Sacrament of Holy Orders
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
WHAT IS HOLY ORDERS?
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate(Bishops, presbyterate(Priest), and diaconate(Deacons).
It is one of the Sacraments of Vocation --- re directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God.
BRIEF HISTORY
The priesthood was established by God among the Israelites during their exodusfrom Egypt. God chose the tribe of Levi as priests for the nation. Their primaryduties were the offering of sacrifice and prayer for the people.Christ, in offering Himself up for the sins of all mankind, fulfilled the duties of the OldTestament priesthood once and for all. But just as the Eucharist makes that sacrificepresent to us today, so the New Testament priesthood is a sharing in the eternalpriesthood of Christ. While all believers are, in some sense, priests, some are set aside to serve the Church as Christ Himself did
WHY IS THIS SACRAMENT CALLED "ORDERS"?
* The word order in Roman antiquity designated an established civil body, especially a governing body. * Ordinatio means incorporation into an ordo (order). In the Church there are established bodies which are ordo episcoporum, the ordo presbyterorum, the ordo diaconorum. Other groups also receive this name of ordo: catechumens, virgins, spouses, widows * Integration into one of these bodies in the Church was accomplished by a rite called ordinatio, a religious and liturgical act which was a consecration, a blessing or a sacrament. * Today the word "ordination" is reserved for the sacramental act which integrates a man into the order of bishops, presbyters, or deacons,
WHAT IS HOLY ORDERS?
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate(Bishops, presbyterate(Priest), and diaconate(Deacons).
It is one of the Sacraments of Vocation --- re directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God.
BRIEF HISTORY
The priesthood was established by God among the Israelites during their exodusfrom Egypt. God chose the tribe of Levi as priests for the nation. Their primaryduties were the offering of sacrifice and prayer for the people.Christ, in offering Himself up for the sins of all mankind, fulfilled the duties of the OldTestament priesthood once and for all. But just as the Eucharist makes that sacrificepresent to us today, so the New Testament priesthood is a sharing in the eternalpriesthood of Christ. While all believers are, in some sense, priests, some are set aside to serve the Church as Christ Himself did
WHY IS THIS SACRAMENT CALLED "ORDERS"?
* The word order in Roman antiquity designated an established civil body, especially a governing body. * Ordinatio means incorporation into an ordo (order). In the Church there are established bodies which are ordo episcoporum, the ordo presbyterorum, the ordo diaconorum. Other groups also receive this name of ordo: catechumens, virgins, spouses, widows * Integration into one of these bodies in the Church was accomplished by a rite called ordinatio, a religious and liturgical act which was a consecration, a blessing or a sacrament. * Today the word "ordination" is reserved for the sacramental act which integrates a man into the order of bishops, presbyters, or deacons,
References: Richert, S. (n.d.). The sacrament of holy orderss. Retrieved from http://catholicism.about.com/od/beliefsteachings/p/ Sac_Holy_Orders.htm Ahaus, H. (1911). Holy Orders. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved February 21, 2013 from New Advent:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11279a.htm Catechism of the catholic church. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a6.htm Holy orders. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fisheaters.com/holyorders.html