1. Sacrament of Holy Orders
Chapter Eight
Sacrament of Holy Orders

2. Hearing God’s Voice When Abram was 75 years old he heard God’s voice….
Moses heard God call out to him from a bush….
Young Samuel was spoken to in a dream…
God continues today to call all Christians to his service and some men to his priestly service

3. Hearing God’s Voice
With shrinking numbers of priests, the Church is initiating many efforts to encourage vocations to the priesthood
Vocation programs offer opportunities for teenagers to explore priesthood or religious life by participating in programs or shadowing priests

4. Signs for a man to gauge a possible vocation to the priesthood:
Call to Priesthood
Signs for a man to gauge a possible vocation to the priesthood:
Improving prayer life
Finds himself fighting thoughts of becoming a priest but cannot ignore them
Attending mass and other sacraments more often
Spending more time in church
Feels he may regret not pursuing the initial steps of a vocation

5. Responding to the Call
A man who is discerning a call to the priesthood must be a believer and recognize God’s voice in his life
Some ways in which a man can facilitate and maintain dialogue with God involving the decision:
Going to daily mass
Setting aside regularly scheduled time for prayer
Volunteering in a parish
Research
Speaking with a spiritual director
Trying out another career
Participating in a discernment program
Practicing the virtues

6. Applying to Candidacy Aspirancy
Once a man decides to make a formal inquiry to be a candidate for the priesthood, he will undergo a series of interviews to determine his sense of calling and to see if he meets some requirements
This takes place over 4-5 months
The formal application process also includes a written application and several letters of recommendation

7. Applying to Candidacy Requirements Mature male
Completed Christian initiation
Willingly and knowingly wishes to be ordained

8. Preparing for Ordination
Human Formation
“Basis of all priestly formation”
Must be developed so he is affable, hospitable, sincere, prudent, generous, encouraging, understanding, and forgiving
Spiritual Formation
Candidate must form an intimate friendship with Jesus Christ
Centers on the priest learning to live the Paschal Mystery in his own life

9. Preparing for Ordination
Intellectual Formation
Study theology and philosophy in order to gain a deep understanding of what it means to be human
Understand Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition handed down by Magisterium
Pastoral Formation
Goal of entire formation
Priests formed in pastoral ministry so as to make them shepherds of souls in imitation of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd

10. Life in the Seminary
A seminary is a house of prayer, study, and formation
During the week, a seminarian’s day begins with morning prayer from Liturgy of the Hours
Afternoons are less structured with a chance for exercise or individual study
There are many meetings in which the seminarian must attend, and attendance at daily mass is a requirement

11. Celebration of the Sacrament
Ordinations of the bishop, priests, and deacons all take place within the Eucharistic liturgy
Initial rites of ordination begin after the Gospel where the election of the man takes place and the bishop asks for the consent of all the people
The bishop talks about the duties of the priest including:
Teaching
Sanctifying
Shepherding

12. Celebration of the Sacrament
After the homily, the candidate stands before the bishop and is questioned on his resolution to fulfill the duties of the priesthood
All of the priests lay their hands on the candidate’s head in silence while the bishop recites the prayer of consecration

13. As with all the sacraments, Holy Orders deepens the life of Jesus in the ordained man who is called to serve Him and provides the wisdom and fortitude to live as an ordained minister throughout his life

14. Vocabulary CYO Liturgy of the Hours Religious Superior Lectio Divina
Charism
Alb
Litany of the Saints
Stole
Chasuble
Apostolic Letter