Holy Order

Melvin Guab
Patrick Joshua Rivera
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of man
- Matthew 4:19"
Sacrament of Service

Holy Order
&
Matrimony
Holy Order
• What is the sacrament of Holy Orders?

It 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.
Holy Order
• Why is this sacrament called Holy Orders?

Orders designates an ecclesial body into which one

enters by means of a special consecration
(ordination). Through a special gift of the Holy
Spirit, this sacrament enables the ordained to
exercise a sacred power in the name and with the
authority of Christ for the service of the People of
God.
Holy Order
• What is the meaning of holy order?

The Sacrament of Holy Orders, is the placing of a

man into the order through which he receives the
gift of the Holy Spirit, permitting him to exercise
sacred power, which flows only from Christ
through his Church. This happens through
apostolic succession in the imposition of hands by
one or more bishops within the Catholic faith.
Scriptural Proof
Scriptural Proof

Institution of Deacons

“these (seven men) they set before the Apostles: and

they praying, imposed hands on them.”
- Acts 6:6
Scriptural Proof

• Institution of Presbyters

• “They appointed presbyters for them in each

church and, with prayer and fasting, commended
them to the Lord in whom they had put their
faith.”
- Acts 14:23
Scriptural Proof

• Institution of Presbyters

• “For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame

the gift of God that you have through the
imposition of my hands.”
- 2 Tim. 1:6
Scriptural Proof

• Institution of Presbyters

“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was

conferred on you through the prophetic word with
the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.”

1 Tim. 4:14
 Proofs
from
Tradition
Proofs from Tradition

Consecration of Priests
=
Consecration of Eucharist
Yesterday and the day before yesterday he was one of many,
one of the crowd. All at once he becomes a leader, an
overseer, a teacher of piety, a perfector of the concealed
mysteries. This without changing body and form.
St. Gregory of Nyssa
Proofs from Tradition

Consecration of Priests
=
Baptism
•The former when he is baptized; the latter when he is
ordained; thus in the Catholic Church neither can be
repeated"
((Contra cp. Parmeniani II 13, 28).

St. Augustine
“Only Christ is the true priest, the
others being only his ministers.”

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Holy Order
• What place does the sacrament of Holy Orders have
in the divine plan of salvation?

This sacrament was prefigured in the Old Covenant in the service

of the Levites, in the priesthood of Aaron, and in the institution
of the seventy Elders (Numbers 11:25). These prefigurations
find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus who by the sacrifice of the
cross is the one mediator between God and man (1 Timothy
2:5), the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek
(Hebrews 5:10). The one priesthood of Christ is made present
in the ministerial priesthood.
Holy Order
• What are the degrees that make up the sacrament
of Holy Orders?

The sacrament of Holy Orders is composed of three

degrees which are irreplaceable for the organic
structure of the Church: the episcopate, the
presbyterate and the diaconate.
Holy Order
• What is the effect of episcopal ordination?

Episcopal ordination confers the fullness of the sacrament of

Holy Orders. It makes the bishop a legitimate successor of
the apostles and integrates him into the episcopal college
to share with the Pope and the other bishops care for all the
churches. It confers on him the offices of teaching,
sanctifying, and ruling.
Holy Order
• What is the office confided to a Bishop in a
particular Church?

The bishop to whom the care of a particular Church

is entrusted is the visible head and foundation of
unity for that Church. For the sake of that Church,
as vicar of Christ, he fulfills the office of shepherd
and is assisted by his own priests and deacons.
Holy Order
• What is the effect of ordination to the priesthood?

The anointing of the Spirit seals the priest with an indelible,

spiritual character that configures him to Christ the priest
and enables him to act in the name of Christ the Head. As
a co-worker of the order of bishops he is consecrated to
preach the Gospel, to celebrate divine worship, especially
the Eucharist from which his ministry draws its strength,
and to be a shepherd of the faithful.
Holy Order
• How does a priest carry out his proper ministry?

A priest, although ordained for a universal mission,

exercises his ministry in a particular Church. This
ministry is pursued in sacramental brotherhood
with other priests who form the presbyterate. In
communion with the bishop, and depending upon
him, they bear responsibility for the particular
Church.
Holy Order
• What is the effect of the ordination to the
diaconate?

The deacon, configured to Christ the servant of all, is

ordained for service to the Church. He carries out
this service under the authority of his proper
bishop by the ministry of the Word, of divine
worship, of pastoral care and of charity.
Holy Order
• How is the sacrament of Holy Orders celebrated?

The sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred, in each of its

three degrees, by means of the imposition of hands on the
head of the ordinand by the Bishop who pronounces the
solemn prayer of consecration. With this prayer he asks
God on behalf of the ordinand for the special outpouring of
the Holy Spirit and for the gifts of the Spirit proper to the
ministry to which he is being ordained.
Holy Order
• Who can confer this sacrament?

Only validly ordained bishops, as successors of the apostles,

can confer the sacrament of Holy Orders.
Holy Order
• Who can receive this sacrament?

This sacrament can only be validly received by a baptized

man. The Church recognizes herself as bound by this
choice made by the Lord Himself. No one can demand to
receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, but must be judged
suitable for the ministry by the authorities of the Church.
Holy Order
• Is it necessary to be celibate to receive the
sacrament of Holy Orders?

It is always necessary to be celibate for the episcopacy. For

the priesthood in the Latin Church men who are practicing
Catholics and celibate are chosen, men who intend to
continue to live a celibate life for the kingdom of heaven
(Matthew 19:12). In the Eastern Churches marriage is not
permitted after one has been ordained. Married men can be
ordained to the permanent diaconate.
Holy Order
• What are the effects of the sacrament of Holy
Orders?

This sacrament yields a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit

which configures the recipient to Christ in his triple office
as Priest, Prophet, and King, according to the respective
degrees of the sacrament. Ordination confers an indelible
spiritual character and therefore cannot be repeated or
conferred for a limited time.
Holy Order
• With what authority is the priestly ministry
exercised?

Ordained priests in the exercise of their sacred ministry speak

and act not on their own authority, nor even by mandate or
delegation of the community, but rather in the Person of
Christ the Head and in the name of the Church. Therefore,
the ministerial priesthood differs essentially and not just in
degree from the priesthood common to all the faithful for
whose service Christ instituted it.
Holy Order
• What is the purpose of the Holy Orders?

Through the sacrament of holy orders, or ordination ,

a man vows to lead other Catholics by bringing
them the sacraments, especially the Eucharist .
He promises to do this by proclaiming the Gospel
and by providing to Catholics other means to
achieve holiness.
Holy Order
“At the ordination of priests, the Church prays:
        Lord, holy Father, . . .
        when you had appointed high priests to rule your people,
        you chose other men next to them in rank and dignity
        to be with them and to help them in their task. . . .

        you extended the spirit of Moses to seventy wise men. . .

        You shared among the sons of Aaron

        the fullness of their father's power.”
        (CCC 1542)
Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
• Deacon
There are two types of Deacons within the Catholic Church,
but we’re going to focus on transitional deacons. These
men are also referred to as seminarians and are students of
the Catholic Church. They are generally in their last phase
of training for priesthood. They maintain this role for
twelve months.
Deacons can practice in many similar ways to priests. They
can baptize, witness marriages, and perform funerals.
Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
• Priest
After graduating from being a Deacon, individuals become priests. To become a priest, one must
undertake the Rite of Ordination. This ordains them into the priesthood. During the ceremony, they
promise to uphold the duties of priesthood and to obey his superiors.
Once a priest, individuals are able to perform the ceremony of the Eucharist, take confession and perform
Anointing of the Sick. Priests are also able to perform Holy Matrimony.
There are two types of priests within the Catholic Church, religious and diocesan. Diocesan priests lead
individual parishes. They serve the people within their own parish and are not required to take the
same vowels as religious priests. Diocesan priests live on a monthly salary and have their meals and
lodging provided for them by the parish. Additionally, they may wear whatever clothes they choose
outside of service. This type of priest is more common in secular countries without a strong
traditional Catholic population.
Religious priests, however, vow themselves to a religious order, such as the Jesuits. They wear particular
religious garb and take additional vows of poverty and obedience. Priests are unable to hold personal
possessions and they own very little other than their clothes. They typically live in a group house
alongside other members of the order. Typically they are not provided with a salary and must follow
the orders of their superior.
Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
• Bishop
Bishops are ministers who hold the full sacrament of holy orders. Catholics trace
their origins to the time of the apostles, who were endowed with a spiritual gift
by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Bishops are required to be 35 years old, ordained at least five years prior and hold
a doctorate in theology. They are believed to truly hold expertise in canon law
and sacred scripture. They typically govern over local regions known as
dioceses.
Becoming a bishop is an important moment in most clergy life, as all senior
rankings hold the title bishop. Bishops reach their retirement age at 75 years
old. At this time, they are to submit their resignation to the Pope who will then
work with him to determine a suitable replacement.
Bishops are the third, and fullest level of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
• Archbishop

Archbishops are particularly important bishops.

They oversee large areas of churches called
archdiocese. The title comes from the Greek word
meaning “chief”. Bishops report directly to them
when in need of assistance or guidance. The
archbishop is best thought of as a manager of
bishops for a certain geographical region.
Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
• Cardinal
Cardinals are leading bishops and members of the College of Cardinals. Their
biggest duty is participating in the Papal Conclave, that is, voting for the new
Pope. Most have additional duties including missions within the Roman Curia,
governmental body of the Holy See. To be eligible to attend these votes,
however, Cardinals must be below the age of 80.
The current pope, Pope Francis, is known for his particularly diverse group of
cardinals- if you can call a group of old, male, Catholic diverse. There are
currently 128 serving cardinals. Of those, Pope Francis created 88 from 56
countries. 17 of these countries had never been represented in the College of
Cardinals again.
In 2019 Pope Francis created several cardinals that are experts in the care of
migrants and relations with Islam.
Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
• Pope
The highest honour a member of the clergy can receive is to be elected as the leader
of the Catholic Church. The Pope is elected by cardinals under the age of 8-
following the death or resignation of a Pope. There is no limit to how many
years a Pope may hold his office.
The office of the Pope is referred to as the papacy. The Pope rules the Catholic
Church in a very similar way to a king would a country, and he is the head of
state for the Vatican City. The Roma Curia (you might remember them to be
Cardinals) help the Pope to complete his duties.
Newly elected popes much choose a regnal name, many choose to honour the
names of previous popes. Each pope chooses his name in reflection of a saint he
feels a strong connection to. Catholics believe their pope is infallible, and that
God will not allow his followers to be misled by having him make a wrong
statement.