1.

SACRAMENTS: ORDINATION
The book is a complete explanation of
the Seven Sacraments.

ORDINATION
To purchase the Book, or for theological
inquiries (e-mails only), contact the author:
AUTHOR Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
EDITION 1st Edition, Manila, 15 August 2018
Solemnity of the Assumption
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
Quality Catholic Publications
Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational
1708 Parañaque City, Philippines
Tel. (02) 828-2338, 828-9509
sonsmaryphil@yahoo.com
www.shmiqcp.com

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 2. A CATECHIST’S PRAYER
Loving Father, giver of all that is,
help me to remember that every
gift I have comes from you. Expand
my vision so that I can appreciate
your goodness in the world around
me.
Jesus, our Redeemer, you are
the path to the treasures of my
heart and soul. Strengthen my
commitment to be a catechist and
deepen my capacity to share your
truth with those in my care.
Holy Spirit, Love Divine, all
life and energy flows from you.
Illuminate my thoughts and
intensify my desire to grow ever
deeper in my faith.
I lift up my prayer to you, God
the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, in humility and hope. Amen.

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 3. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
What Is the Sacrament of Ordination?

 Ordination is the Sacrament

through which a male Catholic
is consecrated Deacon, Priest, or
Bishop, for the purpose of
perduring until the end of time
Christ’s Sacred Ministry.
 Since we believe that Jesus is
the only Prophet, Priest, and
King: the Clergy teach, sanctify,
and govern, In Persona Christi,
meaning, “In the person of
Christ.”
 The Sacrament is called
Ordination, or Holy Orders,
because it incorporates the Clergy
in their respective Ordo (Latin for
“Body”) of Deacons, Priests, and
Bishops.
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 4. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
When Did Jesus Institute the Sacrament of Ordination?
 Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of Ordination during
the Last Supper, when he said to his Apostles: “Do this in memory
of me” (Luke 22:19).
 By so ordering, Christ conferred on them and their successors
the three priestly powers of Teaching, Sanctifying, and Governing
the Church.

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 5. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
What Are the Three Priestly Powers?
 The three Priestly Powers, known as Sacra Potestas, are the ministries
commissioned by Jesus to his Apostles (cf. Matthew 28: 19-20).

TEACHING: SANCTIFYING: GOVERNING:

The Ordained The Clergy have the The Apostles’
Ministers have the obligation to successors ought to
sacred duty to preach celebrate the diligently establish
God’s Word every day Sacraments and to and administer the
in a dignified, pray the Breviary for Church, as loving
competent, and God’s glory and the and zealous
effective manner. souls’ salvation. shepherds.

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 6. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
What Is the Difference Between Common and Ministerial Priesthood?

COMMON PRIESTHOOD: MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD:

The Common Priesthood is bestowed
on all Christians by the Sacrament of
Baptism, enabling them to teach,
sanctify, and govern In Nomine
Christi (In the Name of Christ). As by
St. Peter words: “You are a chosen
race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people set apart” (1 Peter
2:9).
The Ministerial Priesthood is granted
to the Clergy by the Sacrament of
Ordination, enabling them to teach,
sanctify, and govern In Persona
Christi (In the Person of Christ). It is
a serious abuse to authorize the non-
clergy to impart blessings, or to
preach at the Mass, in stead of a
Deacon or a Priest.

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 7. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Are the Clergy?
 The Clergy are those who have received the Sacrament of
Ordination, namely: Deacons, Presbyters, and Bishops. The term
comes from the Greek word Kleros, meaning “Portion,” because the
ordained ministers are the chosen portion of God.
 The Clergy are divided into Diocesan and Religious: the first ones
are incardinated into a diocese, subjected to the authority of their
Bishop; while the others, are incardinated into a Religious Congregation,
subjected to their Major Superiors.

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 8. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Are the Deacons?
 The Deacons, from the Greek word Diakonos, meaning “Servant,” are
Ordained Ministers of the First Degree, whose mission is caring for the needy
and serving the Church. There are two kinds of Deacons: the Transitional,
who have received the Diaconate in preparation for Priesthood; and the
Permanent, who remain as such and might be married.
 Their liturgical vestments are the Dalmatic and the Stole in a
diagonal position, from the left shoulder to the right side, signifying that
they assist the Priests, but do not possess the priestly functions.
 Their principal functions are:
1) the Ministry of the Word, such
as reading the Gospel,
preaching, and teaching
Catechism; 2) the Ministry of the
Altar, as administering Baptism,
distributing the Eucharist,
assisting at Marriage, and
officiating Burial Rites; and 3)
the Ministry of Charity, like
serving in charitable activities
and sharing in the administrative
works of the Church.
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 9. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Are the Priests?
 The Priests, from the Greek word Presbyteros, meaning “Elder,”
are Ordained Ministers of the Second Degree, whose office is to offer the
Holy Sacrifice to God and to administer the Sacraments of the Church.
 We need many and holy Priests, since they care for the faithful from
the cradle to the tomb: by preaching, catechizing, celebrating the Mass,
confessing, assisting the sick, and laying the dead to rest.
 St. John Mary Vianney said:
“The Priest is not a Priest for
himself, he is for you. After
God, the Priest is everything.
Leave a parish twenty years
without Priests; they will
worship beasts. When people
wish to destroy religion, they
begin by attacking the Priest,
because where there is no
longer any Priest there is no
sacrifice, and where there is
no longer any sacrifice there is
no religion.”

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 10. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Are the Bishops?
 The Bishops, from the Greek word Episkopos, meaning
“Supervisor,” are Ordained Ministers of the Third Degree,
possessing the fullness of the Sacrament of Ordination.
 Bishops are appointed to a
Diocese, whose official See is called
“Cathedral,” from the Latin word
Cathedra meaning “Chair,” which is
installed in the presbytery and
signifies their teaching and
governing authority.
 The Cardinals are Bishops of
great prestige, appointed to assist
the Pope in governing the Church
and in electing his successor. They
wear red hats and vestments,
indicating their commitment to
defend Christ and his Church till the
shedding of blood.

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 11. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Is the Pope?
 The Pope is the Supreme
Head of the Catholic Church;
the title comes from the Latin
word Papa, meaning “Father.” It
was Jesus who appointed Simon
Peter as First Pope, when he
said: “You are Peter and upon
this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18).
 Since St. Peter was martyred
and buried in Rome, the
Bishop of the City is, by right,
the Pope. Since Jesus changed
the name of Simon into Kefa, or
Peter, meaning “The Rock”, the
newly elected Pope assumes a
new name to signify his vision
and mission.
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 12. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Who Can Receive the Sacrament of Ordination?
 The Sacrament of Ordination can be received only by a male Catholic,
whose divine vocation has been formed, tested, and approved by the Church;
possessing the prescribed requirements, and being free of canonical impediments.
 Ordination’s Basic Requirements:
1) a vocation for the ordained ministry coming from God, which is manifested in the
zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls;
2) physical and psychological health, enabling the candidate to fulfill his ministry
without hindrance;
human maturity and emotional stability, which are required to deal with serenity
with people of every age and gender;
3) adequate intelligence and theological culture, being indispensable for preaching
the Word of God and guiding souls.
 Ordination’s Canonical Impediments:
1) Having committed the offence of apostasy, heresy, or schism;
2) having attempted marriage, even a civil one;
3) having committed murder or procured abortion;
4) having maliciously mutilated oneself or attempted suicide;
5) having carried out an act of order reserved for Bishops or Priests;
6) having deeply rooted homosexual tendencies;
7) being married, unless a dispensation is granted;
8) being affected by any form of insanity.

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 13. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Why Can’t Women Be Ordained?
 Women cannot be ordained, not even as deacons, for two reasons:
CHRIST’S DECISION: JESUS’ MALENESS:
Since the Clergy are successors of the The Clergy act In Persona Christi, and
Apostles, whom Jesus elected all men, Christ is a true man, thus is fitting that
excluding even the Blessed Mother and his only male candidates should be ordained.
closest female disciples, the Church has no For the same reason, those born male with
authority to ordain a woman to any degree deeply-rooted homosexual tendencies
of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, not even cannot properly act in the person of Christ,
as a Deacon. and should not be ordained.

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 14. THE INSTITUTION OF ORDINATION
Why Must the Clergy Remain Celibate?
 The Catholic Clergy, with some exceptions of the Permanent Deacons,
are required to observe perfect and perpetual chastity for two reasons:
JESUS’ EXAMPLE: THE APOSTLES’ CALLING:
Since our Lord remained unmarried Since the Apostles had to abandon
throughout his life, and the Clergy everything to follow Jesus,
act In Persona Christi, it is most including their spouses and
suitable for them to remain celibate families, the Clergy, who are their
for God’s glory and the neighbor’s successors, should likewise follow
service; as Jesus explained: “Some suit. This vow is difficult but well-
have renounced marriage for the rewarded, as Jesus promised:
sake of the Kingdom of Heaven” “There is no one who has given up
(Matthew 19:12). Priestly celibacy house or brothers or sisters or
not only allows a full-time mother or father or children or
commitment to the ministry, but lands for my sake and for the sake
becomes a sign of the world to of the Gospel who will not receive a
come, as Jesus described: “At the hundred times more now in this
resurrection they neither marry nor present age ..., with persecutions,
are given in marriage but are like and eternal life in the age to come”
the angels in heaven” (Mt. 22:30). (Mark 10:29-30).

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 15. THE MINISTER OF ORDINATION
Who Is the Minister of Ordination?
 The Minister of
Ordination is the
Bishop, who can confer
the three degrees of
Diaconate, Presbyterate,
and Episcopate.

 However, while a
Bishop can ordain a
Deacon and a Priest on
his own accord, he
needs the Pontifical
Mandate, and two other
consecrating Bishops, to
ordain another Bishop,
lest both are
excommunicated.

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 16. THE MINISTER OF ORDINATION
What Is the Apostolic Succession?
 The Apostolic Succession is the unbroken chain of Ordinations
connecting all Bishops throughout history to one of the Apostles, and
thereby, to Jesus. This Succession has the purpose of preserving the
Church’s unity, and Christ’s doctrine, until the end of times.
 The Catholic Church recognizes the Apostolic Succession of the
Greek Orthodox, and of few other Churches of apostolic origins; while
rejecting as invalid all pseudo-ordinations performed by Protestants.

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 17. THE MATTER OF ORDINATION
What Is the Matter of Ordination?
 The Matter of Ordination is
the Laying of Hands by the
Bishop, as documented by
St. Paul who, recalling St.
Timothy’s Episcopal
Ordination, wrote: “I remind
you to stir into flame the gift
of God that you have received
through the imposition of my
hands” (2 Timothy 1:6).

 St. Luke described the first

Diaconal Ordination in these
words: “They presented these
men [the first seven Deacons]
to the Apostles who prayed
and laid hands on them” (Acts
6:6).
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 18. THE MATTER OF ORDINATION
What Are the Signs of Office?
 The Signs of Office are the symbolical objects that the ordinandi receive
during their Ordination.

DEACON:
Receives the Gospel,
sign of his mission
to preach the Good News.

PRIEST:
Receives the Paten and Chalice,
symbols of his power
to celebrate the Eucharist.

BISHOP:
Receives the Ring, sign of his fidelity to
the Church; the Miter, of his authority;
and the Crosier, of his jurisdiction.

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 19. THE FORM OF ORDINATION
What Is the Form of Ordination?
 The Form of the Ordination is the essential part of the Consecratory Prayer,
which the Bishop proclaims while extending his hands on the candidate.

DEACON:
“Send forth upon him, Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, that he may be strengthened
by the gift of your sevenfold grace for the faithful carrying out of the work of the
ministry.”

PRIEST:
“Grant, we pray, Almighty Father, on this, your servant, the dignity of the
priesthood; renew deep within him the Spirit of holiness; may he henceforth
possess this office which comes from you, O God, and is next in rank to the office
of Bishop; and by the example of his manner of life, may he instill right conduct.”

BISHOP:
“Pour out now upon this chosen one that power which is from you, the Spirit of
governance whom you gave to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the Spirit whom he
bestowed upon the holy Apostles, who established the Church in each place as
your sanctuary for the glory and unceasing praise of your name.”

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 21. THE FORM OF ORDINATION
Can the Sublime Dignity of Ordination be Comprehended?
 The sublime dignity of
Ordination, which elevates
a man into Christ’s Alter
Ego, cannot be fully grasped
by the human mind.

 A Deacon who serves in

the person of Jesus; a
Priest who transforms
bread into Christ’s body;
and a Bishop who forges
men into God’s apostles!
Not even the Angels were
granted such divine powers,
and still God bestowed them
on humble servants like us.

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 22. THE FORM OF ORDINATION
What If a Person Feels the Calling?
 Jesus Christ and his Holy Church are in need of priests outstanding in
holiness, knowledge, and zeal. Those who feel the calling, should abide
by two fundamental dispositions:
COMPLETELY: IMMEDIATELY:
Jesus requested his Apostles to the Apostles followed Jesus at
abandon everything and follow once, upon hearing their calling:
him: Priestly vocation is not for Procrastination is the Devil’s tool
half-measures, and follows the to quench every good intention;
principle of true love: “Give all, or while promptness is the pathway
nothing at all.” to Heaven.

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