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In the Latin Church, there are seven clerical orders, all mentioned together
in the Historical record by Eusebius (260 AD) in the 43rd Chapter of the 6th Book of his "Church History."
The lowest 5 are ecclesiastical in origin; the higher two are of divine origin.
The seven orders are, in descending rank:
The 3 Major
or Sacred Orders:
I.
Priests
-
Bishops
- the
First Degree of the Priesthood
Bishops have the greatest authority and jurisdiction (aside from
Popes and Patriarchs), and have the powers to ordain men, and
to offer the Sacrament of Confirmation, to dedicate churches and
altars, to consecrate chalices and patens and bells, and to preside
at the benediction of abbots. They are said to exercise the fullness
of the priesthood. The symbol of this office is the mitre.
-
Priests
- the
Second Degree of the Priesthood
The duties and powers of the priest are to confect the Holy Eucharist
at the Mass; offer the Sacraments of Penance, Communion, and Extreme
Unction; to preside at the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony;
to solemnly baptize; to preach; to teach, guide, and sanctify
his sheep. With ordination to the priesthood, a man has received
the fullness of the Sacrament of Order. The symbols of this office
are the stole, the chasuble, a paten with bread on it, and a Chalice
filled with wine.
II.
Deacons
The duties of the deacon are to handle the sacred vessels, to be of service
to the priests and Bishops (inside and outside of the liturgy), to read the
Epistle and Gospel at the Mass, to be general stewards, and to serve the
widows and orphans. This Order is Sacramental, and the first of the three
divinely-instituted grades of the hierarchy of Orders, the others being the
priesthood and the episcopate. The symbols of this office are the dalmatic,
the stole (worn over the left shoulder, as opposed to around the neck as
priests wear them, and under the dalmatic), and the Book of the Gospels.
III.
Subdeacons
The
duties of a subdeacon are to serve the deacon at Mass; to prepare
the bread, wine, and sacred vessels for the Sacrifice; to present
the chalice and paten at the Offertory, and pour water into the
wine for the Mass; to chant the Epistle; and to wash the sacred
linens. This office is non-sacramental, but it is now that the
vow of celibacy is taken. The symbols of this order are the empty
Chalice and the paten, basin and towel, two little cruets, and
the book of epistles.
The 4 Minor
Orders:
IV.
Acolytes
The duties of the acolyte are to light the Altar candles, carry the candles
in procession, prepare the water and wine for the Mass, and assist the priest
during the Mass The symbols of this order are the candle, the cruet, and
a linen bag. (Note that altar boys are sometimes designated "acolytes" and
fulfill the duties of the acolyte during the Mass.)
V.
Exorcists
In the early Church, the duty of the exorcist was to cast out demons. Now
that duty belongs to the priest alone, but this minor order is kept in
traditional priestly societies nonetheless. The symbol for this order is
the book containing the Rite of Exorcism.
VI. - Lectors
or Readers
The duty of the lector is to chant the Epistle when Mass is sung without
a deacon and subdeacon. The symbol of this order is the Book of the
Epistles.
VII. Porters
- Doorkeepers or Ostiaries or Sextons
The duties of the porter are to ring the bells, to open the church and sacristy,
and to open the book for the priest. Most of these duties have passed to
the laity, such as sacristans, etc., but in traditional priestly orders,
this clerical order is kept as an office and stepping-stone toward the
priesthood. The symbol for this order is keys.
A man
who is to become a priest first receives the "tonsure"
i.e., he is received into the clerical state by being given a surplice
and having hair shorn away at the crown of the head. With the tonsure,
he becomes a cleric, but still has not received the Sacrament of
Orders.
The tonsured cleric is then ordained to each of the Orders above, one at
a time, receiving the power of each office, and ascending up through the
ranks until he is raised to the dignity of the priesthood, at which time
he receives the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Those of the Minor Orders are not obligated to pray the Divine Office or
bound to the rule of celibacy (but if they marry they lose their office);
however, once the Major Orders are entered into, there is no going back,
and from the level of deacon on up, the actual Sacrament of Orders is received.
Deacons receive partial fruits of the Sacrament, priests receive the totality
of the Sacrament, with only Bishops having more authority.
The Sacrament
Holy
Orders is the Sacrament by which men become priests and are given
a sacred power "sacra
potestas" to act in total sacramental identification with
Christ (i.e., to act in persona Christi) in order confect
Christ's Body and offer it up to the Father at the Mass for the
remission of sins; to forgive sins through the Sacrament of Penance;
to solemnly baptize; to preside during the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony;
to offer Unction to the dying; to preach; and to otherwise teach,
guide, and sanctify their sheep. To the Bishop alone is reserved
the power to ordain other priests.
As in Baptism and Confirmation, the Sacrament of Holy Orders leaves an indelible
mark on the soul of the recipient and can never be repeated once validly
received; once a priest, always a priest (even if a priest is laicized and
removed from his office, this mark remains).
As said, the minister of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is the Bishop, and
the matter of the Sacrament is the imposition of hands, which takes place
during the beautiful ceremony of ordination.
The form of the Sacrament is
the words:
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty
Father, to these Thy servants, the dignity of the Priesthood; renew the spirit
of holiness within them, so that they may hold from Thee, O God, the office
of the second rank in Thy service and by the example of their behavior afford
a pattern of holy living.
Latin: Da, quaesumus, omnipotens Pater, in hos famulos tuos presbyterii
dignitatem.
Innova in visceribus eorum spiritum sanctitatis, ut acceptum a te, Deus,
secundi meriti munus obtineant; censuramque morum exemplo suae conversationis
insinuent.
The recipient of the Sacrament
must be a baptized, healthy, heterosexual male, at least 25 years of age,
who has a vocation from God, a strong Catholic faith, intelligence, a good
moral character, and a life marked by sanctity. He must be committed to living
a celibate and chaste life, and to prayer (especially the Divine Office,
which he is obligated to pray), and must have been properly formed in
seminary.
Traditional priestly formation, lasts for 6 years and includes a thorough study of Latin, liturgy,
liturgical chant, philosophy, Theology, Church History, moral Theology, dogmatic
Theology, and Canon Law. During the first year, they receive the cassock;
during the second, the tonsure; during the third and fourth, they are ascend
through the minor orders; in the fifth, they are ordained to the
sub-diaconate
and then the diaconate; and after the sixth, they are ordained priests. The
seminarian's days are heavily scheduled, much like a monk's, with daily Mass,
the Divine Office, classes, private study, and community devotions.
The Rite of Ordination
(from the
Catholic Encyclopdia):
All the
candidates...present themselves in the church with tonsure and in clerical
dress, carrying the vestments of the order to which they are to be raised,
and lighted candles. They are all summoned by name, each candidate answering
"Adsum". When a general ordination takes place the tonsure is given after
the Introit or Kyrie, the minor orders after the Gloria, subdiaconate after
the Collect, the diaconate after the Epistle, priesthood after Alleluia and
Tract. After the Tract of the Mass the archdeacon summons all who are to
receive the priesthood. The candidates, vested in amice, alb, girdle, stole,
and maniple, with folded chasuble on left arm and a candle in their right
hand, go forward and kneel around the bishop. The latter inquires of the
archdeacon, who is here the representative of the Church as it were, whether
the candidates are worthy to be admitted to the priesthood. The archdeacon
answers in the affirmative and his testimony represents the testimony of
fitness given in ancient times by the clergy and people. The bishop, then
charging the congregation and insisting upon the reasons why "the Fathers
decreed that the people also should be consulted", asks that, if anyone has
anything to say to the prejudice of the candidates, he should come forward
and state it.
The bishop then instructs and admonishes the candidates as to the duties
of their new office. He kneels down in front of the altar; the ordinandi
lay themselves prostrate on the carpet, and the Litany of the Saints is chanted or recited.
On the conclusion of the Litany, all arise, the candidates come forward,
and kneel in pairs before the bishop while he lays both hands on the head
of each candidate in silence. The same is done by all priests who are present.
Whilst bishop and priests keep their right hands extended, the former alone
recites a prayer, inviting all to pray to God for a blessing on the candidates.
After this follows the Collect and then the bishop says the Preface, towards
the end of which occurs the prayer, "Grant, we beseech Thee etc." The bishop
then with appropriate formulæ crosses the stole over the breast of
each one and vests him with the chasuble. This is arranged to hang down in
front but is folded behind. Though there is no mention of the stole in many
of the most ancient Pontificals, there can be no doubt of its antiquity.
The vesting with the chasuble is also very ancient and found already in Mabillon
"Ord. VIII and IX." Afterwards the bishop recites a prayer calling down God's
blessing on the newly-ordained. He then intones the "Veni Creator", and whilst
it is being sung by the choir he anoints the hands of each with the oil of
catechumens.
The bishop then hands to each the chalice, containing wine and water,
with a paten and a host upon it. This rite, with its corresponding formula,..
[signifying] the power which has already been received, is not found in the
oldest rituals and probably dates back not earlier than the ninth or tenth
century. When the bishop has finished the Offertory of the Mass, he seats
himself before the middle of the altar and each of those ordained make an
offering to him of a lighted candle. The newly-ordained priests then repeat
the Mass with him, all saying the words of consecration simultaneously. Before
the Communion the bishop gives the kiss of peace to one of the newly-ordained.
After the Communion the priests again approach the bishop and say the Apostle's
Creed. The bishop laying his hands upon each says: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost,
whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall
retain, they are retained." - The chasuble is then folded, the newly-ordained
make a promise of obedience and having received the kiss of peace, return
to their place.
It is customary
for those who attend the priest's Ordination and/or first Mass to kiss the
palms of his hands which have been consecrated by holy oils. Palm-kissing
at either time results in an indulgence of
100 days under the usual conditions. An indulgence of 7 years, under the
usual conditions, is received for piously attending a priest's first Mass;
the indulgence is plenary if the one attending is related to the third degree
to the newly-ordained priest.
Pray for vocations
and encourage any priestly vocation your sons might have. Teach your children
to have the utmost respect for priests, by word and your own behavior. Don't
call a priest by his first name; he should be addressed as, for example,
"Father Manzione" or simply "Father." He should enjoy the place of honor
(barring the presence of higher ranking hierarchs) at social gatherings.
Kiss his hands to show reverence for the Eucharist. Let your sons see that
to be a priest is to answer God's highest calling, and that the fruits of
the priesthood are His merciful gifts to us. In this way vocations are nurtured
and God's people can continue to be nourished with the very Body of Christ.
And pray for priests, who give us so much.
O God, Who hast
appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the eternal High Priest for the glory
of Thy Majesty and the salvation of mankind; grant that they whom He hath
chosen to be His ministers and the stewards of His Mysteries, may be found
faithful in the fulfillment of the ministry which they have received. Through
the same Christ our Lord. Amen. |
Deus, Qui ad maiestatis
tuae gloriam et generis humani salutem, Unigenitum Tuum summum atque aeternum
constituisti Sacerdotem: praesta, ut quos ministros et Mysteriorum suorum
dispensatores elegit, in accepto ministerio adimplendo fideles
inveniantur.
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. |
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