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Sacrament of Holy Orders

  • Writer: margaret kozak
    margaret kozak
  • 1 day ago
  • 3 min read

What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?

The sacrament of Holy Orders is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church through which Jesus Christ continues his mission given to the apostles. It configures certain baptized men to Christ as priests, enabling them to lead the Church's worship and ministry until the end of time.1 Unlike other sacraments that anyone can receive, Holy Orders imparts a permanent, spiritual "seal" on the soul, marking the recipient indelibly for service in the Church.2)

The Three Degrees of Holy Orders

Holy Orders has three distinct degrees, each conferring a share in Christ's priesthood but in different ways:

  • Episcopate (Bishops): The bishop receives the fullness of the sacrament, making him a successor to the apostles. He heads a local (diocesan) Church, shares in the leadership of the worldwide Church under the Pope, and has authority to ordain others.3 4

  • Presbyterate (Priests): Priests are co-workers with the bishop, sharing in his ministry. They celebrate Mass, forgive sins in Confession, and shepherd the faithful, acting in persona Christi (in the person of Christ).4 5

  • Diaconate (Deacons): Deacons serve the bishop and priests through works of charity, proclaiming the Gospel, and assisting at liturgy. This is a degree of service rather than priestly ordination in the full sense.4 6

These degrees are all given through ordination, a sacramental rite that cannot be repeated because of the indelible character it imprints—like a spiritual tattoo that lasts forever.2)

"The divinely instituted ecclesiastical ministry is exercised in different degrees by those who even from ancient times have been called bishops, priests, and deacons."4

Who Can Receive Holy Orders?

Not everyone can receive this sacrament. The Church confers Holy Orders only on baptized men (Latin: viri selecti) whose suitability has been recognized by Church authority.7 No one has a "right" to it; it is a free gift from God, discerned through prayer, formation in a seminary, and the Church's call.8

  • Candidates must be humble, mature, and prepared through years of study and spiritual training.

  • The Church (ultimately the bishop) decides, ensuring only those truly called serve.8

Women cannot receive Holy Orders, as this reflects Christ's choice of male apostles and the Church's unbroken tradition.7

How Does Holy Orders Work? Purpose and Effects

Holy Orders continues Christ's apostolic ministry: teaching, sanctifying (through sacraments like the Eucharist), and governing the faithful.1

  • Indelible Character: Once ordained, a man is forever a cleric. Even if laicized (released from duties), the sacrament remains.2)

  • Essential for the Church: Without ordained ministers, there is no Eucharist, no valid Absolution, no apostolic succession.5 6

  • Grace Received: It imparts special graces for ministry, uniting the ordained to Christ the High Priest.1

Ordination happens through the laying on of hands by a bishop and specific prayers, mirroring how the apostles passed on authority (e.g., Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14).

Why Does This Matter Today?

In a world short on priests in some places, Holy Orders reminds us that God calls individuals to this vocation amid family and career pressures.9 The whole Church supports vocations through prayer and example, fostering openness especially among youth.9

In summary, Holy Orders transforms men into living icons of Christ for the Church's mission—bishops to lead, priests to sanctify, deacons to serve—sealed forever by God's grace. It ensures the sacraments flow from Christ's own priesthood.1 4








 
 
 

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© 2022 by Margaret Kozak - (O.C.I.A.) A Faith Journey @ St. Andrew Parish.

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