A Beacon Of Light . . . Mystery And Gift: The Sacrament Of Holy Orders
By FR. RICHARD D. BRETON JR.
(Editor’s Note: Fr. Richard D. Breton Jr. is a priest of the Diocese of Norwich, Conn. He is currently the parochial vicar of St. Andrew Parish in Colchester and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Lebanon. He received his BA in religious studies and his MA in dogmatic theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn.)
- + + Today we return to the Upper Room. As we gaze inside, we see Jesus seated with His apostles around the table as they celebrate the Passover meal. It is in the Upper Room we begin our consideration of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. On the night before He was to be betrayed, Jesus gathering with His apostles took bread, and blessed and broke it. Likewise, He gave them the chalice, filled with wine. Then He said, “Do This in memory of me.”
At the Last Supper Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders, as a means for us to receive the graces necessary for our salvation.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church in n. 1536 says: “Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus, it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.”
Holy Orders includes three degrees: bishop, priest, and deacon. Bishops are chosen and are consecrated as successors of the apostles. As successors of the apostles, bishops are considered to have the fullness of the priesthood.
This fullness enables them to ordain new priests and deacons. Bishops also have certain rights and authorities they exercise. There are blessings reserved for bishops that differ from those that may be given by a priest or deacon. Bishops govern a certain jurisdiction, called a diocese or archdiocese, and are responsible in shepherding the faithful within that jurisdiction.
Priests are another degree of Holy Orders. Priests assist the bishop in his responsibility of being shepherd of the faithful. The priest is the co-worker of the bishop. Priests confer the sacraments upon the faithful assisting them on the journey of faith. Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Marriage are sacraments the priest administers to the faithful as a servant of God. Priests also bless sacramentals like religious articles, rosaries, statues, and holy water and will often bless people’s homes.
The last degree of Holy Orders is that of the deacon. The deacon is ordained to service of the Church and to live a life of charity. Within the degree of deacon there are two kinds. A transitional deacon is a man bound for the priesthood. This differs from the permanent deacon who is ordained for life and accepts an assignment from the bishop to minister within the diocese.
Deacons are restricted in what they can do. Deacons cannot celebrate Mass, hear Confessions, or anoint the sick. Deacons are also limited in their ability to give blessings. Deacons can only impart blessings within the context of a liturgical celebration at which they are presiding, like Baptisms and weddings. Deacons also serve at the altar in assisting the priest at Mass. Deacons may preach.
We can see that all three degrees of Holy Orders, bishop, priest or deacon, contribute in their own way to the service of the faithful.
Instruments Of God’s Grace
If I may be so bold, I would like to share with you my experiences of Holy Orders. As I journey through God’s vineyard of the faithful, every day I am presented with moments when I can reflect on my ministry.
I would like to begin by sharing my experiences of the Sacrament of Baptism. I love celebrating Baptisms! Each time I baptize I am filled with joy as I prepare and ultimately unite these children, or adults, into God’s family of faith.
Recently, I had the opportunity to baptize my nephew. This Baptism was very moving for me. My nephew was premature and due to some health concerns, we quickly planned his Baptism.
As we gathered for the Baptism, it was brought to my attention that my nephew was wearing the same baptismal outfit I had worn for my own Baptism. I too was premature at birth and struggled to live, but, through the grace of God I did. As I poured the water over my nephew’s head, I thought of how the same had been done to me as I wore the same baptismal clothes. I felt tears well up in my eyes as I prayed the words of Baptism: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
I was the instrument of God’s grace in baptizing my nephew, the same was I am in every child or adult that I baptize. I have a custom of writing the names of every person I baptize inside of my Baptismal Ritual. Each time I baptize I remember in prayer all those who were baptized before.
Another moment in the life of my priestly ministry is the Celebration of the Eucharist. Each time I ascend the stairs on the sanctuary, I remind myself of my unworthiness, and yet despite this unworthiness, I have been chosen by the Lord to make Christ present to the faithful.
As the gifts of bread and wine are brought forward by the faithful, I receive them and offer them up to the Lord. Through the words of consecration at Mass, the bread and wine are transformed in the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. What a humbling moment! Amid the most sacred action on Earth, I have the honor of holding God Himself.
Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the consecration of my hands, I hold God and distribute the food of everlasting life to the faithful. I was so sad during the time of the pandemic because I could not give the people the bread of life.
Pope St. John Paul II
On March 28, 2004, our late Holy Father St. John Paul II wrote a letter to all priests on Holy Thursday. In this letter the Holy Father reminded us that the Sacrament of Holy Orders is born, lives, works, and bears fruit “de Eucharistia” (cf. Council of Trent, Sess. XXII, canon 2: DS 1752).
He goes on to say: “There can be no Eucharist without the priesthood, just as there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist” (cf. Gift and Mystery. On the Fiftieth Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination, New York, 1996, pp. 77-78).
The sacraments are living, breathing encounters with Christ. Bishops, priests, and deacons, through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, participate in the living actions of God’s grace.
Imagine what the Church would be like without the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Who would baptize the faithful? Who would forgive sins? Who would make Jesus present in the Eucharist? Who would anoint the sick and dying? Who would witness and prepare couples for marriage? Who would confer the Holy Spirit in Confirmation? This sacrament is necessary because through it we are provided with the ministers needed to receive the graces of the other sacraments, and thus, restore us to union with Christ.
Today our bishops, priests, and deacons are fighting an everlasting battle of good versus evil. They are constantly under attack as the evil one finds ways to bring down men of God. It is imperative that we pray for those who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. We must also pray for those whose hearts have been touched by the Lord to persevere in the call to Holy Orders.
Pray for your bishop daily. He needs prayers to assist him in shepherding the faithful entrusted to his care.
Priests need the prayers of the faithful as well. Priests minister as Alter Christus! They are human and make mistakes, but they are the only ones who can make Jesus present to us in the Eucharist. Pray for your priests! Pray that they may be faithful to the responsibility they have been given.
Deacons need our prayers as well! They are living difficult lives. While juggling the responsibilities of family and ministry, deacons serve our communities in both the secular and spiritual worlds. They are examples of how to live a life of service and charity in our times. They too need our prayers.
May Jesus Christ, the True High Priest, continue to send laborers into the vineyard!
Pray for an increase of vocations, that, we may always receive the sacraments of our faith!
