Holy Orders
264. What is Holy Orders?
Holy Orders is the
sacrament through which men and women receive the power and grace to
perform the sacred duties of bishops, priests, and other ministers
of the Church.
For every high priest
taken from among men is appointed for men in the things pertaining
to God, that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. (Hebrews
5:1)
265.
What are some of the requirements that a candidate may receive Holy
Orders worthily?
That a candidate may
receive Holy Orders worthily it is necessary:
-
that they be in the state of grace and be of excellent
character;
-
that they have the prescribed age and learning;
-
that they have the intention of devoting his life to the sacred
ministry;
-
that they be called to Holy Orders by their bishop.
If anyone is eager for the
office of bishops, he desires a good work. A bishop then, must be
blameless, married but once, reserved, prudent, of good conduct,
hospitable, a teacher, not a drinker or a brawler, but moderate, not
quarrelsome, not avaricious. (I Timothy 3:1-3)
266.
What is meant
essentially by a vocation to the priesthood?
By a vocation to the
priesthood is meant essentially that invitation to receive Holy
Orders given by the proper ecclesiastical superior to a person who,
after a sufficient period of preparation and trial, gives signs that
they has been called by God to the priesthood.
267.
What are the
chief signs that a person has been called by God to the priesthood?
The chief signs that a
person has been called by God to the priesthood are: a sincere
desire to become a priest, a virtuous life, and sufficient bodily
health and intellectual ability to enable them to make the required
studies and to perform the duties of the priestly life.
268.
Do religious brothers and sisters receive the sacrament of Holy
Orders?
No; religious brothers and
sisters do not receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, but they have
received from God a vocation to dedicate their lives to His service.
269.
What
are the effects of ordination to the priesthood?
The effects of ordination
to the priesthood are: first, an increase of sanctifying grace;
second, sacramental grace, through which the priest has God's
constant help in their sacred ministry; third, a character, lasting
forever, which is a special sharing in the priesthood of Christ and
which gives the priest special supernatural powers.
Thou art a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 109:4)
270.
What
are the chief supernatural powers of the priest?
The chief supernatural
powers of the priest are: to change bread and wine into the body and
blood of Christ in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and to forgive
sins in the sacrament of Penance.
Receive the Holy Ghost;
whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins
you shall retain, they are retained. (John 20:22-23)
280.
Why
should one show respect to the priest?
We
should show respect to the priest because they are the
representatives of Christ Himself and the dispensers of His
mysteries.
With all thy soul fear the
Lord, and reverence his priests. (Ecclesiastics 7:31)
281.
Who
is the minister of the sacrament of Holy Orders?
The bishop is the minister
of the sacrament of Holy Orders.