Holy Orders
A Sacrament of Service of Communion
“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. When you
see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ”
– St. Jean Vianney
“Without the priest, the passion
and death of our Lord would be of
no avail. It is the priest who
continues the work of redemption
here on earth...What use would
be a house filled with gold, were
there no one to open its door?
The priest holds the key to the
treasures of heaven: it is he who
opens the door: he is the steward
of the good Lord; the
administrator of His goods...Leave
a parish for twenty years without
a priest and they will end by
worshiping the beasts there… The
priest is not a priest for himself,
he is a priest for you.”
– St. Jean Vianney
Holy Orders? What Orders?
• ‘Order’ in Roman culture (ordo) referred to an
established civil body, societal relation, rank, or
status
• Incorporation into an ordo is by means of an
ordinatio
• 3 orders of Holy Orders
• Diaconate (deacons) (from diakonia – service)
• Presbyterate (priests) (from presbyteros –
elder/priest)
• Episcopate (bishops) (from episkopos –
overseer/bishop)
• Two degrees of priesthood, one degree of service
Common vs. Ordained Priesthood
• Common priesthood
• All baptized share in Christ’s ministry as priest,
prophet, and king, unfolding baptismal grace in
special ways during lifetime
• Ordained/ministerial priesthood
• In Persona Christi
• Certain men are elevated to ordained priesthood
to share more explicitly in the priesthood of
Christ the Head
Old Testament Priesthood
• Priests are “appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to
offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” (Heb. 5:1)
• To act as mediators between God and man and to offer sacrifices to
God for sins
• Old Testament sacrifices performed repeatedly
• Aaron and sons – cleansed, poured oil over heads, sacrificed bull
• Levites – first born sons from house of Levi, within lineage, to offer
sacrifices on behalf of people of Israel
• Melchizedek
• “a priest of God Most High” brought bread and wine to Abraham and
blessed him after his return from battle. (Gen 14: 18-20)
• Psalm 110 “You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek”
• (New Testament) Hebrews 7 – Christ Himself is the High Priest, the
priest forever by the order of Melchizedek
Outward Sign…
• Recipient
• Fully initiated Catholic man, ‘whose suitability for the exercise of
the ministry has been duly recognized’
• A vocation to Holy Orders is an unmerited gift from God
• Matter
• Laying on of hands (imposition of hands) by the Bishop
• Form
• “Receive the Holy Spirit…”
• Bishop’s consecratory prayer asking God for outpouring of Holy
Spirit and His gifts proper to the ministry to which the candidate
is ordained
• Minister
• Ordinary: bishop
• Extraordinary: none
… Instituted by Christ…
• Matthew 16:17-19 - “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church”
• Last Supper
• “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory
of me.” (Luke 22:19)
• He commands those present to offer the sacrifice of the meal
again and again
• The washing of the feet is further seen as an example for the
priesthood
• Resurrection appearance (John 20:22-23)
• “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to
them, ‘Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are
forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.’”
… Instituted by Christ (cont.) …
• The Church After Christ Himself
• Acts 13:2-3
• “While they were worshiping the Lord and
fasting, the holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them.’ Then, completing their fasting and
prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them
off.”
• 2 Timothy 1:6
• “For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the
imposition of my hands.”
… to Give Grace.
•
•
•
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Each grants sanctifying grace and a sacramental character
Configures the recipient to Christ to serve the Church
Leaves an indelible character (mark) on the soul
Confers the office (deacon, priest, bishop)
Grants particular grace for each order, depending upon what is
required of the order
• Deacon receives power to minister officially as a servant,
especially in the liturgy, the Gospel, and works of charity.
• In addition the Priest receives power to administer sacraments,
offer sacrifice of the Mass, etc.
• In addition the Bishop receives authority over local Church,
power to ordain priests and confirm candidates
• Fullness of priesthood
Discernment
• A process of seeking to know God’s will for your vocation.
Involves: prayer, reading and reflecting on Scripture, attending
Mass, learning about the various vocations, talking with others
in those vocations, talking with family and friends, listening and
being open to God.
Seminarian “Ah-Ha” Moment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xenO0MdyaSw
Advice for discerning Holy Orders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz6NhYOWKAY&index=30&
list=UUNi8ZfWbFipVmLAitrkGB9g
Priests
Diocesan vs Religious Orders
• Diocesan Priests – minister in union with and promise
obedience to the local bishop.
• Religious Order Priests – vow obedience to their
religious superiors and live in communities of apostolic
life.
• There are many different religious orders for priests (and
brothers). How many can you name?
• Examples: Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines, Norbertines,
Jesuits, Paulist, Marist, etc.
Rites
• Happens in context of Mass
• For Priest:
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•
•
•
•
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Calling of the Candidates (by name)
Presentation and Inquiry
Promise of Obedience
Prayer for Candidates and Litany of the Saints
Laying on of Hands
Vesting the New Priest
• Stole and Chasuble
• Anointing the Hands
• Presentation of Gifts
• Paten and Chalice
• Assisting in Eucharist and First Priestly Blessing
Celibacy
• By remaining celibate the priest can remain fully devoted
in mind, heart, and time to the service of God and the
Church.
• Jesus is the model for priestly celibacy.
• Self-giving Sacrifice
• The apostles followed Christ’s example and continued it
within the structure and formation of the Church.
Male Priesthood
• Jesus called only men to be His Apostles, giving them the
responsibility of guiding the Church and administering the
Sacraments
• Scripture and Tradition show the continuation of this practice
from the times of the early Church.
• This does NOT mean that women have no role to play.
• Women were important in Jesus’ ministry as well as the life of
the early Church.
• Mary the Mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha
• We all share in the common priesthood of Jesus.
Bishops
• Symbols
• Ring – symbol of his marriage to the Church.
• The Pope’s ring is a “Fisherman’s Ring”
signifying his role as successor to St. Peter
• Mitre – (the hat) – symbol of their office as
bishop
• Crosier – represents a shepherds staff, since
the role of the bishop is to be the
“shepherd” of his “flock” – leader and
protector of those within his (Arch)diocese
• Chair – cathedra – is located in the
cathedral the church where the bishop is
based. Represents his authority in the
diocese.
Archbishop Wilton Gregory
– current Archbishop of the
Archdiocese of Atlanta
Bishop Zarama and Bishop Talley
Priests continued…
Symbols of a Priest
Stole
Chasuble
Chalice
Paten
Deacons
Gifts For Deacon and Bishop
• Deacon
• Book of the Gospels
• Bishop
• Ring, Miter, Crosier
History
• Early Church
• Ordinations developed relatively quickly with laying on hands
and for the coming of the Holy Spirit, with all three orders
• Bishop quickly becomes the center of leadership for the Church, and
all three orders are universally adopted
• Person is to be holy, and is anointed to be spiritual leader who
will sanctify the Church
• Broad roles
• Middle Ages
• Distinction between laity and clergy sharpened
• Emphasis as minister of the sacraments, especially Eucharist
• Aquinas, especially, develops theology of the character of the
sacrament – a sharing in the priesthood of Christ
History (cont.)
• 16th century
• Protestant Reformation questioned how Holy Orders was instituted
by Christ and how it was related to the priesthood of all believers
• Council of Trent affirmed full tradition of Orders
• Upheld priesthood with center in the Eucharist and remission of sin
• Not just priesthood of all believers, nor is it just simple ministry of
preaching
• For centuries until this point, there were several minor orders –
none considered one of the Holy Orders
• Vatican II
• Highlights reality that the Church shares in Christ’s work of teaching,
sanctifying, and ruling
• Bishops are fullness of orders, fulfilling completely these three roles
in sacrament and in clerical duties
• Common priesthood and ministerial priesthood has essential
difference.