from the phrase, “Once a priest,
CLED LT #1
always a priest.” Though he can be
2ND SEM FINALS dispensed, or even forbidden, from his
obligations as a priest; but he
remains a priest forever.He receives
SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
the “indelible spiritual character”
Introduction
which marks him as a child of God.
- Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of
God to all.
History of the Sacrament
- He announced it to all and He called
- In apostolic times, the local churches
all to follow Him.
were governed by a corporate body
- However, from the multitude, He
of ministers known as ‘presbyters’ or
selected 12 Apostles in particular,
‘episcopal’ subject to a roving
saying that they might share in His
apostle.
mission in a special way.
- Their calling was a free choice of
Meaning and Effects of the Sacrament of
Jesus and was not due to any
Holy Orders
particular merit on their part.
● Christological Model
-The Sacrament of Orders is defined
What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?
not by relation to the Eucharist or to
-”Holy Orders” came from the Latin word
the ‘powers’ but by a relationship to
“Ordo” means “Orders”
Christ and His ministry.
-The sacrament through which the mission
-When a priest is ordained, he is
entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues
consecrated in a special way to the
to be exercised in the Church until the end of
Church as the representative of Christ
time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic
in the community.
ministry. It includes three degrees: Bishop,
-The priest’s role at Mass symbolizes
Priest, and Deacon.
his role throughout his life–helping
form a community of love, sharing,
The Priest is a Disciple
and witness.
The Priest is an Apostle
The Priest is called a Presbyter
Sacramental Hierarchy
The Priest is Presider at the Eucharist
- The office of bishop is explicitly
affirmed as the fullness of the
Purpose of Holy Orders
Sacrament of Order.
- Apostolic succession
- The bishops together form a ‘college’
- Sacrament ministry
with joint responsibility under the
- Teaching and preaching
presidency of the Pope.
- Pastoral care
- Church governance
Types of Priesthood
1.) Common priesthood of the faithful
● The Sacrament of Holy Orders can
Baptized Christians – the common priesthood
only be received once for each level
is rooted in the sacrament of Baptism.
of Ordination. Once a man is
Through Baptism, Christians are united with
ordained, he is spiritually changed,
Christ and become members of his Body, the
Church. Participate in the mission of Christ the Pope calls the priest that he is
(proclaiming the Gospel, serving others, and chosen to become a bishop.
living a life of holiness). - However, the Episcopal Ordination is
not a free choice, it depends upon the
2.) Ministerial Priesthood of the Ordained Pope if he will still choose that priest
-Presides over the sacraments and liturgical to become a bishop. It is the Full
celebrations. apostolic succession and approved
-serves the common priesthood by by the Pope
administering the sacraments and leading - They oversee dioceses or eparchies
the community in worship and teaching. and have a special responsibility for
-Bishops, Priests, Deacons the pastoral care and administration
of their regions.
Three Types of Ordination
1.) Diaconate Ordination (Deacon) Who can receive the sacrament?
- After the 8-12 years of seminary ➢ Baptized Male: Only baptized men
formation, the seminarian can now can receive Holy Orders.
write a letter to the bishop for ➢ Age Requirement: Candidates
ordination as a deacon of the diocese typically must be at least 25 years old
he wants to apply. for the priesthood and 35 for the
- Deacon is the assistant of the priest diaconate.
in administering every sacrament, ➢ Celibacy: For the Latin Rite of the
and can only administer Baptism. Catholic Church, candidates for the
- Two types: Transitional and priesthood must be celibate.
Permanent However, in the Eastern Catholic
Churches, married men can be
2.) Presbyterate Ordination (Priest) ordained as deacons and priests but
- Presbyterium: body of priests in a not as bishops.
diocese that helps and advises the ➢ Training and Education: Candidates
Bishop. must undergo extensive theological
- After 6 months or 1 year service of and pastoral training, usually
being a deacon, the candidate can involving seminary education.
now apply for presbyterate ➢ Mental and Moral Character:
ordination. Candidates must be of sound mind
- The ordination wherein the deacon and exhibit moral integrity and a
can now apply as a priest. clear intention to serve the Church.
- The newly-ordained priest can ➢ Approval by Church Authorities: The
administer all the sacraments except candidate must be formally accepted
Holy Orders (Confirmation, optional) by the bishop or religious superior
- Coworker of the bishop authorized who has the authority to ordain.
person to act “In Persona Christi”
Ordinary Minister
3.) Episcopal Ordination (Bishop) Bishop: Only a bishop has the authority to
- An ordination wherein a priest can be ordain deacons, priests, and other bishops.
ordained as bishop. It happens when The bishop himself must be validly ordained
and in communion with the Church. Bishops
receive their authority through the unbroken but not only can he ordain, a bishop
line of apostolic succession, tracing back to can perform every priestly function
the apostles and ultimately to Christ. because he possesses the fullness of
holy orders. These ministries give
Pope: The Pope, as the Bishop of Rome and “holy order” to the church.
the head of the worldwide Catholic Church,
has the authority to ordain bishops, although Spiritual Foundations
in practice, he usually delegates this - The beginnings of the ministerial
responsibility to other bishop priesthood are found in the Old
Testament. Melchizedek was a priest
Holy Orders: The Sacrament of ordained of God, the first to offer bread and
ministry wine (Genesis 14:18). Then, beginning
- Holy orders is one of the seven with Aaron, the Levites were especially
sacraments. It, along with the chosen for priestly service (Numbers
sacrament of marriage, belongs to a 3:5-10), and they were consecrated
special group of sacraments known for this sacred duty in a carefully
as the Sacraments of Commitment. prescribed ordination ritual (Exodus
These two sacraments are 29; Leviticus 8). The Levites presided
“sacraments at the service of over the affairs of the Temple and
communion,” “directed toward the served as mediators in the offering of
salvation of others,” and “serve to sacrifice on behalf of sinners.The
build up the people of God” priesthood of the First Covenant
anticipates Jesus, the one and only
Three Degrees eternal high priest, “the one mediator
- While all of the baptized share in the between God and the human race” (1
universal priesthood, holy orders is Timothy 2:5), and ordained priests
the sacrament of the ordained participate in his priesthood.
ministry. Holy orders come in three
degrees: deacon, priest or presbyter, Matter and Form of the Sacrament
and bishop. Only two degrees share Matter: Laying of hands by the ordaining
the ministerial priesthood, bishops bishop
and priests. Priests are co-workers of Form: Consist of the words of the ritual
the bishops, while deacons assist accompanying the laying of the hands by the
priests. bishop
Ordained Ministries Effects of Holy Orders: Grace and Character
- Holy orders is “holy” because it has a 1. The Character - the special configuration
sacred character and is “ordered” with Christ, the head of the Mystical Body.
because it is structured, tiered with This enables him to participate in a most
increasing levels of responsibility. For unique way in the Priesthood of Christ. This
instance, a deacon can preach and character is an indelible mark, which makes a
baptized but cannot offer Mass or priest “ a priest forever.”
hear confessions; a priest can offer
Mass and hear confessions, but
cannot ordain; a bishop can ordain,
2. Grace - Holy orders, just like the other
sacraments, increase sanctifying grace. It
brings sacramental grace, which consists of
the help needed to perform the functions of
the degree of orders received.
_________________________________
Reviewer made by:
Rafaelissa.Andrada@pcs.edu.ph (11-STEM 3)
