Journey of Faith Ordination to diaconate, priesthood is a privilege

Article 120 - Catechism of the Catholic Church Series

Paragraphs 1554-1571 Who is eligible to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders? The quick answer: Faithful Catholic men who have received the three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, the Eucharist and Confi rmation) are eligible to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Additionally, in the Western Catholic Church (the Latin Rite), candidates for Holy Orders are to be unmarried. In the Eastern Catholic Church, married men are eligible to be ordained as priests, but not as bishops.

Who is eligible to administer the Sacrament of Holy Orders? The quick answer: Only validly ordained bishops are eligible to administer the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

It is important to mention that ordination to the diaconate and priesthood is not a right, but a privilege. That is why the Church continues to create ways to properly vet and discern those who come forward with an interest in pursuing a church vocation. As Sacred Scripture puts it, “Many are called but few are chosen” ( Mt 22:14 ).

Following a lengthy seminary formation, candidates for the priesthood must fi rst be ordained as (transitional) deacons before being ordained to the priesthood. Before being ordained as a bishop, a man must fi rst be ordained as a deacon, then a priest. In short, some who receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders remain as deacons their entire lives; (i.e., permanentdeacons). Others go on to be ordained as priests, while fewer go on to be ordained as bishops.

Regarding the primary function of those who receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders, permanent and transitional Deacons have the authority to administer the sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony; (i.e., a wedding outside of Mass).

Priests have the power and authority to administer or celebrate the sacraments of Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist (the Mass), Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick and Confi rmation at the Easter Vigil (aswell as in cases of emergency and by delegation from the local bishop). Bishops have the authority to offer all seven sacraments: Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist, Con- fi rmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders.

Although there is only one “Sacrament of Holy Orders,” we learn from this section of the Catechism that there are “three degrees” or levels within this “divinely instituted” sacrament. The Catechism explains: “even from ancient times [the three degrees] have been called bishops, priests, and deacons...two degrees of ministerial participation in the priesthood of Christ [include] the episcopacy (bishops) and the presbyterate (priests). The diaconate is intended to help and serve them" (ccc 1554). A little later we read: “Catholic doctrine teaches that the degrees of priestly participation [episcopate and presbyterate] and the degree of service [diaconate] are all three conferred by a sacramental act called “ordination”, that is, by the Sacra- ment of Holy Orders" (ccc 1554).

This section in the Catechism is mostly concerned about the details related to the fi rst two degrees of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Regarding the fi rst degree (episcopacy or bishops), the Catechism states that they enjoy “the unbroken succession going back to the beginning [and] are regarded as transmitters of the apos- tolic line" (ccc 1555). The apostles were given “a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit coming upon them...by the imposition of hands which is transmitted down to our day through episcopal consecration” (ccc 1556). The Second Vatican Council used the terminology “fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders” when referring to this unbroken transmitting. The consecration of a bishop “confers, together with the offi ce of sanctifying, also the offi ces of teaching and ruling" (ccc 1558). In an em- inent and visible manner, a bishop takes “the place of Christ himself, teacher, shepherd, and priest, and acts as his representative" (ccc 1558). Although each bishop is ordinarily “the lawful pastor only of the portion of the fl ock entrusted to his care," as a legitimate successor of the apostles he is...responsible with the other bishops for the apostolic mission of the Church" (ccc 1560).

The second degree (ordination of priests) refers to the co-workers of bishops. “The ministry was handed over in a subordinate degree to priests,” the Catechism tells us, “so that they might be appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the episcopal order for the proper fulfi llment of the apostolic mission that had been entrusted to it by Christ” (ccc 1562). By the anointing of the Holy Spirit, priests “are signed with a special character and so are confi gured to Christ the priest in such a way that they are able to act in the person of Christ the head" (ccc 1563).

Although priests are dependent on the bishop to whom they have promised obedience, “after the image of Christ...priests areconsecrated in order to preach the Gospel and shepherd the faithful as well as to celebrate divine worship as true priests of the New Testament" (ccc 1564). In short,

through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, “priests share in the universal dimensions of the mission that Christ entrusted to the apostles" (ccc 1565). "The bishop considers them his co-workers, his sons, his brothers and his friends" (ccc 1567). 

“At a lower level of the hierarchy are to be found deacons" (ccc 1569). Deacons “assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing mar-riages" (ccc 1570). The Sacrament of Holy Orders imprints an indelible sacramental character on the newly ordained deacons, “which cannot be removed and which con- fi gures them to Christ, who made himself the 'deacon' or servant of all" (ccc 1570).It is important to emphasize, however, that those ordained to the diaconate do not share in ministerial priesthood of Jesus Christ. They continue to share in the common priesthood of the baptized.

Our next article will deal with the “Celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.”

Father Hillier serves as Director of the Offi ce of the Pontifi cal Mission Societies, Censor Librorum and oversees the Offi ce for Persons with Disabilities

By the anointing of the Holy Spirit, priests “are signed with a special character and so are configured to Christ the priest in such a way that they are able to act in the person of Christ the head” (ccc 1563).

By Father John Gerard Hillier