HOLY ORDER

• THE THREE VOCATIONS

  1. SINGLE LIFE
  2. MARRIED LIFE
  3. ORDAINED MINISTRY
• Single Life - For someone who has chosen this life, even though they have not formally taken the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, yet they make a personal commitment to put themselves at the service of others in their work and prayer. And in doing so, they strive to follow Christ in their daily lives.
• Married Life - They follow Christ by giving themselves to each other completely and without any reservation, promising to love each other faithfully for the rest of their lives.
• Ordained Ministry - Through sacramental ordination, they share in the priesthood of Christ in a special way. Their very beings are transfigured so that they can represent Christ the Good Shepherd for God's people and Christ as the Head of the Church. 
• Consecration - To consecrate means to make holy or sacred. If we live holy lives then we actively share the priesthood of Christ.
• Meditation - To be a mediator means to help bring about a desired result.
• Sacrifice - All of us have a cross to bear all; all experience pain and suffering. But it leads contrary to pin our hope and trust to Him.
• FOUR DIMENSIONS OF THE PRIEST

  • PRIEST AS DISCIPLE
  • PRIEST AS APOSTLE
  • PRIEST AS PRESBYTER
  • PRIEST AS PRESIDER OF THE EUCHARIST
• PRIEST AS DISCIPLE: called to follow Jesus in total commitment, undeterred even by family ties, life itself, hardship, or death, and with no looking back to what was left behind.
• PRIEST AS APOSTLE: sent to serve in the mission of Jesus and of the Church.
• PRIEST AS PRESBYTER: an elder one responsible for the pastoral care of the Church members.
• PRIEST AS PRESIDER OF THE EUCHARIST: as he offers the holy sacrifice of the Mass in persona Christi
• THREE DIMENSIONS OF THE SACRAMENT 

  1. Bishops
  2. Priest
  3. Deacon
• Bishops - are conferred with the fullness of the sacrament of Holy orders. Bishop undertakes Christ's own role as teacher, shepherd and high priest and act as His person.
• Bishops

  • Ring - sign of his fidelity to Church
  • Crosier - the staff of office, shape like a shepherd's crook
  • Miter - the tall pointed hat that is the bishop's traditional vestment 
• Priest - they are to preach the gospel, to shepherd the faithful and to celebrate divine worship as true priests of the New Testament.
• Priest

  • Chalice and Paten - sacred vessels used for the Eucharist
  • Stole and Chasuble - the Liturgical vestments of the Priest. 
• Deacon - assists the Priests and Bishops. They serve the people of God in the service of the Liturgy, of the Gospel and of the works of Charity. 
• Deacon

  • Book of Gospels - as a sign of the ministry of preaching the Word.
  • Stole - the liturgical vestments of a Deacon 
• As Jesus of Nazareth stated in the Canonical gospels, they are counsels for those who desire to become "perfect".
• THREE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS

  1. Obedience
  2. Celibacy/Chastity
  3. Poverty
• Obedience - This requires dying to oneself, giving up what the priest wants so that he could focus all his attention on serving others. 
• Celibacy - Is a gift from the Lord for the sake of the community. As a gift, it must be nourished and taken care of through constant prayer and the Eucharist. It is when a priest makes the vow of celibacy, he promises that he will give his undivided attention and total commitment to his task as a servant. 
• Poverty - Is a calling to all priests to pattern their lives after Christ who was born poor, lived poor and died poor. (Humbleness)
• VARIOUS TITLES IN THE CHURCH

  1. Pope
  2. Cardinal
  3. Bishop
  4. Monsignor
  5. Pastor  
  6. Priest
  7. Monk
  8. Brother
  9. Sister
• Pope - The bishop of Rome, vicar of Christ on earth, successor of St. Peter, visible head of the whole Catholic Church.
• Cardinal - An honorary title given to priests or bishops because of their important positions in the Church; they elect the new Pope.
• Bishop - Rules over the people and priests of his diocese; can give Confirmation and Holy Orders.
• Monsignor - A priest gets this honorary title from the Pope because of his important position in the Church.
• Pastor - Rules over a parish; is subject to the bishop of the diocese.
• Priest - Diocesan priests work in a diocese; religious priests belong to a religious order - like the Franciscans, Dominicans, etc...
• Monk - They live in a monastery, follow a strict rule under a superior - like the Benedictines and the Trappists; some are priests, others are brothers.
• Brother - A man dedicated to teaching, hospital work or contemplation; takes vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but does not receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
• Sister - A woman dedicated to teaching, hospital or social work, or contemplation; takes vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and belongs to a religious order or community. Cloistered sisters are usually called nuns; loosely speaking, all sisters are called nuns.