Saturday, September 22, 2012
323. Why is this sacrament called Holy Orders?
(Comp
323) Orders designates an ecclesial body into which one enters by means
of a special consecration (ordination). Through a special gift of the Holy
Spirit, this sacrament enables the ordained to exercise a sacred power in the
name and with the authority of Christ for the service of the People of God.
“In brief”
(CCC 1534) Two other sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony,
are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to
personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They
confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of
God.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1537) The word order
in Roman antiquity designated an established civil body, especially a governing
body. Ordinatio means incorporation
into an ordo. In the Church there are
established bodies which Tradition, not without a basis in Sacred Scripture
(Cf. Heb 5:6; 7:11; Ps 110:4), has since ancient times called taxeis (Greek) or ordines. And so the liturgy speaks of the ordo episcoporum, the ordo
presbyterorum, the ordo diaconorum.
Other groups also receive this name of ordo:
catechumens, virgins, spouses, widows,...
Reflection
(CCC 1538) Integration into one of these bodies in the
Church was accomplished by a rite called ordinatio,
a religious and liturgical act which was a consecration, a blessing or a
sacrament. Today the word "ordination"
is reserved for the sacramental act which integrates a man into the order of
bishops, presbyters, or deacons, and goes beyond a simple election, designation, delegation, or institution by the community, for it confers a gift of the Holy
Spirit that permits the exercise of a "sacred power" (sacra potestas) (Cf. LG 10) which can
come only from Christ himself through his Church. Ordination is also called consecratio, for it is a setting apart
and an investiture by Christ himself for his Church. The laying on of hands by the bishop, with the consecratory prayer, constitutes
the visible sign of this ordination.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment