We are all called to the common priesthood by our Baptism, and as such we participate in the life of the Church in accordance with our individual vocations. The Sacrament of Holy Orders refers to the ministerial priesthood, that is, the ordained priesthood, made up of deacons, priests and bishops.
Diaconate ordination is the lowest degree of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the ministerial priesthood. Typically this is a transitional phase whereby a deacon prepares to be ordained a priest, the second degree of the Sacrament. However, there are those who choose to be permanent deacons. For instance a married man who wishes to minister in the Church, may become a permanent deacon.
As we mentioned, the second degree of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is the presbyterate, the priesthood. However, the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is ordination to the episcopate, being ordained a bishop.
There are only three levels of this ministerial priesthood – deacon, priest and bishop – despite the titles of Archbishop, Cardinal and Pope, these holy men still hold the sacramental degree of bishop. Indeed, Pope Benedict XVI is the bishop of Rome. These additional titles refer to the hierarchical structure of the Church, as opposed to the degree of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Despite their individual differences, all ordained ministers are called to three things: teaching, divine worship and pastoral governance.
The way they carry out this mission, of course, will vary with their level in the hierarchy of the priesthood of Christ. There are two profound elements when considering the priesthood of Christ. The first is that they provide a tangible and visible witness to the presence of Christ in the Church. ‘Through the ordained ministry, especially that of bishops and priests, the presence of Christ as head of the Church is made visible in the midst of the community of believers. In the beautiful expression of St. Ignatius of Antioch, the bishop is typos tou Patros : he is like the living image of God the Father.’ (CCC 1549)
Priests and bishops, and deacons to a lesser degree, provide a witness that no other member of the Church can. Through their ministry they act in the person of Christ, they represent to the Church that Christ is here, working through them to confer sacraments and to preach. They are, essentially, an instrument through which Jesus can continue to pour out graces upon his Church. Additionally, ‘The ministerial priesthood has the task not only of representing Christ — Head of the Church — before the assembly of the faithful, but also of acting in the name of the whole Church when presenting to God the prayer of the Church, and above all when offering the Eucharistic sacrifice.’ (CCC 1552)
In other words, the ministerial priesthood acts on our behalf the liturgy and especially through the sacrifice of the Mass. Through them we can offer our prayers to God in a profound way.
Finally, it is through these ordained ministers that we receive the Sacraments of the Church. This Sacramental ministry is explained most eloquently in the poem;
‘The beautiful hands of the priest’:
We need them in life’s early morning,
We need them again at its close;
We feel their warm clasp of true friendship,
We seek them when tasting life’s woes.
At the altar each day we behold them,
And the hands of a king on his throne
Are not equal to them in their greatness;
Their dignity stands all alone;
And when we are tempted and wander,
To pathways of shame and of sin,
It’s the hand of a priest that will absolve us–
Not once, but again and again.
And when we are taking life’s partner,
Other hands may prepare us a feast,
But the hand that will bless and unite us–
Is the beautiful hand of a priest.
God bless them and keep them all holy,
For the Host which their fingers caress;
When can a poor sinner do better,
Than to ask Him to guide thee and bless?
When the hour of death comes upon us,
May our courage and strength be increased,
By seeing raised over us in blessing–
The beautiful hands of a priest.
Author unknown
Originally posted 2015-01-14 22:01:06.