The Sacrament of Holy Orders

Holy Orders is the sacrament through general. is the pope today whom we which the mission entrusted by Christ acknowledge to be the successor to to the Apostles continues to be The Role of Simon Peter Peter and to the office of Peter exercised in the Church until the end of Peter is the first to be called to this established by Christ himself. The other time It includes three degrees: leadership. Jesus declares of him And I apostles too were to share in the role of episcopate [bishop], presbyterate tell you [Simon], you are rock and on leadership and in the ability to bind and [priests], and diaconate [deacons]. this rock I will build my Church, and loose (cf. Mat 18:18). (Catechism # 1536). This teaching from the powers of death shall not prevail the Catechism of the Catholic Church against it. I will give you the keys of the The office of the Apostles gives us a good starting point for kingdom of heaven, and whatever you There were also other important tasks considering the biblical origins of this bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, that were entrusted only to the apostles. sacrament and for understanding its and whatever you loose on earth shall They alone were present when Christ basic purpose and function in the be loosed in heaven." (Mat. 16:18-19) celebrated the first Eucharist (cf. Lk. Church. We find the teaching of So Peter is to be given an authority that 22:14) and it was they who received the scripture about the structure and will be recognized even in heaven. command, “Do this in memory of me.” leadership of the Church not only in the Later Peter is told that part of his role Likewise, only the apostles were present gospels but also in the Acts of the will be to unify and strengthen the when Christ gave them authority to Apostles and the New Testament forgive sins: (cf. Jn 20:19ff). Jesus did epistles. Let us examine some of these not confer these powers upon all the texts. disciples. It was the apostles alone who received the mandate that they should A pattern and office exercise these ministries on behalf of established by Jesus the disciples. It is our Catholic tradition Jesus established a community of to respect and preserve these actions of believers which we call the Church by Christ by reserving the consecration of first calling individuals to become his the Holy Eucharist and the forgiveness disciples Among the first disciples were of sins to ordained bishops and priests those who would later become apostles alone. In so doing we honor the but there were many others as well: And distinctions observed and established by great crowds followed him from Galilee Jesus himself. Lastly, the apostles were and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and entrusted especially with the task of Judea and from beyond the Jordan. teaching the Gospel to all nations and of (Mat 4:25). But very early we also baptizing them (cf. Mat 28:19). Here too discover the first biblical root of Holy it is our tradition to reserve the solemn Orders: the choice of twelve men whom and authoritative teaching office of the were called apostles: In these days he Church to bishops in union with the went out to the mountain to pray; and Pope. The celebration of baptism is also all night he continued in prayer to God. reserved to ordained clergy except when And when it was day, he called his there is danger of death, in which case disciples, and chose from them twelve, anyone may baptize. others: Simon, Simon, behold, Satan whom he named apostles; (Lk 6:12-13). demanded to have you, that he might It is important to note the distinction Now let us recall the teaching of the sift you like wheat, but I have prayed here. Although Jesus had many catechism that was quoted above: Holy for you that your faith may not fail; and disciples, only the twelve were called to Orders is the sacrament through which when you have turned again, strengthen be apostles. During his public ministry the mission entrusted by Christ to the your brethren. (Luke 21:31-32). These Jesus worked closely with the apostles, Apostles continues to be exercised in texts about Peter are important because instructing them and preparing them for the Church until the end of time. The they serve as the basis and biblical leadership. There are certain tasks and sacrament of Holy Orders reflects and model of the office of the pope. What powers that he gave only to the twelve perpetuates the will of Christ who Peter was for the early Church, so also apostles and not to the disciples in entrusted certain tasks only to the Apostles. The Catholic faith has with prayer and fasting they committed sacraments. respected this distinction ever since them to the Lord in whom they believed. through entrusting certain tasks only to Then they passed through Pisidia, and The ministerial priesthood does not the ordained clergy. came to Pamphylia. (Acts 14:23-24). exist apart from the one priesthood of Paul also gave extensive instructions to Christ. The ministerial priesthood is a Timothy and Titus regarding the participation in the priesthood of Christ. The handing down of ordination of bishops, priests and Just as Christ willed to share his the ministry and office deacons (1 Tim 3:1ff, 5:17ff; Titus ministry with the apostles so too does Some may wonder however how these 1:7ff). Titus is also instructed by Paul to he continue to do so through their powers granted the apostles are address errors and restore discipline in successors. Nor does the ministerial possessed by the ordained clergy today. the Church in Crete: This is why I left priesthood contradict the “royal What evidence is there that these tasks you in Crete, that you might amend priesthood” of all the baptized (1 Pet were ever handed on to others? Here too what was defective, and appoint 2:5,9). Rather it is at the service of the the scriptures are actually quite clear. presbyters in every town as I directed royal priesthood by leading, guiding, The apostles shared their mission and you. (Titus 1:5). Thus we can see that governing and sanctifying the people of the powers they had received with the office of the apostles was shared God by God’s grace. others through what the scriptures with other men who received, by the describe as “the laying on of hands.” laying on of hands, the power to A final important clarification is that The apostles considered what they had exercise leadership, govern, teach and the priest acts “in the person of Christ.” received from the Lord as an “office” perform their ministry of reconciliation In other words when the priest says, “I not merely as a personal privilege they (1 Cor. 5:12) and the celebration of the absolve you,” “I baptize you” or “This alone were to have. This is evident from Eucharist (Lk 22:19). is my body” it is really Christ who a passage in the Acts of the Apostles. speaks. Clearly the priest, as a man The apostles were gathered in Jerusalem It has been the practice of the Catholic cannot forgive sin or change bread and and discussing the loss of Judas who Church to very carefully and faithfully wine to the Body and Blood of Christ. It had been one of the twelve. Peter rose maintain the apostolic office and is only because Christ works through to address the others and noted that ministry down through the centuries in him that such things are possible. It is Judas, was numbered among us, and accord with the will of Jesus as ultimately Christ who acts and effects was allotted his share in this ministry described in the scriptures. This is done salvation through the ordained minister. (Acts 2:17). Peter also went on to through the laying on of hands in the declare, His office let another take. Sacrament of Holy Orders. We can only thank God who is able to (2:20). Two men were proposed as work his graces even through humble candidates for the office and the human flesh. No priest or deacon can apostles drew lots after praying. Additional Teachings fail to reflect on the greatness of the gift Matthias was chosen to fill the office There are several other things to he has received and he can only pray for left vacant by Judas (2:26) But note emphasize in reference to this the grace to remain a faithful minister of what the scriptures teach, it is an office sacrament. The title “Apostle” came to the gospel and the sacred mysteries of which must be filled. The privileged be reserved only for a few in the early the faith. Most are very faithful. Sadly ministry and powers granted to the Church (probably out of reverence for some have fallen or display great apostles by Christ do not cease with the the Twelve). The term “bishop” became weaknesses. But here it is essential to death of the apostle. Those powers are the more common and later exclusive put faith in God who can minister to the handed on and the ministry is shared. title for the office. We already see this faithful despite weak or unworthy transition underway in the letters to ministers for ultimately it is always As the Church grew in size there was Timothy and Titus. Christ who works. St. Augustine wrote also need for the apostles to share their long ago, As for the proud minister, he powers. Seven men are appointed Holy Orders is conferred in three is to be ranked with the devil. Christ’s deacons to assist the apostles in degrees: Bishop, Priest and Deacon gift is not thereby profaned: what flows Jerusalem. They are appointed to this Again this in accord with scriptures through him keeps its purity and what task by the laying on of hands (Acts wherein all three offices are described. passes through him reaches the fertile 6:3) Paul and Barnabas prior to their The bishop possesses the fulness of the earth. For the battle is the Lord’s It is mission to the Gentiles have hands laid priesthood whereas priests possess the Jesus, our merciful and great high priest upon them for their task (Acts 13:2). sacrament in a subordinate degree as the who lives forever to make intercession Paul and Barnabas also appointed bishop’s co-workers or associates. for us (Heb. 2:17; 7:25), who always presbyters (“Presbyter” is the Greek Deacons are ordained not to the stands behind every priest and acts word from which we derive the word priesthood but to the “ministry” and through him. “priest.”) in each town where they had they undertake to help the bishop in evangelized to carry on their ministry: works of charity, administration, And when they had appointed preaching, teaching and assist in presbyters for them in every church, liturgical celebrations and certain © 1998, Rev. Charles Pope