Holy Orders

(Plain Text Version)

At the Last Supper, Christ instituted the sacrament of Holy Orders, so that the people of God would receive the care of bishops, priests, and deacons.

Our First Bishops

At the Last Supper, Jesus ordained the Apostles to be the first bishops of His Church.  They were given all the powers needed to teach, to make holy, and to govern the faithful.  After the Ascension, the community of bishops was expanded by the ordination of St. Mathias.  As the Church grew, more and more bishops were added.

The Three Levels of Holy Orders

Bishops receive the highest level of Orders.  A bishop has the duty of governing a specific portion of the Church.  As a group, the bishops lead the entire Church, in union with the Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome.  Bishops can administer all of the sacraments.  Only bishops can administer Holy Orders.

Priests can celebrate the Mass, forgive sins in Confession, and celebrate the other sacraments except Holy Orders.  A priest always serves as an assistant to a bishop. 

Deacons also serve as assistants to the bishop.  Deacons baptize, read the Gospel at Mass, and distribute Holy Communion.  In parishes, deacons help the Pastor with many duties. 

Ordination is Permanent

To be a bishop, priest, or deacon is not a job or a career.  Ordination brings a lifelong commitment to whatever duties are assigned.  Ordination creates a special bond with God which continues even after death. 

Can Women be Ordained?

It is a truth revealed by God that only men can be ordained.  We know this because Jesus ordained only men.  If the rite of ordination is performed on a woman, it has no effect.

Women have no less dignity than men in the life of the Church.  The highest of all the saints is Mary, the Blessed Mother of Our Lord.  The Gospels record the faithfulness and courage of the women who followed Jesus.

The question of ordination of women highlights a bigger issue: No one has a right to be ordained.  The bishop has the duty to prayerfully consider who God is calling to the priesthood or diaconate.  

Ordination of Bishops

Any bishop has the power to ordain another bishop.  According to Canon Law (the laws of the Church), the Pope must first approve the ordination.  If a bishop is ordained without the pope’s approval, he is still a bishop, but he has broken away from the unity of the Church. 

Let us pray that God will give us many holy bishops, priests, and deacons!  

Many thanks to:

Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., Pocket Catholic Catechism, 1989, Doubleday

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