1. The Sacrament of Holy Orders
Chapter 8

2. WHY MEN BECOME PRIESTS
Attracted by the essential sacramental role the priest has for the Church
Being Christ for the world
Consecrates Eucharist, absolves sins, heals the sick, etc.
Called by the Lord just as the Apostles were to cast away their current lives and take up a new one

3. Who Can Be Ordained
Holy Orders is to perpetuate Christ’s mission handed over to the Apostles until the end of time
Episcopate (bishop)
Presbyterate (priest)
Diaconate (deacon)
No one has a right to receive Holy Orders nor does anyone claim office for himself; he is called by God
Reserved only for baptized males
Gender is not incidental. It is part of who we are and it determines how we relate and are perceived by others. (Father-figure; roles of a father/provider; acts in person of Christ; we learn through senses)

4. More Requirements… Men who take vow of celibacy
A sign of new life and service to which the Church’s minister is made holy
Men who pledge to follow the spiritual gifts of humility and obedience; sometimes poverty
Attend seminary
Undergo rigorous coursework for their priestly formation
Human (personality), Spiritual, Intellectual, Pastoral

5. UNDERSTANDING THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
The orders of bishop and priest enable the one who is ordained to act in the person of Christ
Deacons are ordained so that they may serve the priests and bishops

6. Priesthood in the Old Testament
Prior to Moses it was the head of the clan
Passed on to sons
During the Exodus, Moses selected seventy elders to aid in leading the twelve tribes
Prefigures the ordained ministry of the new Testament

7. The Priesthood of Christ
Christ is High Priest
The only “actual” priest
All others are his ministers
Ordained priesthood
Common priesthood
Jesus is present to the Church in the ordained ministers as the Head of his Body
Instituted for the good of all people and the Church
As the Church grew, the Apostles appointed presbyters to look over local churches and epsicopoi to serve over larger areas
Decisions affecting the entire Church were made at councils by the episcopoi acting together

8. Brief History of Holy Orders to the Present
Early Church
Bishops were chosen by the community; he ordained priests and deacons
Eventually parishes selected priests
Middle Ages
An increase in need for priests
Deaconate became a stepping stone to priesthood and the ministry declined
Protestant Reformation
Pointed out a lack of education in the clergy
Led to requirement of seminary
Second Vatican Council
Called for restoration of permanent diaconate
Called for new Rite of Ordination; recalled original meaning of ordained ministry and its service to communion
Renewal

9. CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
Three degrees
Episcopy (bishops), presbyterate (priests), and diaconate (deacons)
Deacons help and serve bishops and priests
Bishops may only confer Holy Orders to priests, deacons, and other bishops
The essential rite of Holy Orders is the imposition of hands on the head of the ordinand
Takes place within the celebration of the Eucharist in the diocesan cathedral

10. The Ordination of Bishops
The fullness of the Sacrament
The summit of sacred ministry
Chosen by the pope
Identified and recommended by Archbishops (delegate to Vatican)
The ordinary bishop confers the Sacrament on the bishop-elect
Laying on of hands and consecratory prayer
Anointing with Sacred Chrism (4th time in life)
Signifies his role as head of Christ’s body within the dioceses
Given a Book of the Gospels as sign of ministry to proclaim the Word
Ring = sign of lifelong commitment to the Church, which is the Bride of Christ
Mitre = sign of authority
Crosier = sign of bishops role as shepherd of the Lord’s flock

11. Archbishop Allen Vigneron

12. Bishops Within Archdiocese of Detroit
Bishop Michael Burns
Bishop Arturo Cepeda
Bishop Donald Hanchon
Bishop Francis Reiss

13. The Ordination of Priests
Bishop confers the Sacrament by laying on of hands and gives consecratory prayer
New priest is invested with a stole
A long narrow scarf worn straight from the shoulders
As well as a chasuble
The outer vestment worn at liturgy. The color follows the liturgical season
Purple = Advent and Lent
White = Christmas, Easter, and other feasts of Christ
Red = Good Friday and Pentecost
Green = Ordinary time
Then bishop anoints new priests hands with Sacred Chrism
This gives the grace for his ministry to be fruitful; consecrate Eucharist, absolve sins, etc.

14. The Ordination of Deacons
This ordination given to both transitional deacons and permanent deacons
Transitional deacons must be celibate and promise to remain celibate
Bishop confers the Sacrament by the laying on of hands and consecratory prayer
Invested with a stole
Worn diagonally from one shoulder
Also given a dalmatic
His outer liturgical vestment
Receives a Book of the Gospels
A sign of his mission to proclaim the gospel of Christ

15. Deacons
Saint Stephen, one of first seven deacons in the Church

16. THE GRACE OF THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
Conforms one closer to Christ than he had been after baptism and confirmation
However, does not necessarily mean that ordained ministers are automatically holier than lay members
Offers conversion from
A life focused on serving themselves to serving the will of God; selflessness and obedience
“I have to do this” to “I get to do this”; genuine and loving attitude, feeling privileged
Being motivated by pleasure to being motivated by self-sacrifice for the greater good of the Church
Celibacy
Persecution; being martyrs for their faith

17. Acting as Christ the High Priest
In the New Covenant there is only ONE sacrifice and ONE priest
Jesus replaces the Temple sacrifices of the OT
Christ is the only mediator to God we need
He offered himself once and for all
The Mass is not a new offering made by the priests every time it is celebrated
Rather they preside over it and Christ, the High Priest, that works through them to offer us the same sacrifice he initially gave
It is not a re-sacrifice, it is the same one occurring all over again for us to experience

18. Acting as Christ the Teacher
Not only by spreading the Gospel message but also by their words and actions
Attempt to take advantage of every opportunity to teach the Church’s faith and address contemporary problems
All in light of Christ’s teaching, not own subjective beliefs

19. Acting as Christ the Good Shepherd
Bishops, priests, and deacons are to engage in a ministry of service
Especially the bishops who are the leaders of the diocese
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
(John 10:11-15)

20. ORDINATIOIN LEADS TO A MINISTRY OF SERVICE
Priesthood is a life-long vocation
Similar to marriage
Holy Orders provides priests with the special grace they need to remain steadfast in their vocation; consecrates those who receive it
Each bishop is the vicar of Christ
A representative
Serve the people of God and increase their holiness through:
Teaching
Divine Worship
Pastoral Governance
Serve both the universal Church and the local Church

21. Service to the Universal Church
The bishop is the highest authority within his diocese
However, cannot make his own rules or interpret Church doctrine differently from the universal Church
Ordination makes him a member of the episcopal college
An assembly of bishops that functions as a governing body in union with the Pope, who is the bishop of Rome
Scattered throughout the world
Still live in communion with each other and act in a way that keeps them and all their flocks (diocese) united

22. Service to the Universal Church
Pope (Bishop of Rome)
Has supreme authority
Location is due to primacy of Rome as the place where St. Peter founded the Church
Position of leadership comes from succession that traces back to St. Peter
Primacy; First leader of Church hand-picked by Christ

23. Service to the Universal Church
Episcopal college (assembly of bishops
Regional assemblies
Meet regularly to discuss the needs of the Church in a certain geographical area. (ex. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Synod of Bishops
A group of bishops, usually chosen throughout the world, who come together to advise the pope on certain issues
Ecumenical Councils
An assembly of all bishops in union with the pope
Highest Authority in the Church when it comes to deciding matters of faith and morals
The Second Vatican Council

24. Service to the Universal Church
Infallibility
a gift received by the Church from Christ whereby she is protected from error in matters of faith and morals
Finds its source in the work of the Holy Spirit
Ruling of the Magisterium effected by this
Pope and bishops acting together
Teaching authority of the Church
Proclaims doctrine of faith

25. Service to the Universal Church
Imprimatur
A bishops approval to print a religion textbook because its contents agree with Church teaching
Ensures that all contents in the book are free of doctrinal and moral error
All textbooks used in Catholic schools must receive bishop’s imprimatur

26. Service to the Local Church
Most Diocese have two types of priest:
Diocesan
Live and serve at a parish
Religious
Live in community groups devoted to a particular charism or spiritual founder (ex. Basilian Fathers)
Take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience (along with celibacy)

27. Service to the Local Church
A general description of a priests job is to build and maintain communion in the local Church
Accomplished in three ways:
Preach the Gospel to all
-Through their homilies, teaching of religious education classes and writings
Cultivate holiness by providing the sacraments
-As well as praying for the holiness of the people they serve by praying the liturgy of the hours
Govern the parish through pastoral ministry
-Priests represent the bishop
-Canon Law states that each parish is to establish a pastoral council that serves an important role in maintaining unity

28. Is the Priesthood For You?
Candidates must be at least 18 years old
Must be called by God to this vocation, must recognize the call, and respond to it all under their own will
Other Catholics have the responsibility to encourage someone who we think God is calling to the priesthood
Have the responsibility to tell that person