7/26/2019 Holy Orders Report

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Holy Orders

The symbols of Holy Orders are oil and the laying- on-of-hands.The oil signifies that the one anointed has been called by God toa special service. The laying-on-of- hands signifies that the Churchauthorizes the anointed to perform this service.

THE CELEBRATION OF THIS SACRAMENT 

Given the importance that the ordination of a bishop, a priest, or adeacon has for the life of the particular Church, its celebration callsfor as many of the faithful as possible to take part.

It should take place preferably on Sunday, in the cathedral, withsolemnity appropriate to the occasion. All three ordinations, of thebishop, of the priest, and of the deacon, follow the samemovement. Their proper place is within the Eucharistic liturgy.

The essential rite  of the sacrament of Holy Orders for all threedegrees consists in the bishop's imposition of hands on the headof the ordinand and in the bishop's specific consecratory prayerasking God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his gifts properto the ministry to which the candidate is being ordained.

WHO CAN CONFER THIS SACRAMENT? 

Thus, it is Christ whose gift it is that some be apostles, otherspastors. He continues to act through the bishops.

Since the sacrament of Holy Orders is the sacrament of theapostolic ministry, it is for the bishops as the successors of theapostles to hand on the "gift of the Spirit," the "apostolic line."

Validly ordained bishops, i.e., those who are in the line of apostolicsuccession, validly confer the three degrees of the sacrament ofHoly Orders.

VI. WHO CAN RECEIVE THIS SACRAMENT? 

"Only a baptized man (vir ) validly receives sacred ordination."

The Lord Jesus chose men (viri ) to form the college of the twelveapostles, and the apostles did the same when they chosecollaborators to succeed them in their ministry. T

No one has a right to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.Indeed no one claims this office for himself; he is called to it byGod. Anyone who thinks he recognizes the signs of God's call tothe ordained ministry must humbly submit his desire to theauthority of the Church, who has the responsibility and right to callsomeone to receive orders. Like every grace this sacrament canbe received only as an unmerited gift.

 All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exceptionof permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men offaith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate "forthe sake of the kingdom of heaven."

VII. THE EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS 

The indelible character   – This sacrament configures the recipientto Christ by a special grace of the Holy Spirit, so that he may serveas Christ's instrument for his Church. By ordination one is enabled

to act as a representative of Christ, Head of the Church, in his tripleoffice of priest, prophet, and king.

 As in the case of Baptism and Confirmation this share in Christ'soffice is granted once for all. The sacrament of Holy Orders, likethe other two, confers an indelible spiritual character  and cannotbe repeated or conferred temporarily.

The grace of the Holy Spirit  –The grace of the Holy Spirit properto this sacrament is configuration to Christ as Priest, Teacher, andPastor, of whom the ordained is made a minister.

THERE ARE THREE LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION in theSacrament of Holy Orders: as bishop, as priest (from  presbyter ,which is Greek for “elder”), and as deacon. 

A BISHOP receives the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.He is the head or Ordinary of the local church. The local areaentrusted to him is called a diocese. A bishop is also a member of

the episcopal college: this is all the bishops who, with the pope,guide the Church.

PRIESTS  serve the community in various ways. They may becalled to serve in their dioceses or as religious order priests,carrying out the mission of a particular religious community. Theypreside at liturgies, preach, administer the sacraments, counselpeople, serve as pastors, and teach.

DEACONS help and serve bishops by serving the needs of the

Church, proclaiming the gospel, teaching and preaching,baptizing, witnessing marriages, and assisting the priest celebrantat liturgies. DEACONS  are ordained for service in the Church.There are deacons who are studying to become priests. There aredeacons that include married men who are called to remaindeacons for life and to serve the Church in this capacity.

PRIESTS  receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Rite ofOrdination. The bishop lays his hands on the head of the candidateand says a prayer asking for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Inone part of the rite, the candidate lies in front of the altar while theLitany of the Saints is sung or recited. In another part of the rite, apriest's hands are anointed with chrism. In the rite for a bishop, thenew bishop's head is anointed.

1. What is necessary to become a priest? To become a priest,a man has to study for about 6 years in a special school calleda seminary and be approved by his bishop as to his learning,health, morals, and character. 

2. How does a man become a bishop? The Pope chooses apriest who is known for his learning and holiness and appointsother bishops to consecrate him a bishop by imposing handsand saying the proper words. 

3. How does a man become Pope? The Cardinals elect asuccessor to the dead Pope. 

4. What are the chief powers of the priesthood? They are -- 

a. To offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, whichincludes the power to change bread and wine intothe Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and...

b. To forgive sins.

Pope The bishop of Rome, vicar of Christ on earth,

successor of St. Peter, visible head of the

whole Catholic Church.

Cardinal An honorary title given to priests or bishops

 because of their important positions in the

Church; Cardinals elect the new Pope.

Bishop Rules over the people and priests of hisdiocese; can give Confirmation and Holy

Orders.

Monsignor A priest gets this honorary title from the Pope

 because of his important position in the

Church.

Pastor Rules over a parish; is subject to the bishop of

the diocese.

Priest Diocesan priests work in a diocese; religious

 priests belong to a religious order - like the

Franciscans, Dominicans, etc...

Monk Monks live in a monastery, follow a strict rule

under a superior - like the Benedictines and

the Trappists; some are priests, others are

 brothers.

Brother A man dedicated to teaching, hospital work or

contemplation; takes vows of poverty, chastity

and obedience, but does not receive the

Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Sister A woman dedicated to teaching, hospital or

social work, or contemplation; takes vows of

 poverty, chastity and obedience and belongs to

a religious order or community.