Sacrament of Holy Orders

Holy Orders: Why are they needed?

Holy Orders Vital to the Church

• Our hope in the continued presence of Jesus and his mission depends upon the work of the apostles. By laying on of hands of the apostles and their successors, the Holy Spirit’s power is poured out on each generation to save and to sanctify. (Catechetical Proclamation)

Holy Orders are a Sacrament

• Holy is something set apart for a specific purpose.

• Orders (from Latin Ordo) which designates an established body with a hierarchy.

• Ordination means to legally incorporate into the Ordo.

• Hierarchical structure for ministry in the church.

Thoughts on Holy Orders: Scripture Reference

• 1st priest: Melchizedek (Gn 14: 18-20)

• Next Aaron & Sons (Ex 40:12-15)

• Jesus gives Peter the keys of the Kingdom (Mt 16:18-19

• Jesus gives authority to apostles: baptize & teach all nations (Mt28:19-20)

• Jesus gives the apostles the power to forgive sins (Jn 20:19-23)

• Jesus gives the call to celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom (Mt 19:11-12)

• Jesus institutes the Eucharist & instructs apostles to do the same (Lk 22: 14-19)

• Ordained ministers act in Jesus Person and are liturgical link to Him

• Sacrament in the power of the Holy Spirit with the Precious Body and Blood of Christ…not the priest.

• Holy Orders is a sacrament consecrating some men to serve the Church

• Holy Orders: outline 3 degrees, who celebrates, how celebrated, who confers and receives, and the vow of celibacy.

Role of the Bishop in the Roman Catholic Church • Highest level in the Holy Orders

• Chosen from among the priests by the Holy Father in Rome

• Administrative head of a territorial unit called a diocese/archdiocese

• Performs all functions of a priest

• Administers the Sacrament of Confirmation (may delegate this role)

• Administers the sacrament of Holy Orders and ordains priests and deacons

• May serve on the Magisterium with the Pope which guards and teaches the Deposit of the Faith

Role of the Roman Catholic Priest • Celebrate the Holy Mass

• Hear Confessions and give absolution

• Celebrate Baptism

• Witness the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

• Administer the Anointing of the Sick

• Work and pledge fidelity with the Bishop

• Pastors are the administrative head of their assigned parish

• Represent the Catholic Church in local community functions and activities.

Role of the Deacon in the Catholic Church • Assists the priest at the altar during Mass

• Proclaims the Gospel & Preach the Homily

• Ministers the Sacrament of Baptism

• Witness the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

• Preside over Funeral Rites outside Mass

• Preside over Benedictions

• Preside over Communion Services in the absence of a priest

• Give blessings when requested

• Outreach: Poor, Sick, Incarcerated

Pathway to Ordination for a Priest in the Catholic Church • College graduate with a degree in any

area, many in history, philosophy, music

• 4 years of seminary training with a focus on philosophy, theology, church history

• Included is pastoral activities in religious education, serving the poor, hospital ministry, and assisting with liturgies

• Ordained as a transitional deacon

• Final vows of celibacy and obedience to the bishop of the diocese assigned

• Ordination with prostration and the laying of hands. Special prayer of consecration by the bishop

Pathway to Ordination for the Permanent Deacon • Educational backgrounds vary

• Criminal background check

• Instruction in theology and tradition of the church, sites vary

• Interaction with fellow candidates

• Wives actively participate during the discernment period

• Pastoral experiences: RE, hospitals, food banks, jail/prison ministry

• Psychological assessment of marriage

• Final approval of wife

• Ordination Mass & assignment by bishop

Example of Prayers of Consecration for Holy Orders: Bishop, Priest, Deacon • Bishop: “So now pour out upon this chosen one

that power which is from you, the governing Spirit whom you gave to your beloved son, Jesus Christ, the Spirit given by him to the holy apostles, who founded the Church in every place to be your temple for the unceasing glory and praise of your name.” (The bishop is the shepherd of his flock and is presented a gold ring, a miter, and a pastoral staff. )

• Priest: “Almighty Father, grant to this servant of yours the dignity of the priesthood. Renew within him the Spirit of holiness. As a co-worker with the order of bishops may he be faithful to the ministry that he receives from you, Lord God, and be to others a model of right conduct.” (Presented with a chalice and priestly garment, the chasuble.)

• Deacon: “ Lord, look with favor on this servant of yours, whom we now dedicate to the office of deacon, to minister at your holy altar. Lord, send forth upon him the Holy Spirit, that he may be strengthened by the gift of your sevenfold grace to carry out faithfully the work of the ministry. “ (Upon ordination, the deacon is presented the Book of Gospels and wears the special garment, the dalmatic.)

• Ordination of Holy Orders creates a new man.

• Not by what he can do but what he has become.

• A permanent seal on his soul to act in the person of Christ (in persona Christi)

• Hierarchical ministry of Church…to worship God.

Summary of this Session

• Holy Orders are one of the seven Sacraments of the Church

• Hierarchal Structure for the continued mission of Christ’s church

• There are biblical references authorizing this structure

• There are three primary levels: Bishop, Priest, and Deacon

• Each has specific roles to play under the instruction of the Pope

• There is a discernment and training protocol to follow for each

• There is a formal ordination rite for each with a laying of hands

• Bishops are part of the apostolic succession and shepherd the diocese

SACRAMENTS OF HEALING

Anointing of the Sick

Penance (Confession/Reconciliation)

PURPOSE OF SACRAMENTS OF HEALING:

Jesus, physician of souls and bodies

who forgave the sins of the paralytic and

restored him to bodily health,

has willed that his Church continue,

in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT,

his work of healing and salvation,

even among her own members.

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

FROM SCRIPTURE: James 5: 14-16

Is anyone among you sick?*

He should summon the presbyters of the church,

and they should pray over him

and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord,j

and the prayer of faith will save the sick person,

and the Lord will raise him up.

If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.*

PURPOSE OF SACRAMENTS OF HEALING:

Jesus, physician of souls and bodies

who forgave the sins of the paralytic and

restored him to bodily health,

has willed that his Church continue,

in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT,

his work of healing and salvation,

even among her own members.

Church Teaching “In the holy anointing of the sick

with the prayer of the priest,

the whole Church recommends the sick to the Lord, who suffered and has been glorified,

asking Him to give them relief and salvation.

The Church calls upon them to associate themselves freely with the passion and death of Christ and in this way to make

their contribution

to the good of God’s people.”

From Vatican 2: Constitution on the Liturgy

Symbols

Digging Deeper. . .

The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is

• both “a liturgical and a communal celebration.” (In the family home, hospital or church)

• members of the Body of Christ gather for the sacramental rite led by a priest.

• The penitential rite followed by the Liturgy of the Word and sacramental anointing of the sick

• The sacrament can inspire and comfort both those who are ill and their family and friends who are gathered (Catechism 1517-18).

Where is it celebrated?

• Can be anywhere – from sick bed

to street corner

• Can be communal celebrations

at designated times in the church for many.

These sacramental celebrations are a “source of strength amid pain and weakness, hope amid despair” and a “joyful encounter” for the entire community

Connection to the Communion of Saints

• Anointing with sacred oil is a sign of blessing by the Holy Spirit of the one who is sick.

• Oil of the Sick recalls the community’s sharing of the Holy Spirit

• and the sick person’s connection to the entire Body of Christ and communion of saints.

Imitation of Christ’s Compassion

• Gospel Accounts: Christ’s miraculous healings

• Parables: • The Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:29-37)

- The Judgment of the Nations (Mt. 25:31-46)

Bottom line:

Christ asks followers to share his ministry of compassion and healing and to imitate his “preferential love for the sick” and all who suffer.

(Catechism 1503, 1506; Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis 22).

Solidarity with All Who Suffer

We care for the sick….

• because we see them as children of God and part of our human family.

• When one part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer (1 Cor. 12:26).

• The suffering of one impacts everyone.

• Thus, we are called to solidarity, which is “responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone”

(John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis 38; Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate 38).

Caring for those who suffer • is not a burden, but a gift.

• Those who care for the sick do holy and important work; they walk with Christ’s suffering people and in doing so, serve Christ himself (Mt. 25:31-46).

• Those who minister to the sick and who work to secure decent health care for all become “the living sign of Jesus Christ and his Church in showing love towards the sick and suffering” (Christifideles Laici 53).

Union with Christ’s Passion

• Anointing of the Sick about the healing of hope and of the spirit.

• The sacrament allows the person who is ill to unite more closely to Christ's Passion.

• Gives suffering a new meaning: a participation in the saving work of Jesus. This is a powerful witness that is for the good of the whole Church

(Catechism 1521-22).

A Witness to Dignity

• Each person is made in the image of God

• Has dignity that remains unchanged, whatever the body suffers.

• A powerful witness to the fact that human dignity is intrinsic and does not increase or decrease based on a person’s physical state or abilities.

• This is why the Church works to protect the life and dignity of the person at every stage of life—the embryo, the person suffering from AIDS, the family in poverty, and the person nearing death

• and why she works to secure access to decent health care for all.

QUESTIONS ?

Our Lady of Lourdes Saint of the Day for February 11

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/our-lady-of-lourdes/