Frequently Asked Questions about Vocations
What
is ordination?
Ordination is the sacramental ceremony in which a man
becomes a deacon, priest, or bishop and enabled to minister
in Christ’s name and that of the Church. There
are three ordinations in the Sacrament of Holy Orders:
diaconate, priesthood and episcopal. The ordination
ceremony includes various rituals, rich in meaning and
history, e.g., the prostration, laying on of hands,
anointing of hands, giving of the chalice and paten
and sign of peace.
When
does the ordination actually take place?
The essential rite of the sacrament, i.e., when it takes
place, is the laying on of hands and prayer of consecration.
This is an ancient tradition in the Church, mentioned
in the Bible.
Who
can ordain a priest?
Only a bishop can ordain a priest because he shares
in the ministry of Jesus passed down through the apostles.
What
is the meaning of laying on of hands?
By this ritual the ordaining bishop and the other priests
invoke the Holy Spirit to come down upon the one to
be ordained, giving him a sacred character and setting
him apart for the designated ministry.
Why
does the ordinand lie prostrate during the ordination?
It symbolizes his unworthiness for the office to be
assumed and his dependence upon God and the prayers
of the Christian community.
What
is the meaning of the newly ordained priest receiving
the stole and the chasuble?
These are vestments which pertain to his office and
have symbolic meaning. The stole symbolizes the authority
and responsibility to serve in imitation of Christ.
It reflects the line from Scripture: “For my yoke
is easy and my burden light” (Mt 11:30). The chasuble
is the principal garment of the priest celebrating the
Eucharist and is the outermost vestment.
What
does the anointing of the hands signify?
Anointing with oil stems from the Old Testament and
indicates that someone or something is being set apart
for a sacred task or duty. The anointing of the hands
signifies that the hands of the newly ordained priest
are being prepared for the sacred duties and vessels
which will be part of the priestly ministry, for example,
offering the bread and the wine, anointing the sick
and blessing people. The bishop says as he anoints the
hands: “The Father anointed our Lord Jesus Christ
through the power of the Holy Spirit. May Jesus preserve
you to sanctify the Christian people and to offer sacrifice
to God.”
Why
does the ordaining bishop hand the ordinand a chalice
and paten?
The Eucharist is at the heart of the priesthood and
this ritual highlights the importance of celebrating
the Eucharist in the life of the priest and its meaning,
as seen in the words which are spoken by the bishop:
“Accept from the holy people of god the gifts
to be offered to him. Know what you are doing, and imitate
the mystery you celebrate: model your life on the mystery
of the Lord’s cross.”
How
does one prepare for ordination to the priesthood?
A man has to engage in a challenging program of priestly
formation which lasts from five to thirteen years, depending
upon his background and the seminary he attends. There
are three levels of seminary: high school, college or
pre-theology and theology. According to the Center for
Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), in 2000-2001,
787 students attended high school seminaries, 1,647
attended college seminaries, and 3,483 were enrolled
in theology schools.
Seminaries address four types of formation: human, spiritual, academic (intellectual), and pastoral. In addition to the academic course work, seminarians participate in a full schedule of spiritual activities, e.g., daily Mass, Liturgy of the Hours (Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer), and spiritual direction and retreats. At each level of seminary training, the seminarian prepares for future pastoral ministry in various settings, such as schools, religious education programs, hospitals and parishes. All of the formation takes into consideration the human person; human growth and development is fostered by community living, workshops and other programs. The formation of future priests include practical learning, too, for example, preaching, saying Mass, and pastoral counseling.
Do
priests take vows?
Priests who belong to a religious order (e.g., Benedictine,
Dominicans, Franciscans, etc.) take the vows of poverty,
chastity and obedience. Diocesan priests make two promises,
celibacy and obedience; these promises are part of the
ordination ceremony. It is also expected that diocesan
priests will lead a life of simplicity consonant with
the people they serve.
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