The Sacrament of Holy Orders

• Holy Orders is the

sacrament through which
the mission entrusted by
Christ to his apostles
continues to be exercised
in the Church until the
end of time: thus it is the
sacrament of apostolic
ministry.
• It includes three
degrees:
1. episcopate,
2. presbyterate,
3. diaconate.
• Only a man who has already
been ordained a deacon may
be ordained to the priesthood.
A man who is to be
• ordained a priest must be
twenty-five years old. In the
Roman Rite a man who is to
be ordained a priest must
normally promise to be
celibate for the sake of the
Kingdom.
• Holy Orders: the sacrament
can be received at the earliest
at 23 years (deacons), 25 years
(priest) or 35 years (bishop),
according to canon 1031 CIC.
Matter and form
• For Holy Orders,
matter is the
imposition of hands
whereas the form
requires adherence to
the prayer of
consecration for each
order (bishop, priest,
or deacon).
Old Testament
• In the Old Testament, the chosen
people was constituted by God as "a
kingdom of priests and a holy
nation."
• But within the people of Israel, God
chose one of the twelve tribes, that
of Levi, and set it apart for liturgical
service; God himself is its inheritance.
• A special rite consecrated the
beginnings of the priesthood of the
Old Covenant. The priests are
"appointed to act on behalf of men in
relation to God, to offer gifts and
sacrifices for sins.
New Testament
• In the New Testament, everything that the
priesthood of the Old Covenant prefigured
finds its fulfillment in Christ Jesus, the "one
mediator between God and men. The
redemptive sacrifice of Christ is unique,
accomplished once for all; yet it is made
present in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the
Church.
• The same is true of the one priesthood of
Christ; it is made present through the
ministerial priesthood without diminishing
the uniqueness of Christ's priesthood: "Only
Christ is the true priest, the others being
only his ministers."
Institution
• The synoptic Gospels relate that Jesus, at the
Last Supper, took bread and wine and told his
disciples to eat and drink, for these were his
body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins:
“Do this in remembrance of me” (Lk 22:19, RSV).
• “DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.” CHRIST GAVE THE
APOSTLES AND THEIR SUCCESSORS THE POWER
TO PERFORM IT.

• These words are the foundation for our belief in

Christ’s presence in the Eucharist; the command
“do this” establishes the ministry by which Jesus’
command will be carried out over time.
• Likewise, when St. John tells us Jesus washed the
disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, he adds Jesus’
remark, “I have given you an example, that you
also should do as I have done to you” (Jn 13:15,
RSV).
• There are two
participations in the one
priesthood of Christ: The
whole Church is a priestly
people. Through Baptism
all the faithful share in the
priesthood of Christ. This
participation is called the
"common priesthood of
the faithful."
• Based on this common
priesthood and ordered to
its service, there exists
another participation in the
mission of Christ: the
ministry conferred by the
sacrament of Holy Orders,
where the task is to serve in
the name and in the person
of Christ the Head in the
midst of the community.
• The ministerial priesthood differs in essence
from the common priesthood of the faithful
because it confers a sacred power for the
service of the faithful.
• The ordained ministers exercise their service
for the People of God by
1. teaching (munus docendi),
2. divine worship (munus liturgicum)
3. and pastoral governance (munus regendi).
• Since the beginning, the
ordained ministry has been
conferred and exercised in
three degrees: that of bishops,
that of presbyters, and that of
deacons.
• The ministries conferred by
ordination are irreplaceable for
the organic structure of the
Church: without the bishop,
presbyters, and deacons, one
cannot speak of the Church.
• The bishop receives the fullness of
the sacrament of Holy Orders,
which integrates him into the
episcopal
• college and makes him the visible
head of the particular Church
entrusted to him;
• Priests are united with the bishops
in sacerdotal dignity and at the
same time depend on them in the
exercise of their pastoral functions,
They receive from the bishop the
charge of a parish community or a
determinate ecclesial office;
• Deacons are ministers
ordained for tasks of
service of the Church, they
do not receive the
ministerial priesthood, but
• ordination confers on them
important functions in the
ministry of the word,
divine worship, pastoral
• governance, and the
service of charity
• The Church confers the sacrament of Holy Orders only
on baptized men (viri), whose suitability for the
• exercise of the ministry has been duly recognized.
Church authority alone has the responsibility and
right to
• call someone to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.
• Why is Holy Orders the sacrament of
apostolic ministry? (CCC 1536)
• Holy Orders is the sacrament of apostolic
ministry, because through it the mission
entrusted by Christ to His
• apostles continues to be exercised in the
Church until the end of times.
• Why the sacrament of Holy Orders is called
“orders”? (CCC 1537)
• The sacrament of Holy Orders is called “orders”,
because it incorporates into the order (= body)
of the
• deacons, priests or bishops. In Roman antiquity
the word “order” (Latin: ‘ordo”) designated an
established
• civil body, especially with governing functions.
• What is “ordination”? (CCC 1538)
• “Ordination” is a sacramental liturgical act
that incorporates a man into the order of
bishops, priests or deacons.
• Why is ordination not a simple election,
designation, delegation, or institution by the
community? (CCC 1538)
• The ordination is not a simple election,
designation, delegation or institution by the
community, because it confers a gift of the
Holy Spirit that permits the exercise of a
“sacred power” (Latin: sacra potestas).
• Why ordination is also called consecration?
(CCC 1538)
• Ordination is also called consecration, because
it is a setting apart and an investiture by
Christ.
• What is the visible sign of the sacrament of
Holy Orders? (CCC 1538)
• The visible sign of the sacrament of Holy
Orders is (1) the laying on of hands by the
bishop, with (2) the
• consecratory prayers.
• What is the first prefiguring of Holy Orders in
the economy of salvation? (CCC 1539)
• The first prefiguring of the sacrament of Holy
Orders in the economy of salvation is the
consecration of the Old Testament priesthood
(Lev 8).
• What could the priesthood of the Old
Testament do and what could it not do? (CCC
1540)
• The priesthood of the Old Testament could
proclaim the Word of God and restore
communion with God by
• sacrifices and prayer, but it could not bring
about salvation.
• What three OT prefigurings of Holy Orders
does the Liturgy mention? (CCC 1541)
• 1. The priesthood of Aaron
• 2. The service of the Levites.
• 3. The institution of the seventy elders (Num
11).
• Who is the Old Testament prefiguring of the
priesthood of Christ? (CCC 1544)
• The Old Testament prefiguring of the
priesthood of Christ is Melchizedek (Gen
14:18).
• Melchizedek’s single offering as opposed to
the many offerings in the Temple prefigures
Christ’s unique sacrifice.
• How the one priesthood of Christ is made
present? (CCC 1545)
• The one priesthood of Christ is made present
through the ministerial priesthood.
• What are the two participations in the one
priesthood of Christ? (CCC 1545-1546)
• The two participations in the one priesthood
of Christ are:
• 1. the ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of
bishops and priests
• 2. the common baptismal priesthood of all the
faithful.
• What does it mean that the priest acts in the
person of Christ, the Head? (CCC 1548)
• That the priest acts in the person of Christ, the
Head means, that in the service of the priest
Christ is present to the Church. “In the person
of Christ, the Head” is in Latin: in persóna
Christi cápitis.
• Which acts of the ordained minister does the
Holy Spirit guarantee? (CCC 1550)
• The Holy Spirit guarantees the sacramental
acts of the ordained minister.
• Apart from that, ordained ministers are not
preserved from human weaknesses and sin.
• Why is the ministerial priesthood a service in
a strict sense of the term? (CCC 1551)
• The ministerial priesthood is a service in a
strict sense of the term, because:
• 1. It depends entirely on Christ and on His
unique priesthood
• 2. It has been instituted for the good of men
and the Church.
• When does the ministerial priesthood above
all act in the name of the Church? (CCC 1552)
• The ministerial priesthood acts in the name of
the Church above all when offering the
Eucharistic sacrifice.
• What does it mean that the priest acts “in the name
of the whole Church”? (CCC 1553)
• That the priest acts “in the name of the whole Church”
means that he, by representing the prayer and offering
• of Christ, also represents the prayer and offering of the
Church, because the latter is inseparable from the
• first. “In the name of the whole Church” therefore
does not mean that priests are the delegates of the
• community.
• What are the two degrees of ministerial
participation in Christ’s priesthood? (CCC
1554)
• The two degrees of ministerial participation in
Christ’s priesthood are:
• 1. The episcopacy
• 2. The presbyterate
• What is the task of the deacon in respect to
the bishop and priest? (CCC 1554)
• The task of the deacon in respect to the
bishop and priest is to help and serve them.
• What is the fullness of the sacrament of Holy
Orders? (CCC 1555)
• The fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders is
episcopal ordination.
• How can the episcopacy be called? (CCC
1557)
• The episcopacy can be called:
• 1. The fullness of the sacrament of Holy
Orders.
• 2. The high priesthood.
• 3. The acme (Latin: “summa”) of the sacred
ministry
• What three offices does the episcopal
consecration confer? (CCC 1558)
• The episcopal consecration confers the three
offices of:
• 1. Sanctifying (priest)
• 2. Teaching (teacher)
• 3. Ruling (shepherd)
• How is one constituted a member of the
episcopal body? (CCC 1559)
• One is constituted a member of the episcopal
body:
• 1. In virtue of the sacramental consecration
• 2. By the hierarchical communion with the
head and members of the college
• For which part of the Church is a bishop
responsible as a lawful pastor? (CCC 1560)
• A bishop is responsible as a lawful pastor only
for the portion of the flock entrusted to his
care. As a successor of the apostles he is also
responsible with the other bishops for the
apostolic mission of the Church.
•
• What is the task of the priests in respect to
the bishop? (CCC 1562)
• The task of the priests in respect to the bishop
is to be his co-workers.
• Why does the priest share in the authority by
which Christ rules the Church? (CCC 1563)
• The priest shares in the authority by which
Christ rules the Church, because he is joined
with the episcopal order.
• What is the task of the priests who are
associated with the bishops? (CCC 1564)
• The tasks of the priests who are associated
with the bishops are to: (1) Celebrate divine
worship, (2) Preach the Gospel, and (3)
Shepherd the faithful.
• Where does the priest exercise his sacred
office in a supreme degree? (CCC 1566)
• The priest exercises his sacred office in a
supreme degree when celebrating the
Eucharist.
• What is the presbyterium? (CCC 1567)
• The presbyterium is the sacerdotal college
constituted by the priests together with their
bishop.
• Where does the unity of the presbyterium
find liturgical expression? (CCC 1568)
• The unity of the presbyterium finds liturgical
expression in the custom of the priests’
imposing hands, after the bishop, during the
rite of ordination.
• Unto what do the deacons receive the
imposition of hands? (CCC 1569)
• The deacons receive the imposition of hands
unto the ministry but not unto the priesthood.
• What are the five main tasks of the deacon?
(CCC 1570)
• The five main tasks of the deacon are:
• 1. To assist bishop and priest in the Liturgy
• 2. To distribute Holy Communion
• 3. To assist at and to bless marriages
• 4. To proclaim the Gospel and preach
• 5. To preside over funerals
• What is the permanent diaconate? (CCC
1571)
• The permanent diaconate is a ministry that
can be conferred on married men who carry
out a liturgical,
• pastoral or social service in the Church.
• When should the celebration of the
sacrament of Holy Orders take place? (CCC
1572)
• The celebration of the sacrament of Holy
Orders should take place preferably on Sunday
within the
• Eucharistic liturgy.
• Where should the celebration of the
sacrament of Holy Orders take place? (CCC
1572)
• The celebration of the sacrament of Holy
Orders should take place preferably in the
cathedral.
•
• What is the essential rite in the celebration of
the sacrament of Holy Orders? (CCC 1573)
• The essential rite in the celebration of the
sacrament of Holy Orders is:
• 1. The bishop’s quiet imposition of hands on
the head of the ordinand
• 2. The subsequent consecratory prayer of the
bishop.
• Which additional rites surround the Western celebration of
Holy Orders? (CCC 1574)
• The additional rites surrounding the Western celebration of
the sacrament of Holy Orders are:
• 1. Presentation and election of the ordinand
• 2. Instruction by the bishop
• 3. Examination of the candidate
• 4. Litany of the saints
• 5. Anointing with holy chrism
• 6. To a new bishop: giving the book of the Gospels, the ring,
the miter, the crosier
• To a new priest: presentation of the paten and chalice
• To a new deacon: giving the book of the Gospels
• Who can confer the sacrament of Holy
Orders? (CCC 1576)
• Only validly ordained bishops can confer the
three degrees of the sacrament of Holy
Orders.
• Who can receive the sacrament of Holy
Orders? (CCC 1577)
• Only a baptised man (Latin: vir - as opposed to
woman) validly receives the sacred ordination.
•
• Why is the ordination of women not possible?
(CCC 1577)
• The ordination of women is not possible, because
Christ Himself chose men (Latin: viri) to form the
college
• of the twelve apostles and the apostles did the
same when they chose their successors. Christ has
come as the
• bridegroom (Jn 3:29). The male priest embodies
Christ, the bridegroom.
• How can somebody who thinks to be called
reach Holy Orders? (CCC 1578)
• Somebody who thinks to be called can reach
Holy Orders only by humbly submitting his
desire to the
• authority of the Church.
• What is the state of life of the ordained
ministers in the Latin Church (CCC 1579)
• The state of life of the ordained ministers in
the Latin Church is normally permanent
celibacy, except for the permanent deacons.
• What is the state of life of the ordained
ministers in the Eastern Churches? (CCC 1580)
• The state of life of the ordained ministers in
the Eastern Churches is for the bishops
permanent celibacy while married men may
be ordained as priests and deacons.
• What rules do the Eastern Churches observe when
ordaining married men? (CCC 1580)
• When ordaining married men, the Eastern Churches
observe the following three rules:
• 1. Married men can be ordained as deacons and
priests.
• 2. Once a man has received Holy Orders he can no
longer marry.
• 3. Bishops are chosen solely from among celibate
men.
 What are the two effects of the sacrament of Holy
Orders? (CCC 1581-1589)
• The two effects of the sacrament of Holy Orders
are:
• 1. An indelible spiritual character which confers
the power to serve as Christ’s instrument
• 2. The grace of the Holy Spirit as a configuration
to Christ as Priest, Prophet and King.
• Why can Holy Orders not be repeated or
conferred temporarily? (CCC 1582)
• Holy Orders cannot be repeated or conferred
temporarily, because they confer an indelible
spiritual character.
• Why can somebody validly ordained not
become a layman again? (CCC 1583)
• Somebody validly ordained cannot become a
layman again, because the character
imprinted by ordination is
• forever.
• Why does the validity of the sacraments not
depend on the priest’s worthiness? (CCC 1584)
• The validity of the sacraments does not depend
on the priest’s worthiness, because it is
ultimately Christ who acts and effects salvation
even through an unworthy priest. The power of
the sacrament is comparable to light: passing
through something defiled, it is not itself defiled.
• What is the grace proper to the episcopal
consecration? (CCC 1586)
• The grace proper to the episcopal
consecration is the grace of strength.
• Why does the bishop especially need the grace of
strength? (CCC 1586)
• The bishop especially needs the grace of strength in
order:
• 1. To guide and defend his Church
• 2. To proclaim the Gospel to all
• 3. To be the model for his flock
• 4. To go before his flock on the way of sanctification.
•
• What grace does the deacon receive at
ordination? (CCC 1588)
• The deacon receives at ordination the grace to
serve the Church in conjunction with the
bishop and priests.
• The sacramental character that is conferred by
ordination has three effects:
• • It configures the ordained to the person of
Christ.
• • It distinguishes the ordained person from the
other non-ordained persons among the People of
• God.
• • Once validly conferred, the sacrament cannot
be repeated.
 Impediments to Ordination
• Canons 1040-1049
• someone who in his youth committed an act
of schism and was later reconciled with the
Church will always require a dispensation
before ordination.
• A married man has a simple impediment that
disappears if he is widowed or, in rare cases,
dispensed.
• a person who labors under some form of amentia or other
psychic illness due to which, after experts have been
consulted, he is judged unqualified to fulfill the ministry
properly;
• a person who has committed the delict of apostasy, heresy,
or schism;
• a person who has attempted marriage, even only civilly,
• a person who has committed voluntary homicide
• procured a completed abortion and all those who positively
cooperated in either
• a person who has mutilated himself or another gravely and
maliciously or who has attempted suicide
• a person who has placed an act of orders reserved to those
in the order of episcopate or presbyterate while either
lacking that order or prohibited from its exercise by some
declared or imposed canonical penalty.
• Canon 1043.
• If the Christian faithful are aware of
impediments to sacred orders, they are
obliged to reveal them to the ordinary or
pastor before the ordination.
The Common Liturgical Vestments
• Alb
• a long, white garment, which flows
from shoulders to ankles, and has
long sleeves extending to the wrists.
(The word alb means “white.”)
• The spiritual purpose reminds the
priest of his baptism, when he was
clothed in white to signify his
freedom from sin, purity of new life,
and Christian dignity.
• In the same way, the priest must
offer the Mass with purity of body
and soul, and with the dignity
befitting Christ’s priesthood.
• “Make me white, O Lord, and purify
my heart so that being made white
in the Blood of the Lamb, I may
deserve an eternal reward.”
• Cincture
• a long, thick cord with tassels at the ends
which secures the alb around the waist. It
may be white or may be the same liturgical
color as the other vestments.
• the cincture reminds the priest of the
admonition of St. Peter: “So gird the loins of
your understanding; live soberly; set all your
hope on the gift to be conferred on you
when Jesus Christ appears. As obedient
sons, do not yield to the desires that once
shaped you in you ignorance. Rather,
become holy yourselves in every aspect of
your conduct, after the likeness of the holy
One who called you” (I Peter 1:13-15).
• “Gird me, O Lord, with the cincture of purity
and extinguish in my heart the fire of
concupiscence so that, the virtue of
continence and chastity always abiding in my
heart, I may better serve Thee.”
• Stole
• a long cloth, about four inches wide and of
the same color as the chasuble, that is
worn around the neck like a scarf. It is
secured at the waist with the cincture.
• the stole reminds the priest not only of his
authority and dignity as a priest, but also of
his duty to preach the Word the God with
courage and conviction (“Indeed, God’s
word is living and effective, sharper than
any two-edged sword.” Hebrews 4:12) and
to serve the needs of the faithful.
• “Restore unto me, O Lord, the Stole of
immortality which I lost through the sin of
my first parents and, although unworthy to
approach Thy sacred Mystery, may I
nevertheless attain to joy eternal.”
• Chasuble
• the outer garment worn over the alb
and stole.
• Derived from the Latin word casula
meaning “house,” the chasuble in the
Graeco-Roman world was like a cape
that completely covered the body
and protected the person from
inclement weather.
• the chasuble reminds the priest of
the charity of Christ: “Over all these
virtues put on love, which binds the
rest together and makes them
perfect” (Colossians, 3:14).
• “O Lord, Who hast said, ‘My yoke is
sweet and My burden light,’ grant
that I may so carry it as to merit Thy
grace.”
• The deacon stole
• is the single most distinguishing and
recognizable symbol of the office of
deacon. It is an item of vesture or liturgical
attire worn over the alb and under the
dalmatic, if it is used. It is placed over the
left shoulder, and it extends diagonally
across the front and back of the upper
body, and attaches near the right hip.

• Lord, restore the stole of immortality,

which I lost through the collusion of our
first parents, and, unworthy as I am to
approach Thy sacred mysteries, may I yet
gain eternal joy.
• Dalmatic
• a long, full, closed, white gown
with an opening for passage of
the head and with long full
sleeves.
• considered a symbol of the
diaconate.
• Lord, endow me with the garment
of salvation, the vestment of
joy,and with the dalmatic of
justice ever encompass me.
• The miter
• is a tall, pointed hat with two
lappets that drape down the
back.
• The shape of the miter is meant
to evoke a flame, a reminder of
the gift of the Holy Spirit given to
the Apostles at Pentecost. The
lappets that drape down the
back of the miter are symbols of
the two Testaments of the
Scriptures.
• crozier or pastoral staff.
• Resembling an elaborate shepherd’s staff,
the crozier is symbol icon of the bishop’s
sacred duty as head of the flock that is his
diocese.
• The bishop makes use of the crozier since he
stands in the place of Christ the Good
Shepherd.
• Interestingly, a bishop outside of his own
diocese may not use a crozier without the
permission of the diocesan bishop of
wherever he is.
• It was formerly the practice that when a
bishop carried a crozier in another diocese
that he carried it backwards, with the crook
facing towards him, to show that he was not
the chief shepherd in that place. Today this
custom is no longer followed.
Thank You!