The Sacrament of Holy Orders

 Directly serve the salvation of others  Instead of serving those who receive it  Has to do with one’s vocation  Vocation = calling by God  Two Sacraments of Service  Holy Orders  Matrimony

 Ordains men bishops, priests, and deacons  Started at the Last Supper  “Do this in memory of Me” (Luke 22:19)  Shared with them the power of consecration  The 12 became the first Bishops  Priesthood is something that is passed on from Bishop to priest  The priest is called by God through the bishop  Apostolic Succession ▪ Passing on of all priests can be traced back to original Apostles

 The common priesthood  AKA the priesthood of the faithful  This expresses that we are all called to make sacrifices to God, and offer up the Mass to Him  Ordained priesthood  AKA ministerial priesthood  When one becomes an actual priest ordained by a bishop  Calling by God  One cannot be successful in this without truly being called

 Hierarchy – “Sacred Order”  Levels of authority in the Church  Bishops  Priests  Deacons

 Bishops  Comes from the Greek word for “overseer”  Receive the full power of the priesthood  Successors to the Apostles  Which is why only Bishops can ordain  Official teachers of their faith in their diocese  Church region over which they are in charge

 Priesthood  Presbyterate comes from Greek for “elder”  Bishop’s helpers  Preaching, teaching, administering the Sacraments  Sacraments they can celebrate:  Baptism, Eucharist, Confession, Sacrament of the Sick, Marriage  Can Confirm with bishop’s permission in his place  Promises obedience to his bishop

 Deacon  Diaconate comes from Greek word for “minister” or “servant”  Deacons first appointed by Apostles to help them take care of the works of mercy  First deacon was Saint Stephen  They can help at Mass, take the Eucharist to the sick, can bless weddings, officiate at funerals, teach the faith  Permanent deacons  Can be married  Transitional deacons  Studying for the priesthood

 Matter  Laying on of hands by the bishop  Form  Words of the ordination prayer  “Give these servants of yours the dignity of the presbyterate. Renew the Spirit of holiness within them. By your divine gift may they attain the second order of the hierarchy and exemplify right conduct in their lives”

 Life of God increased within them  They receive all the graces needed to become holy priests  Indelible mark

 Celebrate Mass  Hear confessions  Counsel people  Attend to parish needs  Pray  Spend time with their people  Their congregations should pray for them