The Sacrament of Holy Orders

1. The Sacrament of Holy Orders Chapter 8

2. WHY MEN BECOME PRIESTS • Attracted by the essential sacramental role the priest has for the Church • Being Christ for the world • Consecrates Eucharist, absolves sins, heals the sick, etc. • Called by the Lord just as the Apostles were to cast away their current lives and take up a new one

3. Who Can Be Ordained • Holy Orders is to perpetuate Christ’s mission handed over to the Apostles until the end of time • Episcopate (bishop) • Presbyterate (priest) • Diaconate (deacon) • No one has a right to receive Holy Orders nor does anyone claim office for himself; he is called by God • Reserved only for baptized males • Gender is not incidental. It is part of who we are and it determines how we relate and are perceived by others. (Father-figure; roles of a father/provider; acts in person of Christ; we learn through senses)

4. More Requirements… • Men who take vow of celibacy • A sign of new life and service to which the Church’s minister is made holy • Men who pledge to follow the spiritual gifts of humility and obedience; sometimes poverty • Attend seminary • Undergo rigorous coursework for their priestly formation • Human (personality), Spiritual, Intellectual, Pastoral

5. 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 • Deacons are ordained so that they may serve the priests and bishops

6. Priesthood in the Old Testament • Prior to Moses it was the head of the clan • Passed on to sons • During the Exodus, Moses selected seventy elders to aid in leading the twelve tribes • Prefigures the ordained ministry of the new Testament

7. The Priesthood of Christ • Christ is High Priest • The only “actual” priest • All others are his ministers • Ordained priesthood • Common priesthood • Jesus is present to the Church in the ordained ministers as the Head of his Body • Instituted for the good of all people and the Church • As the Church grew, the Apostles appointed presbyters to look over local churches and epsicopoi to serve over larger areas • Decisions affecting the entire Church were made at councils by the episcopoi acting together

8. Brief History of Holy Orders to the Present • Early Church • Bishops were chosen by the community; he ordained priests and deacons • Eventually parishes selected priests • Middle Ages • An increase in need for priests • Deaconate became a stepping stone to priesthood and the ministry declined • Protestant Reformation • Pointed out a lack of education in the clergy • Led to requirement of seminary • Second Vatican Council • Called for restoration of permanent diaconate • Called for new Rite of Ordination; recalled original meaning of ordained ministry and its service to communion • Renewal

9. CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS • Three degrees • Episcopy (bishops), presbyterate (priests), and diaconate (deacons) • Deacons help and serve bishops and priests • Bishops may only confer Holy Orders to priests, deacons, and other bishops • The essential rite of Holy Orders is the imposition of hands on the head of the ordinand • Takes place within the celebration of the Eucharist in the diocesan cathedral

10. The Ordination of Bishops • The fullness of the Sacrament • The summit of sacred ministry • Chosen by the pope • Identified and recommended by Archbishops (delegate to Vatican) • The ordinary bishop confers the Sacrament on the bishop-elect • Laying on of hands and consecratory prayer • Anointing with Sacred Chrism (4th time in life) • Signifies his role as head of Christ’s body within the dioceses • Given a Book of the Gospels as sign of ministry to proclaim the Word • Ring = sign of lifelong commitment to the Church, which is the Bride of Christ • Mitre = sign of authority • Crosier = sign of bishops role as shepherd of the Lord’s flock

11. Archbishop Allen Vigneron

12. Bishops Within Archdiocese of Detroit • Bishop Michael Burns • Bishop Arturo Cepeda • Bishop Donald Hanchon • Bishop Francis Reiss

13. The Ordination of Priests • Bishop confers the Sacrament by laying on of hands and gives consecratory prayer • New priest is invested with a stole • A long narrow scarf worn straight from the shoulders • As well as a chasuble • The outer vestment worn at liturgy. The color follows the liturgical season • Purple = Advent and Lent • White = Christmas, Easter, and other feasts of Christ • Red = Good Friday and Pentecost • Green = Ordinary time • Then bishop anoints new priests hands with Sacred Chrism • This gives the grace for his ministry to be fruitful; consecrate Eucharist, absolve sins, etc.

14. The Ordination of Deacons • This ordination given to both transitional deacons and permanent deacons • Transitional deacons must be celibate and promise to remain celibate • Bishop confers the Sacrament by the laying on of hands and consecratory prayer • Invested with a stole • Worn diagonally from one shoulder • Also given a dalmatic • His outer liturgical vestment • Receives a Book of the Gospels • A sign of his mission to proclaim the gospel of Christ

15. Deacons Saint Stephen, one of first seven deacons in the Church

16. THE GRACE OF THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS • Conforms one closer to Christ than he had been after baptism and confirmation • However, does not necessarily mean that ordained ministers are automatically holier than lay members • Offers conversion from • A life focused on serving themselves to serving the will of God; selflessness and obedience • “I have to do this” to “I get to do this”; genuine and loving attitude, feeling privileged • Being motivated by pleasure to being motivated by self-sacrifice for the greater good of the Church • Celibacy • Persecution; being martyrs for their faith

17. Acting as Christ the High Priest • In the New Covenant there is only ONE sacrifice and ONE priest • Jesus replaces the Temple sacrifices of the OT • Christ is the only mediator to God we need • He offered himself once and for all • The Mass is not a new offering made by the priests every time it is celebrated • Rather they preside over it and Christ, the High Priest, that works through them to offer us the same sacrifice he initially gave • It is not a re-sacrifice, it is the same one occurring all over again for us to experience

18. Acting as Christ the Teacher • Not only by spreading the Gospel message but also by their words and actions • Attempt to take advantage of every opportunity to teach the Church’s faith and address contemporary problems • All in light of Christ’s teaching, not own subjective beliefs

19. Acting as Christ the Good Shepherd • Bishops, priests, and deacons are to engage in a ministry of service • Especially the bishops who are the leaders of the diocese “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:11-15)

20. ORDINATIOIN LEADS TO A MINISTRY OF SERVICE • Priesthood is a life-long vocation • Similar to marriage • Holy Orders provides priests with the special grace they need to remain steadfast in their vocation; consecrates those who receive it • Each bishop is the vicar of Christ • A representative • Serve the people of God and increase their holiness through: • Teaching • Divine Worship • Pastoral Governance • Serve both the universal Church and the local Church

21. Service to the Universal Church • The bishop is the highest authority within his diocese • However, cannot make his own rules or interpret Church doctrine differently from the universal Church • Ordination makes him a member of the episcopal college • An assembly of bishops that functions as a governing body in union with the Pope, who is the bishop of Rome • Scattered throughout the world • Still live in communion with each other and act in a way that keeps them and all their flocks (diocese) united

22. Service to the Universal Church • Pope (Bishop of Rome) • Has supreme authority • Location is due to primacy of Rome as the place where St. Peter founded the Church • Position of leadership comes from succession that traces back to St. Peter • Primacy; First leader of Church hand-picked by Christ

23. Service to the Universal Church • Episcopal college (assembly of bishops • Regional assemblies • Meet regularly to discuss the needs of the Church in a certain geographical area. (ex. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) • Synod of Bishops • A group of bishops, usually chosen throughout the world, who come together to advise the pope on certain issues • Ecumenical Councils • An assembly of all bishops in union with the pope • Highest Authority in the Church when it comes to deciding matters of faith and morals • The Second Vatican Council

24. Service to the Universal Church • Infallibility • a gift received by the Church from Christ whereby she is protected from error in matters of faith and morals • Finds its source in the work of the Holy Spirit • Ruling of the Magisterium effected by this • Pope and bishops acting together • Teaching authority of the Church • Proclaims doctrine of faith

25. Service to the Universal Church • Imprimatur • A bishops approval to print a religion textbook because its contents agree with Church teaching • Ensures that all contents in the book are free of doctrinal and moral error • All textbooks used in Catholic schools must receive bishop’s imprimatur

26. Service to the Local Church • Most Diocese have two types of priest: • Diocesan • Live and serve at a parish • Religious • Live in community groups devoted to a particular charism or spiritual founder (ex. Basilian Fathers) • Take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience (along with celibacy)

27. Service to the Local Church • A general description of a priests job is to build and maintain communion in the local Church • Accomplished in three ways: • Preach the Gospel to all -Through their homilies, teaching of religious education classes and writings • Cultivate holiness by providing the sacraments -As well as praying for the holiness of the people they serve by praying the liturgy of the hours • Govern the parish through pastoral ministry -Priests represent the bishop -Canon Law states that each parish is to establish a pastoral council that serves an important role in maintaining unity

28. Is the Priesthood For You? • Candidates must be at least 18 years old • Must be called by God to this vocation, must recognize the call, and respond to it all under their own will • Other Catholics have the responsibility to encourage someone who we think God is calling to the priesthood • Have the responsibility to tell that person