CatholicTheology.info

Choose a topic from Part 3 Suppl:

• Penance (Continued)
• Extreme Unction
• Order (Holy Orders)
  • 34. The Sacrament of Orders
  • 35. The Effect of the Sacrament of Orders
  • 36. Qualities in Those to be Ordained
  • 37. The Distinction of Orders: The Character
  • 38. The Minister of Holy Orders
  • 39. The Impediments to Orders
  • 40. Matters Pertinent to the Sacrament of Orders
• Matrimony
• The General Resurrection
• The Last Things
• Appendix I (The Innocents in Limbo)
• Appendix II (Two Notes on Purgatory)

35. The Effect of the Sacrament of Orders

1. The sacrament of orders confers sanctifying grace, asall sacraments do. And it is notably suitable that the sacramentwhich empowers a person to confect and dispense the sacraments asmeans of grace should itself bring grace to its recipient.

2. Since any sacred order which pertains to the sacramentof orders (that is, episcopate, priesthood, diaconate) sets a manin a place ofpower with reference to the dispensing of thesacraments, it marks him for this duty by an indelible characterimpressed upon his soul.

3. The character of orders presupposes the baptismalcharacter as already on the soul. It is the character impressed bybaptism that renders a person capable of receiving the othersacraments.

4. The character of orders does not, of necessity,presuppose the character imprinted in the soul by confirmation. Butit is most suitable that confirmation be received before orders areconferred; for a man should come to ordination with all perfectionshe can manage to receive. Therefore, the Church requires that thecandidate for orders be confirmed before he presents himself forordination.

5. The character of orders is impressed as the sacramentis received, without dependence on the proper sequence ofordinations. Thus, if a man were to be ordained priest withouthaving first been ordained deacon, his priesthood would be valid.But the order of deaconship would be supplied by the properordination. The Church requires, however, that orders be receivedin due succession.

"To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself. "
Thomas á Kempis

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"God commands not impossibilities, but by commanding he suggests to you to do what you can, to ask for what is beyond your strength; and he helps you, that you may be able."
St Augustine

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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God. "
Thomas á Kempis

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