Holy Orders in Christian Theology

Holy Orders

• Confers on the recipient the offices of teaching, sanctifying, and ruling.
• The presbyterate is a co-worker of the bishop, consecrated to preach the gospel, celebrate divine worship, especially the Eucharist.
• The ministry draws its strength from the Eucharist.

Characteristics of Holy Orders

• It is a Sacrament, a sensible sign instituted by Christ.
• The sign is the imposition of hands, accompanied by the prayer of consecration.
• It confers a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, configuring the recipient to Christ in his triple office as Priest, Prophet, and King.

Ministry of the Recipient

• Teaching through catechesis and preaching.
• Sanctifying through the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
• Governing by taking care of the People of God with love, competence, and a spirit of service.

The Minister of Holy Orders

• The bishop is the ordinary minister of Holy Orders.
• Deacons and priests are ordained by the bishop.

Requirements for Ordination

• Candidates must be Catholic, male, and celibate.
• They must have a sure vocation from God, and have completed all required philosophical and theological studies.
• They must be approved by the Church.

Note on Women's Ordination

• Women cannot be ordained, as Jesus chose only men among the twelve apostles.

Degrees of Holy Orders

• The episcopate: the legitimate successor of the apostles, with the duty to guide their diocese as holy shepherds.
• The competent minister of this sacrament is a priest who has the faculty to absolve.
• All priests, however, can absolve validly and licitly in danger of death.

Reconciliation

• It is a sacrament that forgives sins, and reconciles us with God.
• The matter is the acts of the penitent: contrition, confession, and the act of penance.
• The formula is the absolution: "I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Sin

• It is an offense against God in disobedience to his love.
• There are two kinds of sin: original sin and actual sin.
• Original sin is the sin of Adam that brought about evil effects on the human race.
• Actual or personal sin is a fundamental choice against God.
• Mortal sin means grave or serious sin, and has three conditions.
• Venial sin is a less serious rejection of God's love.