Holy Orders
Holy Orders, in the Catholic Church, is the sacrament through which men are ordained as deacons, priests and bishops. Holy Orders is called a sacrament of service. Through the sacred ceremony of this sacrament Catholic men are called by God to serve him by preaching His holy Word and administering the sacraments.
Jesus himself gave us the Sacrament of Holy Orders. At the Last Supper Jesus made the Twelve Apostles the first priests of his Church and said to them, "Do this as a remembrance of me" (Lk 22:19).
The command to "do this" meant that Christ had given them a share in his own priestly power so that they could offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Along with being priests, the Twelve were also made bishops. Bishops receive from Jesus the fullness of the priesthood and the duty of ordaining other worthy men to the priestly ministry.
This passing on of Holy Orders is called apostolic succession. It assures us that our Catholic bishops today have received their ministry directly from Jesus through the Twelve. This is why we are able to say that our bishops are the successors of the apostles.
We learn from Saint Peter that all Christians share in the priesthood of Christ. In his first letter to all believers he says: "You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood . . . he claims for his own" (1 Pet 2:9).
This reminds us that we are all made priests in Baptism, but we must remember that there are different ways of carrying out this common priesthood. Lay people, including Sisters and Brothers in religious communities, carry out their priesthood by attending Mass and by worshipping God through private prayer. This is known as the priesthood of the faithful. This is different from the ordained priesthood which men receive through Holy Orders.
To receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, a man must be called by God. This special calling or vocation is necessary because a priest's life is very demanding. It can only be lived faithfully by those who are chosen by God to serve him in this way of life.
Priests are the bishop's helpers in preaching the Word of God, teaching the faith, and administering the sacraments. Every priest makes a promise of obedience to his bishop, who is the first teacher and the leader of the Diocese. Our bishop is the Bishop of Clifton, Bishop Declan Lang.
The members of the lowest level in Holy Orders are the deacons. Deacons help out in parishes by assisting the priest at Mass, administering Baptism, distributing the Eucharist, assisting at marriages, officiating at funerals and burial services, and instructing people in the faith. There are two kinds of deacons: those who are studying for the priesthood and those who are called to this way of life as permanent deacons. These are often married men who are ordained for service in their own dioceses.
The call of God to the priesthood is very wonderful. It is said to be one of the greatest honors which a man can receive in this life. We should pray for our parish priests every day and also ask Jesus to send the Church more good, holy servants.
Jesus himself gave us the Sacrament of Holy Orders. At the Last Supper Jesus made the Twelve Apostles the first priests of his Church and said to them, "Do this as a remembrance of me" (Lk 22:19).
The command to "do this" meant that Christ had given them a share in his own priestly power so that they could offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Along with being priests, the Twelve were also made bishops. Bishops receive from Jesus the fullness of the priesthood and the duty of ordaining other worthy men to the priestly ministry.
This passing on of Holy Orders is called apostolic succession. It assures us that our Catholic bishops today have received their ministry directly from Jesus through the Twelve. This is why we are able to say that our bishops are the successors of the apostles.
We learn from Saint Peter that all Christians share in the priesthood of Christ. In his first letter to all believers he says: "You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood . . . he claims for his own" (1 Pet 2:9).
This reminds us that we are all made priests in Baptism, but we must remember that there are different ways of carrying out this common priesthood. Lay people, including Sisters and Brothers in religious communities, carry out their priesthood by attending Mass and by worshipping God through private prayer. This is known as the priesthood of the faithful. This is different from the ordained priesthood which men receive through Holy Orders.
To receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, a man must be called by God. This special calling or vocation is necessary because a priest's life is very demanding. It can only be lived faithfully by those who are chosen by God to serve him in this way of life.
Priests are the bishop's helpers in preaching the Word of God, teaching the faith, and administering the sacraments. Every priest makes a promise of obedience to his bishop, who is the first teacher and the leader of the Diocese. Our bishop is the Bishop of Clifton, Bishop Declan Lang.
The members of the lowest level in Holy Orders are the deacons. Deacons help out in parishes by assisting the priest at Mass, administering Baptism, distributing the Eucharist, assisting at marriages, officiating at funerals and burial services, and instructing people in the faith. There are two kinds of deacons: those who are studying for the priesthood and those who are called to this way of life as permanent deacons. These are often married men who are ordained for service in their own dioceses.
The call of God to the priesthood is very wonderful. It is said to be one of the greatest honors which a man can receive in this life. We should pray for our parish priests every day and also ask Jesus to send the Church more good, holy servants.