CATECHISM

Q. What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?
A. Holy Orders is the Sacrament by which bishops, priests, and deacons of the Church are
ordained, and receive power and grace to perform their sacred duties.
Holy Order. The ministry, consisting of seven degrees, viz., Porter, Reader, Exorcist,
Acolyte, Sub-Deacon, Deacon, and Priest. The first four are called the minor or lesser
orders; the remaining three are called the holy or greater orders. The Priesthood has two
degrees of power and dignity:
1. that of the Bishop, whose office is to govern the particular district given to him
(called a diocese), to give Confirmation and Holy Order, inflict censures,
pronounce excommunications, grant Indulgences etc.:
2. that of the Priest, whose office it is to offer sacrifice, preach to the people,
administer the Sacraments. etc.
Outward sign. The matter is the laying on of hands by the Bishop. The form consists of
the prayer said by the Bishop, in the case of a priest: ‘Grant, we implore Thee. Almighty
Father, to this Thy servant the dignity of the Priesthood, etc.’
Effects. Increases habitual grace; gives power to exercise sacred functions. The orders
lower than the diaconate were probably instituted by the Church and therefore do not
give grace.
Institution. Time of institution not certain. Its sacramental character proved from the
following: ‘Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given by prophecy with
imposition of the hands of the priesthood’. (Tim. iv. 14,) And again: ‘I admonish thee that
thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee by the imposition of my hands’. (2 Tim. 1:6)
Minister. A Bishop only, in the case of the greater orders.