Holy Orders
It is through Holy Orders that “the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry.”
In Jesus’ earthly life, Jesus gave a share in his priesthood to the 12 apostles. In turn, the priesthood has been handed on through the authority of the Church for two millennia. The priesthood is not a position of power, but of service (Matthew 20:25-28, John 13:2-20).
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.
