For more than two years, this “Faith Fundamentals” column has done a deep dive into the sacrament of marriage. Twenty-eight articles have appeared. Many avenues to greater understanding have been explored. To widen and deepen understanding of all aspects of the faith, it is time to delve into another sacrament: holy orders.
Holy orders is one of the seven sacraments. It, along with the sacrament of marriage, belongs to a special group of sacraments known as the sacraments of commitment. These two sacraments are “sacraments at the service of communion,” “directed toward the salvation of others,” and “serve to build up the people of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1534).
Three degrees. While all the baptized share in the universal priesthood, holy orders is the sacrament of the ordained ministry. Holy orders come in 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 (Catechism, 1554).
Ordered ministries. Holy orders is holy because it has a sacred character. And it 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 as well as preach and baptize, but cannot ordain; a bishop can ordain and can perform every priestly function because he possesses the fullness of holy orders. These ministries give “holy order” to the Church.
The lesson plan. The purpose of this column is to teach or provide catechesis on the sacraments. As a course has a syllabus, there is a plan for upcoming columns. The basics of each degree will be described: the call by God to the vocation, the discernment of the call, eligibility for the order, minimum age, prerequisites, and preparation.
The curriculum. Topics will include the biblical basis for the sacrament, the difference between the universal priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial priesthood, the nature and effects of the sacrament, the ministries proper to each degree, the spirituality underlying each degree, the ordination rite and the laying on of hands, and the beautiful array of inspiring artistic symbols for each degree.
Differences within degrees. Explanations will be provided for the different categories within each degree. For deacons, there are permanent deacons and transitional deacons. For priests, there are pastors, parochial vicars (associate pastors), parochial administrators and chaplains; diocesan priests and religious order priests and monsignors. For bishops, there are diocesan bishops, auxiliary bishops, coadjutor bishops, archbishops, cardinal archbishops and the pope.
The call to holiness. When the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was preparing a document on the importance of good preaching, it conducted a survey on what Catholics want of their priest, and by extension, their deacon or bishop. The USCCB presumed the answer would be a good preacher; it should not have been surprised when the top answer was a good and holy man. The ordained preach first with their actions by living virtuous lives, and second, with their words. St. Gregory of Nazianzus, as a young priest, explained this personal call to holiness when he exclaimed: “We must begin by purifying ourselves before purifying others; we must be instructed to be able to instruct, become light to illuminate, draw close to God to bring him close to others, (and) be sanctified to sanctify” (Catechism, 1589).
Father Van Sloun is the director of clergy personnel for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. This column is the first in a series on the sacrament of holy orders. Past series on the sacraments by Father Van Sloun provided catechesis on marriage, the Eucharist and confirmation. All of the columns can be found at www.thecatholicspirit.com/faith-fundamentals/.
