331. How is the sacrament of Holy Orders celebrated?
(Comp
331) The sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred, in each of its three degrees,
by means of the imposition of hands on the head of the ordinand by the Bishop
who pronounces the solemn prayer of consecration. With this prayer he asks God
on behalf of the ordinand for the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit and for
the gifts of the Spirit proper to the ministry to which he is being ordained.
“In brief”
(CCC 1597) The sacrament of Holy Orders is conferred by the
laying on of hands followed by a solemn prayer of consecration asking God to
grant the ordinand the graces of the Holy Spirit required for his ministry.
Ordination imprints an indelible sacramental character.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1572) Given the importance that the ordination of a
bishop, a priest, or a deacon has for the life of the particular Church, its
celebration calls for as many of the faithful as possible to take part. It
should take place preferably on Sunday, in the cathedral, with solemnity
appropriate to the occasion. All three ordinations, of the bishop, of the priest,
and of the deacon, follow the same movement. Their proper place is within the
Eucharistic liturgy. (CCC 1573) The essential
rite of the sacrament of Holy Orders for all three degrees consists in the
bishop's imposition of hands on the head of the ordinand and in the bishop's
specific consecratory prayer asking God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
and his gifts proper to the ministry to which the candidate is being ordained
(Cf. Pius XII, apostolic constitution, Sacramentum
Ordinis: DS 3858).
Reflection
(CCC 1574) As in all the sacraments additional rites
surround the celebration. Varying greatly among the different liturgical
traditions, these rites have in common the expression of the multiple aspects
of sacramental grace. Thus in the Latin Church, the initial rites - presentation
and election of the ordinand, instruction by the bishop, examination of the
candidate, litany of the saints - attest that the choice of the candidate is
made in keeping with the practice of the Church and prepare for the solemn act
of consecration, after which several rites syrnbolically express and complete
the mystery accomplished: for bishop and priest, an anointing with holy chrism,
a sign of the special anointing of the Holy Spirit who makes their ministry
fruitful; giving the book of the Gospels, the ring, the miter, and the crosier
to the bishop as the sign of his apostolic mission to proclaim the Word of God,
of his fidelity to the Church, the bride of Christ, and his office as shepherd
of the Lord's flock; presentation to the priest of the paten and chalice,
"the offering of the holy people" which he is called to present to
God; giving the book of the Gospels to the deacon who has just received the
mission to proclaim the Gospel of Christ.
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