MEETING JESUS MEETING JESUS IN THE IN THE

SACRAMENTSSACRAMENTS

CHAPTER 8CHAPTER 8

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERSTHE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS

Why Men Become Why Men Become Priests?Priests?

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

WHY BECOME A PRIEST?WHY BECOME A PRIEST?

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

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

Who Can Be Who Can Be Ordained?Ordained?

Three degrees of priesthood: Three degrees of priesthood: episcopate (bishop), episcopate (bishop),

presbyterate (priest), diaconate presbyterate (priest), diaconate (deacon)(deacon)

Holy Orders is the means for Holy Orders is the means for perpetuating the mission of perpetuating the mission of

Christ.Christ.

No one has the right to receive No one has the right to receive Holy Orders. Holy Orders.

Holy Orders is reserved only for Holy Orders is reserved only for baptized males.baptized males.

The priest acts The priest acts in the person of in the person of Christ.Christ.

Who can be ordained?Who can be ordained?

The Church is bound to the choice made by the Lord himself not The Church is bound to the choice made by the Lord himself not to include women among the Twelve. Jesus made this choice to include women among the Twelve. Jesus made this choice

not because of societal pressure (Jesus was countercultural in not because of societal pressure (Jesus was countercultural in every way by the way he interacted with women.every way by the way he interacted with women.

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

Our gender is not incidental.Our gender is not incidental.

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

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

CelibacyCelibacyThe renunciation of marriage made by those who receive the The renunciation of marriage made by those who receive the

Sacrament of Holy Orders for more perfect observance of chastity.Sacrament of Holy Orders for more perfect observance of chastity.

This commitment is in imitation of Christ.This commitment is in imitation of Christ.

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

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

Sign of the future kingdom – no marriage in heaven.Sign of the future kingdom – no marriage in heaven.

The priest is married to the Church (the Bride). Even those who are 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 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 spouse and family. No indication that married life is easier than

celibate life.celibate life.

Areas of Areas of FormationFormation

HUMAN HUMAN FORMATIONFORMATION

SPIRITUAL SPIRITUAL FORMATIONFORMATION

INTELLECTUAL INTELLECTUAL FORMATIONFORMATION

PASTORAL PASTORAL FORMATIONFORMATION

Understanding the Understanding the Sacrament of Holy OrdersSacrament of Holy Orders

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

Christ.Christ.

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

Priesthood in Priesthood in the Old the Old

TestamentTestament

In early Israel, the father of the family acted as priest.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.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.After the Temple was constructed, the main role of priests was Temple duty.

The Old Testament priest (The Old Testament priest (hiereus/hiereus/ίέροςίέρος) and pagan priests offered sacrifices apart ) and pagan priests offered sacrifices apart from themselvesfrom themselves

The Priesthood The Priesthood of Christof Christ

The ministerial priesthood The ministerial priesthood (presbyter/(presbyter/πρεσβίτερπρεσβίτερ) ) shares shares

the unique priesthood of the unique priesthood of Christ and is at the service of Christ and is at the service of

the common priesthood.the common priesthood.

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

through the priest at Massthrough the priest at Mass

The Apostles soon realized The Apostles soon realized they needed help in their they needed help in their

ministry.ministry.

The Apostles chose men to The Apostles chose men to serve as presbyters and serve as presbyters and

selected episcopoi selected episcopoi ((έπιςκοποίέπιςκοποί//bishops) to continue bishops) to continue

their work after their deaths.their work after their deaths.

Brief History of the Brief History of the SacramentSacrament

22ndnd Century: bishop ordained priests and deacons to Century: bishop ordained priests and deacons to help him in his ministryhelp him in his ministry

44thth Century: clergy gained more privileged status Century: clergy gained more privileged status Middle Ages: decline in the diaconate and it became Middle Ages: decline in the diaconate and it became

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

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

Council of Trent: called for seminary training for Council of Trent: called for seminary training for priestspriests

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

Celebrating the Sacrament Celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Ordersof Holy Orders

The Ordination The Ordination of Bishopsof Bishops

Fullness of Holy Fullness of Holy OrdersOrders

Another bishop Another bishop confers the confers the

sacrament on the sacrament on the bishop-elect through bishop-elect through laying on of hands laying on of hands and a consecratory and a consecratory

prayerprayer

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

The Ordination The Ordination of Priestsof Priests

Presented to the Presented to the bishop after assent bishop after assent of the communityof the community

The bishop confers The bishop confers the sacrament on the the sacrament on the

ordinand through ordinand through laying on of hands laying on of hands and a consecratory and a consecratory

prayerprayer

Receives a stole and Receives a stole and a chasuble and has a chasuble and has hands anointed with hands anointed with

chrismchrism

The Ordination The Ordination of Deaconsof Deacons

Transitional or Transitional or permanentpermanent

The bishop confers The bishop confers the sacrament on the the sacrament on the

ordinands through ordinands through laying on of hands laying on of hands and a consecratory and a consecratory

prayerprayer

Receives Book of Receives Book of the Gospels, a stole, the Gospels, a stole,

and a dalmaticand a dalmatic

The Grace of the Sacrament The Grace of the Sacrament of Holy Ordersof Holy Orders

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

indelible character.indelible character.

The Grace of the The Grace of the Sacrament of Holy OrdersSacrament of Holy Orders

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

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

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

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

The Grace of the Sacrament The Grace of the Sacrament of Holy Ordersof Holy Orders

ACTING AS CHRIST THE HIGH PRIESTACTING AS CHRIST THE HIGH PRIEST

ACTING AS CHRIST THE TEACHERACTING AS CHRIST THE TEACHER

ACTING AS CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERDACTING AS CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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

Ordination Leads to a Ordination Leads to a Ministry of ServiceMinistry of Service

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

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

Ordination Leads to a Ordination Leads to a Ministry of ServiceMinistry of Service

Service to the Universal ChurchService to the Universal Church

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

college.college.

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

added charism of infallibility.added charism of infallibility.

Service to the Local ChurchService to the Local Church

To preach the Gospel to allTo preach the Gospel to all

To sanctify the People of God To sanctify the People of God by providing the Eucharist and by providing the Eucharist and

other sacramentsother sacraments

To govern the parish through To govern the parish through pastoral ministrypastoral ministry

The “Job” Description The “Job” Description of a Priest of a Priest

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

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

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

To govern/lead the parish or community To govern/lead the parish or community through ministry through ministry GOVERN GOVERN

Other InformationOther Information

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

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

The Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals.The Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals.

St. Maximilian KolbeSt. Maximilian Kolbe

Polish priest who was Polish priest who was martyred at Auschwitz martyred at Auschwitz

after sacrificing himself after sacrificing himself in place of a young in place of a young Jewish man, saying Jewish man, saying

these words:these words:

““I AM A CATHOLIC I AM A CATHOLIC PRIEST”PRIEST”