Chapter XV. Of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

Q. What do you mean by the sacrament of holy Orders?

A. A sacrament by which the ministers of Christ are consecrated to their sacred functions, and receive grace to discharge them well.

Q. How do you prove that holy Orders are a sacrament?

A. Because they are a visible sign of an invisible grace, and that by divine institution, or by the ordinance of Christ, which alone can annex the gift of grace to any outward rite or ceremony. The outward and visible sign is found in the imposition or laying on of the bishop's hands and prayer: after which sort we tind the seven deacons ordained. Acts vi. 6. and St. Paul and St. Barnabas, Acts xiii. 3. The invisible grace, conferred by this imposition of hands, is attested, 2 Tim. i. 6. 'Stir up the grace of God, which is in thee by the imposition of hands.' And the divine institution of holy Orders is gathered, as well from the use of the Apostles, and the perpetual tradition of the church, as from those texts in which Christ bequeathed the whole power of the priesthood to his disciples, and to their successors, St. Luke xxii. 19. 'Do this in remembrance of me;' and St. John xx. 22. 23. 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.'

Q. By what steps do persons ascend in the Ca* tholic church to the Order of Priesthood?

A. First, they must be initiated by the clerical tonsure, which is not properly an Order, but only a preparation for Orders. The bishop cuts off the extremities of their hair, to signify their renouncing the world, and its vanities; and he revests them with a surplice, and so receives them into the clergy; they making at the same time a so» lemn profession of taking the Lord for their inweritance and portion for ever.

Secondly, they must pass through the minor or lesser orders, which have been received from the primitive Church, viz. the Orders of porter or door-keeper of the church; lector, or reader of the lessons in the divine office: exorcist, whose function is to read the exorcisms and prayers of the church over those who are possessed or obsessed by the devil; and acolyth, whose function is to serve the Mass, light the candles in the church, &c. All these are ordained by receiving from the bishop the instruments or books belonging to their respective offices, and solemn prayers prescribed in the Pontifical.

Thirdly, from the minor orders they are promoted to the order of sub-deacon, which is the first of those that are called holy. In the conferring this order, the bishop puts the candidates in mind, that hitherto they have had their liberty to quit the ecclesiastical calling, and engage themselves by marriage in the world; but if they will be ordained sub-deacons, which he leaves to their choice, they are thereby tied for ever to the ser* vice of God and his church in the state of perpetual continence. Sub-deacons also are obliged to Jhe canonical hours of the church-office; and in the High-Mass assist the deacon in his ministry.

Fourthly, from the Order of sub-deacon they are advanced to the Order of deacon, which is conferred upon them by the imposition of the bishop's hands, and by delivering to them the book of the gospels. The deacon's office is to assist the bishop or priest in the sacrifice of the Mass, to sing and preach the gospels, to baptize, &;c.

Fifthly, from the Order of deacon the next ascent is to the Order of priest, or presbyter, above which is the Order of bishops, amongst whom the chief is called the Pope.

Q. In what manner is the Order of priesthood administered?

A, The person that is to be ordained is presented to the bishop by the arch-deacon, desiring, in the name of the church, that he may be promoted to priesthood, and bearing testimony of his being worthy of that office. Then the bishop publishes to the clergy and people there present the designed promotion, that if any one has any thing to allege against the person that is to be ordained, he may freely declare it. If no one appears to allege any thing against him, the bishop proceeds to admonish him of the duties and functions of the priesthood, and to exhort him to a diligent discharge thereof. After which, both the bishop and the person that is to be ordained, prostrate themselves in prayer, whilst the litanies are sung or said by the choir or clergy there present; which being ended, the bishop stands up, and the person that is to be ordained kneeling, the bishop first, and then all the priests there present, one after another, lay both their hands on his head, which imposition of hands is immediately followed by the solemn prayers of consecration, and by revesting him with the priestly ornaments; then the Holy Ghost is invoked by the hymn, Veni Creator. After which the bishop anoints the hands of the person ordained, and then delivers into his hands the chalice with the wine and water, and the paten with the bread, saying, "Receive the power to offer sacrifice to God, and celebrate Mass, as well for the living as for the dead, in the name of the Lord." Then the person ordained says Mass with the bishop, and receives the holy communion at his hands. At the end of the Mass the bishop again imposes his hand upon him, saying those words of Christ: St. John xi. 22, 23. 'Receive the Holy Ghost: whose sins thou shalt forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins thou shalt retain, they are retained.' After which he receives from him the promise of obedience, and gives him the kiss of peace.