Who receives Holy Orders?

The Church teaches that, by ordination, one is enabled to act as a representative of Christ, writes Cathal Barry

The Church teaches that only a baptised man (vir) “validly receives” sacred ordination.

“The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the 12 apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the 12 an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ’s return. 

“The Church recognises herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church states.

“No one has a right to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders,” the Catechism states. 

“Indeed no one claims this office for himself; he is called to it by God. Anyone who thinks he recognises the signs of God’s call to the ordained ministry must humbly submit his desire to the authority of the Church, who has the responsibility and right to call someone to receive orders. Like every grace this sacrament can be received only as an unmerited gift,” the document says. 

All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate. 

“Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord… they give themselves entirely to God and to men,” the Church teaches. 

In the Eastern Churches a different discipline has been in force for many centuries: while bishops are chosen solely from among celibates, married men can be ordained as deacons and priests. 

This practice has long been considered legitimate; these priests exercise a fruitful ministry within their communities. However, priestly celibacy is held in great honour in the Eastern Churches and many priests have freely chosen it. 

In the East as in the West a man who has already received the sacrament of Holy Orders can no longer marry. 

The Church teaches that this sacrament “configures the recipient to Christ by a special grace of the Holy Spirit, so that he may serve as Christ’s instrument for his Church”. 

“By ordination one is enabled to act as a representative of Christ, Head of the Church, in his triple office of priest, prophet, and king,” the Catechism states. 

As in the case of Baptism and Confirmation this share in Christ’s office is granted once for all, the Church teaches. 

“The Sacrament of Holy Orders, like the other two, confers an indelible spiritual character and cannot be repeated or conferred temporarily,” the Catechism states.

“It is true that someone validly ordained can, for grave reasons, be discharged from the obligations and functions linked to ordination, or can be forbidden to exercise them; but he cannot become a layman again in the strict sense, because the character imprinted by ordination is for ever. The vocation and mission received on the day of his ordination mark him permanently,” the document states.