Holy Orders (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A) : Revision Note

Meaning of Holy Orders

• A sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace

• Holy Orders or ordination is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church

• This is the sacrament in which a person becomes a priest, deacon or bishop

• Holy Orders or ordination will only happen once in a person’s life for each of these positions

  • A person must become a deacon before being ordained as a priest

• Everyone is called by God to serve him in some way throughout their lives, but the call to be a priest is a call to commit completely to serving God for life

• In the sacrament of Holy Orders, a man will promise to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments, especially the Eucharist

• This follows the teachings of Jesus at the Last Supper when he told his followers to carry on the tradition of sharing bread and wine (the Eucharist) with the words:

• He will proclaim and teach the Gospel to the people he serves and will help them to achieve holiness

• There are signs, symbols and important words or actions in each sacrament. In Holy Orders these are:

  • The bishop leads the ceremony to show that the person is being sent out into the world to spread the Good News of Jesus, just as Jesus sent the apostles

  • The bishop lays his hands on the person’s head and anoints their hands with chrism : this is a sign that the power of the Holy Spirit will be with the person as they carry out their role

  • The bishop says a blessing: ‘Almighty Father, grant to this servant of yours the dignity of the priesthood’

Effects & Importance of Holy Orders

• The role of priesthood is central to the Catholic Church

• Priests make God present in people’s lives through their role in performing the sacraments and looking after the people of the Church

• Holy Orders is important because:

  • it is a total commitment by a person to a life of prayer and service: serving God and the Church

  • The person is given certain powers by receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders, such as

    • the power to pass on God’s forgiveness for people’s sins in the sacrament of reconciliation

    • the power to be able to consecrate the bread and wine at Mass

    • the authority to preach the Gospel

• Priests dedicate their lives to being servants of God and of the people and this is a huge commitment

  • A priest takes a promise of celibacy which means he commits himself to God rather than having a family, meaning that he is free to be available for the needs of others 

  • In doing this, he is following the example of Jesus, who also committed himself to a life of caring for others but not getting married or having a family

  • The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that this sacrament continues the work of Jesus in the world today: