An Apologetical Explanation of the

Sacrament of Holy Orders

What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?

I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed.  Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock.  (1 Pt 5:1-3)

Holy Orders is the Sacrament at the Service of Communion whereby a man is ordained to serve the Church as a deacon, priest, or bishop.  Men who receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders are called by God to the ministry of preaching and administering the Sacraments in Christ’s name.  Through this Sacrament, the mission entrusted by Christ to the Apostles has been handed on faithfully and will continue to be handed on until the end of time.  The Sacrament is conferred in three levels.  (Cf. CCC 1087, 1142, 1535, 1598)

Service of the faithful by teaching the Faith and administering the Sacraments is the main purpose of Holy Orders.  Holy Orders is called a Sacrament at the Service of Communion because it primarily exists for the sanctification of others.  (Cf. CCC 1534-1535)

Holy Orders presupposes a divine vocation.  “One does not take the honor [of ordination] upon himself, but he is called by God” (Heb 5:4).  Bishops, priests, and deacons are servants of the Word of God and God’s Sacraments.  They dedicate themselves to lives of self-denial and sacrifice for the good of others.  In the Western Church, moreover, ordination to the transitional deaconate and to the priesthood is ordinarily received only by candidates who freely and publicly embrace a life of celibacy.  (Cf. CCC 1578, 1599)

A bishop receives the highest level of Holy Orders and participates fully in the priesthood of Christ.  Bishops are the successors of the Apostles and members of the college of bishops, of which the Pope is the head.  A bishop is usually the head of a diocese, called a particular church.  He has the power to ordain deacons, priests, and other bishops.  (Cf. CCC 1313, 1557, 1594)

A priest, whose role is to assist his bishop, often cares for a community of the faithful called a parish.  Priests celebrate the Eucharist and administer to Sacraments of Reconciliation, Baptism, Matrimony, the Anointing of the Sick, and, in certain circumstances, Confirmation.  (Cf. CCC 1548, 1565)

A deacon, whose role is to assist his bishop, is a minister of the Gospel and Holy Communion and is ordained to perform acts of service and charity, serving the bishop and parish in many ways.  In the Western Church deacons also celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony.  (Cf. CCC 1570)

The Catechism addresses this question in paragraph 1536.

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