Sacraments

Holy Orders

The Sacrament of Holy Orders is one of the two Sacraments of Service with the other being Holy Matrimony. There are three degrees within the Sacrament of Holy Orders: Bishop, Priest, and Deacon (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1536). One of the traditions of the Church has been to only ordain baptized men to these offices in service to the people of God.

The beginning of this Sacrament is the call to serve God’s people in this way. The Clergy do not fall out of the sky, they come from families and communities that encourage and support others to serve the Church in this way. The Church needs to take an active role in praying for, and promoting vocations. Formation for ordination to the diaconate and priesthood, depending on the seminary program, take at least 5 or more years.

With the three degrees of Holy Orders, there is a hierarchy of office. The Bishop receives the fullness of the Sacrament, making him a visible head of a particular church entrusted to him, making him a successor of the apostles and a member of the college of bishops. The priest is ordained to be a co-worker with the bishop, sharing in the celebration of the Sacraments to sanctify God’s people and make up the presbyterate, which helps the local bishop govern the particular church. The deacon is ordained in service to the Church, assists at Mass, proclaims the Word, and undertake acts of charity. Though not ordained in ministerial priesthood, the deacon can celebrate the Sacraments of Baptisms and Weddings, and preside at the funeral rites of the Vigil and Committal services (CCC 1594-1586).

Bishops, priests, and deacons commit themselves to serving God and neighbor, and bringing the Church into an encounter with the Risen Lord through their ministry. Bishops and priests take a promise of celibacy, whereas permanent deacons do not. Permanent deacons can be married men with a job in the secular world. Those who are ordained deacons with the hope of being ordained priests are called transitional deacons and serve in the role of deacon for at least 6 months before their priesthood ordination. Transitional deacons do take the promise of celibacy.

If you are discerning a vocation to ordained life, either as a permanent deacon or priesthood, and are looking for more information, please contact the Vocations Office for the Archdiocese of Chicago.