Sacrament of Holy Orders

SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
I. BRIEF HISTORY
The priesthood was established by God among the Israelites during their exodus
from Egypt. God chose the tribe of Levi as priests for the nation. Their primary
duties were the offering of sacrifice and prayer for the people.
Christ, in offering Himself up for the sins of all mankind, fulfilled the duties of the Old
Testament priesthood once and for all. But just as the Eucharist makes that sacrifice
present to us today, so the New Testament priesthood is a sharing in the eternal
priesthood of Christ. While all believers are, in some sense, priests, some are set
aside to serve the Church as Christ Himself did.
II. WHAT IS 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.
"Ordination" comes from the Latin word ordinatio, which means to incorporate someone into
an order. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a man is incorporated into the priesthood of
Christ, at one of three levels: the episcopate, the priesthood, or the diaconate.
As in Baptism and Confirmation, the Sacrament of Holy Orders leaves an indelible mark on
the soul of the recipient and can never be repeated once validly received; once a priest,
always a priest (even if a priest is laicized and removed from his office, this mark remains).
III. 3 LEVELS + 7 GRADES

• The 3 Major or "Sacred" Orders:
◦ I: Priests:
▪ Bishops: The First Degree of the Priesthood: Bishops have the greatest
authority and jurisdiction and have the powers to ordain men into the
diaconate and priesthood, and to offer the Sacrament of Confirmation,
to dedicate churches and altars, to consecrate chalices and patens and
bells, and to preside at the benediction of abbots. They are said to
exercise the fullness of the priesthood. Wine is the symbol of this office.
▪ Priests: The Second Degree of the Priesthood The duties and powers of the
priest are to confect the Eucharist at the Mass; offer the Sacraments of
Penance, Communion, and Unction; to preside at the Sacrament of Holy
Matrimony; to solemnly baptize; to preach; to teach, guide, and sanctify
his sheep. With ordination to the priesthood, a man has received the
fullness of the Sacrament of Order. The symbols of this office are the
stole, the chasuble, a paten with bread on it, and a Chalice filled with
wine.
◦ II: Deacons:The duties of the deacon are to handle the sacred vessels, to be of service
to the priests and Bishops, to read the Epistle and Gospel at the Mass, to be
general stewards, and to serve the widows and orphans. This Order is
Sacramental, and the first of the three divinely-instituted grades of the hierarchy
of Orders, the others being the priesthood and the episcopate. The symbols of
this office are the dalmatic, the stole (worn over the left shoulder, as opposed to
around the neck as priests wear them, and under the dalmatic), and the Book of
the Gospels.
◦ III: Subdeacons:The duties of a subdeacon are to serve the deacon at Mass; to

prepare the bread, wine, and sacred vessels for the Sacrifice; to present the
chalice and paten at the Offertory, and pour water into the wine for the
Eucharist; to chant the Epistle; and to wash the sacred linens. This office is non-
sacramental, but it is now that the vow of celibacy is taken. The symbols of this
order are the empty Chalice and the paten, basin and towel, two little cruets, and
the book of epistles.
• The 4 Minor Orders:
◦ IV: Acolytes: The duties of the acolyte are to light the Altar candles, carry the candles
in procession, prepare the water and wine for the Mass, and assist the priest
during the Mass The symbols of this order are the candle, the cruet, and a linen
bag.
◦ V: Exorcists:In the early Church, the duty of the exorcist was to cast out demons. Now
that duty belongs to the priest alone, but this minor order is kept in traditional
priestly societies nonetheless. The symbol for this order is the book containing
the Rite of Exorcism.
◦ VI: Lectors (Readers): The duty of the lector is to chant the Epistle when Mass is
sung without a deacon and subdeacon. The symbol of this order is the Book of
the Epistles.
◦ VII: Porters (Doorkeepers or Ostiaries or Sextons):The duties of the porter are to
ring the bells, to open the church and sacristy, and to open the book for the
priest. Most of these duties have passed to the laity, such as sacristans, etc., but
in traditional priestly orders, this clerical order is kept as an office and stepping-
stone toward the priesthood. The symbol for this order is keys.
IV. THE CELBRATION
The essential rite of the sacrament of Holy Orders for all three degrees consists in the
bishop's imposition of hands on the head of the ordinand and in the bishop's specific
consecratory prayer asking God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his gifts
proper to the ministry to which the candidate is being ordained. (Poweerpoint this,
one slide only)
(video)
V. WHO CAN CONFER THIS SACRAMENT
Because of his role as a successor to the Apostles, who were themselves successors to Christ, the
bishop is the proper minister of the sacrament. The grace of sanctifying others that he receives at
his own ordination allows him to ordain others.
VI. WHO CAN RECEIVE, MINISTERIAL & COMMON PRIESTHOOD
The recipient of the Sacrament must be a baptized, healthy male, at least 25 years of age, who has
a vocation from God, a strong Catholic faith, intelligence, a good moral character, and a life
marked by sanctity. He must be committed to living a celibate and chaste life, and to prayer
(especially the Divine Office, which he is obligated to pray), and must have been properly formed
in seminary.
Traditional priestly formation, such as that undertaken by seminarians of the S.S.P.X., lasts for 6
years Other priests belong to religious orders (e.g., the Carmelites, Dominicans, Franciscans, etc.)
and offer Mass for the people of their religious order. These men are called "religious priests"
(though sometimes a "religious priest" might work for a parish in some cases). Religious priests
make the solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the superiors of their religious
community that all members of their Order make.
VII. EFFECTS
The Sacrament of Holy Orders, like the Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Confirmation,
can only be received once for each level of ordination. Once a man has been ordained, he is
spiritually changed, which is the origin of the saying, "Once a priest, always a priest." He can be
dispensed of his obligations as a priest (or even forbidden to act as a priest); but he remains a
priest forever.
Each level of ordination confers special graces, from the ability to preach, granted to
deacons; to the ability to act in the person of Christ to offer the Mass, granted to
priests; to a special grace of strength, granted to bishops, which allows him to teach
and lead his flock, even to the point of dying as Christ did.

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SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS

II. WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS

III. 3 LEVELS + 7 GRADES

◦ III: Subdeacons:The duties of a subdeacon are to serve the deacon at Mass; to

IV. THE CELBRATION

V. WHO CAN CONFER THIS SACRAMENT

VI. WHO CAN RECEIVE, MINISTERIAL & COMMON PRIESTHOOD

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