The Sacrament of Holy Orders

It is the sacrament through which the ministry entrusted by Christ to His Apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time. It consecrates certain Christian faithful as ordained ministers—bishops, priests, and deacons—at the dedicated service of the entire People of God (sacraments).

From the one High Priest, Jesus Christ, who offered Himself upon the Cross. At the Last Supper He made the Apostles sharers in His unique priesthood («Do this in memory of me»), and they transmitted this sacred power to their successors. Thus the priest never acts in his own name, but *in persona Christi*: when he pronounces at Mass «This is my Body» or in Confession «I absolve you», that «my» and that «I» belong to Christ Himself (Redemption).

Through the laying on of hands by the bishop and a solemn consecratory prayer, exactly as was done in apostolic times. It imprints an indelible spiritual «character» upon the soul: for this reason it can never be repeated nor undone. An ordained man remains a priest forever.

All baptized persons share in the «common priesthood of the faithful»: they can offer to God their daily life, professional work, joys, and sufferings as spiritual sacrifices (Baptism). The «ministerial priesthood» of ordained clerics differs in essence and not only in degree: it exists specifically to serve the common priesthood by making Christ sacramentally present. They are ordered to one another: without the faithful, the ministry would have no flock to serve; without priests, the faithful would be deprived of the Eucharist and sacramental absolution.

Not to serve himself, but to lay down his life for others: proclaiming the Gospel, celebrating the sacraments—above all the Holy Eucharist and sacramental Confession—and shepherding the Christian community with pastoral charity.

Celibacy is not strictly demanded by the ontological nature of priesthood—there are married priests in Eastern Catholic Churches and married permanent deacons—yet it has profound theological fittingness: it enables the priest to consecrate himself entirely to God and His people «with an undivided heart» and anticipates the resurrected life of heaven. It is never a bitter renunciation, but a joyful, spousal gift of love (chastity, vocation).

Because Jesus sovereignly chose only men to be His Twelve Apostles, even while fearlessly breaking other contemporary cultural conventions in His treatment of women: speaking with them publicly, welcoming them among His disciples, and making them the first witnesses of His Resurrection. Not even His immaculate Mother received the apostolic priesthood. The Church recognizes herself bound by Christ's choice and has declared that she «has no authority» to alter it. It is not a question of dignity—which is identical between man and woman—but of fidelity to the sacramental signs instituted by Christ.

A supernatural call from God, discerned and confirmed by the Church, to serve in the sacred priesthood. No one claims it for himself nor is it a personal right: it is received as an unmerited gift and a lifelong task. Each Christian has a part to play: praying persistently for priestly vocations and for existing priests—including those who struggle—and generously encouraging those whom God calls (vocation, Church).