Holy Orders

---

​The sacrament of Holy Orders in the Catholic Church is the means by which men are ordained to serve the Church in various clerical roles, specifically as deacons, priests, or bishops. This sacrament confers a special grace and a sacred character that enables the ordained to minister to the Church in the name of Christ.

Significance and Theology

• Institution by Christ: Holy Orders was instituted by Christ at the Last Supper when he commanded his apostles to "do this in memory of me," thereby establishing the priesthood.
• Sacramental Character: It imparts an indelible spiritual character or mark, meaning that ordination is permanent and cannot be repeated.
• Three Degrees: The sacrament has three distinct degrees of ordination—deacon, priest, and bishop—each with specific roles and responsibilities within the Church.

Degrees of Holy Orders

1. Deacon (Diaconate):
   • Role: Deacons assist bishops and priests in the liturgy, distribute Holy Communion, proclaim the Gospel, preach, perform baptisms, witness marriages, and conduct funeral services.
   • Symbols: The Book of the Gospels is given to the deacon, symbolizing his duty to proclaim the Gospel.
   • Ritual: The ordination of a deacon includes the laying on of hands by the bishop and the prayer of consecration.
2. Priest (Presbyterate):
   • Role: Priests are co-workers with their bishops. They preside at Mass, hear confessions, anoint the sick, perform baptisms, witness marriages, and provide pastoral care.
   • Symbols: The chalice and paten are presented to the priest, symbolizing his role in the Eucharist.
   • Ritual: The ordination of a priest involves the laying on of hands by the bishop and other priests, the prayer of consecration, and the anointing of the hands with chrism oil.
3. Bishop (Episcopate):
   • Role: Bishops are the successors of the apostles. They have the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and oversee a diocese, teach, sanctify, and govern the Church in their jurisdiction. Bishops can ordain deacons, priests, and other bishops.
   • Symbols: The symbols of the bishop’s office include the mitre (headpiece), crozier (staff), and episcopal ring.
   • Ritual: The ordination of a bishop includes the laying on of hands by multiple bishops, the prayer of consecration, anointing with chrism on the head, and the presentation of the Book of the Gospels, ring, mitre, and crozier.

Ritual of Ordination

1. Presentation of the Candidate: The candidate is presented to the bishop, often by another cleric, and the bishop elects him for ordination.
2. Homily: The bishop gives a homily, explaining the duties and responsibilities of the office to which the candidate is being ordained.
3. Promise of Obedience: The candidate promises obedience to the bishop and his successors.
4. Litany of the Saints: The candidate lies prostrate while the congregation prays the Litany of the Saints, invoking the prayers of the saints for the ordinand.
5. Laying on of Hands and Prayer of Consecration: The central act of ordination, where the bishop and, in the case of priests, other priests lay hands on the candidate, invoking the Holy Spirit.
6. Investiture with Symbols: The newly ordained is vested with the symbols appropriate to his office (stole and dalmatic for deacons, chasuble and stole for priests, and mitre, ring, and crozier for bishops).

Requirements for Ordination

• Call to Ministry: An individual must feel a genuine call to serve the Church and be affirmed by the Church community.
• Education and Formation: Extensive theological education and spiritual formation, typically in a seminary, are required.
• Celibacy: In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, celibacy is generally required for priests and bishops. Married men may be ordained as deacons.
• Age and Maturity: Candidates must be of a certain age and demonstrate emotional and spiritual maturity.

Effects of Holy Orders

1. Indelible Mark: The sacrament confers a permanent spiritual character that identifies the ordained for lifelong service to the Church.
2. Grace for Ministry: Provides the ordained with the grace needed to perform their ecclesiastical duties effectively and faithfully.
3. Authority and Responsibility: Grants the ordained the authority to teach, sanctify, and govern within the Church.

Holy Orders is a vital sacrament for the life and functioning of the Catholic Church, ensuring that the faithful have access to the sacraments and pastoral care necessary for their spiritual growth and salvation.