Sacrament of Holy Orders

Why Men Become Priests?

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men”

WHY BECOME A PRIEST?

Many men are attracted to the essential sacramental role the priest has in the Church.

The examples of men who are already ordained inspire those considering the priesthood.

Who Can Be Ordained?

Three degrees of priesthood: episcopate (bishop),

presbyterate (priest), diaconate (deacon)

Holy Orders is the means for perpetuating the mission of

Christ.

No one has the right to receive Holy Orders.

Holy Orders is reserved only for baptized males.

The priest acts in the person of Christ.

Who can be ordained?

The Church is bound to the choice made by the Lord himself not to include women among the Twelve. Jesus made this choice not because of societal pressure (Jesus was countercultural in every

way by the way he interacted with women.

Even Mary, the first disciple, was not chosen to be a priest.

Our gender is not incidental.

Similar to motherhood – priesthood is unmerited and for the good of another.

This practice is part of the Church’s Deposit of Faith. It’s infallible.

CelibacyThe renunciation of marriage made by those who receive the Sacrament

of Holy Orders for more perfect observance of chastity.

This commitment is in imitation of Christ.

It is a sign of new life and service to which the Church’s ministry is made holy.

Enables the priest to dedicate himself more fully to Christ and the service of the Church.

Sign of the future kingdom – no marriage in heaven.

The priest is married to the Church (the Bride). Even those who are called to marriage must make a vow to faithful and true to his/her

spouse and family. No indication that married life is easier than celibate life.

Areas of Formation

HUMAN FORMATION

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

INTELLECTUAL FORMATION

PASTORAL FORMATION

Understanding the Sacrament of Holy Orders

The orders of bishop and priest enable the one who is ordained to act in the person of

Christ.

The order for deacon is intended to help and serve the priests and bishops in their work.

Priesthood in the Old

Testament

In early Israel, the father of the family acted as priest.

During the Exodus, Moses selected seventy elders to aid him in discerning God’s will.

After the Temple was constructed, the main role of

priests was Temple duty.

The Old Testament priest (hiereus/ίέρος) and pagan

priests offered sacrifices apart from themselves

The Priesthood of Christ

The ministerial priesthood (presbyter/πρεσβίτερ) shares

the unique priesthood of Christ and is at the service of

the common priesthood.

It is Christ Himself who offers to the his unbloody sacrifice,

through the priest at Mass

The Apostles soon realized they needed help in their

ministry.

The Apostles chose men to serve as presbyters and

selected episcopoi (έπιςκοποί/bishops) to continue

their work after their deaths.

Brief History of the Sacrament

2nd Century: bishop ordained priests and deacons to help him in his ministry

4th Century: clergy gained more privileged status Middle Ages: decline in the diaconate and it became

more of a step to priesthood. Minor orders (various steps to the priesthood) developed.

Influence of monasticism (celibacy became a requirement in the 12th century)

Council of Trent: called for seminary training for priests

Vatican II: restored the permanent diaconate; also reminded the church of the “ministerial priesthood” and the “common priesthood” shared by all.

Celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Orders

Holy Orders is celebrated and

exercised in three degrees:

Episcopacy Presbyterate Diaconate

The Ordination of Bishops

Fullness of Holy Orders

Another bishop confers the

sacrament on the bishop-elect through

laying on of hands and a consecratory

prayer

Receives Book of the Gospels, ring, mitre, and crosier

The Ordination of Priests

Presented to the bishop after assent of the community

The bishop confers the sacrament on the

ordinand through laying on of hands and a consecratory

prayer

Receives a stole and a chasuble and has hands anointed with

chrism

The Ordination of Deacons

Transitional or permanent

The bishop confers the sacrament on the

ordinands through laying on of hands and a consecratory

prayer

Receives Book of the Gospels, a stole,

and a dalmatic

The Grace of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

Holy orders conforms (configures) the ordained minister even more closely to Christ, giving him an

indelible character.

The Grace of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

The call to Holy Orders involves the man to: Become a man for others – the motive for

living is not for wealth or fame, but to serve the will of God.

Genuine love for God and for others Live for the Kingdom and not for pleasure.

*Call to celibacy – not as a discipline, but to develop a greater capacity to love

The Grace of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

ACTING AS CHRIST THE HIGH PRIEST

ACTING AS CHRIST THE TEACHER

ACTING AS CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD

It is Christ Himself, through the priest, who administers to us the sacraments

Ordination Leads to a Ministry of Service

Holy Orders gives bishops,priests, and deacons special graces to be faithful to their vocation

Bishops and priests serve the People of God by teaching, worship, and pastoral governance

Ordination Leads to a Ministry of Service

Service to the Universal Church

Ordination to the episcopate makes each new bishop a member of the episcopal

college.

The pope, as head of the college of bishops, has the

added charism of infallibility.

Service to the Local Church

To preach the Gospel to all

To sanctify the People of God by providing the Eucharist and

other sacraments

To govern the parish through pastoral ministry

The “Job” Description of a Priest

To preach the Gospel to all PREACH To sanctify the People of God by

providing the Eucharist and other Sacraments SANCTIFY The priest/deacon are obligated to pray the Liturgy of

the Hours or the breviary 5 times a day on behalf of the Church

To govern/lead the parish or community through ministry GOVERN

Other Information

Some priests who have served the Church faithfully and those who hold important office in the Vatican are given the title of a Monsignor.

Some bishops are given the title Cardinal are called to serve as papal advisors and are primarily responsible for electing the new Pope .

The Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals.