CHRISTIAN LIVING AND VALUES EDUCATION (CLVED)

STEM 12- SAINT SEBASTIAN

THE SEVENTH SACRAMENT: HOLY ORDERS

GROUP 7

Macam, Faith Kristianne

Benosa, Lorie Joy
Whigan, Shantiah Ella
Soriano, Rod Andrei
Ruiz, Gianne Dhayle
Tindaan, Nathanley
Members

Mr. Charles Rhone Capin

CLVED Teacher
 THE SEVENTH SACRAMENT: HOLY ORDERS

I. Brief history of the sacrament

Back then, the earliest Christian communities did not recognize a distinct priestly class.
The concept of priesthood began to emerge in the second century. In the medieval times
(Middle and third century), those who presided over Eucharist worship were beginning to
be perceived as priestly ministers. This was now the beginning of the identification of
ministry and priesthood. By the end of the third century, the bishops had become the
supreme authority in their own communities. Stepping into the fourth and fifth centuries,
the presbyters became the most important order in the church. While in ancient
civilization, priesthood became more specialized and institutionalized. Although during the
Middle Ages, scholastic theologians created a systematic theology of holy orders,
emphasizing the priest's duty as a mediator between God and mankind. However, the
priesthood's standing was reduced by cultural deterioration in the 14th century and power
battles in the 15th century. In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation challenged
conventional beliefs, rejecting sacramental priesthood and leading to a reduction in
priesthood power in Europe. Today, priests are frequently required to function as spiritual
leaders, pastoral counselors, and social justice campaigners.
II. Biblical basis of the sacrament
The sacrament of Holy orders is a sacrament related to vocation. It is one of the
sacraments pertaining to a state of life. This means that God wants to be involved in our
lives. This is the grace one receives when being ordained. Many believers are called the
disciples but only the chosen would become an apostle, this is reflected in Luke 6:12-13: “In
these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God.
And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named
apostles.” There is an important distinction between the disciples and apostles. Jesus had
many disciples but only twelve were called to be apostles. There are certain tasks and
power that Jesus only gave to the apostles.
Matthew 16:28-19 emphasizes that Simon Peter is the first to be called to this
leadership. Part of the role given to Peter was to unify and strengthen the others. In Luke
21:31-32 are important text about Peter because they serve as the basis and biblical model
for the office of the pope. It is acknowledge that the pope today is the successor of Peter
that Jesus Christ established himself.
In Luke 22:14 highlights the important tasks that were entrusted to the apostles. They
are the only ones present when Christ celebrated the first Eucharist and it was them who
received the command, “Do this in memory of me.” Likewise the apostles are the only ones
present when Jesus gave them the authority to forgive sins. Jesus did not confer these
powers to other disciples. It was only the apostles who received the mandate that they
should exercise these ministries on behalf of the disciples. It's a custom from our Catholic
faith to reserve the consecration of the Holy Eucharist and the forgiveness of sins to only
ordained priests and bishops in order to honor and maintain these acts of Christ. In doing
so we honor the distinctions observed and established by Jesus himself. Lastly, in Matthew
28:19 the apostles were entrusted especially with the task of teaching the Gospel to all
nations and of baptizing them. It is also our tradition that we limit the Church's solemn and
authoritative teaching role to bishops in partnership with the Pope.
Holy orders is conferred in three degrees: Bishop, Priest, and Deacon. In 1 Peter 2:5, the
ministerial priesthood does not exist apart from Christ's one priesthood. The ministerial
priesthood is a participation in Christ's priesthood. Jesus willed to share his ministry to the
apostles so to continue to do so through his successors. Holy Orders is the sacrament
through which the mission entrusted by Christ to the Apostles continues to be exercised in
the Church until the end of time. When a priest administers a sacrament, such as absolution
or baptism, he is said to be acting "in the person of Christ." This implies that when the
priest delivers the words, it is seen to be Christ himself speaking through the priest.
Despite the fact that the priest is a human being, the ability to forgive sins and consecrate
the Eucharist is attributed to Christ acting through him. In essence, Christ is viewed as the
ultimate actor in these sacraments, with the ordained priest acting as a receptacle for
divine operations.
III. Church teachings about the sacrament

The holy orders is last among the sacraments. Holy orders along with the sacrament of
marriage is called the “sacraments at the service of communion.” It says that these
sacraments are directed toward the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to
personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular
mission in the church and serve to build up the people of God. Those who are called to holy
orders are called to serve the largest and most basic order.
The concept of priest plays an important part in the Letter to Jewish Christians (the
Letter to the Hebrews), that calls Jesus the true High Priest. Jesus has made all-sufficient
sacrifice that renders the Old Testament rituals and Levitic priesthood obsolete. The term
‘priest’ is used to describe Jesus’ healing and saving effect. Jesus saved us from our sins
therefore we no longer need priests to purify us of our sins.
Believers are described as holy priests in the first Letter of Peter, able to present
spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2.5). According to the
letter, a spiritual sacrifice is made when one gives up control of one's will and lives a holy
life in the face of opposition from others. Christians in persecuted communities are given
hope, self-worth, and confidence when they are described as holy priests, which gives them
a sense of being selected and belonging to God's hallowed realm. The focus is on the
characteristics that set Christians apart, including holiness, divine selection, isolation from
a corrupt world, and the community's royal and priestly dignity. The goal of this depiction
of a heavenly priesthood is to elevate the underprivileged group.

IV. The rite of the sacrament emphasizing the matter and form with
explanation

1. Presentation of the candidates

The ordination service begins with the priests presenting the ordinands to the bishop.
He informs the bishop whether they are worthy candidates and that those who are
responsible for their training have recommended them. The bishop then confirms his
readiness to appoint these men to the office and work of a priest. He then gives a brief
address where the ordinands responds to this address by promising the bishop and
congregation to do all in their power to exercise their office as a service for the church and
in obedience to the bishop. The candidates then place their hands in the bishop’s hands.
This means that the future priest are placing their hands in the hand of God.
2. Prostration
The bishop now asks the faithful to pray for the ordinands, who lie stretched out on the
ground in the gesture known as prostration. This symbolizes that they are offering
themselves to God. The position also signifies the complete surrender to God, an
acknowledgement that they are powerless and of their own humanity. They are to be
ordained not because they have deserved it, but because God has summoned them in all
their weakness. While they are still in that position the congregation chants or sings the
Litany of the saints. The bishop then closes the litany with his own prayer.
3. Silent laying on of hands
This now is the most important part of the ordination rite when it takes place in silence.
The bishop silently lays his hands on the head of each of the ordinands and silently prays
that the Holy Spirit should flow through him, transform him, and fit him for his work. After
the bishop, the priests who are present also lay their hand on the candidates in silence. This
action reminds each of their own ordination and pray for the ordinands. All the priests who
are there silently invoke the action of the Holy Spirit.
4. The ordination prayer
Following a prolonged period of quiet, the bishop offers the ordination prayer, which
enumerates the priest's key responsibilities. The bishop mentions the elders' relationship
to Moses in the prayer. The bishop’s most important petition is a request to God to: ‘Give to
these servants the dignity of priests. Renew the Spirit of holiness in them. Grant, O God, that
they may hold fast to the office which they receive from your hand; may their life offer
encouragement and guidance to all. Bless, sanctify and ordain your servants, whom you
have chosen.’ This highlights how important it is for individuals in positions of leadership
in the Church to radiate love that is based on honesty, moral integrity, and real faith. It
emphasizes how crucial it is to cling firmly to God in order to faithfully share the priceless
message of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, with others.
5. Anointing of the hands
The ordinands are now clothed in their priestly vestments. The bishop then anoints
their hands which symbolizes the conferring of the Holy Spirit. In the anointing the bishop
tells the priests that they are to be strengthened by the Spirit in their work. All the
sacraments that priests administer are sacraments of touch, acts which touch the heart and
the priests must convey this through their hands. The anointing is a symbol for how the
Holy Spirit gives gifts to those who are open to receiving them. In order for the priest's
hands to transmit Jesus's presence to people, they must be open and permeable to the Holy
Spirit's working through them.
6. Presentation of bread and wine
The bishop gives priests the Eucharistic elements—bread and wine—with a focus on
their role in changing them into the Body and Blood of Jesus at Mass. The bishop
encourages the priests to do this by considering the sacredness of their work, carrying it
out diligently, and engrossing themselves in the mystery of the cross. The focus is not just
on the ability to change, but also on accepting the deep mystery of the Eucharist. A priest is
expected to live out their entire life imitating Jesus's final act of devotion on the cross.
7. Sign of peace
After the new priests are ordained, the bishop gives them a warm embrace as a sign of
peace. This action encourages them to have an emotional connection to the priesthood and
represents their incorporation into it. It is a happy and individualized transaction as the
newly ordained priests give the sign of peace to each present priest separately. It is said to
have been a moment of friendliness, happiness, and well-wishings for each individual,
encouraging a feeling of tenderness, love, and affirmation during the ordination experience.

8. Concelebration of the Eucharist

The newly ordained priests join the bishop in celebrating the Eucharist, fulfilling the
rituals received during their ordination as a group. They raise bread and wine, symbols of
the world's weakness and longing, into the divine realm. They invite the Holy Spirit to
descend and convert the gifts into the Body and Blood of Christ by extending their anointed
hands over them. This gesture represents an acknowledgement of the significant danger
involved, integrating people into the mystery of Jesus' death and resurrection. In doing so,
they embody the bishop's instruction at the gift presentation, immersing their lives in the
mystery of the cross.
 9. First blessing
The freshly ordained priests offer their first blessing to the entire congregation after the
bishop's blessing. Legend has it that in the past, people believed that in order to receive this
blessing, you had to wear out a pair of shoes and replace them, symbolizing the idea that
the Holy Spirit's power is perceived to flow more strongly through the hands of newly
ordained priests than through the hands of experienced and routine-laden priests. The
myth represents the new power and transforming state that people expect the Holy Spirit
will bring about in them.

Matters and Forms

 TRUE AND NATURAL HAIR OF THE CANDIDATE
Through the cutting of the hair of the candidate separating a man from the laity and
binding him to the divine service.
 KEYS
The keys are to be touched by the right hand of the candidates. The opening and
closing of the doors of the church symbolizes the admitting the worthy and rejecting
the unworthy.
 BOOK OF THE SCRIPTURES
The book of the scriptures are to be touched by the right hand with the words of the
form recited by the minister.
 BOOK OF EXORCISMS
The book of exorcisms are to be touched by the right hand of the candidate.
 UNLIGHTED CANDLE
The candidate must touch with his right hand while the form being is recited by the
minister.
 CONSECRATED CHALICE, EMPTY CONSECRATED PATEN, AND BOOK OF
EPISTLES
The candidate must touch this matters with his right hand while the words of forms
is being recited by the minister.
 HEAD OF THE ORDINAND
The imposition of the bishop on the head of the ordinand while the essential words
of the preface are recited.
V. Challenges faced by the sacrament today

1. The number of men and women responding to God’s call has decreased
The decline in vocations toward holy orders and religious life poses threats and
demands to living out the Christian perspective. Varied challenges are identified
such as poverty and migration and lack of financial support. This challenges is
believe to be a motivation for choosing one’s vocation in order for them to get out of
the cycle of poverty. They may want to pursue the vocation towards holy orders
they cannot as they do not have the financial stability to do so. The further decline
forces the church to take action such as promoting vocation calls for young men and
women.

2. Formation of priests
Formation is part of the process that will help priests to acquire an attitude of
conversion to the Lord. It will allow them to be an authentic witnesses and genuine
minister of the word of God. While the problem with formation is seen as the church
faces many scandals and issues that emerged involving the ministers. The church
have faced this by giving rightful consequences to one’s action such as persecution
and being convicted. For some they will again undergo a process or formation to
guide them and help them, also referred to as the canon law.

3. Saying ‘yes’ to God’s call

Saying yes isn’t as easy as it may seem. There are obstacles one may face like doubts
from people around you, lack of support, and emotional formations. One barrier
may be how a person how been brought up that made one’s attitude and behaviour.
These attitudes and behaviour will undergo a process so that any unlikely
characteristics they may have will be changed.