The Pontifical Assembly of the Whole Church is to examine divine revelation and how it is handed on. The synod takes its direction from the words of St. John: "We announce to you the eternal life which dwelt with the Father" (1 John 1:2-3). In the beginning God created man in Christ, and through Christ man might have access to the Father and come to share in the divine nature (see Eph. 2:18; 2 Peter 1:4). In his goodness and wisdom God chose to reveal Himself and to make known to us the hidden purpose of His will. In Revelation, God out of abundance of His love speaks to men as friends and lives among them. This plan of revelation is realized by deeds and words having an inner unity. By this revelation then, the deepest truth about God shines out for our sake in Christ, who is both the mediator and the fullness of all revelation. From the beginning God has kept the human race in His care, to give eternal life to those who perseveringly do good in search of salvation. Through the patriarchs and after them through Moses and the prophets, He taught this people to acknowledge himself as the one living and true God. After speaking to men in many ways through the prophets, "now at last in these days God has spoken to us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-18). For this reason Jesus perfected revelation by fulfilling it through his whole work of making himself present and manifesting himself. In our Christian faith is an obedience by which man commits his whole self freely to God, offering the full submission of intellect and will to God who reveals. To make this act of faith, the grace of God and the interior help of the Holy Spirit must precede and assist, moving the heart and turning it to God. A sacred synod has affirmed that God, the beginning and end of all things, can be known with certainty from created reality by the light of human reason. It teaches that it is through His revelation that those religious truths which are by their nature accessible to human reason can be know by all men with ease, with solid certitude. In the beginning Jesus commissioned the Apostles to preach to all men that Gospel which is the source of all saving truth and moral teaching. This commission was faithfully fulfilled by the Apostles who, by their oral preaching, by example, and by observances handed on what they had received from the lips of Christ. The Apostles left bishops as their successors, "handing over" to them "the authority to teach in their own place" (see 1 John 3:2). But in order to keep the Gospel forever whole and alive within the Church, they made bishops their successors. This sacred tradition, therefore, and Sacred Scripture of both the Old and New Testaments are like a mirror through which the pilgrim Church on earth looks at God. The Apostles, handing on what they themselves had received, warn the faithful to hold fast to the traditions which they have learned either by word of mouth or by letter (see 2 Thess. 2:15). And so the apostolic preaching was.

1. The Sacrament of Holy Orders
Chapter 8

2. WHY MEN BECOME PRIESTS
o Attracted by the essential sacramental role
the priest has for the Church
– Being Christ for the world
• Consecrates Eucharist, absolves sins, heals the sick,
etc.
• Called by the Lord just as the Apostles were to
cast away their current lives and take up a
new one

3. Who Can Be Ordained
• Holy Orders is to perpetuate Christ’s mission handed over to the
Apostles until the end of time
– Episcopate (bishop)
– Presbyterate (priest)
– Diaconate (deacon)
• No one has a right to receive Holy Orders nor does anyone claim
office for himself; he is called by God
• Reserved only for baptized males
– Gender is not incidental. It is part of who we are and it determines how
we relate and are perceived by others. (Father-figure; roles of a
father/provider; acts in person of Christ; we learn through senses)

4. More Requirements…
• Men who take vow of celibacy
– A sign of new life and service to which the Church’s
minister is made holy
• Men who pledge to follow the spiritual gifts of
humility and obedience; sometimes poverty
• Attend seminary
– Undergo rigorous coursework for their priestly
formation
• Human (personality), Spiritual, Intellectual, Pastoral

5. UNDERSTANDING THE SACRAMENT OF
HOLY ORDERS
• The orders of bishop and priest enable the
one who is ordained to act in the person of
Christ
• Deacons are ordained so that they may
serve the priests and bishops

6. Priesthood in the Old Testament
• Prior to Moses it was the head of the clan
– Passed on to sons
• During the Exodus, Moses selected seventy elders
to aid in leading the twelve tribes
• Prefigures the ordained ministry of the new
Testament

7. The Priesthood of Christ
• Christ is High Priest
– The only “actual” priest
– All others are his ministers
• Ordained priesthood
• Common priesthood
• Jesus is present to the Church in the ordained ministers
as the Head of his Body
– Instituted for the good of all people and the Church
• As the Church grew, the Apostles appointed presbyters
to look over local churches and epsicopoi to serve over
larger areas
– Decisions affecting the entire Church were made at councils
by the episcopoi acting together

8. Brief History of Holy Orders to the Present
• Early Church
– Bishops were chosen by the community; he ordained priests and deacons
– Eventually parishes selected priests
• Middle Ages
– An increase in need for priests
• Deaconate became a stepping stone to priesthood and the ministry
declined
• Protestant Reformation
– Pointed out a lack of education in the clergy
• Led to requirement of seminary
• Second Vatican Council
– Called for restoration of permanent diaconate
– Called for new Rite of Ordination; recalled original meaning of ordained
ministry and its service to communion
• Renewal

9. CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
• Three degrees
– Episcopy (bishops), presbyterate (priests), and
diaconate (deacons)
• Deacons help and serve bishops and priests
• Bishops may only confer Holy Orders to priests,
deacons, and other bishops
– The essential rite of Holy Orders is the imposition of
hands on the head of the ordinand
• Takes place within the celebration of the Eucharist
in the diocesan cathedral

10. The Ordination of Bishops
• The fullness of the Sacrament
– The summit of sacred ministry
• Chosen by the pope
• Identified and recommended by Archbishops (delegate to Vatican)
• The ordinary bishop confers the Sacrament on the bishop-elect
– Laying on of hands and consecratory prayer
– Anointing with Sacred Chrism (4th time in life)
• Signifies his role as head of Christ’s body within the dioceses
– Given a Book of the Gospels as sign of ministry to proclaim the Word
– Ring = sign of lifelong commitment to the Church, which is the Bride of Christ
– Mitre = sign of authority
– Crosier = sign of bishops role as shepherd of the Lord’s flock

11. Archbishop Allen Vigneron

12. Bishops Within Archdiocese
of Detroit
– Bishop Michael Burns
» Bishop Arturo Cepeda
• Bishop Donald Hanchon
» Bishop Francis Reiss

13. The Ordination of Priests
• Bishop confers the Sacrament by laying on of hands and
gives consecratory prayer
• New priest is invested with a stole
– A long narrow scarf worn straight from the shoulders
• As well as a chasuble
– The outer vestment worn at liturgy. The color follows the liturgical
season
• Purple = Advent and Lent
• White = Christmas, Easter, and other feasts of Christ
• Red = Good Friday and Pentecost
• Green = Ordinary time
• Then bishop anoints new priests hands with Sacred Chrism
– This gives the grace for his ministry to be fruitful; consecrate
Eucharist, absolve sins, etc.

14. The Ordination of Deacons
• This ordination given to both transitional deacons and
permanent deacons
– Transitional deacons must be celibate and promise to remain
celibate
• Bishop confers the Sacrament by the laying on of hands and
consecratory prayer
– Invested with a stole
• Worn diagonally from one shoulder
– Also given a dalmatic
• His outer liturgical vestment
– Receives a Book of the Gospels
• A sign of his mission to proclaim the gospel of Christ

15. Deacons
Saint Stephen, one of first
seven deacons in the Church

16. THE GRACE OF THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY
ORDERS
• Conforms one closer to Christ than he had been after
baptism and confirmation
– However, does not necessarily mean that ordained ministers are
automatically holier than lay members
• Offers conversion from
– A life focused on serving themselves to serving the will of God;
selflessness and obedience
– “I have to do this” to “I get to do this”; genuine and loving
attitude, feeling privileged
– Being motivated by pleasure to being motivated by self-sacrifice
for the greater good of the Church
• Celibacy
• Persecution; being martyrs for their faith

17. Acting as Christ the High Priest
• In the New Covenant there is only ONE sacrifice and ONE
priest
– Jesus replaces the Temple sacrifices of the OT
– Christ is the only mediator to God we need
• He offered himself once and for all
• The Mass is not a new offering made by the priests every
time it is celebrated
– Rather they preside over it and Christ, the High Priest, that works
through them to offer us the same sacrifice he initially gave
• It is not a re-sacrifice, it is the same one occurring all over again for us to
experience

18. Acting as Christ the Teacher
• Not only by spreading the Gospel message but also
by their words and actions
• Attempt to take advantage of every opportunity to
teach the Church’s faith and address contemporary
problems
– All in light of Christ’s teaching, not own subjective beliefs

19. Acting as Christ the Good Shepherd
• Bishops, priests, and deacons are to engage
in a ministry of service
– Especially the bishops who are the leaders of the
diocese
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his
life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a
shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf
coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf
snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is
a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the
good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I
lay down my life for the sheep.”
(John 10:11-15)

20. ORDINATIOIN LEADS TO A MINISTRY OF
SERVICE
• Priesthood is a life-long vocation
– Similar to marriage
– Holy Orders provides priests with the special grace they need to
remain steadfast in their vocation; consecrates those who receive
it
• Each bishop is the vicar of Christ
– A representative
• Serve the people of God and increase their holiness
through:
– Teaching
– Divine Worship
– Pastoral Governance
• Serve both the universal Church and the local Church

21. Service to the Universal Church
• The bishop is the highest authority within his diocese
– However, cannot make his own rules or interpret Church doctrine
differently from the universal Church
• Ordination makes him a member of the episcopal college
– An assembly of bishops that functions as a governing body in
union with the Pope, who is the bishop of Rome
• Scattered throughout the world
– Still live in communion with each other and act in a way that
keeps them and all their flocks (diocese) united

22. Service to the Universal Church
• Pope (Bishop of Rome)
– Has supreme authority
– Location is due to primacy of Rome as the
place where St. Peter founded the Church
– Position of leadership comes from succession
that traces back to St. Peter
• Primacy; First leader of Church hand-picked by
Christ

23. Service to the Universal Church
• Episcopal college (assembly of bishops
– Regional assemblies
• Meet regularly to discuss the needs of the Church in a certain geographical
area. (ex. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
– Synod of Bishops
• A group of bishops, usually chosen throughout the world, who come
together to advise the pope on certain issues
– Ecumenical Councils
• An assembly of all bishops in union with the pope
• Highest Authority in the Church when it comes to deciding matters of faith
and morals
– The Second Vatican Council

24. Service to the Universal Church
• Infallibility
– a gift received by the Church from Christ whereby she is
protected from error in matters of faith and morals
– Finds its source in the work of the Holy Spirit
– Ruling of the Magisterium effected by this
• Pope and bishops acting together
• Teaching authority of the Church
– Proclaims doctrine of faith

25. Service to the Universal Church
• Imprimatur
– A bishops approval to print a religion textbook
because its contents agree with Church teaching
– Ensures that all contents in the book are free of
doctrinal and moral error
– All textbooks used in Catholic schools must
receive bishop’s imprimatur

26. Service to the Local Church
• Most Diocese have two types of priest:
– Diocesan
• Live and serve at a parish
– Religious
• Live in community groups devoted to a particular charism
or spiritual founder (ex. Basilian Fathers)
• Take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience (along with
celibacy)

27. Service to the Local Church
• A general description of a priests job is to build and maintain
communion in the local Church
• Accomplished in three ways:
1. Preach the Gospel to all
-Through their homilies, teaching of religious education classes and writings
2. Cultivate holiness by providing the sacraments
-As well as praying for the holiness of the people they serve by praying the liturgy
of the hours
3. Govern the parish through pastoral ministry
-Priests represent the bishop
-Canon Law states that each parish is to establish a pastoral council that serves an
important role in maintaining unity

28. Is the Priesthood For You?
• Candidates must be at least 18 years old
• Must be called by God to this vocation, must
recognize the call, and respond to it all under their
own will
• Other Catholics have the responsibility to
encourage someone who we think God is calling to
the priesthood
– Have the responsibility to tell that person