{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:23:29+00:00","modifiedTime":"2020-02-04T19:41:43+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:17:31+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34038"},"slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Religion & Spirituality","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34202"},"slug":"religion-spirituality","categoryId":34202},{"name":"Christianity","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34206"},"slug":"christianity","categoryId":34206},{"name":"Catholicism","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34208"},"slug":"catholicism","categoryId":34208}],"title":"The Catholic Sacrament of Holy Orders","strippedTitle":"the catholic sacrament of holy orders","slug":"the-catholic-sacrament-of-holy-orders","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Catholic men who \"take Holy Orders\" receive a special sacrament called Holy Orders, which creates the hierarchy of deacon, priest, and bishop. These men (who ar","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Catholic men who \"take Holy Orders\" receive a special sacrament called <i>Holy Orders,</i> which creates the hierarchy of deacon, priest, and bishop. These men (who are ordained by a bishop by means of that sacrament) serve the spiritual needs of others in the Catholic Church.\r\n\r\nA baptized man must first be ordained a deacon before being ordained a priest and ordained a priest before being ordained a bishop. So every priest and every bishop has experienced the Sacrament of Holy Orders more than once, but he experiences ordination to each level only once.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">One of the primary functions of deacons, priests, and bishops is to administer the sacred rites of the Church to God’s people:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Bishops</b> are said to have the “fullness of the priesthood,” because they alone have the authority to offer all seven sacraments — Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist, <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/religion/christianity/catholicism/the-catholic-sacrament-of-confirmation/\">Confirmation</a>, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Priests</b> have the power and authority to celebrate five — Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist (Mass), Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Deacons</b> can celebrate Baptism and Matrimony, provided that it’s a wedding without a Nuptial Mass.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThe Sacrament of Holy Orders doesn’t make a man a Church aristocrat, but it does confer the dignity of the sacrament, and that entails the obligation to obey the Pope and be of service to the people of God. Pastors are to see their role as shepherds who love and know their sheep.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">A man can retire from the active ministry or be forced to leave if he misbehaves, but no deacon, priest, or bishop can ever have his Holy Orders taken away from him.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Being <i>defrocked</i> is involuntary and is imposed as a punishment for committing crime or scandal.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>Laicization</i> is at the request of the cleric who wishes to be relieved of his obligations of celibacy and no longer wants to celebrate his sacred ministry.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBoth actions have the same effect: Defrocked and laicized priests can’t wear the Roman collar, be called “Father,” or publicly celebrate the sacraments. All requests for laicization must go to Rome, and only the Vatican can approve them.","description":"Catholic men who \"take Holy Orders\" receive a special sacrament called <i>Holy Orders,</i> which creates the hierarchy of deacon, priest, and bishop. These men (who are ordained by a bishop by means of that sacrament) serve the spiritual needs of others in the Catholic Church.\r\n\r\nA baptized man must first be ordained a deacon before being ordained a priest and ordained a priest before being ordained a bishop. So every priest and every bishop has experienced the Sacrament of Holy Orders more than once, but he experiences ordination to each level only once.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">One of the primary functions of deacons, priests, and bishops is to administer the sacred rites of the Church to God’s people:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Bishops</b> are said to have the “fullness of the priesthood,” because they alone have the authority to offer all seven sacraments — Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist, <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/religion/christianity/catholicism/the-catholic-sacrament-of-confirmation/\">Confirmation</a>, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Priests</b> have the power and authority to celebrate five — Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist (Mass), Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Deacons</b> can celebrate Baptism and Matrimony, provided that it’s a wedding without a Nuptial Mass.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThe Sacrament of Holy Orders doesn’t make a man a Church aristocrat, but it does confer the dignity of the sacrament, and that entails the obligation to obey the Pope and be of service to the people of God. Pastors are to see their role as shepherds who love and know their sheep.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">A man can retire from the active ministry or be forced to leave if he misbehaves, but no deacon, priest, or bishop can ever have his Holy Orders taken away from him.</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Being <i>defrocked</i> is involuntary and is imposed as a punishment for committing crime or scandal.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>Laicization</i> is at the request of the cleric who wishes to be relieved of his obligations of celibacy and no longer wants to celebrate his sacred ministry.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBoth actions have the same effect: Defrocked and laicized priests can’t wear the Roman collar, be called “Father,” or publicly celebrate the sacraments. All requests for laicization must go to Rome, and only the Vatican can approve them.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34208,"title":"Catholicism","slug":"catholicism","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34208"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":172026,"title":"Repurposing Items for Beautiful Holiday Decorating","slug":"decorating-for-the-holidays-with-what-you-already-have","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","crafts","gifts-holidays"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/172026"}},{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":193770,"title":"How to Play Rummy: All You Need to Know","slug":"rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/193770"}},{"articleId":153792,"title":"Format Numbers in Thousands and Millions in Excel Reports","slug":"format-numbers-in-thousands-and-millions-in-excel-reports","categoryList":["technology","software","microsoft-products","excel"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/153792"}},{"articleId":147241,"title":"How to Use the Z-Table","slug":"how-to-use-the-z-table","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","math","statistics"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/147241"}}],"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":235898,"title":"10 Famous Catholics","slug":"10-famous-catholics","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235898"}},{"articleId":235895,"title":"11 Popular Catholic Saints","slug":"11-popular-catholic-saints","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235895"}},{"articleId":235892,"title":"Famous Martyrs of the Roman Persecutions","slug":"famous-martyrs-roman-persecutions","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235892"}},{"articleId":235889,"title":"Catholicism in Ancient Times (A.D. 33–741)","slug":"catholicism-ancient-times-d-33-741","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235889"}},{"articleId":235886,"title":"Catholicism in the Time of Charlemagne","slug":"catholicism-time-charlemagne","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235886"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":true,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282064,"slug":"catholicism-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119855712","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119855713/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119855713/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119855713-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119855713/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119855713/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/catholicism-fd-4e-9781119855712.jpg","width":250,"height":350},"title":"Catholicism For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><p><b>Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD,</b> is President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and a member of the faculty at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.</p> <p><b>Rev. Fr. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD,</b> is co-host with Father Trigilio of a weekly television program on EWTN called <i>Web of Faith</i>. With Father Trigilio, he is the co-author of previous editions of <i>Catholicism For Dummies</i>. <p><b>Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD,</b> is President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and a member of the faculty at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.</p> <p><b>Rev. Fr. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD,</b> is co-host with Father Trigilio of a weekly television program on EWTN called <i>Web of Faith</i>. With Father Trigilio, he is the co-author of previous editions of <i>Catholicism For Dummies</i>.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":35455,"name":"Rev. John Trigilio, Jr.","slug":"rev-john-trigilio,-jr","description":" <p><b>Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD,</b> is President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and a member of the faculty at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.</p> <p><b>Rev. Fr. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD,</b> is co-host with Father Trigilio of a weekly television program on EWTN called <i>Web of Faith</i>. With Father Trigilio, he is the co-author of previous editions of <i>Catholicism For Dummies</i>. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35455"}},{"authorId":9014,"name":"Rev. Kenneth Brighenti","slug":"rev-kenneth-brighenti","description":" <p><b>Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD,</b> is President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and a member of the faculty at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.</p> <p><b>Rev. Fr. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD,</b> is co-host with Father Trigilio of a weekly television program on EWTN called <i>Web of Faith</i>. With Father Trigilio, he is the co-author of previous editions of <i>Catholicism For Dummies</i>. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9014"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/282064"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{"key":"cat","values":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"]},{"key":"isbn","values":[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221abbea270\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{"key":"cat","values":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"]},{"key":"isbn","values":[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221abbeab2b\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":null,"lifeExpectancySetFrom":null,"dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":192619},"articleLoadedStatus":"success"},"listState":{"list":{},"objectTitle":"","status":"initial","pageType":null,"objectId":null,"page":1,"sortField":"time","sortOrder":1,"categoriesIds":[],"articleTypes":[],"filterData":{},"filterDataLoadedStatus":"initial","pageSize":10},"adsState":{"pageScripts":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2024-11-22T05:50:01+00:00"},"adsId":0,"data":{"scripts":[{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script src=\"https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/10563184655.js\"></script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script>var _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1: \"2\", c2: \"15097263\" });(function() {var s = document.createElement(\"script\"), el = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0]; s.async = true;s.src = (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();</script><noscript><img src=\"https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=15097263&cv=2.0&cj=1\" /></noscript>\r\n","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n<script type='text/javascript'>\r\n(function(){var g=function(e,h,f,g){\r\nthis.get=function(a){for(var a=a+\"=\",c=document.cookie.split(\";\"),b=0,e=c.length;b<e;b++){for(var d=c[b];\" \"==d.charAt(0);)d=d.substring(1,d.length);if(0==d.indexOf(a))return d.substring(a.length,d.length)}return null};\r\nthis.set=function(a,c){var b=\"\",b=new Date;b.setTime(b.getTime()+6048E5);b=\"; expires=\"+b.toGMTString();document.cookie=a+\"=\"+c+b+\"; path=/; \"};\r\nthis.check=function(){var a=this.get(f);if(a)a=a.split(\":\");else if(100!=e)\"v\"==h&&(e=Math.random()>=e/100?0:100),a=[h,e,0],this.set(f,a.join(\":\"));else return!0;var c=a[1];if(100==c)return!0;switch(a[0]){case \"v\":return!1;case \"r\":return c=a[2]%Math.floor(100/c),a[2]++,this.set(f,a.join(\":\")),!c}return!0};\r\nthis.go=function(){if(this.check()){var a=document.createElement(\"script\");a.type=\"text/javascript\";a.src=g;document.body&&document.body.appendChild(a)}};\r\nthis.start=function(){var t=this;\"complete\"!==document.readyState?window.addEventListener?window.addEventListener(\"load\",function(){t.go()},!1):window.attachEvent&&window.attachEvent(\"onload\",function(){t.go()}):t.go()};};\r\ntry{(new g(100,\"r\",\"QSI_S_ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\",\"https://zn5o5yqpvmvjgdoun-wiley.siteintercept.qualtrics.com/SIE/?Q_ZID=ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\")).start()}catch(i){}})();\r\n</script><div id='ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN'></div>\r\n","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script>\r\n (function(h,o,t,j,a,r){\r\n h.hj=h.hj||function(){(h.hj.q=h.hj.q||[]).push(arguments)};\r\n h._hjSettings={hjid:257151,hjsv:6};\r\n a=o.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];\r\n r=o.createElement('script');r.async=1;\r\n r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv;\r\n a.appendChild(r);\r\n })(window,document,'https://static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-','.js?sv=');\r\n</script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["article"],"location":"header","script":" <script src=\"//get.s-onetag.com/bffe21a1-6bb8-4928-9449-7beadb468dae/tag.min.js\" async defer></script>","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage"],"location":"header","script":"<meta name=\"facebook-domain-verification\" content=\"irk8y0irxf718trg3uwwuexg6xpva0\" />","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage","article","category","search"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n<noscript>\r\n<img height=\"1\" width=\"1\" src=\"https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=256338321977984&ev=PageView&noscript=1\"/>\r\n</noscript>\r\n","enabled":true}]}},"pageScriptsLoadedStatus":"success"},"navigationState":{"navigationCollections":[{"collectionId":287568,"title":"BYOB (Be Your Own Boss)","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-entry-level-entrepreneur-287568"},{"collectionId":293237,"title":"Be a Rad Dad","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/be-the-best-dad-293237"},{"collectionId":295890,"title":"Career Shifting","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/career-shifting-295890"},{"collectionId":294090,"title":"Contemplating the Cosmos","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/theres-something-about-space-294090"},{"collectionId":287563,"title":"For Those Seeking Peace of Mind","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-those-seeking-peace-of-mind-287563"},{"collectionId":287570,"title":"For the Aspiring Aficionado","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-bougielicious-287570"},{"collectionId":291903,"title":"For the Budding Cannabis Enthusiast","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-budding-cannabis-enthusiast-291903"},{"collectionId":299891,"title":"For the College Bound","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-college-bound-299891"},{"collectionId":291934,"title":"For the Exam-Season Crammer","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-exam-season-crammer-291934"},{"collectionId":301547,"title":"For the Game Day Prepper","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/big-game-day-prep-made-easy-301547"}],"navigationCollectionsLoadedStatus":"success","navigationCategories":{"books":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/books/level-0-category-0"}},"articles":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/articles/level-0-category-0"}}},"navigationCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"searchState":{"searchList":[],"searchStatus":"initial","relatedArticlesList":[],"relatedArticlesStatus":"initial"},"routeState":{"name":"Article4","path":"/article/body-mind-spirit/religion-spirituality/christianity/catholicism/the-catholic-sacrament-of-holy-orders-192619/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{"category1":"body-mind-spirit","category2":"religion-spirituality","category3":"christianity","category4":"catholicism","article":"the-catholic-sacrament-of-holy-orders-192619"},"fullPath":"/article/body-mind-spirit/religion-spirituality/christianity/catholicism/the-catholic-sacrament-of-holy-orders-192619/","meta":{"routeType":"article","breadcrumbInfo":{"suffix":"Articles","baseRoute":"/category/articles"},"prerenderWithAsyncData":true},"from":{"name":null,"path":"/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{},"fullPath":"/","meta":{}}},"dropsState":{"submitEmailResponse":false,"status":"initial"},"profileState":{"auth":{},"userOptions":{},"status":"success"}}

The Catholic Sacrament of Holy Orders

Updated: 02-04-2020

Catholicism For Dummies

Book image

Explore Book Buy On Amazon

Catholic men who "take Holy Orders" receive a special sacrament called Holy Orders, which creates the hierarchy of deacon, priest, and bishop. These men (who are ordained by a bishop by means of that sacrament) serve the spiritual needs of others in the Catholic Church.

A baptized man must first be ordained a deacon before being ordained a priest and ordained a priest before being ordained a bishop. So every priest and every bishop has experienced the Sacrament of Holy Orders more than once, but he experiences ordination to each level only once.

One of the primary functions of deacons, priests, and bishops is to administer the sacred rites of the Church to God’s people:

Bishops are said to have the “fullness of the priesthood,” because they alone have the authority to offer all seven sacraments — Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders.
Priests have the power and authority to celebrate five — Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist (Mass), Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick.
Deacons can celebrate Baptism and Matrimony, provided that it’s a wedding without a Nuptial Mass.

The Sacrament of Holy Orders doesn’t make a man a Church aristocrat, but it does confer the dignity of the sacrament, and that entails the obligation to obey the Pope and be of service to the people of God. Pastors are to see their role as shepherds who love and know their sheep.

A man can retire from the active ministry or be forced to leave if he misbehaves, but no deacon, priest, or bishop can ever have his Holy Orders taken away from him.

Being defrocked is involuntary and is imposed as a punishment for committing crime or scandal.
Laicization is at the request of the cleric who wishes to be relieved of his obligations of celibacy and no longer wants to celebrate his sacred ministry.

Both actions have the same effect: Defrocked and laicized priests can’t wear the Roman collar, be called “Father,” or publicly celebrate the sacraments. All requests for laicization must go to Rome, and only the Vatican can approve them.

About This Article

This article can be found in the category:

Catholicism ,