Holy OrdersHoly Orders

The PriesthoodThe Priesthood Old TestamentOld Testament: restricted to the Tribe : restricted to the Tribe

of Levi.of Levi. Based on a hereditary bloodlineBased on a hereditary bloodline New TestamentNew Testament: Christ the Eternal High : Christ the Eternal High

Priest offers the perfect sacrifice of Priest offers the perfect sacrifice of HimselfHimself

Based on graceBased on grace The old was The old was fulfilledfulfilled and and perfectedperfected by by

Christ; no need for animal sacrifices.Christ; no need for animal sacrifices. There is only sacrifice which has the There is only sacrifice which has the

power to save mankind: power to save mankind: the Holy the Holy Sacrifice of the MassSacrifice of the Mass..

The Priesthood of the New The Priesthood of the New TestamentTestament

Christ Himself Christ Himself instituted the instituted the priesthood of the new priesthood of the new and eternal covenant and eternal covenant on on Holy ThursdayHoly Thursday

In celebrating the first In celebrating the first Mass, He commanded Mass, He commanded His Apostles to also His Apostles to also celebrate the divine celebrate the divine sacrifice of the Masssacrifice of the Mass

““Do this in Do this in commemoration of commemoration of me.”me.”

Apostolic Apostolic Succession/OrdinationSuccession/Ordination

In time, all of the Apostles In time, all of the Apostles died.died.

Did the priesthood die with Did the priesthood die with them? No.them? No.

The Apostles handed on to The Apostles handed on to others (i.e., “others (i.e., “ordainedordained”) what ”) what they themselves received.they themselves received.

This transfer of grace took This transfer of grace took place by the “place by the “laying on of laying on of handshands” (2 Timothy 1:6)” (2 Timothy 1:6)

DefinitionDefinition: Holy Orders is a : Holy Orders is a sacrament which makes those sacrament which makes those men who receive it men who receive it share in share in the priesthood of Christthe priesthood of Christ, , and gives them the and gives them the powerpower and and gracegrace to discharge their duties to discharge their duties validlyvalidly and and worthilyworthily..

8 Degrees of Holy Orders8 Degrees of Holy Orders

4 Minor Orders4 Minor Orders1.1. PorterPorter2.2. LectorLector3.3. ExorcistExorcist4.4. AcolyteAcolyte

4 Major Orders4 Major Orders5. 5. SubdeaconSubdeacon6. 6. DeaconDeacon7. 7. PriestPriest8. 8. BishopBishop (the (the

fullness of the fullness of the priesthood)priesthood)

** “Major” because of ** “Major” because of the obligation to the obligation to observe celibacy.observe celibacy.

The Divine Hierarchy of the The Divine Hierarchy of the ChurchChurch

Deacons, Priests, BishopsDeacons, Priests, Bishops This hierarchy is of divine This hierarchy is of divine

origin.origin. BishopsBishops of dioceses possess of dioceses possess

full apostolic authority within full apostolic authority within their territory.their territory.

PriestsPriests assist Bishops in the assist Bishops in the work of the salvation of work of the salvation of souls.souls.

DeaconsDeacons assist the assist the Priests/Bishops in the same Priests/Bishops in the same workwork

The The PopePope of Rome is a of Rome is a special special BishopBishop: he has : he has universal jurisdiction universal jurisdiction (authority) over the entire (authority) over the entire Church on earth.Church on earth.

Pope Saint Pius X

AdministrationAdministration MatterMatter: imposition of hands: imposition of hands FormForm: “receive the power to : “receive the power to

offer sacrifice in the Church offer sacrifice in the Church for the living and the dead, in for the living and the dead, in the Name of the Father, etc.”the Name of the Father, etc.”

EffectsEffects: :

1.1. increase in sanctifying grace;increase in sanctifying grace;

2.2. special grace that makes the special grace that makes the ordained fit to exercise the ordained fit to exercise the duties of his sacred office;duties of his sacred office;

3.3. sacramental character (once sacramental character (once a priest, always a priest!)a priest, always a priest!)

Principle Powers of the Principle Powers of the PriestPriest

1.1. to offer the holy sacrifice of the massto offer the holy sacrifice of the mass

2.2. to forgive sinsto forgive sins

3.3. to administer the sacramentsto administer the sacraments

4.4. to preach the word of Godto preach the word of God These powers are received with Holy These powers are received with Holy

OrdersOrders The priest cannot lawfully exercise these The priest cannot lawfully exercise these

powers without powers without authorizationauthorization from the from the Pope or a Bishop.Pope or a Bishop.

He can administer all the sacraments He can administer all the sacraments validlyvalidly, except Confession, for which he , except Confession, for which he needs needs facultiesfaculties..

Minister of Holy OrdersMinister of Holy Orders Only Bishops administer Only Bishops administer

this sacrament!this sacrament! When a When a new bishopnew bishop is is

consecrated, there must be consecrated, there must be 3 bishops present3 bishops present: : 1 main 1 main consecratorconsecrator, and , and 2 co-2 co-consecratorsconsecrators..

The three symbols of the The three symbols of the BishopBishop: : mitre mitre (high priest), (high priest), croziercrozier (shepherd’s staff), (shepherd’s staff), and the and the ringring (authority) (authority)

CardinalsCardinals: special bishops : special bishops who vote for a new pope who vote for a new pope when he dies. (they wear when he dies. (they wear Red instead of purple)Red instead of purple)

Pectoral Cross: used by the pope, cardinals, bishops, abbots, and other prelates as a sign of

their office.

Cardinal James Francis Cardinal James Francis McIntyreMcIntyre

Archbishop of Los Angeles 1948-1970

Vestments

1. Amice

2. Alb

3. Cincture

4. Maniple

5. Stole

6. Chasuble

* Roman, or Gothic

====================

Normal attire for a cleric is the Black Cassock.

For some ceremonies, instead of a chasuble, a COPE is worn.

For benediction of the blessed sacrament, a HUMERAL VEIL is used to touch the monstrance.

Vocation to the Vocation to the PriesthoodPriesthood

vocatiovocatio (Latin) = “calling” (Latin) = “calling” Signs of God’s calling to the holy Signs of God’s calling to the holy

priesthoodpriesthood::1.1. pious desire of the heart;pious desire of the heart;2.2. innocence of life;innocence of life;3.3. sincere love of Christ;sincere love of Christ;4.4. zeal for the glory of God and the zeal for the glory of God and the

salvation of souls;salvation of souls;5.5. talent and liking for higher studies talent and liking for higher studies

(philosophy, theology)(philosophy, theology)* * No vocation is certain until a person is No vocation is certain until a person is

called by the bishop to receive holy called by the bishop to receive holy orders.orders.

Reception of Holy OrdersReception of Holy Orders Only a Only a manman who has been baptized and who has been baptized and

confirmed may receive Holy Orders.confirmed may receive Holy Orders. The priest acts The priest acts in persona Christiin persona Christi (“in the (“in the

person of Chris”).person of Chris”). Christ was both divine and human, and his Christ was both divine and human, and his

human naturehuman nature was certainly that of a man. was certainly that of a man. Christ Himself Christ Himself nevernever chose a woman as an chose a woman as an

Apostle.Apostle. There is absolutely There is absolutely no evidenceno evidence that the that the

Apostles ever ordained a woman to the Apostles ever ordained a woman to the priesthood.priesthood.

The teaching that ordination is reserved The teaching that ordination is reserved strictly to men is of divine origin and strictly to men is of divine origin and cannot cannot changechange..