In the Roman Catholic Church, there is a belief that Jesus Christ, Son of God, instituted and entrusted seven holy sacraments. These Sacraments are rituals and rites that are viewed as the way God the Father channels his grace for believers in the proper disposition. These Seven Sacraments are one of the fundamental beliefs in the Roman Catholic Religion and are taught in early Catechism. The Seven Sacraments are taught to younger Catholics at an earlier time so that they are able to understand their greater significance to the whole religion. These sacraments are divided into three categories: as sacraments of initiation (of becoming part of the church), sacraments of healing (from sin), and the sacraments of service. The Seven Sacraments consist of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist for the sacrament of initiation. The sacraments of healing consist of Holy Confession or Penance and the Anointing of the Sick. Lastly, the Sacraments of Service include the Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony.
All members of the Holy Catholic Church starts are welcomed through the right of Baptism and then confirmed by the aptly named sacrament of Confirmation. However, if somebody wants to serve the Holy Church, then they must be ordained as a priest through the Holy Order Sacrament. Entering the priesthood is not an easy undertaking. It is a vocation, and somebody who wants to enter into it must be dedicated. Education is also needed to become a priest, and those who wish to become priests enter a seminary. These seminarians are required to study many things, from philosophy to scripture and even theology. As such, they will need study materials like the Catholic Priesthood by Bevil Bramwell. Even then, when a seminarian finishes his studies, he will have to serve as a deacon. Roughly speaking, it takes about five years after graduating from the seminary before someone is ordained as a priest.
The Sacrament of the Holy Orders
The Sacrament of the Holy Orders is basically the vow by which a Catholic man vows to become a leader of other Catholics. Priests cannot ordain other priests. The Holy Orders is a sacrament that can only be ministered by a bishop, the highest rank a priest can attain in the Holy Catholic Church. When a deacon becomes a priest, he is granted the power to administer some sacraments. A newly ordained priest is able to perform the Rite of Mass or the Rite of the Holy Eucharist. He is also able to perform baptisms, minister marriages, hear confessions and give absolutions, as well as to anoint those who are dying. Basically, the only sacrament a priest cannot minister is to ordain other priests. Though a priest may witness or preside over the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, he is not allowed to receive it as Roman Catholic Priests practice a vow of celibacy. This vow does not bar and prevent widowed or formerly married men from becoming priests.
The Rite of Ordination
The rite or ceremony of the priesthood is among the oldest that is practiced in the Catholic Church. Ordination of priests usually happens during the Holy Mass. It begins after the reading of the gospel. A deacon calls forward the priest candidates and presents them to the assembly. They are then interrogated. These priests then promise to perform diligently the duties of priesthood. They are also told to respect and obey their ordinary (a bishop or religious superior).
The candidates then lay down or prostrate before the altar as a sign of humility and supplication. Meanwhile, those present in the ceremony kneel and pray to help the priest candidates by singing the Litany of the Saints. The most essential act in the ordination then happens after. The bishop ordaining the priests lays his hands on the candidates. Other priests will follow this laying of hands after the bishop. Then, the bishops offered a consecratory prayer to the priests and offered to God. This is very important because it is believed that the Holy Spirit goes down from heaven and blesses all those who are present. After this, the deacon is officially ordained as a priest.
The conclusion of the rite of the newly ordained priest will vary depending on each country. In Spain, people approach the new priest to kiss their hand, while in Italy and Germany, the faithful approach the newly ordained priest to receive their blessing.
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