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September 20, 2005
Ch. XXIX. Q. 154. What is Holy Order?
HOLY ORDER is is the Sacrament by which a person is set apart and receives power and grace for the Office and work of a Minister of the Church. It is also called Ordination. It must be distinguished from election or the choice of a fit person to be ordained.1
2. The matter of Order is the laying on of hands by the Minister, as is clear from the example of the Apostles 2 and many canons. In fact, the Sacrament was frequently called "the imposition of hands,'' Χειροτονια, by ancient Greek writers. The delivery of the Chalice and Paten in the ordination of Priests is not a part of the matter, but an edifying ceremony, confined to the West and unknown in primitive ages.3
3. The form of Order is a prayer accompanying the laying on of hands, which determines the adaptation of the outward sign. otherwise employed4, to this Sacrament.5 The phraseology of the form varies in different parts of the Church, and has varied from age to age. It is sufficient if the form is duly authorized by proper ecclesiastical authority and declares or clearly implies the significance of the matter.6
4. The Minister is a bishop, since he is the highest officer, Eπiokoπos, in the Church and has alone received the power both of exercising the functions of the Ministry and of transmitting them to others.7 The Canons of the Church require that at least three Bishops shall unite in the consecration of a Bishop; but this is simply for greater security in perpetuating the Apostolic Succession and for edification. One Bishop is sufficient for validity, although not so for regularity.8
5. Three Sacred Orders of Deacons, Priests and Bishops, are to be distinguished in the Ministry of the Church.9 The Church requires that a person shall be ordained to each Order separately and in the order named. Yet if any one is ordained Bishop at once, per saltum, without having passed through the lower Orders, called interstitia, the Ordination is considered to be valid, however irregular, since the character and functions of the Episcopate include those of the Diaconate and Priesthood.10 The Minor Orders, so called, e.g., of Subdeacon, Acolyte, etc., are of human arrangement and not sacramental.11
6. The subject of this Sacrament must be of the male sex12, and must have been baptized. A woman or an unbaptized person lacks the sacramental capacity to receive the character and grace of Order. For the sake of congruity and regularity, the subject should have been confirmed; but the character of Confirmation is contained in that of Order, so that the omission of Confirmation does not appear to invalidate the Sacrament of Order. Neither ignorance nor mortal sin in the subject can invalidate this Sacrament (Q.142. 4). Yet they interfere with his ability to discharge the functions of his Ministry in an edifying manner; and either to receive this Sacrament or to exercise the functions of the Ministry in a state of mortal sin involves the further guilt of presumption.13
1 Grueber's Catechism on Holy Order: Palmer on the Church, Pt. VI: Schouppe, Tr. XVI: Forbes' 39 Arts., XXV. 461-463: Bp. Garrett, in N.Y. Church Club Lec. of 1892: S. Thos. Sum. Th., III. 34-40: Denton's Grace of Order: Cat. of Nic. Bulgaris, 10, 11, 13, 18-24: Martene, De Ritibus, lib. I. cap. VIII: Elmendorf's Elem. Moral Theol., 610-619.
2 Acts VI, 6: I. Tim. IV. 14: V. 22: II. Tim. I. 6
3 Grueber, 86-104: S. Thos., III. sup. 34. 5: Palmer, VI. viii: Percival's Digest, 153: Schouppe, XVI. 74-84: Nic. Bulgaris, 13.
4 cf. Qq. 145. 2: 157. 2: also Acts VIII. 17: XIX. 6: S. James V. 14
5 Acts VI. 6
6 Grueber, 105-116: S. Thos., III. sup. 34.4: Nic. Bulgaris, 18: Palmer, VI. viii: Percival, 153, 154: Forbes' 39 Arts., XXXVI.
7 cf. Tit. I. 5: also Q. 131. 3, 4. Palmer, VI. iv: S. Thos., III. sup. 38: Grueber, 53-69: Schouppe, XVI. 69-73: Pearson, Min. Theol. Works, Vol. II. 287-290.
8 Grueber, 71-80: Palmer, VI. v: Percival, 155: Martene, art. 5.
9 S. Thos., III. sup. 37.1-3: 40. 4, 5: Palmer, VI. i-iii: Schouppe, III. 140-157:XVI. 29-67 :Pearson's Min. Theol. Works, VoI. I. 271-286: Conc. ad Clerum VI: Moehler's Symbolism, § 43: Nic. Bulgaris, 18-20.
10 Grueber, 18-20: Percival, 156, 157: S. Thos., III. sup. 35.5.
11 S. Thos. III. sup. 37. 1, 2: Palmer, VI. iii. app: Grueber, 146-150: Schouppe, XVI. 39-43, 64-66: Nic. Bulgaris, 20, 21: Martene, art. 1.
12 I. Cor. XIV. 34, 35
13 Palmer, VI. vii: S. Thos., III. sup. 35, 3, 4: 36. 1-3: 39: Schouppe, XVI. 85-87.
Posted by Trevor at September 20, 2005 11:10 AM