Holy Orders is the Sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his Apostles continues to be exercised in the church. It includes three degrees: deacon, priest or presbyter, and bishop. Only two degrees share the ministerial priesthood, bishops and priests. Priests are co-workers of the bishops, while deacons assist priests.
“The end for which God has instituted the priesthood has been to appoint on earth public persons to watch over the honor of his divine majesty, and to procure the salvation of souls.” ― Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Aleteia Explains: What are Holy Orders in the Catholic Church? (4:25)
Ordered Ministries
Holy Orders is “holy” because it has a sacred character and is “ordered” because it is structured, tiered with increasing levels of responsibility. For instance, a deacon can preach and baptize, but cannot offer Mass or hear confessions; a priest can offer Mass and hear confessions, but cannot ordain; a bishop can ordain, but not only can he ordain, a bishop can perform every priestly function because he possesses the fullness of Holy Orders. These ministries give “holy order” to the Church.
A Sacrament Instituted by Christ
The ministerial priesthood was established by Jesus when he asked his apostles to continue the ministries that he began. On Holy Thursday night when Jesus instituted the Eucharist, he told his apostles, “Do this in memory of me” (Lk 22:19). When the risen Jesus appeared to the apostles in the Upper Room, Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (Jn 20:21), and to equip them for their commissioning, Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22). Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he instructed the apostles, “Go, make disciples of all nations. Baptize them. Teach them” (see Mt 28:19,20). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, asked Peter to continue his shepherding duties when he said, “Feed my lambs, tend my sheep” (Jn 21:15,16). Jesus’ final words of instruction to his apostles were, “You will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
An Extraordinarily High Calling
The priest serves in persona Christi, Latin for “in the person of Christ.” The priest never serves on his own behalf. Rather, Christ takes over his very being, and in his humble, loving service, he is the visible presence of Christ in the community.
Ministries of the Priestly Office
The foremost ministries of the priest are to offer the holy sacrifice of the Mass and to preach the gospel. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, and without priests, the Church would be without the Eucharist. The priest is also a preacher, and he must preach first with his holiness of life, and then, and only then, with his words. The priest is a sanctifier, a vehicle of God’s grace to the people, and the shepherd who leads the people to greater virtue and their conduit to a more intimate bond with God.
Prayer for Vocations
God our Father, You made each of us to use our gifts in the Body of Christ. We ask that You inspire young people whom you call to priesthood and consecrated life to courageously follow Your will. Send workers into your great harvest so that the Gospel is preached, the poor are served with love, the suffering are comforted, and Your people are strengthened by the sacraments. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
