Holy Orders in Economy of Salvation
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Placing in an Order (1537-1538)
In Roman times, ordination incorporated a person into an order, an established governing body. Catholic Tradition, with a basis in Scripture, has three orders: bishops, priests, and deacons. Order is also used of groups of catechumens, virgins, widows, etc.
In the Church, people entered these orders by a liturgical ordination rite. Today ordination is used only of the order of bishops, priests, and deacons, and goes beyond mere election or delegation by the community. By ordination, the Spirit bestows a sacred power which comes from Christ through his Church. Ordination (also called consecration - a "setting apart") is conferred by the bishop's laying on of hands and the consecratory prayer.
The Old Testament Priesthood (1539-1540)
Although Israel was "a kingdom of priests," God set aside the tribe of Levi for liturgical service. By a special rite of consecration, they were "appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin." (Heb 5:1)
This priesthood remains powerless to achieve definitive salvation which is accomplished only by Christ's sacrifice.
Prefiguring Christ's Priesthood (1541-1543)
Catholic liturgy sees the priesthood of Aaron, the service of the Levites, and the anointing of the seventy elders (Num 11:24-25) as prefiguring the ordained ministry of the New Covenant. The Church recalls these Old Testament figures:
- In the consecratory paragraph for bishops - "You established rulers and priests and did not leave your sanctuary without ministers to serve."
- At the ordination of priests - "You extended the spirit of Moses to seventy wise men. You shared among the sons of Aaron the fullness of their father's power."
- At the ordination of deacons - "As ministers of your tabernacle you chose the sons of Levi."
Christ's Single Offering (1544-1545)
The fulfillment of the Old Covenant priesthood came about in Christ, the "one mediator between God and man" (Tim 2:5). Christian Tradition sees Melchizedek ("priest of God Most High") as a prefiguration of the priesthood of Christ who "by a single offering has perfected for all time those who are sanctified" (Heb 10:14).
Christ's sacrifice, although unique and accomplished once for all, is made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice. The one priesthood of Christ is made present through the ministerial priesthood. "Only Christ is the true priest, the others being only his ministers" (St. Thomas Aquinas).
Two Priesthoods - Hierarchical and Common (1546-1547)
Christ has made his Church "a kingdom of priests for his God and Father" (Rev 1:6). Through Baptism and Confirmation the faithful are "consecrated to be a holy priesthood" (Second Vatican Council).
The ministerial, hierarchical priesthood (bishop, priest, and deacon) and the common priesthood (all the faithful) are ordered to one another, but differ essentially. The common priesthood is the unfolding of baptismal grace so the person lives in the Spirit. The ministerial priesthood is directed to the unfolding of the baptismal grace in all Christians. This priesthood is given by another sacrament, namely, Holy Orders.
Acting in the Person of Christ (1548-1549)
Through the ordained minister, Christ himself is present to the Church as Head of his Body. The priest, therefore, acts "in the person of Christ the Head."
By ordination the minister is made like Christ and has "authority to act in the power and place of the person of Christ himself" (Pope Pius XII). "The priest of the new law acts in the person of Christ" (St. Thomas Aquinas).
The bishop is "the living image of God the Father" (St. Ignatius of Antioch).
The Sins of the Minister (1550-1551)
In spite of this, the minister is not preserved from all human weakness or even from sin. The guarantee of the Spirit extends to the sacraments so that the minister's own sins cannot impede their grace. In other acts, however, the minister can harm the fruitfulness of the Church.
This priesthood is ministerial (ordained to service). It is entirely dependent on Christ and ordered for the good of others. Because the sacrament gives him the sacred power of Christ, the minister must follow the model of Christ.
Representing Christ and the Church (1552-1553)
Besides representing Christ to the faithful, the ministerial priesthood offers prayers to God in the "name of the whole Church."
The priests are not delegates of the community. Because the whole Church (head and members) prays and offers itself, the ministers are ministers of Christ and of the Church. Because the ministerial priesthood represents Christ, it can represent the Church.
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