SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS

PURPOSE

►Catechism of the Catholic Church #1536
 
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, presbyterate, and diaconate.
 
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FAITH DOCTRINE REFERENCES

 
►CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
 
HOLY ORDERS REFERENCES
Holy Orders, sacrament of, 1536
Christ as the Minister of, 1575
and consecration, 1538
degrees of, 1593
goals and significance of, 1120, 1534, 2686
God's call to the ordained ministry, 1578
manifestation of, 1142
meaning of words, 1537-38
one of the seven sacraments, 1113, 1210
prefiguring of, 1541
presence of Christ in, 1548-50
as the way of transmission of apostolic succession, 1087
See also Ministry; Sacrament(s)
celebration of the sacrament of Holy Orders
        bishop as minister of, 1576
        place and time of, 1572
        rites of celebrations of the three degrees, 1573-74
        signs of consecration, 1538
effects of the sacrament of Holy Orders
        acting in the person of Christ the Head, 1142, 1548
        capacity to act as Christ's representative, 1581
        configuration to Christ the Priest, 1585
        deacons strengthened by sacramental grace in the service of the People of God, 1588
        grace of strength for the bishop, 1586
        grace of strength for the priest, 1587
        indelible character of, 1121, 1582-83
        power to forgive sins, 1461
        unworthiness of an ordained minister does not prevent Christ from acting, 1584
three degrees of the sacrament of Holy Orders, 1536, 1554
        diaconate
                deacon is ordained into the bishop's ministry, 1569
                indelible character of, 1570
                only the bishop lays hands, 1569
                See also Deacon(s)
        episcopacy
                consecration confers the offices of sanctifying, teaching, and governing, 1558
                fullness of the sacrament of, 1557
                handing on of the mission of the apostles, 1556
                intervention of the Bishop of Rome necessary for the legitimate ordination of a bishop, 1559
                See also Bishop
        priesthood
                anointing, 1563
                handing on of the ministry through the bishops, 1562
                indelible character, 1563
                ordination in the order of priesthood, 1568
                of priests presupposes the sacrament of Christian initiation, 1563
                priests share in Christ's universal mission, 1565
                significance of the mission of priests, 1564
                significance of the promise of obedience to the bishop, 1567
                See also Priest/priesthood
who may receive the sacrament of Holy Orders
        ability of a baptized male, 1577
        a celibate baptized man (in the Latin Church), 1579
        a man called by God, 1578
        discipline in force in the Eastern Churches, 1580
        married permanent deacons, 1579
        right to receive holy orders given to no one, 1578