order notes

8/2/2019 Order Notes

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ORDER

is the appropriate disposition of things equal and unequal, by giving each

its proper place (St. Augustine, City of God XIX.13). Order primarily means

a relation. It is used to designate that on which the relation is founded andthus generally means rank.

Order is used to signify not only the particular rank or general status of

the clergy, but also the outward action by which they are raised to that

status, and thus stands for ordination. It also indicates what

differentiates laity from clergy or the various ranks of the clergy, and thus

means spiritual power.

The Church has the power of Grace or the power of order. This power oforder was committed by our Lord to His Apostles, who were to continue His

work and to be His earthly representatives. The Apostles received their

power from Christ: "as the Father hath sent me, I also send you" (John

20:21). Christ possessed fullness of power in virtue of His priesthood--of

His office as Redeemer and Mediator.

He merited the grace which freed man from the bondage of sin,

which grace is applied to man mediately by theSacrifice of the

Eucharist and immediately by the sacraments.

Sacrament of Order

The Sacrament of Order is the sacrament by

which grace and spiritual power for the discharge of ecclesiastical offices

are conferred. Christ Himself selected and ordained the first bishops, the

Apostles. They then, following the will of Christ, consecrated other men as

bishops and ordained priests and deacons.

Holy Orders is the sacrament through which men receive the spiritual

power and grace to perform the sacred duties of bishops, priests, and other

ministers of the Church.
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Order is the appropriate disposition of things equal and unequal, by giving

each its proper place (St. Augustine,City of GodXIX.13). Order primarilymeans a relation. It is used to designate that on which the relation is

founded and thus generally means rank (St. Thomas,Supplement 34.2 ad4um). In this sense it was applied toclergyandlaity(St. Jerome, "In

Isaiam", XIX, 18; St. Gregory the Great, "Moral.", XXXII, xx). The meaningwas restricted later to thehierarchyas a whole or to the various ranks of

theclergy.Tertullianand some early writers had already used the word inthat sense, but generally with a qualifying adjective (Tertullian,Exhortationto Chastity7, ordo sacerdotalis, ordo ecclesiasticus; St. Gregory of Tours,"Vit. patr.", X, i, ordo clericorum). Order is used to signify not only the

particular rank or general status of theclergy, but also the outward action

by which they are raised to that status, and thus stands forordination. It alsoindicates what differentiateslaityfromclergyor the various ranks oftheclergy, and thus means spiritual power. TheSacrament of Order is

thesacramentby which grace and spiritual power for the discharge

ofecclesiasticaloffices are conferred.

Christ founded HisChurchas asupernaturalsociety, theKingdom of God. Inthissocietythere must be the power of ruling; and also the principles by

which the members are to attain theirsupernaturalend,viz.,supernaturaltruth, which is held byfaith, andsupernaturalgrace bywhichmanis formally elevated to thesupernatural order. Thus, besidesthepower of jurisdiction, theChurchhas the power of teaching

(magisterium) and the power of conferring grace (power of order). Thispower of order was committed by our Lord to HisApostles, who were to

continue His work and to be His earthly representatives.TheApostlesreceived their power from Christ: "as the Father hath sent me,I also send you" (John 20:21). Christ possessed fullness of power in virtue of

Hispriesthood--of His office as Redeemer and Mediator.He merited the grace which freedmanfrom the bondage ofsin,

which grace is applied to man mediately by theSacrifice of the Eucharist andimmediately by thesacraments. He gave HisApostlesthe power

to offer theSacrifice(Luke 22:19), and dispense thesacraments(Matthew28:18;John 20:22, 23); thus making thempriests. It istruethat

everyChristianreceivessanctifying gracewhich confers on himapriesthood. Even asIsraelunder the Old dispensation was

toGod"apriestlykingdom" (Exodus 19:4-6), thus under the New,allChristiansare "a kinglypriesthood" (1 Peter 2:9); but now as then the

special andsacramentalpriesthoodstrengthens and perfects theuniversalpriesthood(cf.2 Corinthians 3:3, 6;Romans 15:16).

Sacrament of order
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3/5

FromScripturewe learn that theApostlesappointed others by an

externalrite(imposition of hands), conferring inward grace. The factthat grace is ascribed immediately to the external rite, shows

that Christ must have thus ordained. The fact that cheirontonein,cheirotonia, which meantelectingby show of hands, had acquired the

technical meaning of ordination byimposition of handsbefore the middle ofthe third century, shows that appointment to the various orders was made

by that external rite. We read of thedeacons, howthe Apostles "praying,imposed handsupon them" (Acts 6:6). In2 Timothy1:6St. Paulreminds Timothy that he was made abishopbytheimpositionofSt. Paul'shands (cf.1 Timothy 4:4), andTimothyis

exhorted to appointpresbytersby the same rite (1 Timothy 5:22; cf.Acts

13:3;14:22). In theThird Clementine Homily (73), we read of theappointment of Zachus asbishopby the imposition ofPeter'shands. Theword is used in its technical meaning byClement of

Alexandria(Stromata VI.13, 106; cf.Apostolic Consitutions II.32).

"Apriestlays on hands, but does not ordain" (cheirothetei ou cheirotonei)"Didasc. Syr.", IV; III, 10, 11, 20;Cornelius, "Ad Fabianum"

inEusebius,Church HistoryVI.43.

Grace was attached to this external sign and conferred by it. "I admonishthee, that thou stir up thegrace of Godwhich is in thee, through (dia) theimposition of my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6). The context clearly shows thatthere is question here of a grace which enablesTimothy to rightly discharge

the office imposed upon him, forSt. Paulcontinues "Godhath not given usthe spirit offear: but of power, and oflove, and of sobriety." This grace is

something permanent, as appears from the words "that thou stir upthe grace which is in thee"; we reach the same conclusion from1 Timothy4:14, whereSt. Paulsays, "Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was

given thee byprophecy, with (meta)imposition of handsof thepriesthood."This text shows that when St. Paul ordained Timothy, thepresbytersalso laid

their hands upon him, even as now thepresbyterswho assistat ordination lay their hands on the candidate. St. Paulhere

exhorts Timothy to teach and command, to be an example to all. To neglectthis would be to neglect the grace which is in him. Thisgrace therefore

enables him to teach and command, to discharge his office rightly.The grace then is not a charismaticgift, but agiftof theHoly Spiritfor the

rightful discharge of officialduties. TheSacramentof Order has ever beenrecognized in theChurchas such. This is attested by thebeliefin a

specialpriesthood(cf. St. John Chrysostom,"De sacerdotio"; St. Gregory ofNyssa,"Oratio in baptism. Christi"), which requires a special ordination. St.

Augustine, speaking aboutbaptismand order, says, "Each is a sacrament,

and each is given by a certainconsecration, . . . If both aresacraments,which no onedoubts, how is the one not lost (by defection from theChurch)
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and the other lost?" (Contra. Epist. Parmen., ii, 28-30). TheCouncil of

Trentsays, "Whereas, by the testimony ofScripture, byApostolic tradition,and by the unanimous consent of the Fathers, it is clear that grace is

conferred by sacred ordination, which is performed by words andoutwardsigns, no one ought todoubtthat Order is truly and properly one of

theSeven SacramentsofHoly Church" (Sess. XXIII, c. iii, can. 3).

Thesacramentby which, through theauthorityof the Church, the imposition of a

bishops hands confers on a man the grace and spiritual power to celebrate the

Churchs sacraments.

There are three forms of this sacrament: diaconate (deacon), presbyterate (priest) and

episcopate (bishop). One sacrament, celebrated three times with successively higher

sacramental effects.

Every man in Holy Orders is either a deacon, priest or bishop. A monsignor, for

instance, is a priest who has special recognition as a member of the papal household.

An archbishop is a bishop in charge of a large or important diocese called an

archdiocese. A cardinal is a special member of the papal household. Nearly all

cardinals are bishops, but there are one or two cardinals who are priests, such as

Avery Cardinal Dulles, are priests. Thepopeis the Bishop of Rome.

Only men can be ordained in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The reasons are set forth

in Pope John Paul IIs apostolic letterOrdinatio Sacerdotalis. It concludes, I declarethat the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women

and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Churchs faithful.

But only a special few among men. Deacons, priests, and bishops are called by Jesus,

who told His apostles, Jn 15:16You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed

you. The apostles hastened after Jesus when He called,Mk 1:16, 2:13 Follow Me. Noman on earth has a right to be ordained. Those who sense a call from God to Holy

Orders humbly submit to Church authority.

The Sacrament of Holy Orders imparts a special indelible character, a mark that Godcan see, on the human soul. Like the Holy Eucharist itself, the character of Holy

Orders ontologically transforms a man interiorly while leaving his outer appearance

unchanged. That character remains on his soul for all eternity, identifying him as one

of Gods ordained servants. The sacraments ofBaptismandConfirmationalso impart

indelible characters to the human soul that remain for all eternity.
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The sacrament produces in the soul of the recipient an increase of sanctifying grace,sacramental graces to help him in his ministry, a sacramental character, and supernaturalpowers (especially, the power to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christin the Sacrifice of the Mass, and the power te forgive sins in the Sacrament of Penance). HolyOrders is a sacrament of the living and can be received only once. Only a bishop can confer thisSacrament. 'l'he cere- a mony for this Sacrament is long and a beautiful, but the imposition of

hands and the accompanying prayer (mat- ii ter and form) are the essential part of the rite.

order notes

Documents