Thursday, October 4, 2012
332. Who can confer this sacrament?
(Comp
332) Only validly ordained bishops, as successors of the apostles, can
confer the sacrament of Holy Orders.
“In brief”
(CCC 1600) It is bishops who confer the sacrament of Holy
Orders in the three degrees.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1575) Christ himself chose
the apostles and gave them a share in his mission and authority. Raised to the
Father's right hand, he has not forsaken his flock but he keeps it under his
constant protection through the apostles, and guides it still through these
same pastors who continue his work today (Cf. Roman Missal, Preface of the Apostles I). Thus, it is Christ whose
gift it is that some be apostles, others pastors. He continues to act through
the bishops (Cf. LG 21; Eph 4:11).
Reflection
(CCC 1576) Since the sacrament of
Holy Orders is the sacrament of the apostolic ministry, it is for the bishops
as the successors of the apostles to hand on the "gift of the Spirit"
(LG 21 § 2), the "apostolic line" (LG 20). Validly ordained bishops,
i.e., those who are in the line of apostolic succession, validly confer the
three degrees of the sacrament of Holy Orders (Cf. DS 794 and Cf. DS 802; CIC,
can. 1012; CCEO, can. 744; 747).
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