1.

SACRAMENTS: ORDINATION
The book is a complete explanation of
the Seven Sacraments.

ORDINATION
To purchase the Book, or for theological
inquiries (e-mails only), contact the author:
AUTHOR Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
EDITION 1st Edition, Manila, 15 August 2018
Solemnity of the Assumption
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
Quality Catholic Publications
Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational
1708 Parañaque City, Philippines
Tel. (02) 828-2338, 828-9509
sonsmaryphil@yahoo.com
www.shmiqcp.com

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 2. A CATECHIST’S PRAYER
Loving Father, giver of all that is,
help me to remember that every
gift I have comes from you. Expand
my vision so that I can appreciate
your goodness in the world around
me.
Jesus, our Redeemer, you are
the path to the treasures of my
heart and soul. Strengthen my
commitment to be a catechist and
deepen my capacity to share your
truth with those in my care.
Holy Spirit, Love Divine, all
life and energy flows from you.
Illuminate my thoughts and
intensify my desire to grow ever
deeper in my faith.
I lift up my prayer to you, God
the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, in humility and hope. Amen.

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 3. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
What Is the Sacrament of Ordination?

 Ordination is the Sacrament

through which a male Catholic
is consecrated Deacon, Priest, or
Bishop, for the purpose of
perduring until the end of time
Christ’s Sacred Ministry.
 Since we believe that Jesus is
the only Prophet, Priest, and
King: the Clergy teach, sanctify,
and govern, In Persona Christi,
meaning, “In the person of Christ.”
 The Sacrament is called
Ordination, or Holy Orders,
because it incorporates the Clergy
in their respective Ordo (Latin for
“Body”) of Deacons, Priests, and
Bishops.

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 4. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
When Did Jesus Institute the Sacrament of Ordination?
 Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of Ordination during
the Last Supper, when he said to his Apostles: “Do this in memory
of me” (Luke 22:19).
 By so ordering, Christ conferred on them and their successors
the three priestly powers of Teaching, Sanctifying, and Governing the
Church.

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 5. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
What Are the Three Priestly Powers?
 The three Priestly Powers, known as Sacra Potestas, are the ministries
commissioned by Jesus to his Apostles (cf. Matthew 28: 19-20).

TEACHING: SANCTIFYING: GOVERNING:

The Ordained Ministers The Clergy have the The Apostles’

have the sacred duty to obligation to celebrate successors ought to

preach God’s Word every the Sacraments and to diligently establish and

day in a dignified, pray the Breviary for administer the Church,

competent, and effective God’s glory and the as loving and zealous

manner. souls’ salvation. shepherds.

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 6. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
What Is the Difference Between Common and Ministerial Priesthood?

COMMON PRIESTHOOD: MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD:

The Common Priesthood is bestowed on all The Ministerial Priesthood is granted to the

Christians by the Sacrament of Baptism, Clergy by the Sacrament of Ordination,

enabling them to teach, sanctify, and enabling them to teach, sanctify, and

govern In Nomine Christi (In the Name of govern In Persona Christi (In the Person of

Christ). As by St. Peter words: “You are a Christ). It is a serious abuse to authorize

chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy the non-clergy to impart blessings, or to

nation, a people set apart” (1 Peter 2:9). preach at the Mass, in stead of a Deacon or

a Priest.

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 7. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Are the Clergy?
 The Clergy are those who have received the Sacrament of
Ordination, namely: Deacons, Presbyters, and Bishops. The term comes
from the Greek word Kleros, meaning “Portion,” because the ordained
ministers are the chosen portion of God.
 The Clergy are divided into Diocesan and Religious: the first ones
are incardinated into a diocese, subjected to the authority of their
Bishop; while the others, are incardinated into a Religious Congregation,
subjected to their Major Superiors.

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 8. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Are the Deacons?
 The Deacons, from the Greek word Diakonos, meaning “Servant,” are
Ordained Ministers of the First Degree, whose mission is caring for the needy
and serving the Church. There are two kinds of Deacons: the Transitional, who
have received the Diaconate in preparation for Priesthood; and the
Permanent, who remain as such and might be married.
 Their liturgical vestments are the Dalmatic and the Stole in a
diagonal position, from the left shoulder to the right side, signifying that
they assist the Priests, but do not possess the priestly functions.
 Their principal functions are:
1) the Ministry of the Word, such
as reading the Gospel, preaching,
and teaching Catechism; 2) the
Ministry of the Altar, as
administering Baptism,
distributing the Eucharist,
assisting at Marriage, and
officiating Burial Rites; and 3) the
Ministry of Charity, like serving in
charitable activities and sharing
in the administrative works of the
Church.

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 9. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Are the Priests?
 The Priests, from the Greek word Presbyteros, meaning “Elder,”
are Ordained Ministers of the Second Degree, whose office is to offer the
Holy Sacrifice to God and to administer the Sacraments of the Church.
 We need many and holy Priests, since they care for the faithful from
the cradle to the tomb: by preaching, catechizing, celebrating the Mass,
confessing, assisting the sick, and laying the dead to rest.
 St. John Mary Vianney said:
“The Priest is not a Priest for
himself, he is for you. After
God, the Priest is everything.
Leave a parish twenty years
without Priests; they will
worship beasts. When people
wish to destroy religion, they
begin by attacking the Priest,
because where there is no
longer any Priest there is no
sacrifice, and where there is
no longer any sacrifice there is
no religion.”

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 10. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Are the Bishops?
 The Bishops, from the Greek word Episkopos, meaning
“Supervisor,” are Ordained Ministers of the Third Degree,
possessing the fullness of the Sacrament of Ordination.
 Bishops are appointed to a
Diocese, whose official See is called
“Cathedral,” from the Latin word
Cathedra meaning “Chair,” which is
installed in the presbytery and
signifies their teaching and
governing authority.
 The Cardinals are Bishops of
great prestige, appointed to assist
the Pope in governing the Church
and in electing his successor. They
wear red hats and vestments,
indicating their commitment to
defend Christ and his Church till the
shedding of blood.

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 11. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Is the Pope?
 The Pope is the Supreme
Head of the Catholic Church;
the title comes from the Latin
word Papa, meaning “Father.” It
was Jesus who appointed Simon
Peter as First Pope, when he said:
“You are Peter and upon this rock
I will build my Church, and the
gates of hell shall not prevail
against it” (Mt. 16:18).
 Since St. Peter was martyred
and buried in Rome, the
Bishop of the City is, by right, the
Pope. Since Jesus changed the
name of Simon into Kefa, or
Peter, meaning “The Rock”, the
newly elected Pope assumes a
new name to signify his vision
and mission.

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 12. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Can Receive the Sacrament of Ordination?
 The Sacrament of Ordination can be received only by a male Catholic,
whose divine vocation has been formed, tested, and approved by the Church;
possessing the prescribed requirements, and being free of canonical impediments.
 Ordination’s Basic Requirements:

1) a vocation for the ordained ministry coming from God, which is manifested in the zeal for the

glory of God and the salvation of souls;

2) physical and psychological health, enabling the candidate to fulfill his ministry without

hindrance;

human maturity and emotional stability, which are required to deal with serenity with people

of every age and gender;

3) adequate intelligence and theological culture, being indispensable for preaching the Word of

God and guiding souls.

 Ordination’s Canonical Impediments:

1) Having committed the offence of apostasy, heresy, or schism;

2) having attempted marriage, even a civil one;

3) having committed murder or procured abortion;

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 13. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Why Can’t Women Be Ordained?
 Women cannot be ordained, not even as deacons, for two reasons:

CHRIST’S DECISION: JESUS’ MALENESS:

Since the Clergy are successors of the Apostles, The Clergy act In Persona Christi, and Christ is a

whom Jesus elected all men, excluding even the true man, thus is fitting that only male

Blessed Mother and his closest female disciples, candidates should be ordained. For the same

the Church has no authority to ordain a woman to reason, those born male with deeply-rooted

any degree of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, not homosexual tendencies cannot properly act in

even as a Deacon. the person of Christ, and should not be ordained.

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 14. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Why Must the Clergy Remain Celibate?
 The Catholic Clergy, with some exceptions of the Permanent Deacons,
are required to observe perfect and perpetual chastity for two reasons:

JESUS’ EXAMPLE: THE APOSTLES’ CALLING:

Since our Lord remained unmarried Since the Apostles had to abandon

throughout his life, and the Clergy act In everything to follow Jesus, including their

Persona Christi, it is most suitable for spouses and families, the Clergy, who

them to remain celibate for God’s glory are their successors, should likewise

and the neighbor’s service; as Jesus follow suit. This vow is difficult but well-

explained: “Some have renounced rewarded, as Jesus promised: “There is

marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of no one who has given up house or

Heaven” (Matthew 19:12). Priestly brothers or sisters or mother or father or

celibacy not only allows a full-time children or lands for my sake and for the

commitment to the ministry, but sake of the Gospel who will not receive a

becomes a sign of the world to come, as hundred times more now in this present

Jesus described: “At the resurrection they age ..., with persecutions, and eternal life
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 15. THE MINISTER OF ORDINATION
Who Is the Minister of Ordination?
 The Minister of
Ordination is the
Bishop, who can confer
the three degrees of
Diaconate, Presbyterate,
and Episcopate.

 However, while a
Bishop can ordain a
Deacon and a Priest on
his own accord, he
needs the Pontifical
Mandate, and two other
consecrating Bishops, to
ordain another Bishop,
lest both are
excommunicated.

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 16. THE MINISTER OF ORDINATION
What Is the Apostolic Succession?
 The Apostolic Succession is the unbroken chain of Ordinations
connecting all Bishops throughout history to one of the Apostles, and
thereby, to Jesus. This Succession has the purpose of preserving the
Church’s unity, and Christ’s doctrine, until the end of times.
 The Catholic Church recognizes the Apostolic Succession of the
Greek Orthodox, and of few other Churches of apostolic origins; while
rejecting as invalid all pseudo-ordinations performed by Protestants.

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 17. THE MATTER OF ORDINATION
What Is the Matter of Ordination?
 The Matter of Ordination is
the Laying of Hands by the
Bishop, as documented by St.
Paul who, recalling St.
Timothy’s Episcopal
Ordination, wrote: “I remind
you to stir into flame the gift
of God that you have received
through the imposition of my
hands” (2 Timothy 1:6).
 St. Luke described the first
Diaconal Ordination in
these words: “They presented
these men [the first seven
Deacons] to the Apostles who
prayed and laid hands on
them” (Acts 6:6).
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 18. THE MATTER OF ORDINATION
What Are the Signs of Office?
 The Signs of Office are the symbolical objects that the ordinandi receive
during their Ordination.

DEACON:

Receives the Gospel,

sign of his mission

to preach the Good News.

PRIEST:

Receives the Paten and Chalice,

symbols of his power

to celebrate the Eucharist.

BISHOP:

Receives the Ring, sign of his fidelity to

the Church; the Miter, of his authority;

and the Crosier, of his jurisdiction.

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 19. THE FORM OF ORDINATION
What Is the Form of Ordination?
 The Form of the Ordination is the essential part of the Consecratory Prayer,
which the Bishop proclaims while extending his hands on the candidate.

DEACON:
“Send forth upon him, Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, that he may be strengthened by the gift

of your sevenfold grace for the faithful carrying out of the work of the ministry.”

PRIEST:
“Grant, we pray, Almighty Father, on this, your servant, the dignity of the priesthood; renew

deep within him the Spirit of holiness; may he henceforth possess this office which comes

from you, O God, and is next in rank to the office of Bishop; and by the example of his manner

of life, may he instill right conduct.”

BISHOP:
“Pour out now upon this chosen one that power which is from you, the Spirit of governance

whom you gave to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the Spirit whom he bestowed upon the holy

Apostles, who established the Church in each place as your sanctuary for the glory and

unceasing praise of your name.”

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Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
 21. THE FORM OF ORDINATION
Can the Sublime Dignity of Ordination be Comprehended?
 The sublime dignity of
Ordination, which elevates
a man into Christ’s Alter
Ego, cannot be fully grasped
by the human mind.

 A Deacon who serves in

the person of Jesus; a
Priest who transforms
bread into Christ’s body;
and a Bishop who forges
men into God’s apostles!
Not even the Angels were
granted such divine powers,
and still God bestowed them
on humble servants like us.

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 22. THE FORM OF ORDINATION
What If a Person Feels the Calling?
 Jesus Christ and his Holy Church are in need of priests outstanding in
holiness, knowledge, and zeal. Those who feel the calling, should abide
by two fundamental dispositions:

COMPLETELY: IMMEDIATELY:

Jesus requested his Apostles to the Apostles followed Jesus at once,

abandon everything and follow him: upon hearing their calling:

Priestly vocation is not for half- Procrastination is the Devil’s tool to

measures, and follows the principle of quench every good intention; while

true love: “Give all, or nothing at all.” promptness is the pathway to Heaven.

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