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Sacrament of Holy Orders

CCC 1536-1538

1536 Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus, it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.
 
 
1537 The word order in Roman antiquity designated an established civil body, especially a governing body. Ordination means incorporation into an ordo. In the Church, there are established bodies which Tradition, not without a basis in Sacred Scripture, 4 has since ancient times called taxeis (Greek) or ordines. And so, the liturgy speaks of the ordo episcoporum , the ordo presbyterorum, the ordo diaconorum . Other groups also receive this name of ordo: catechumens, virgins, spouses, widows, . . .
 
1538 Integration into one of these bodies in the Church was accomplished by a rite called ordinatio , a religious and liturgical act which was a consecration, a blessing or a sacrament. Today the word " ordination " is reserved for the sacramental act that integrates a man into the order of bishops, presbyters, or deacons, and goes beyond a simple election, designation, delegation, or institution by the community, for it confers a gift of the Holy Spirit that permits the exercise of a "sacred power" (sacra potestas) 5 which can come only from Christ himself through his Church. Ordination is also called consecratio, for it is a setting apart and an investiture by Christ himself for his Church. The laying on of hands by the bishop, with the consecratory prayer, constitutes the visible sign of this ordination.

If you think that you are called to the life of Priesthood, this is the following suggestion to follow:

  1. Speak to your parish Priest

  2. Get a spiritual director to guide you

  3. Attend Mass as often as you can and pray

  4. Visit Holy Cross Seminary in Vermont Street Ponsonby