FOR THE JOURNEY

HOLY ORDERS
 
Holy Orders is the second sacrament of service. Like the sacrament of marriage, Holy Orders offers grace to those receiving the sacrament; ordained so that they can be Christ to those they serve. Those who are called to the sacramental priesthood have two primary responsibilities; the first is to provide for the spiritual needs of believers and the second is to care for the institution of the Church. While we become members of the priesthood of Christ through our Baptism, the sacramental priest is set apart in the Catholic Church. Through the grace that the priest receives through ordination, the priest acts in the person of Christ (in persona Christi) when celebrating the sacraments. 

Holy Orders, like baptism and confirmation, sets an indelible mark on the recipient’s soul;   it is a lifetime commitment and can’t be erased or ‘done over’. Consequently, preparing for the sacrament requires years of study and formation. This enables the priest to discern if he is able to meet the demands of God’s call. 

There are three degrees of ordination in Holy Orders. The first degree is the diaconate. A permanent deacon is ordained to help the priests and bishops, they serve in parishes, hospitals and prisons and are able to celebrate two sacraments - Baptism and Marriage. While a deacon can be ordained if they are married, their vow to the Church prevents them from marrying again if they are widowed, or from getting married if they become deacons as a single man. 

Those ordained into the priesthood, the second degree of ordination, are responsible for the day-to-day spiritual care of the local parish. They are the primary celebrants of the sacra-ments of Baptism and Marriage as well as Reconciliation, Eucharist, and the Anointing of the Sick. There is also a title of deacon that is conferred during the process of becoming a priest, but it is a transitional diaconate and takes place during the final year of preparation. 
While ordination in the Latin Church prohibits marriage for the priest, the Eastern Church does allow married priests. The Eastern Church has a two track system for ordination, however. Parish priests are permitted to be married prior to ordination, but like deacons in the Latin Church, they cannot marry once ordained. Those who are on the path to the highest level of ordination may not be married.

The third and highest level of an ordained minister is the episcopate or a bishop. The bishop is the primary teacher of faith and the ultimate authority for the diocese. The bishop can preside over all seven sacraments; Confirmation and Holy Orders are reserved to the bishop. A bishop is appointed by the pope, and his ordination is presided over by three bishops. “Pope” is not a degree in the sacrament of Holy Orders. It is a title given to the bishop of Rome who is the head of the Church. The Pope is chosen through the action of the Holy Spirit.

Ordination requires that the man being ordained models the obedience of Christ so he makes a promise of obedience to the bishop. Because the priests in the Catholic Church do not marry, they are also required to make a promise of celibacy. They answer a call to a commitment of universal love as opposed to Marriage where the couple pledges a commitment of love to a specific individual. The hands of the priest are anointed with the oil of Holy Chrism. These hands bless the faithful, bring healing to those in need and consecrate the Eucharist. 

The sacrament of Holy Orders continues the work and actions of Jesus and his Apostles through those who answer God’s call to the priesthood.

Cathy Pressimone
EMCC Parish Life Coordinator
Master Catechist