Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which men are ordained as deacons, priests, or bishops, receiving the authority and grace to serve the Church in those roles.
Three Degrees
Holy Orders has three degrees — the diaconate, the priesthood, and the episcopate (bishops) — each with its own responsibilities in teaching, sanctifying, and governing.
The Rite of Ordination
A bishop lays hands on the candidate and prays the prayer of consecration, an act tracing back to the Apostles laying hands on their own successors.
Related Saints
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Holy Orders be received by women?
No — the Catholic Church teaches that it does not have the authority to ordain women to Holy Orders, a position it holds to be unchangeable.
Can a priest marry?
In the Latin Church, priests are ordinarily celibate; some Eastern Catholic Churches do ordain married men to the priesthood.