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Holy Orders Catholics beleive, through our baptisdm that we are incorporated into the Body of Christ. Thus the Church participates in the life and mission of Jesus Christ, the head and Lord of our Church. Our baptism calls us to be preists propehts and Kings, and so we each receive a call or a vocation in the Church. Besdies our call to share in the common preisthopod of christ some are called to share in the ministerisl preisthood and are called forth by the community to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Both classes of priesthood, the common and the ministerial, share in the preisthood of christ, but threer is a distinct difference between the two, between the preist and the People of God. Ordained ministers to the preisthood receive thier call from the Church and are ordained for service in the Church by Bishops, who possess the 'fullness of the Priesthood" of jesus Christ. When a Bishop ordains a man as a preist to serve the Church the man is specially formed to participate in the preistly service and ministry of serving all of God's people. The ordained pries participate in this ministry of christ by preaching the Gospel, try with all thier heart and strength to guide God's people toward Chrsitian and Catholci maturity. They baptisze and absolve sins in the Sacrament of Penance, they act as witnesses for the Sacrament of Matrimony and they anoint the Sick. But most importantly the preist leads and guides the People of God in the common celebration of the holy Eucharist, making Christ present on the Altar so that we may all participate in Holy Communion by receiving the Body and Bloood of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Mass. Besides Bishops and Preists, Deacons also participate in the special gift of holy Orders. Conferred by the bishop after maany years of study and prayer, the permanent deacons and thier wives serve the Community of the People of God by being of service in all walks of parish and Church life. Permanent Deacons serve under the authority of the Bishop and are assigned to parishes throughout the Diocese of bosie. For more inbformation on the Sacrament of holy Orders please see our Link to the Catechism of the catholic church (para.1536-1600) |
