RCIA Session #43: Holy Orders, Part I
(January 25, 2011: Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul)
Opening Song:
Let All the World with Songs Rejoice” (St. Michael Hymnal, #395)
Scripture:
1st reading:
Hebrews 4:14-16 (end), 5:1-10
Psalm Response: (R): May your priests be clothed with justice, O Lord. (Psalm 132:1-5,8-10,14-18)
[STAND] Alleluia. [All: Alleluia] “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his
cross, and follow Me.” (Mt 16:24) [All: Alleluia]
+ A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew: [All: +Glory to You, O Lord.] (Matthew 18:3-12)
The Gospel of the Lord.
[All: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.]
Father, through the prayers of glorious St. John of Canty, may those who seek to follow You with an
undivided heart gain Your protection, guidance and comfort, despise all worldly vanities, and draw ever
nearer to the goal which You set before them: the fullness of eternal life with You . We ask this through Our
Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.
[All: Amen.]
[Final prayer, in the absence of a priest or deacon:]
May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. [All: Amen.]
Summary: The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the means by which Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest, freely
offers His very Life to us through the Holy Eucharist, Confession, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick.;
and it is the way by which He still, until the end of time, reaches out physically with holy hands: the
consecrated hands of His priests on earth. (cf. CCC 1536ff)
1. The art-form by which these vocational “instructions” are figured out is called _____________________-the art of judging ________________ and to examine ____________________ so as to understand
____________ (to the extent that anyone can, this side of Heaven).
There are at least five key elements to any discernment of a vocation from God: (1) good information,
(2) a resonance in your heart to the call, (3) openness, (4) guidance and training, and (5) freedom.
2. Holy Orders gets its name from two ideas: that of being “holy”, or “________ ____________ for God”;
and of being incorporated into an “__________” or “sacred governing body” (this is the basis for the word
“ordination”, which means “conferral of the Sacrament of Holy Orders by a valid ______________”). The
Church recognizes (both in Scripture and in Sacred Tradition) three degrees of ordination: ordination to the
Episcopate--which means ordination as a _______________ (in which office is contained the fullness of
Holy Orders); ordination to the Presbyterate--which means ordination as a ______________ (a man who is
delegated to assist and serve the bishop in holy obedience); and ordination to the Diaconate--which means
ordination as a ______________ (a man whose mission is to serve the bishop, the priest, and a local parish).
(See 1 Timothy 3:1 (Episcopate), Titus 1:5 (Presbyterate), and Acts 6:1-7 (Diaconate), among others, for
Scripture references to ordination.)
3. Discernment of a possible call to Holy Orders requires two earthly agents: the one ______________, and
the ones chosen by God to discern whether that call is ________________.
4. The seminary (roughly translates from the Latin as “seed-sprouting place”) is designed not only to help a
man discern whether or not he’s called to Holy Orders, but also to train him in the necessary ways:
__________________________ (theology and philosophy), ____________________________ (growing in
the “science of the Saints”), and _________________________ (learning to speak the sacred “Language of
the Church” that is liturgy).
Comparison of the liturgies of Ordination of all three levels of Holy Orders:
Ordination to the Diaconate
Liturgy of the Word
calling of candidate
presentation of candidate
bishop elects, people consent
homily
commitment to celibacy
examination of candidate
invitation to prayer
Litany of Saints (prostration)
laying on of hands (matter)
prayer of consecration (form)
investiture with stole and dalmatic
presentation of book of Gospels
kiss of peace
Ordination to the Presbyterate
Liturgy of Word
calling of candidate
presentation of candidate
bishop elects, people consent
homily
examination of candidate
promise of obedience
invitation to prayer
Litany of Saints (prostration)
laying on of hands (matter)
prayer of consecration (form)
investiture with stole and chasuble
anointing of hands
presentation of gifts
Liturgy of the Eucharist
kiss of peace
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Ordination to the Episcopate
Liturgy of Word
presentation of bishop-elect
Apostolic letter
consent of people
homily
examination of candidate
invitation to prayer
Litany of Saints (prostration)
laying on of hands (matter)
Book of the Gospels
prayer of consecration (form)
anointing of bishop's head
presentation of book of Gospels
investiture with ring, mitre and
crosier
seating of bishop on Cathedra
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Song: “The Plan” (Steve Green)
[refrain]
I don’t need to have the plan in hand
I don’t need to have the end in sight
All I need to do is follow You
Wherever You lead
And do what you ask me to
Trusting You, Lord, with all my heart
Following You all my days—
Whether I can or can’t understand
I’ll acknowledge You in all Your ways [refrain]
Though I am pressed on every side
I am not in despair
My faith in You will carry me through
Though I may not see where You’re leading me
[refrain]
Closing Prayer: (adapted from the prayer for Candidates for the Priesthood)
Hear, O Lord, we beseech You, the prayers of us who petition You, and guard with Your constant protection
those who worship You with devout heart, that no trouble may hinder us, but rather that we may serve You in
complete freedom. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Take-Home Activity: What sorts of things could you do to encourage others in discerning a vocation to the
consecrated religious life? Name at least one thing you could do, and one thing you could stop doing (or not
start doing) to help them.
Treasure Hunt: Search your Bible for at least one reference (and share the book, chapter and verse!) of
“priest” or “priesthood”, and try to come up with at least one similarity between that reference and the
ordained priesthood of today.
Discussion Questions:
1. What’s the name of the process by which we figure out our vocation? Why don’t we use the word
“choose”?
2. What sorts of things could distract from one’s vocational search? How could one fight these?
3. Why are only men called to Holy Orders? Is this a denigration of women? Why or why not?
4. What would happen if the ordained priesthood were to disappear?
5. What physical gesture do candidates for Holy Orders make, while the Litany of Saints is prayed
during their ordination? Why is this done?
6. What are your questions?