To his beloved protégé and coworker, Timothy, St. Paul wrote, “I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). St. Paul had entrusted to Timothy a share in the apostolic work that had been given to him by the Lord Jesus himself. From its infancy, the Church has flourished through the labor of those commissioned to sanctify and care for God’s people. Holy Orders is the sacrament by which men are ordained to perform the sacred duties Christ entrusted to his Church.

Bishops are understood to be the successors to the apostles—Jesus’ most intimate companions, and witnesses to his earthly ministry. They enjoy the “fullness” of the ministerial priesthood, tasked with teaching the faith that comes to us from the apostles and shepherding the Lord’s flock in his Name. Priests (or presbyters) are co-workers with the bishops, ordained by the laying on of hands (like St. Timothy) to act in the person of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, the anointing of the sick, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and the other sacraments.

In the early Church, the order of deacon was created to assist the apostles in the mission of service to the Christian community (see Acts 6:2-6). Today, deacons assist the priest at the celebration of Mass; they preside at the baptism of children and officiate at Christian marriage. Most importantly, however, they are ordained to serve (the Greek word diakonia means “service”), caring for the needs of the Church's faithful—in particular the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. Our patron, St. Lawrence, was himself a 3rd century deacon in the church of Rome.

In short, Holy Orders is the sacrament conferred upon bishops, priests, and deacons by which the risen Lord continues to teach, to sanctify, and to watch over his flock until he comes again.

For more information about the sacrament of Holy Orders, or if you feel a call to pursue a vocation to the priesthood or permanent diaconate, please contact our diocesan Office of Vocations at www.drvcvocations.com