

 

[JoabAnias]

Anyone know how old the tradition is?

In the early Church, clerics did not generally bear standard titles. It seems that "pappa" (Greek for "daddy") was an accepted form of address for bishops in general. In the West, "pappa" or the Latinized form "papa" became almost exclusively associated with the Bishop of Rome since the time of Leo the Great (A.D. 440-461). A notable exception is the Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria who bears the title "Papa" or "Pope".
Historical Development of Calling Priests Father

 

[Rhamiel]

we call them that because they act as our spiritual father

 

[Memento Mori]

I was wondering why Catholics address their ministers as Farther.

not all of us, just the ones with accents

you already got good answers, so I have nothing to add

 

[ebia]

In the early Church, clerics did not generally bear standard titles. It seems that "pappa" (Greek for "daddy") was an accepted form of address for bishops in general. In the West, "pappa" or the Latinized form "papa" became almost exclusively associated with the Bishop of Rome since the time of Leo the Great (A.D. 440-461). A notable exception is the Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria who bears the title "Papa" or "Pope".
Historical Development of Calling Priests Father

Interesting little article. Thanks.

 

[BAFRIEND]

reminds me of when jimmy swaggart made his comment in a letter stating that any man who calls himself father sins against God

well, when the evangelicals state this ask them who they called on father's day

'hey dad, happy father's day'

LOL

 

[Christian_Believer22]

Anyone know how old the tradition is?

In the OT, a priest was called a father.

"And they said to him, 'Keep quiet, put your hand upon your mouth, and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and family in Israel?'"
- Judges 18:19

 

[ebia]

In the OT, a priest was called a father.

"And they said to him, 'Keep quiet, put your hand upon your mouth, and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and family in Israel?'" - Judges 18:19

I don't know that that demonstrates any kind of regular practice, and even if it did, judging from the Taylor Marshall article there's a large period of discontinuity between then and current practice.

I'm not objecting to the practice, just curious about its history.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

Hi there
I was wondering why Catholics address their ministers as Farther. would any one be able to shine some light on this? thanks

Hi, this might help to answer your question
Call No Man "Father"?

God bless