CRESPI, Giuseppe Maria
Ordination
1712
Oil on canvas, 127 x 95 cm
Gemäldegalerie, Dresden
The sacrament of
Holy Orders
35
Compendium of the Catechism
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322. What is the sacrament of
Holy Orders?
1536
It 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.
Introduction
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In order to cater for the social
needs of the Church and of civil
society, Jesus Christ instituted
the sacraments of Holy Orders
and Marriage with the aim of
sanctifying others. That is why
they are called sacraments at
the service of communion. Let
us begin with the sacrament of
Holy Orders.
VÁCSLAV BROZIK, Wenceslas (1851-1901)
A Bishop
Oil on canvas
18 1/2 x 15 1/4 inches (47 x 39 cm)
Private collection
Main ideas
1. All Christians participate in different ways in Christ’s
priesthood
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Our Lord granted His Church a
participation in His priesthood
through the sacrament of Holy
Orders. This unique participation is
known as ministerial priesthood, by
which men can act in the name of
Christ, Head of the Church. These
men are the bishops and priests.
But it should also be pointed out
that the whole Church, founded by
Christ, is a priestly people, and by
baptism all faithful participate in the
priesthood of Christ. This
participation is called the common
priesthood of all the faithful.
EL GRECO (1541-1614)
Christ
Oil on canvas, 1590-1595
24 x 18 inches (61 x 46 cm)
National Gallery, Prague
2. The common and ministerial priesthoods are
essentially different.
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The ministerial priesthood
differs essentially from the
common priesthood of the
faithful, because it confers
on the priest a sacred power
at the service of his brothers.
Those who have received
Holy Orders are Christ’s
ministers, that is, Christ’s
instruments to continue His
work of salvation in the world.
This they do through
teaching, divine worship and
pastoral governance.
RUBENS, Peter Paul
Abraham and Melchizedek
1615-18
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Caen, France
3. The institution of the sacrament of Holy Orders
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POUSSIN, Nicolas
The Sacrament of Ordination
1636-40
Oil on canvas
Collection of the Duke of Rutland, Belvoir Castle
Christ chose His apostles and at
the Last Supper instituted the
priesthood of the New Covenant.
He told the apostles and their
successors to renew the sacrifice
of the cross. With the words “Do
this in remembrance of me” (Luke
22:19), He made them priests of
the New Testament. On the day of
His Resurrection, He conferred on
them the power to forgive or retain
sins.
Since the apostles knew that the
priesthood must continue in the
Church after they would die, when
evangelizing a city and before
setting out for a new one, they
imposed their hands on others,
conferring on them the priesthood
(Cf. 2 Timothy 1:6; Acts 14:23).
4. The three degrees of the sacrament of Holy Orders
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The sacrament of Holy Orders
consists of three degrees
related to each other.
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The episcopate and priesthood
are different degrees of the
ministerial participation in the
priesthood of Christ.
 Deacons help bishops and
priests.
 Thus, the term priest
designates both bishops and
priests, but not deacons.
Nevertheless all three degrees
are conferred through the
sacrament of Holy Orders.
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When we say priests, we
usually refer to those in the
priesthood.
CARPACCIO, Vittore (1450-1525)
St. Stephen is Consecrated Deacon
Tempera on canvas, 1511
58 1/4 x 90 7/8 inches (148 x 231 cm)
Staatliche Museen, Berlin
5. A priest is a man consecrated to God forever
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DA FOSSANO, Ambrogio
Ordination of St. Augustine
Galleria Sabauda, Turin, Italy
Through the sacrament of Holy
Orders the priest is Christ’s
minister, a mediator between God
and men, who has the duties of
worshipping God –adoration,
thanksgiving, satisfaction and
petition— and of communicating
grace to men.
The powers conferred on priests,
powers that even angels do not
have, are not temporal but
permanent. Those who receive this
sacrament receive an indelible
character and become priests
forever.
This sacrament can be received
only by baptized men who fulfil the
due conditions.
6. The ministry of priests
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The main ways in which priests
exercise their ministry are the
following:
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Preaching the word of God.
 Administering the sacraments,
mainly that of Holy Mass.
 Guiding Christians to sanctity.
 Addressing God with the
official prayer of the Church.
CHEVILLIARD, V.
The Priest's Birthday
Josef Mensing Gallery, Hamm-Rhynern, Germany
7. The spiritual mission of the priest
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The mission of the priest in this
world is primarily spiritual: leading
men to God, instructing them in the
faith and dispensing the grace
contained in the sacraments.
The priest is a servant of the whole
Christian community and an element
of unity. Hence the Church requires
that Priests be easily recognizable
even by their external attire. Their
whole day should be filled up with
priestly activities, without time to
devote themselves to other matters,
for example, such as those proper to
the lay faithful.
BENLLIURE Y GIL, José (1855-1937)
Sacerdote revestido [The covered priest]
Oil on linen, 1876
33 3/8 x 24 3/4 inches (85 x 63 cm)
Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia en su Historia, Valencia
8. Duties of the faithful towards priests
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Given the sublime dignity of the
priest and the necessity of his
ministry for the Church, it is
strongly recommended that
parents should give their sons
complete freedom to follow this
vocation, if God calls them to the
priesthood.
All the faithful should pray that God
may grant His Church good
shepherds and ministers full of
zeal.
We should show great respect,
veneration and love for priests,
keeping in mind that they are
Christ’s ministers –fathers and
shepherds of souls. We must help
them too in their material needs.
BAGNOLD BURGESS, John (1830-1897)
The Favourite Priest
Oil on canvas, 1880
37 3/8 x 48 inches (95 x 122 cm)
Private collection
Resolutions for
Christian life
Resolutions to move forward
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Pray that there may be many
vocations to the priesthood.
Pray that priests are holy, as is
expected of them.
Receive with joy the vocation to
the priesthood, if God gives it to
you.
Look after priests in parishes,
in schools, etc., with affection
and respect.