(a) Anointing of the Sick and (b) Holy Orders
Read Lesson 34: Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders in the St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism Book #2
For this week’s sacramental learning lesson we will cover 2 sacraments. This is a hearty lesson and if you prefer you can break it up into separate lessons, this is why we have it titled 11a and 11b. We are combining them here to best correspond with the Baltimore Catechism book #2 lessons and keep pace with our 30 weeks of catechism lessons in our Family Faith Formation program. For lesson 11a on Anointing of the Sick see our previous post also dated the same lesson date.
“Becoming a priest or a man or woman religious is not primarily our own decision…. Rather it is the response to a call and to a call of love.” – Pope Francis, Address to Seminarians and Novices, July 6, 2013
Lesson 11b: Holy Orders
A Sacrament is a visible sign of God’s presence in our lives, in the Church, and in our world. Holy Orders is one of the two sacraments of Commitment, Matrimony being the second. Holy Orders and Matrimony are sacraments at the service of communion “directed towards the salvation of others” with the purpose of service “to build up the people of God”. (Catechism, No. 1534)
Holy Orders is a sacrament of commitment where the task of ordained ministers is to serve in the name and in the person of Christ the Head in the community. The priest serves in persona Christi, Latin for “in the person of Christ.” Christ takes over his very being, and in his humble, loving service, he is the visible presence of Christ in the community.
Holy Orders is the only sacrament reserved for men. Sorry ladies, of the 7 sacraments, this is the only one women are not permitted to receive. While this lesson is going to focus on Holy Orders we have placed information at the end of this lesson regarding women in religious life. Since we are learning about the vocation of Holy Orders we should make an effort to introduce ways the next generations may be called to the vocations of consecrated life, including women. Because many of us may have only daughters it is important to teach our children about vocations available to women. In addition we have included information about Monastic life as there is a an additional path of religious life for men too. All this is not meant to take away from the Holy Orders, rather to discuss the many ways Catholics will discern their vocation.
Watch: Why are Catholic Priests Male? The Sacrament of Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1536
Why do we call it Holy Orders? We say these are “holy” because it has a sacred character and is “ordered” because it is structured. The three degrees of ordination give “holy order” to the Church. Holy Orders are tiered with increasing levels of responsibility. Only two degrees share the ministerial priesthood, bishops and priests. Priests are co-workers of the bishops, while deacons assist priests. These roles are structured to offer balanced support within the Church by which ordained ministers exercise their service for the people through pastoral governance.
Watch: Holy Orders (Aquinas 101) – Fr. Dominic Langevin, O.P.
There are 3 degrees of ordination.
- Episcopate: Bishops can perform every priestly function because he possesses the fullness of Holy Orders. They are leaders of church communities called dioceses. The church of a bishop is called a cathedral and his office the chancery.
- Presbyterate: Priests can offer Mass and hear confessions, baptize, confirm, witness marriage, anoint the sick, bury the dead, but cannot ordain.
- Diaconate: Deacons* (transitional and permanent) can preach and baptize, but cannot offer Mass or hear confessions.
*There are two types: Transitional Deacons are on their way to priesthood. Permanent Deacons will remain a deacon for the duration of their life. More about Deacons: A widowed Permanent Deacon, meaning a Deacon who is married and serves his Church is then widowed, is not permitted to remarry. By taking on his sacrament of Holy Orders he is bound to the canonical conditions of celibacy. In rare circumstances a Permanent Deacon may be permitted to continue his education and become a priest. This rare circumstance is decided by the Bishop and takes into consideration many reasons, such as ages of his children, and why a particular Permanent Deacon would benefit the Diocese by being ordained a Priest. Read an article by Cynthia Perez about how Fr. Avagliano began as a Deacon and became a priest. Widowed Deacon in Argentina Ordained a Priest, from the Catholic News Agency. The important thing to remember here is that the vocation of the Permanent Deacon is not to be a stepping stone to priesthood.
We find scriptural foundations for the priesthood in the Old Testament with Melchizedek. In Genesis 14:18 we read that Melchizedek, a king and “priest of God most high” first offered to the Lord bread and wine in the presence of Abraham foreshadowing of the Eucharist. (See The Meal of Melchizedek from Scott Hahn, EWTN) For more scriptural references see below.
The elements of this sacrament include:
- Penitential Prayer
- Liturgy of the Word or short reading from Scripture
- Priest lays hands on the sick person, usually on their head.
- Anointing with the Blessed Oil of the Infirm on the forehead and hands saying the prayer:
“Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”
Rabbit Hole: Priest Chalice. Did you know that the most important thing to a priest is his personal Chalice? This holy cup is as dear to a priest as a wedding ring is to a husband. This is the chalice each priest will carry with him during his priesthood.
Read: Chalice Stories: Every Priest has a Vocation as Unique as the Cup He uses to Consecrate the Blood of Christ
Assignment: Write a letter to a priest or a deacon and do a family prayer for Vocations. See this Prayers for Vocations page from the USSCB to choose a prayer to say together as a family.
Option 1.)Ask your priest or deacon about their journey to discovering their vocation. How did they hear the calling? How long did it take for them to complete their studies and receive their Holy Orders? Where did they go to school? Which Diocese? How did they manage this process? (Permanent Deacons are often married men, how did they balance their time etc.? )
Option 2.) Ask your priest to tell you his story about his Chalice. How did he choose? What does it look like? Are there any significant heirlooms that have been added to the Chalice?
Parents: Prayerfully consider your children and their vocations. When the time comes will you be supportive of your sons who are called to the priesthood? In this line of thought regarding your daughters. Will you be supportive of your daughters who may be called to the religious life? Ask yourself how can I be supportive of nephews? Will I encourage them? How can I be supportive of other young men who may be called to this vocation?
Additional Resources about Religious Life:
Consecrated Life for Women: Discerning Women, How to Become a Nun, When God Calls a Woman to Consecrated Life
Monastic Life for Men: Becoming a Monk, A Day in the Life of a Monk
**** Family Faith Formation November 14, 2023 Sacramental Lesson week: Enter by the Narrow Gate*****
Scriptural References:
Numbers 3:5-10 Aaron and Levites chosen for priestly service
Exodus 29 and Leviticus 8 Ordination ritual
1 Timothy 2:5 Priesthood of the First Covenant
As set by Christ in: Luke 22:19, John 20:21, John 20:22, Matthew 28:19,20, John 21:15,16 Acts 1:8
References:
The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism No. 2 Lesson 34 Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders, pp 209-215. Catholic Book Publishing Corp. 2011.
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults Holy Orders, pp. 289-303. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Washington, D.C. 2006
Holy Orders https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/holy-orders
Vocations https://www.usccb.org/committees/clergy-consecrated-life-vocations/vocations
The Small Pencil Catechist 