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"As the ministry of so exalted a priesthood is a divine thing, it was meet, in order to surround it with the greater dignity and veneration, that in the admirable economy of the church there should be several distinct orders of ministers, intended by their office to serve the priesthood, and so disposed as that, beginning with the clerical tonsure,* they may ascend gradually through the lesser to the greater orders. For the sacred scriptures make express mention of deacons as well as of priests, and instruct us in very serious language respecting those things which are to be specially regarded in their ordination; and from the beginning of the church, the names and appropriate duties of the following orders are known to have been in use, viz., sub-deacons, acolytes, exorcists, readers, and porters. Although they are not all of equal rank; for subdeacons are placed among the greater orders by the fathers and holy councils, in which also we very frequently read of other inferior orders.+

in dignity. The power of consecrating and offering the body and blood of our Lord, and of remitting sins, with which the priesthood of the new law is invested, is such as cannot be comprehended by the human mind, still less is it equalled by, or assimilated to, anything on earth.”—Catechism, p. 304.

* "As persons are prepared for baptism by exorcisms, and for marriage by espousals, so those who are consecrated to God, by tonsure, are prepared for admission to the sacrament of orders. Tonsure declares what manner of person he should be who desires to receive orders; the name of ' clerk,' which he receives then for the first time, implies that thenceforward he has taken the Lord for his inheritance. In tonsure, the hair of the head is cut in form of a crown, and should be worn in that form, enlarging the crown according as the ecclesiastic advances in orders." The meaning of the tonsure is variously given. Some say that it was instituted by Peter, "in honour of the crown of thorns which was pressed upon the head of the Redeemer." Others assert that it is an emblem of the royal dignity, because the ministers of the church are a "royal priesthood." "Others are of opinion that tonsure, which is cut in form of a circle, the most perfect of all figures, is emblematical of the superior perfection of the ecclesiastical state; or that, as it consists in cutting off hair, which is a sort of superfluity, it implies a contempt of worldly things, and a detachment from all earthly cares and concerns."Ibib. pp. 310-312.

The number of orders is therefore seven,-viz., porter, reader, exorcist, acolyte, sub-deacon, deacon, and priest. "Of these some are greater, which are also called 'holy;' some lesser, which are called 'minor orders.' The

"CHAP. III. That orders are truly and properly a sacrament.

"Since it is evident, from the testimony of scripture, apostolic tradition, and the unanimous consent of the fathers, that

greater, or holy orders, are sub-deaconship, deaconship, and priesthood; the lesser, or minor orders, are porter, reader, exorcist, and acolyte." Their functions, and the ceremonies used at their ordination, may be briefly described.

The duty of the porter "consists in taking care of the keys and door of the church, and in suffering none to enter to whom entrance is prohibited. The porter also assisted at the holy sacrifice, and took care that no one should ap proach too near the altar, or interrupt the celebrant." To him " belonged the office of treasurer of the church, to which was also attached that of guardian of the sacristry; stations, the duties of which are still numbered amongst the most honourable functions of the ecclesiastic." At his consecration, the bishop takes the keys from the altar, and handing them to him, says, "Conduct yourself as having to render an account to God for those things which are kept under these keys."

The reader's office is "to read to the people, in a clear and distinct voice, the sacred scriptures, particularly the nocturnal psalmody, [always in Latin, be it remembered; ] and on him also devolves the task of instructing the faithful in the rudiments of the faith." Presenting him with the book which contains what belongs to the exercise of his function, the bishop says, "Receive this book, and be you a rehearser of the word of God, destined, if you approve yourself faithful and useful in the discharge of your office, to have a part with those who, from the beginning, have acquitted themselves well in the ministry of the divine word."

When initiating the exorcist, whose name sufficiently declares the nature of his office, the bishop gives him a book containing the exorcisms, and says, "Take this, and commit it to memory, and have power to impose hands on persons possessed, be they baptized or catechumens."

mass.

The duty of the acolyte is to serve those who are in holy orders, in the ministry of the altar, and to attend to the lights used at the celebration of The bishop places in his hand a light, saying, "Receive this waxlight, and know that henceforward you are devoted to light the church, in the name of the Lord. He then hands him empty cruets, intended to hold the wine and water, and says, “Receive these cruets, which are to supply wine and water for the eucharist of the blood of Christ, in the name of the Lord." To the greater orders, the obligation of celibacy is annexed. The subdeacon's duties are "to prepare the altar-linen, the sacred vessels, the bread and wine necessary for the holy sacrifice-to minister water to the priest or bishop at the washing of the hands at mass-to read the epistle-to assist at mass, in the capacity of a witness, and see that the priest be not disturbed by any one during its celebration." After solemn prayers, accompanied with explanation of the duties of his office, the candidate "receives from the bishop a chalice and consecrated patena, and from the archdeacon, cruets filled with wine and water, and a basin and towel for washing and drying the

by holy ordination, bestowed by words and external signs, grace is conferred; no one ought to doubt that orders constitute one of the seven sacraments of holy church. For the apostle saith, I admonish thee, that thou stir up the grace of

hands, to remind him that he is to serve the deacon. These ceremonies the bishop accompanies with this solemn admonition :- See what sort of ministry is confided to you; I admonish you therefore so to comport yourself as to be pleasing in the sight of God. Additional prayers are then recited, and when, finally, the bishop has clothed the sub-deacon with the sacred vestments, on putting on each of which he makes use of appropriate words and ceremonies, he then hands him the book of the epistles, saying, 'Receive the book of the epistles, and have power to read them in the church of God, both for the living and the dead."

To the deacon "it belongs constantly to accompany the bishop, to attend him when preaching, to assist him and the priest also during the celebration of the holy mysteries, and at the administration of the sacraments, and to read the gospel at the sacrifice of the mass.".... "To the deacon also, as the agent of the bishop, it belongs to inquire and ascertain who within his diocese lead lives of piety and edification, and who do not; who attend the holy sacrifice of the mass and the instructions of their pastors, and who do not; that thus the bishop, made acquainted by him with these matters, may be enabled to admonish each offender privately, or, should he deem it more conducive to their reformation, to rebuke and correct them publicly. He also calls over the names of catechumens, and presents to the bishop those who are to be promoted to orders. In the absence of the bishop and priest, he is also authorized to expound the gospel to the people, not, however, from an elevated place, to make it understood that this is not one of his ordinary functions."...." The prayers used at the ordination of a deacon are more numerous and solemn than at that of a sub-deacon; his person is also invested with the sacred stole of his ordination, as of that of the first deacons who were ordained by the apostles, the imposition of hands also forms a part; and finally, the book of the gospels is handed to him by the bishop, with these words: Receive power to read the gospel in the church of God, as well for the living as for the dead, in the name of the Lord."

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The office of the priest is "to offer sacrifice to God, and to administer the sacraments of the church; the bishop, and after him the priests who may be present, impose hands on the candidate for the priesthood; then, placing a stole on his shoulders, he adjusts it in form of a cross, to signify that the priest receives strength from above, to enable him to carry the cross of Jesus Christ, to bear the sweet yoke of his divine law, and to enforce this law, not by word only, but also by the eloquent example of a holy life. He next anoints his hands with sacred oil, reaches him a chalice containing wine, and a patena with bread, saying, ' Receive power to offer sacrifice to God, and to celebrate mass as well for the living as for the dead.' By these words and ceremonies he is constituted an interpreter and mediator between God and man, the principal function of the priesthood. Finally, placing his hands on the

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God, which is in thee by the imposition of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of sobriety.' (2 Tim. i. 6, 7.)*

"CHAP. IV. Of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, and of ordination. "Forasmuch, then, as in the sacrament of orders, as in baptism and confirmation, a character is impressed which can neither be destroyed nor taken away,† the holy council deservedly condemns the notion of those who assert that the priests of the New Testament have only a temporary power, and that those who have been rightly ordained may become laymen again, if they should cease to exercise the ministry of the word of God. Moreover, if any one affirm, that all Christians promiscuously are priests of the New Testament, or that all are endued with equal spiritual power, he does

head of the person to be ordained, the bishop says, 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained; thus investing him with that divine power of forgiving and retaining sins which was conferred by our Lord on his disciples."

"Orders are conferred on certain appointed days only, days on which, according to the most ancient practice of the church, a solemn fast is observed, to obtain from God, by holy and devout prayer, ministers not unworthy of their high calling, qualified to exercise the transcendent power with which they are to be invested, with propriety, and to the edification of his church." -Catechism, pp. 312-316, 318, 321.

* “A sacrament is a sensible sign of an invisible grace, and with these characters holy orders are invested; their external forms are a sensible sign of the grace and power which they confer on the receiver: holy orders, therefore, are really and truly a sacrament."—Ibid. p. 309.

"It is clear, as we have already said, that the sacrament of orders, although primarily instituted for the advantage and edification of the church, imparts grace to him who receives it with the proper dispositions, which qualifies and enables him to discharge with fidelity the duties which it imposes, and amongst which is to be numbered the administration of the sacraments. As baptism qualifies for their reception, so orders qualify for their administration. Orders, also, confer another grace, which is a special power in reference to the holy eucharist; a power full and perfect in the priest, who alone can consecrate the body and blood of our Lord; but in the subordinate ministers greater or less in proportion to their approximation to the sacred mysteries of the altar. This power is also denominated a spiritual character, which, by a certain interior mark impressed on the soul, distin guishes the ecclesiastic from the rest of the faithful, and devotes them specially to the divine service."-Ibid. p. 322.

nothing less than confound the ecclesiastical hierarchy, which resembles a well-appointed army ;* as if, in opposition to the doctrine of blessed Paul, all were apostles, all were prophets, all were evangelists, all were pastors, all were teachers. Further, the holy council declares, that in addition to other ecclesiastical degrees, bishops, who have succeeded to the place of the apostles, hold a distinguished rank in this hierarchical order ;+ that they are placed there by the Holy Spirit, as the same apostle saith, to rule the church of God; that they are superior to presbyters; and that they administer the sacrament of confirmation, ordain the ministers of the church,§ and perform many other offices, to which those who are in inferior orders have no right. The holy council further de

*The compilers of the Catechism have invented a distinction between internal and external priesthood. "The internal priesthood extends to all the faithful who have been baptized, particularly to the just, who are anointed by the Spirit of God, and by the divine grace are made living members of the high priest, Christ Jesus. Through faith, inflamed by charity, they offer spiritual sacrifices to God on the altar of their hearts; and in the number of these sacrifices are to be reckoned good and virtuous actions, referred to the glory of God.". . . .“The external priesthood does not extend indiscriminately to the great body of the faithful; it is appropriated to a certain class of persons, who, being invested with this august character, and consecrated to God by the lawful imposition of hands, and the solemn ceremonies of the church, are devoted to some particular office in the sacred ministry."-Catechism, p. 317.

"The order of priesthood, although essentially one, has different degrees of dignity and power. The first is confined to those who are simply called priests, and whose functions we have now explained. The second is that of bishops, who are placed over their respective sees, to govern not only the other ministers of the church, but also the faithful; and with sleepless vigilance and unwearied care to watch over and promote their salvation." The third degree is that of archbishop; in the fourth place are patriarchs; and "superior to all these is the sovereign Pontiff, whom Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, denominated in the Council of Ephesus, the father and patriarch of the whole world.'"-Ibid. p. 319.

The reader will observe that nothing is said of the divine right of episcopacy.

§ "Some abbots, it is true, were occasionally permitted to confer minor orders; all, however, admit, that even this is the proper office of the bishop, to whom, and to whom alone, it is lawful to confer the other orders. Subdeacons, deacons, and priests are ordained by one bishop only, but, according to apostolic tradition, a tradition which has always been preserved in the church, he himself is consecrated by three bishops."-Ibid. p. 320.

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