What is the sacrament of Holy Orders?

Holy Orders is the sacrament by which Christ continues the ministry He entrusted to the apostles. Through ordination, a baptized man becomes a bishop, priest, or deacon and receives grace for a lifelong ministry in the Church (CCC 1536).

The three degrees. Holy Orders has three degrees: bishops, priests, and deacons (CCC 1554). Bishops receive the fullness of the sacrament. As successors of the apostles, they teach, sanctify, and govern the faithful entrusted to them (CCC 1555-1561). Priests share in the bishop's ministry. They preach the Gospel, celebrate the sacraments, forgive sins, and above all offer the Eucharistic sacrifice (CCC 1562-1568). Deacons are ordained for service. They may baptize, proclaim and preach the Gospel, witness marriages, preside at funerals, and serve the poor, but they cannot celebrate Mass or absolve sins (CCC 1569-1571).

What happens at ordination. A bishop confers Holy Orders by laying hands on the candidate's head and praying the consecratory prayer (CCC 1576, 1597). This follows the apostolic pattern found in Scripture (Acts 6:6; 2 Tim 1:6). Other rites, such as anointing, vesting, and the presentation of the chalice and paten, express the particular ministry being received.

What ordination does. Ordination gives an indelible spiritual character. It cannot be repeated or erased, even if a cleric is later removed from public ministry (CCC 1581-1583). A priest acts in the person of Christ the Head when celebrating the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation (CCC 1548). His authority is given for service, not personal status or power. The effectiveness of a sacrament does not depend on the priest's personal holiness, though every cleric is called to live a holy life.

Who may be ordained. The Church teaches that only a baptized man can validly receive Holy Orders, because Christ chose men as the Twelve and the apostles maintained that practice (CCC 1577). Priestly celibacy in the Latin Church is a discipline, not a dogma. Most Latin priests are celibate, while some Eastern Catholic priests are married. Bishops are chosen from among the celibate in both traditions (CCC 1579-1580).

Pray for bishops, priests, and deacons by name. If you think Christ may be calling you to ordained ministry, speak with a faithful priest or your diocesan vocation director.