Holy Orders

Sacraments at the Service of Communion and Mission Holy Orders and Marriage give a special grace for a particular mission in the Church to serve and build up the People of God Also called the sacraments of vocation They contribute in a special way to ecclesial communion and to the salvation of others.

Holy Orders

Orders comes from the Latin word ordo which refers to a civil body, especially a governing body One is brought into an ordo through ordinatio The word Priest in Greek and Latin presbyteros elder hiereus one who performs a religious function in a temple or sanctuary (hireon) Sacerdos one who is consecrated to God

Holy Orders

Old Testament Pre-figuration Melchizedek priest of God most high who offered the sacrifice of bread and wine Seventy elders God took of portion of spirit that rested on Moses and shared it with seventy others who then became his assistants High Priest, Priests, Levites set apart by a special consecration to offer sacrifice, assist at liturgical service, and teach the Torah

Holy Orders Instituted by Christ The Holy Priesthood was instituted at the Last Supper Lk 22:19: do this in remembrance of me 2 Tim 1:6-7 Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control. Jn. 20:21 Jesus called the twelve and gave them His own power and authority: As the Father has sent me, even so I send you

Holy Orders

St. Paul to Titus- For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters (priests) in every town, as I directed you, on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. For a bishop as Gods steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents. (Titus 1:5-9)

Holy Orders Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by the prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands on you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Take heed to yourself, ad to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. St. Paul to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:14-16)

St. Timothy was Bishop of Ephesus and lived to be over 80 yrs. old. He was beaten to death by pagans.

Hence I remind you to enkindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands (2 Tim. 1:6) This text (1 Tim. 4:14-16) shows that when St. Paul ordained Timothy, the presbyters also laid their hands upon him, even as now the presbyters who assist at ordination lay their hands on the candidate. (Catholic Encyclopedia).

Holy Orders Tradition

Clement of Alexandria "A multitude of other pieces of advice to particular persons is written in the holy books: some for presbyters, some for bishops and deacons; and others for widows, of whom we shall have opportunity to speak elsewhere" (The Instructor of Children 3:12:97:2 [A.D. 191]). "Even here in the Church the gradations of bishops, presbyters, and deacons happen to be imitations, in my opinion, of the angelic glory and of that arrangement which, the scriptures say, awaits those who have followed in the footsteps of the apostles and who have lived in complete righteousness according to the gospel" (Miscellanies 6:13:107:2 [A.D. 208]). John Chrysostom "*In Philippians 1:1 Paul says,+ To the co-bishops and deacons. What does this mean? Were there plural bishops of some city? Certainly not! It is the presbyters that [Paul] calls by this title; for these titles were then interchangeable, and the bishop is even called a deacon. That is why, when writing to Timothy, he says, Fulfill your diaconate *2 Tim. 4:5+, although Timothy was then a bishop. That he was in fact a bishop is clear when Paul says to him, Lay hands on no man lightly *1 Tim. 5:22+, and again, Which was given you with the laying on of hands of the presbytery *1 Tim. 4:14+, and presbyters would not have ordained a bishop" (Homilies on Philippians 1:1 [A.D. 402]). Council of Nicaea I "It has come to the knowledge of the holy and great synod that, in some districts and cities, the deacons administer the Eucharist to the presbyters [i.e., priests], whereas neither canon nor custom permits that they who have no right to offer [the Eucharistic sacrifice] should give the Body of Christ to them that do offer [it]. And this also has been made known, that certain deacons now touch the Eucharist even before the bishops. Let all such practices be utterly done away, and let the deacons remain within their own bounds, knowing that they are the ministers of the bishop and the inferiors of the presbyters. Let them receive the Eucharist according to their order, after the presbyters, and let either the bishop or the presbyter administer to them" (Canon 18 [A.D. 325])

Holy Orders
Outward Sign Form (Word) Solemn prayer of consecration Asking God for the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit which are proper to the ordained ministry Matter (Action) laying on of hands Minister Bishop Recipient Baptized man To Give Grace Pastoral Charity Preaching and teaching Continue Christs shepherding and governance Sacrifice, healing, and work of sanctification Sacred Power Given sacramental power by Christ to consecrate bread and wine, forgive sins, anoint the sick, and in some cases confirm Indelible Character Ordination confers a permanent character of the Good Shepherd Enables a priest to act in the person of Christ the head and in the name of the Church

Holy Orders

Priesthood of Christ
Only Christ is the true priest, the others being only his ministers St. Thomas Aquinas all others only participate in the one priesthood of Christ Two forms of sharing in Christs priesthoods: Universal or common priesthood of the faithful (Everyone is called to offer sacrifice) Ministerial priesthood of the ordained (Only Ordained Priests Offer the One Sacrifice of Jesus on the Altar)

The ministerial priesthood serves the universal priesthood. It differs in essence, not only degree, from the universal priesthood (cf. Vat II)

Holy Orders

Among the universal priesthood God calls some men to the ministerial priesthood to act in the person of Christ The priesthood is not a right it is a calling Priests are called to a life of sacrifice and service for the People of God They act and speak not on their own authority nor from the delegation of the community but in the person of Christ The priesthood is the love of the heart of Christ St John Vianney The recipient of the sacrament of Holy Orders must be a single baptized male

Male Recipients Only

Holy Orders

Why can only males be ordained? Christs will Jesus, without social constraint, freely chose to call twelve men to Himself to continue his apostolic and priestly ministry. Catholics have always insisted that the ordained ministry has its origin in Jesus' own choice of the Twelve [Apostles] and that they are the foundation of the Church. Apostolic Tradition - This was the practice throughout the Apostolic Tradition of the Church. Icon - A priest is an icon of Christ (male) who gives Himself to his bride the church (female). The Church does not have the authority to ordain women. In his apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, Pope John Paul II declared "that the Church has no authority whatsoever to "The fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary, confer priestly ordination on women". Mother of God and Mother of the Church, received neither the mission Some of the reasons cited by John Paul II include: proper to the apostles nor the The example recorded in the Sacred Scriptures of Christ ministerial priesthood clearly shows choosing his apostles only from among men. that the non-admission of women to priestly ordination cannot mean that The constant practice of the Church, which has imitated women are of lesser dignity, nor can it Christ in choosing only men. be construed as a discrimination The Churchs living teaching authority has consistently held against them.. Rather, it is to be seen as the faithful observance of a plan to that the exclusion of women from the priesthood is in be ascribed to the Wisdom of the Lord accordance with Gods plan for His Church.
of the Universe. Blessed Pope John Paul II

Holy Orders Celibacy

Celibacy the promise whereby one offers to God their human sexuality and the good of marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of God (Mt 19:11-12) In both the Eastern and Western Church a bishop has always taken on the promise of celibacy for the Kingdom Latin Church: priests take on the promise of celibacy Eastern Churches: priests can be married prior to their ordination Permanent Diaconate: can be married prior to their ordination Spiritual Purpose Spiritual sacrifice which advances the kingdom of heaven and enables on to pray with greater intensity Witnesses to and begins now the way we will live in heaven, i.e. in union with God (Mk 12:18-27) Witnesses to the truth that human sexuality is free gift of love not a constrained human impulse It gives the priest the freedom to love and serve God and his people more generously (1 Cor 7:32-35)

Holy Orders

Ranks of Holy Orders

There are Three Degrees or Ranks of Holy Orders Bishop Priest Deacon Only the Bishop and Priest share in Christ ministerial priesthood The Deacon shares in Christs ministry of service Let everyone revere the deacons as Jesus Christ, the bishop as the image of the Father, and the presbyters as the senate of God and the assembly of the apostles. For without them one cannot speak of the Church Ignatius of Antioch (d. 110)

Deacon

Holy Orders

Deaconate is the name for the order of deacons Christ came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for the many (Mk 10:45) Deacons share in Christs service Deacons are coworkers with the bishop and priests Permanent Deacons a deacon who will not become a priest Transitional Deacons a deacon who will be ordained a priest. Duties of a Deacon Promises of obedience, celibacy (for transitional deacons), and the Liturgy of the Hours, baptize, witness marriages, preach, prepare the altar for Mass, distribute Holy Communion, give viaticum to the dying, and lead the rites of Christian burial.

At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.* Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith. Acts 6:1-7

Holy Orders

Priest Presbyterate name of the order of priests They do not have the fullness of holy orders Cannot ordain priests and must have permission to Confirm Priests are co-workers with the bishop and work under his authority Their main task is to teach, sanctify, and govern the parish community Duties of a Priest Promises of obedience, Celibacy, and the Liturgy of Hours, offer the Sacrifice of the Mass, absolve sins, confirm (in certain circumstances), witness marriages, baptize, anoint the sick, funerals, preach, teach Can also do all the above mentioned duties of a deacon

Holy Orders

Bishop Episcopate name for the order of Bishops which is also called the Episcopal college Bishops have the fullness of holy orders They are the successors of the Apostles Their main work is to teach, sanctify, and govern their diocese Visible head and foundation of unity for a particular Church (diocese) Duties of a Bishop - ordinary minister of confirmation, power to ordain deacons, priests, and other bishops, chief administrator of all the institutions and activities in his diocese Also has all the above mentioned promises and duties of a deacon and priest

Holy Orders

Other Ecclesial Titles Cardinal a bishop with a title of honor who is also responsible for electing the next pope Archbishop a bishop of a metropolitan see (archdiocese) who is also the head of a province Auxiliary Bishop a bishop who assists the diocesan bishop in larger dioceses Monsignor a priest with a title of honor

Archbishop Naumann of Kansas City Auxiliary Bishop Conley of Denver

Cardinals

Holy Orders

Ex Opere Operato Ex opere operato by the work worked or by the very action of the worker The effectiveness of the sacraments does not depend on the holiness of the minister As for the proud minister, he is to be ranked with the devil. Christ's gift is not thereby profaned: what flows through him keeps its purity, and what passes through him remains dear and reaches the fertile earth. . . . The spiritual power of the sacrament is indeed comparable to light: those to be enlightened receive it in its purity, and if it should pass through defiled beings, it is not itself defiled. (St. Augustine)