Holy Order

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Holy Order

1. What is Holy Orders?
2. Why is the Sacrament called "Orders"?
3. Is this priesthood the same as that which God established among the chosen people?
4. What is the relationship between the ministerial priesthood and the priesthood of the faithful?
5. Does the priest act for Christ?
6. If Christ acts through the priest, what of the priest's human weaknesses and sins?
7. What are the three degrees of the sacrament of Orders?
8. Why is Episcopal ordination the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders?
9. What is the college of bishops?
10. What is the mission of the priest?
11. What is the role of deacons?
12. How many kinds of deacons are there?
13. Who can confer Holy Orders?
14. Who may receive Holy Orders?
15. Does anyone have a right to be ordained?
16. Why are women not ordained to the priesthood?
17. Why don't priests of the Latin rite marry?
18. Do some Catholic priests marry?
19. Does the Church have the right to require priestly celibacy?
20. What is the special grace given to those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders?

1. What is Holy Orders?
Holy Orders is the sacrament which continues Christ's mission through the grace and power given to men to carry out the sacred duties of deacons, priests or bishops. (1536)

2. Why is this sacrament called "Orders"?
The word "Orders" derives from a term used in ancient Rometo refer to a specific group of persons such as a governing body. Members are ordained, or incorporated into this body; they enter the order. (1537-1538)

You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek (Heb 5:6).

3. Is this priesthood the same as that which God established among the chosen people?
No, the hereditary priesthood of Israel was the special mission of the house of Levi, which offered prayers and sacrifices for sin in the name of the whole people. The Church sees in this ancient priesthood a prefiguring of the New Testament priesthood which continues to offer the one redemptive sacrifice of Christ. (1539-1543)

Now since the Torah has but a shadow of the good things to come rather than their exact likeness, the same sacrifices which are offered year after year can never perfect those who draw near to worship.... Therefore, when Christ came into the world he said, "SacriZce and offering you did not desire, but you have prepared a body for me" (Heb 10:1, 5).

4. What is the relationship between the ministerial priesthood and the priesthood of the faithful?
Both the priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial priesthood participate in the one priesthood of Christ. The priesthood of the faithful is an unfolding of the grace of Baptism, of faith, hope and charity, of life in the Spirit. The ministerial priesthood, instead, is one of service to the common priesthood of the faithful. Because it is the means Christ uses to make his salvific graces available to the whole Church, the ministerial priesthood is itself conferred by a sacrament. (1546-1547)

Like living stones let yourselves be built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Pt 2:5).

5. Does the priest act for Christ?
In his official capacity as an ordained minister, the priest acts in the person of Christ, the Head of the Church. The priest represents Christ, who acts as priest, teacher and shepherd through him. (1548-1549)

6. If Christ acts through the priest, what of the priest's human weaknesses and sins?
The guarantee that Christ acts through the ordained minister extends only to the sacramental ministry, which is protected even against the priest's personal unworthiness. The priest will still put his own human stamp on his actions. However, he can "put on" Christ's likeness more and more by his practice of prayer, penance and virtue. (1550)

7. What are the three degrees of the sacrament of Orders?
The episcopate, presbyter ate and deaconate comprise the three degrees of this sacrament. The episcopate (the office of a bishop) is the fullness of the sacrament. (1554)

8. Why is Episcopal ordination the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders?
Episcopal ordination confers the fullest participation in the priesthood of Christ. The bishops are successors of the apostles and continue their ministry of teaching, shepherding and leading the flock of Jesus Christ to holiness. In a special way they represent Christ as teacher, shepherd and priest. (1555-1558)

9. What is the college of bishops?
Although each bishop is consecrated as pastor in a local Church, he is, together with all the other bishops, responsible for all the Churches. The practice of having several bishops take part in the consecration of a new bishop shows this collegiality. Each new bishop must be approved by the Pope who is the sign of the communion and universality of the one Church, as well as guarantor of the freedom of the particular Churches. (1559-1560)

10. What is the mission of the priest?
Priests are co-workers of the bishops and like them, share in Christ's office of teacher, shepherd and priest. Priests are to preach the Gospel, exercise the pastoral ministry, and lead the faithful in worship. A special part of their sacramental ministry is offering the Eucharist and acting for Christ in the sacrament of Penance. (1562-1566)

For every high priest is chosen from among men and appointed to represent them before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for their sins (Heb 5:1).

11. What is the role of deacons?
Deacons are ordained by the bishop to the ministry of service. They assist the bishop and priests by baptizing, proclaiming God's Word to the faithful, preaching, distributing Communion, giving Eucharistic Benediction, blessing couples who receive the sacrament of Matrimony, presiding over funerals, and performing many works of service. (1569-1570)

For even the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mk 10:45).

12. How many kinds of deacons are there?
Permanent deacons are single or married men who will remain deacons for the rest of their lives. Transitional deacons are men who are ordained to the deaconate before being ordained as priests.

13. Who can confer Holy Orders?
The bishop confers Holy Orders. He places his hands on the head of the one to be ordained, praying that the Holy Spirit will consecrate him and give him the gifts proper to his ministry. The sign of the sacrament consists in this. Each degree of ordination confers an "indelible spiritual character." (1573-1574, 1581-1583)

For this reason I remind you to stir up the flame of God's gift, which is yours through the laying on of my hands... (2 Tm 1:6-7).

14. Who may receive Holy Orders?
A man who is a good Catholic, has prepared himself by study, and has been accepted by the bishop may receive Holy Orders. (1577-1578, 1580)

15. Does anyone have a right to be ordained?
No one has a right to be ordained, for a man is called to the priesthood by God through the Church. Ordination is God's gift, not a right. (1578)

16. Why are women not ordained to the priesthood?
In fidelity to the example of Jesus, the Church does not consider itself authorized to ordain women. The constant practice and tradition of the Church, from the earliest times, has been to ordain only men. (1577)

17. Why don't priests of the Latin rite marry?
Priests of the Latin rite observe celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of heaven that they may serve Christ with an undivided heart, dedicate themselves more freely and completely to their priestly ministry, and become living signs of the world to come. (1579)

18. Do some Catholic priests marry?
Some priests of the Eastern rite Catholic Churches marry, in accord with their ancient traditions, which have the approval of Rome. (1580)

19. Does the Church have the right to require priestly celibacy?
The Church has the right to set up obligatory disciplinary norms which every seminarian studies; if the seminarian decides to become a priest, he freely and knowingly accepts the norm of celibacy.

20. What is the special grace given to those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders?
The Holy Spirit confers a special grace which configures the one ordained to Christ as priest, teacher and pastor. This grace makes the one ordained a minister of Christ. (1585-1588)

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