Course 2, Chapter 45: Of union with our Lord, the new Adam, by Communion — Sacrament of Holy Orders continued

1. Which is the first of the minor orders?

The first of the minor orders, which is given after the ceremony of tonsure, is the order of doorkeeper, or porter.

2. What are its duties?

In the first ages it was the duty of the doorkeeper to open the church, keep it clean, maintain or der and announce the hours of prayer and the offices. All the ceremonies at the ordination of door-keeper are indicative of his several duties.

3. Which is the second of the minor orders? I The second of the minor orders is that of lector, G! ender. It was the duty of the lector to read the Scripture to the people in the church. For this reasoji, the bishop, in ordaining lectors, puts in their hand the book of the Epistles.

4. Which is the third?

The third of the minor orders is that of exorcist, who is appointed to exorcise the catechumens, and deliver the possessed who were very numerous when the church commenced, as we learn from the gospel and from the fathers. In their ordination the bishop makes the exorcists touch the missal, as it is by the word of God that they are enabled to cast out devils.

5. Which is the fourth?

The fourth of the minor orders is that of acolyte, which signifies one who follows or accompanies, because it was the duty of the acolyte always to accompany the bishop and serve him at the altar. For this reason, in the ordination of acolytes, the bishop makes them touch an empty cruet, and hold in their hand a candlestick with a lighted candle.

6. Which is the first of the holy orders?

The first of the holy orders is that of subdeacon. Subdeacons, formerly, were the secretaries of the bishops, who employed them in their negotiations, in distributing alms, and in the care of their temporalities.

7. What are their duties at the present day?

Their duties are now reduced to waiting on the deacon at the altar. Before their ordination the subdeacons prostrate themselves in front of the altar, in order to show that they renounce the world for ever and consecrate themselves to the service of God and the church.

8. Which is the second of the holy orders?

The second of the holy orders is the deaconship. The deacons were ordained by the apostles themselves to watch over the wants of the poor, to baptize, preach, and administer the Eucharist to the faithful. During the time of persecution they were charged to visit the confessors and martyrs in their prisons, and provide for their wants.

Q IVhat are their duties now?

A The deacons now wait on the priest and the

232 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

bishop at the altar, sing the gospel, and present the bread and wine for consecration. Before their ordination, they prostrate themselves, as the subdeaeons. to show anew their renunciation of the world.

9. Which is the third of the holy orders?

The third of the holy orders is the priesthood. The duties of the priest have always been and still are to offer the holy sacrifice, to preside at the meetings of the faithful, to preach the word of God, to bless the people, to baptize and to administer the sacraments.

10. What act do they perform before their ordination?

Before their ordination, priests, like deacons and subdeacons, prostrate themselves before the altar. Before we are made Christians we three times renounce the devil; before they are ordained, priests three times renounce the world, to show that they are perfectly consecrated to the service of Jesus Christ and the faithful.

11. W7hat are the social advantages of the sacrament of holy orders?

Society owes every thing to the sacrament of holy orders; for there is no society without religion, no religion without priests, and no priests without the sacrament of holy orders.